<operating system> ("Linus Unix") /li'nuks/ (but see below)
	An implementation of the {Unix} {kernel} originally written
	from scratch with no proprietary code.

	The kernel runs on {Intel} and {Alpha} hardware in the general
	release, with {SPARC}, {PowerPC}, {MIPS}, {ARM}, {Amiga},
	{Atari}, and {SGI} in active development.  The SPARC, PowerPC,
	ARM, {PowerMAC} - {OSF}, and 68k ports all support {shells},
	{X} and {networking}.  The Intel and SPARC versions have
	reliable {symmetric multiprocessing}.

	Work on the kernel is coordinated by Linus Torvalds, who holds
	the copyright on a large part of it.  The rest of the
	copyright is held by a large number of other contributors (or
	their employers).  Regardless of the copyright ownerships, the
	kernel as a whole is available under the {GNU} {General Public
	License}.  The GNU project supports Linux as its kernel until
	the research {Hurd} kernel is completed.

	This kernel would be no use without {application programs}.
	The GNU project has provided large numbers of quality tools,
	and together with other {public domain} software it is a rich
	Unix environment.  A compilation of the Linux kernel and these
	tools is known as a Linux distribution.  Compatibility modules
	and/or {emulators} exist for dozens of other computing
	environments.

	The kernel version numbers are significant: the odd numbered
	series (e.g. 1.3.xx) is the development (or beta) kernel which
	evolves very quickly.  Stable (or release) kernels have even
	major version numbers (e.g. 1.2.xx).

	There is a lot of commercial support for and use of Linux,
	both by hardware companies such as {Digital}, {IBM}, and
	{Apple} and numerous smaller network and integration
	specialists.  There are many commercially supported
	distributions which are generally entirely under the GPL.  At
	least one distribution vendor guarantees {Posix} compliance.
	Linux is particularly popular for {Internet Service
	Providers}, and there are ports to both parallel
	supercomputers and {embedded} {microcontrollers}.  {Debian} is
	one popular {open source} distribution.

	The pronunciation of "Linux" has been a matter of much debate.
	Many, including Torvalds, insist on the short I pronunciation
	/li'nuks/ because "Linus" has an /ee/ sound in Swedish
	(Linus's family is part of Finland's 6% ethnic-Swedish
	minority) and Linus considers English short /i/ to be closer
	to /ee/ than English long /i:/ dipthong.  This is consistent
	with the short I in words like "linen".  This doesn't stop
	others demanding a long I /li:'nuks/ following the english
	pronunciation of "Linus" and "minus".  Others say /li'niks/
	following {Minix}, which Torvalds was working on before Linux.

	{More on pronunciation
	(http://www.foldoc.org/pub/linux-pronunciation)}.

	{LinuxHQ (http://www.linuxhq.com/)}.  {slashdot
	(http://slashdot.org/)}.  {freshmeat (http://freshmeat.net/)}.
	{Woven Goods (http://www.fokus.gmd.de/linux/)}.  {Linux
	Gazette (http://www.ssc.com/lg)}.

	{funet Linux Archive (ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/Linux)}, {US
	mirror (ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/)}, {UK Mirror
	(ftp://sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk/packages/Linux/)}.

	(2000-06-09)

<operating system, programming> The process of carrying out
	the {instructions} in a computer program by a computer.

	See also {dry run}.

	(1996-05-13)

To produce something according to an {algorithm} or program or
	set of rules, or as a (possibly unintended) {side effect} of
	the execution of an algorithm or program.

	The opposite of {parse}.

	[{Jargon File}]

	(1995-06-15)

In {object-oriented} systems, a set of {class}es that embodies
	an abstract design for solutions to a number of related
	problems.

	(1995-01-30)

1. {application program}.

	2. {function application}.

<storage, spelling> British spelling of "{disk}", normally
	only used for "{compact disc}".

	(1995-07-30)