The term Linux properly refers to just the operating system kernel itself. However, in popular parlance ‘Linux’ is used to refer to a complete Linux Distribution which includes GUI components and many other utilities, many of which are supplied by the GNU Project. Android, for example also uses the Linux kernel but includes different components from most desktop Linux distributions. What is GNU?
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GNU is a Unix-like operating system that is free software - IT RESPECTS YOUR FREEDOM. You can install Linux-based versions of GNU which are entirely free software. The GNU Project was launched in 1984 by Richard Stallman to develop the GNU system. "GNU" is pronounced [g'noo], as one syllable, like saying "grew" but replacing the "r" with "n". A Unix-like operating system is a software collection of applications, libraries, and developer tools, plus a program to allocate resources and talk to the hardware, known as a kernel. The Hurd, GNU's own kernel, is some way from being ready for daily use. Thus, GNU is typically used today with a kernel called Linux. This combination is the GNU/Linux operating system. GNU/Linux is used by millions, though many call it "Linux" by mistake. What is LINUX?
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Linux is a Unix-like operating system that was designed to provide personal computer users a free or very low-cost operating system comparable to traditional and usually more expensive Unix systems. Linux has a reputation as a very efficient and fast-performing system. Linux's kernel (the central part of the operating system) was developed by Linus Torvalds at the University of Helsinki in Finland. To complete the operating system, Torvalds and other team members made use of system components developed by members of the Free Software Foundation (FSF) for the GNU Project.
