Linux is simply a computer operating system, so its uses are as diverse as any other. It is popular in certain areas, though:
- Web Serving
Nearly 60% of all websites on the Internet are run using an Open Source program named "Apache." Most often, it's run on Linux. If you've ever surfed the web, you've (indirectly) used Linux!
- Networking
Linux is based on Unix, an operating system developed in the 1970s and which is still used heavily today, especially to run the Internet. Linux is used both to run parts of the Internet, as well as to run small and large networks in coporations, offices and homes.
- Databases
Since Linux is stable, secure and robust, it's perfect for storing huge databases of information.
- Desktops
People like us use Linux on our home and work computers, because of its stability and flexibility.
- Scientific Computing
Many dozens (or even hundreds or thousands) of Linux systems can be clustered together to work on a single task (like weather forecasting, physics simulations, computer graphics rendering, etc.)A large collection of inexpensive PCs running Linux can be just as powerful as a mainframe computer, but at a tenth of the cost.
- Home Computing
And, of course, people like us, and people like you, can and do use Linux on a daily basis at home and in the office!
Presented by the Linux Users' Group of Davis
to the California 4-H Leadership Conference
August 10th, 2002 - UC Davis, California
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