Wiley Professional Linux Programming 978-0-471-77613-0 Benutzerhandbuch
Produktcode
978-0-471-77613-0
Working with Linux
One of the biggest stumbling blocks when writing software for Linux is understanding what
Linux is and is not. Linux means different things to different people. Technically, Linux itself is an
operating system kernel written by the Finnish born Linus Torvalds, though most people today
casually refer to an entire Linux-based system by the same name. In just a few years, Linux has
risen from obscurity and become widely accepted by some of the largest and most powerful com-
puting users on the planet.
Linux is and is not. Linux means different things to different people. Technically, Linux itself is an
operating system kernel written by the Finnish born Linus Torvalds, though most people today
casually refer to an entire Linux-based system by the same name. In just a few years, Linux has
risen from obscurity and become widely accepted by some of the largest and most powerful com-
puting users on the planet.
Linux is now a big-money, enterprise-quality operating system. It’s used in some of the largest
supercomputers and also many of the smallest gadgets, which you would never expect to have
Linux underneath. Yet for all its prevalence — for such a big name in modern computing — Linux
isn’t owned by any one corporation that pulls the strings. Linux is so successful because of the
many thousands of developers around the world who constantly strive to make it better. They, like
you, are interested in writing high-quality software that draws upon the experience of others
within the Linux community.
supercomputers and also many of the smallest gadgets, which you would never expect to have
Linux underneath. Yet for all its prevalence — for such a big name in modern computing — Linux
isn’t owned by any one corporation that pulls the strings. Linux is so successful because of the
many thousands of developers around the world who constantly strive to make it better. They, like
you, are interested in writing high-quality software that draws upon the experience of others
within the Linux community.
Whatever Linux means to you, you’re reading this book because you’re interested in learning
more about becoming a professional Linux programmer. As you embark on this journey, you will
find it helpful to tool yourself up with an understanding of the different flavors of Linux, how to
get going in developing for them, and how working with Linux differs from working with many
other popular platforms on the market today. If you’re already a Linux expert, you need only skim
this chapter. If you’re working toward becoming the next expert, this chapter should provide some
useful pointers.
more about becoming a professional Linux programmer. As you embark on this journey, you will
find it helpful to tool yourself up with an understanding of the different flavors of Linux, how to
get going in developing for them, and how working with Linux differs from working with many
other popular platforms on the market today. If you’re already a Linux expert, you need only skim
this chapter. If you’re working toward becoming the next expert, this chapter should provide some
useful pointers.
In this chapter, you will learn what Linux is and how the individual components of a Linux distri-
bution fit together, from a professional programmer’s point of view. You will learn about the
development process behind much of the Free, Libre, and Open Source Software (FLOSS) that is
used on Linux systems and discover the wealth of online communities that power the open source
revolution. Finally, you’ll also discover a few of the ways in which Linux differs from other operat-
ing systems you’ve encountered in the past — more on that throughout the rest of the book, too.
bution fit together, from a professional programmer’s point of view. You will learn about the
development process behind much of the Free, Libre, and Open Source Software (FLOSS) that is
used on Linux systems and discover the wealth of online communities that power the open source
revolution. Finally, you’ll also discover a few of the ways in which Linux differs from other operat-
ing systems you’ve encountered in the past — more on that throughout the rest of the book, too.
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