1 Linux
In 1991 Linus Torvalds, at the time studying in Helsinki, Finland,
created the very first version of Linux for his own needs. This very
rudimentary program was intended to run on the PC 80386 of the age.
But Linus Torvalds had the good idea of making it "free" and to involve
all those who wanted it. Thanks to the support of the emerging Internet
network and the new born community of developers, but also thanks
to the preexistance of the Gnu project (http://www.gnu.org)
started some years earlier by Richard Stallman, Linux went on to become
some years later a full operating system. Its power is unrivalled,
its stability is now legendary and it improves with every day!
Linux is distributed by means of multiple "distributions" of which
the very first were called SLS and Slackware (http://www.slackware.com) .
Certain distributions are purely commercial like Caldera Open Linux
(http://www.caldera.com).
Other are totally "free" like Debian (http://www.debian.org) .
Between the two and of special note is Red Hat Linux (http://www.redhat.com)
which is a much sought after Linux distribution, particularly due
to its relatively simple installation procedure.
2 Free Software/Open Source
It is important to know that Linux is only the tip of an iceberg called
"Free Software" (http://www.fsf.org) or Open Source (http://www.opensource.org/osd.html).
The particular characteristics of Open Source Software are as follows:
they are redistributable at will and without cost, their source code
is available, and it is modifiable by anyone sufficiently experienced
in programming. This concept is used principally by GPL license systems
(General Public License) although these are not the only ones. Apart
from Linux, a gem of Open Source Software is called "Apache" (http://www.apache.org) ,
which is a web server program for the Internet and represents 50%
of the market share in its sector. The majority of software which
serves to make the Internet work (at all levels) is Open Source Software.
3 The "K Desktop Environment"
For a while, Linux has only operated with "multi-window" graphical
interfaces inherited from proprietary Unixtm systems. Entirely based
on the "X Window System", they are named mwm, olwm, fvwm, afterstep.
Towards the end of 1996, a small team of developers brought together
by Matthias Ettrich decided to aim higher and to create a true graphical
desktop having advanced fonctions such as "drag-drop" with integrated
HTML display. This suite called "K Desktop Environment'' (http://www.kde.org)
or more simpy "KDE" immediately experienced great success as its quality
was immaculate. KDE is the graphical interface installed by default
with the Linux-Mandrake distribution.
4 Linux-Mandrake
As for the Linux-Mandrake distribution (http://www.linux-mandrake.com) ,
it was created from a simple idea: to supply the user with a solid
system compatible with a proven distribution which is already known (Red
Hat Linux) and by simplifying use thanks to the addition of the most
powerful graphical desktop available: the "K desktop Environment"
as well as a certain number of improvements and programs to remove
the need for the user to spend hours searching the Internet for packages
needed to be able to work efficiently and in a user-friendly way.
We also think that Linux-Mandrake is the most simple distribution
to install and configure, and the quickest to get up and running.
Looking forward, we are convinced that your new Linux system will
bring you much satisfaction. Nevertheless, bear in mind that Linux
is not used always like other well-known operating systems and that
to start with you will probably be put off. You will begin to appreciate
the phenomenal power of Linux from the moment you discover its coherence,
its extraordinary dynamics linked with communities found on the Internet,
but also the philosophy of Free Software and the new intellectual
perspectives which it opens up.
5 How to start with Linux?
It's not so hard: just find a Linux CD (the single Linux-Mandrake GPL Edition CD or the PowerPack Edition for example) and install it on your PC! You can of course keep your old operating system: Linux will install a dual-boot loader and you can choose which OS you want to run each time you switch on your computer! Usually, an experienced Linux user can install and configure Mandrake in less than half an hour...
Last modified: Tue May 25 21:07:49 CEST 1999