linux.conf.au is Australia’s annual technical conference about Free Software. It is fun, informal, seriously technical and in 2013 it will also cater to a broader range of end users, including those new to this community. linux.conf.au draws together Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) developers from across the world. You’ll be able to meet and talk with like-minded people and learn about the projects you can contribute to.
Registrations can be accessed here. Anyone who would like to volunteer may now do so through the conference website.
Linux is mostly used to describe a group of UNIX-like, free multi-user operating systems based on the original, based on the Finnish computer scientist Linus Torvalds developed the Linux kernel in 1991 and most of the GNU software.
In 1992, the Linux kernel under the GNU General Public License (GPL) and can be freely used by anyone since then, and modified. According to the consistently modular Linux operating system of software developers worldwide as part of various projects developed steadily. Here there are both nonprofit and commercial projects.
For practical use of different distributions of Linux are used. These are used in many different application areas. Linux runs on servers, desktops, netbooks, routers, mobile phones and multimedia devices and supercomputers. However, there are differences in these areas in terms of frequency of use of Linux. Especially in the server space and mobile devices, the various distributions are widely used in desktop PCs have fewer. Linux is also due to its free availability and its availability at low cost used often in financially weaker regions such as emerging markets.
The combination of the Linux kernel with support software and application programs is called a distribution, which is then distributed by a distributor. These distributions of Linux are often substantially different from each other and are only partially compatible with each other. There now exist a variety of distributions for desktop PCs and servers. Did you know that most servers, even those of the film industry, including imdb and other movie websites, are running on Linux? Also, live DVDs, videos and film distributions are available for special applications. Most distributions of Linux provide a comprehensive software packages that allow the daily practical work under Linux. The selection of the appropriate distribution is often not easy for beginners. What should be considered is, what applications you need, how important support is and whether you want to use more proprietary or free software.
Examples of distributions of Linux are:
- SUSE
- Debian
- Mint
- Fedora
- Red Hat
- Mandriva
- Slackware
- Arch
Both the kernel of Linux as well as convenient user interfaces like GNOME or KDE, and a simplified installation and configuration is still under construction by developers. It will work on the kernel of Linux from Linus Torvalds and the Linux Foundation coordinates. Also, more developed free and proprietary software for Linux.
Moreover, there is also hardened Linux distributions, which is placed even more emphasis on safety. Another advantage in terms of safety is on Linux, the operating system is not designed for a specific hardware architecture. In addition, there are concerns in Linux and open source software, so anyone can read the source code and adapt. This can of course be vulnerabilities discovered and fixed faster.
Linux is universally regarded as a very secure operating system, which is due to several factors: On Linux, in contrast to other operating systems, the access rights very strictly observed. So Linux can not be attacked by computer pests such as viruses and worms, they can harm only the data of the current user, not the entire system. Until now, only two occurred in Linux viruses: Bliss and Staog. Linux is distributed, in contrast to other operating systems, especially for users with technical and also very safety conscious background. For server systems, it is primarily about the safety of the sophistication of the Administrator with Linux. For Linux Admins also has the advantage that due to the free availability of the operating system can be tested and tried in any environment.