Contact Form |
Goodbye, Microsoft®Take back the PC sm
|
|
PayPal DonationsThe Big BoardGoodbye, Microsoft's Big Board of Linux DistributionsWeb LinksCategoriesBooks - Linux (6) Book Reviews - Linux (2) Linux Distributions (11) Linux Distributions - Lightweight (21) Linux Distro Reviews (3) Linux CD-ROM providers (12) Linux Download Providers (3) Non-Linux PC Operating Systems (15) Security Tools - Linux (6) Security Tools - Windows (26) Windows Emulation and Co-Operation Software (13) Linux Information (6) Linux User Groups (3) Software Alternatives for Windows (38) Hardware Compatibility Information (10) Linux PCs (8) Maintenance Tools - Linux (2) Linux Application Software (9) Maintenance Tools - Windows (1) Advice (5) Computer Refurbishing (15) Abandonware (1) Newcomer's Glossaryapplications: The software that lets you do things with your computer (word processor, Internet browser, email, etc.). The programs you see and use.distribution: Also called "distro." An operating system (usu. Linux) combined with a selection of application programs, in a ready-to-install form. Different distributions are customized for different purposes, e.g., desktop computing, music editing, Internet server, and so on. FOSS: "Free / Open Source Software," a catch-all term. Sometimes F/OSS or FLOSS. free software: Refers to free as in freedom, not free as in free beer. Specifically, the freedom to run, study, share, and modify the software. howto: A short tutorial telling "how to" perform some task. See, for instance, the Linux HowTos. Linux: Strictly, GNU/Linux. A free operating system, modeled on Unix, developed since 1991 by volunteers around the world. open source: Refers to software whose source code can be examined, modified, and redistributed. Similar to but not exactly the same as "free software." operating system: The software that manages your computer's hardware (disk drives, display, network connection, etc.). The stuff "under the hood" that makes your computer work. repository: An on-line library of application programs for a particular distribution, in a ready-to-download-and-install format. In many distributions, programs can be installed from the repository with just a few mouse clicks. Unix: A computer operating system originally released by Bell Labs in 1970. It is still widely used in several commercial variants, and in the open-source BSD Unix. We RecommendRSS FeedsWelcome |