Datasheet

because the software was built with this kind of flexibility in mind. Of course, certain features can and
will be tuned for specific systems, but the core algorithms will remain the same. The same should be true
of the majority of software released within modern Linux distributions.
Keeping things as generic as possible and allowing the users to decide how they will use a Linux system
is one of the reasons that Linux has been so successful. You should always try to think about the ways
that people might want to use your software and avoid incorporating unnecessary design constraints.
You don’t have to support people who want to use your software in nonrecommended ways, but don’t
artificially impose limits unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Summary
In this chapter, you learned about working with Linux. You learned that the term Linux has different
meanings in different contexts. Technically, Linux refers to the core operating system kernel written by
Linus Torvalds and maintained by many thousands of skilled developers around the world. But Linux
can also be used to refer to distributions of software that are built on top of Linus’s original kernel. This
software includes many thousands of tools and utilities, modern graphical desktop environments, and
many other components that users expect to find in a complete modern OS.
The success of Linux over the past decade has a lot to do with the communities, which have helped to
make it so popular as an alternative to big proprietary UNIX and other operating systems on the market
today. You now know how to get involved in your local Linux User Group and how to make contact with
a larger world of Linux developers, who are keen to help you on your way to becoming an expert. You
also have gained an understanding of the many differences between Linux and other operating systems.
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