Linux in Education

Even those with a remote connection to the computer world will likely have heard of something called Linux. The value and application of the technology is being hotly debated among computer developers and industry insiders. Linux has even grabbed headlines in mainstream media because of its revolutionary potential. This issue is also capturing the attention of academic circles. For good reason: Linux is uniquely qualified to serve the needs of the education market. Linux has nearly everything educators and students are looking for in an operating system. It's stable and secure. It's open software, so it can be customized to match specific demands. Perhaps most importantly, it's cost-effective. What Is Linux? Linux (pronounced lin-ucks) is a 32-bit computer operating system (OS) that is similar to the well-known UNIX OS, but is available for the desktop and offers many more benefits. Linux has its origins in the academic setting. It's named after its Finnish founder Linus Torvalds, who developed it in 1991 when he was a 21-year-old student. His discovery was inspired by the earlier efforts of his teacher, Andrew Tanenbaum. In the 1980s, Tanenbaum, a Dutch professor of computer science and a specialist in designing operating systems, wrote an operating system called MINIX to help his students learn the complexities of UNIX on their home computers. Torvalds improved on Tanenbaum's work by exploring ways to increase the functionality of MINIX. Torvalds' experimentation gave way to the Linux kernel, the operating code and core element of Linux. Torvalds later placed the source code for Linux in the public domain through something called the GNU General Public License. That way, developers around the world could download Linux from the Internet in order to study, modify and add to Torvald's initial developments. That's why it's considered open -- developers have ready access to the source code. Strictly defined, Linux refers to the kernel or core operating system. However, it has come to describe the complete operating system and suite of applications associated with it. As Linux supporters -- and committed members of the open community -- companies such as Corel, Red Hat and Caldera make the Linux operating system available for free on the Internet. Shrink-wrapped versions of the OS are also available, for a relatively low cost, but they include documentation and technical support. Linux is increasingly gaining in stature as a powerful and cost-effective alternative to Windows and Mac operating systems. It continues to grow in popularity. In fact, a study by International Data Corporation (IDC), a Massachusetts-based industry research organization, shows Linux had 25% of the server (operating system) market in 1999, compared to 16% in 1998. IDC forecasts that the Linux operating environment, including both desktop and server markets, will increase at a compound annual growth rate of greater than 25% through 2003. Ideal For Students Linux's strengths -- its relatively low cost, stability, power and flexibility -- are particularly beneficial for students and the academic community. Unlike corporations, schools don't have a lot of money to invest in technology. At the same time, students need to be intimately familiar with the latest technology to be prepared for the highly competitive marketplace later on in their careers. …