What is the difference between unix and linux

The difference between unix and linux: 1. UNIX is commercial, while Linux is open source, free and open source code; 2. Most UNIX systems are matched with hardware, which means that they cannot be installed on x86 servers and personal computers, while Linux can run on a variety of hardware platforms.

The operating environment of this tutorial: linux7.3 system, DELL G3 computer.

The difference between unix and linux:

1. Open source situation

UNIX is commercial, while Linux is open source Yes, it is free and open source.

2. Hardware Applicability

Most UNIX systems are matched with hardware. That is to say, most UNIX systems such as AIX, HP-UX, etc. cannot be installed on x86 servers and personal computers, while Linux can run on a variety of hardware platforms.

You can learn linux first and then unix, because linux can be easily run on a virtual machine to prevent misoperation by novices. As for the distribution version, you can choose Ubuntu, Linux Mint, etc.

Extended information:

The birth of unix

In 1965, Bell Labs joined a project led by General Electric A plan in cooperation with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); the plan is to build a multi-user, multi-tasking, multi-level (multi-user, multi-processor, multi-level) MULTICS operating system.

Until 1969, the MULTICS project was stopped because the work progress was too slow. At that time, Ken Thompson (later known as the father of UNIX) already had a program called "Star Trek" running on the GE-635 machine, but the response was very slow. He happened to discover an idle PDP- 7 (Digital's host),

Ken Thompson and Dernis Ritchie transplanted the "Star Trek" program to the PDP-7. And this PDP-7 (shown in Figure 1-1) has left its name in the entire history of computers.

MULTICS is actually the abbreviation of "Multiplexed Information and Computing Service". In 1970, the PDP-7 could only support two users. At that time, Brian Kernighan jokingly said that their system actually It is:

"UNiplexed Information and Computing Service", abbreviated as "UNICS". Later, everyone took its homophony and called it "UNIX". 1970 can be called "the first year of UNIX".

Basic ideas of Linux

The basic ideas of Linux have two points: first, everything is a file; second, every software has a certain purpose. The first one is that everything in the system is boiled down to a file, including commands, hardware and software devices, operating systems, processes, etc. For the operating system kernel, they are all regarded as files with their own characteristics or types. .

As for the fact that Linux is based on Unix, it is largely because the basic ideas of the two are very similar.

Completely free

Linux is a free operating system that users can obtain for free through the Internet or other channels, and can modify its source code at will. This is something other operating systems cannot do.

It is precisely because of this that countless programmers from all over the world have participated in the modification and writing of Linux. Programmers can change it according to their own interests and inspirations, which has allowed Linux to absorb countless programmers. The essence of the company continues to grow.

Fully compatible with POSIX1.0 standard

This makes it possible to run common DOS and Windows programs through corresponding emulators under Linux. This lays the foundation for users to switch from Windows to Linux.

When many users consider using Linux, they think about whether programs that were commonly used under Windows can run normally. This eliminates their doubts.

Multi-user, multi-tasking

Linux supports multiple users. Each user has its own special rights for its own file device, ensuring that users do not affect each other. Multitasking is one of the most important features of today's computers. Linux can enable multiple programs to run simultaneously and independently.

Related learning recommendations: linux video tutorial

The above is the detailed content of What is the difference between unix and linux. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!