Linux is a Unix-compatible kernel, created by Linus Torvalds in 1991 with help from programmers world-wide. The most common pronounciation is a short "i" with the first syllable stressed, LIH-nucks.

Linux is most often used in combination with the GNU Operating System. The GNU Project set out in 1984 to develop a complete replacement for the whole Unix system, that would be entirely free software; by 1991 GNU had found or developed replacements for all of Unix except the kernel. Linus released Linux under the GNU General Public License, thus making it free software also.

People often call this combined system "Linux" too; however, to distinguish the whole operating system from the kernel, we sometimes call the whole operating system "GNU/Linux".

Being Unix-like means GNU/Linux offers true multi-tasking, TCP/IP networking, proper memory management, and other features on POSIX compliant systems.

Linux runs on a variety of hardware: 386/486/586-based PCs, Sun Sparc, DEC Alpha, Macintosh and US Robotics Palm Pilot.

Support of Linux is available in many ways: numerous books have been written, magazines have been devoted to Linux (see Linux Journal), on-line HOW-TOs on the Internet, commercial vendor support, user group support in meetings or email, maybe even your next door neighbor, and, of course, at the Linux General Store.

The estimated growth of Linux by Forbes magazine (Cover story, August 10, 1998) is:

1991: 1

1992: 1,000

1993: 20,000

1994: 100,000

1995: 500,000

1996: 1,500,000

1997: 3,500,000

1998: 7,500,000

You want to try it? Come on down to the Linux General Store and play on our network!