Unix Based?

[Dark Ninja]

Quick question - is Linux a Unix BASED operating sytem, or just a Unix LIKE operating system? I know it was originally programmed as an improvement to Minix...but...I'm just curious. (I'm getting technical. Trying to settle an argument.)


Dark Ninja

[mrBen]

I think kinda both. It's not UNIX based in that all the code is original. But then again, AFAIK it trys to conform to the POSIX standards, which would make it a UNIX. But I don't think it's 100%, so then it wouldn't _be_ UNIX, but then it could be called Unix-based, because it's mainly POSIX compliant.

/me chases tail for a couple of hours

It's definitely a lot _like_ UNIX ;)

[Silent Bob]

The GNU (http://www.gnu.org/) project was set up to create a UNIX-like OS. They chose Linux as the kernel for their OS, although they are working on their own kernel as well, HURD.

[thedexman]

Yes, I would say its Unix-like. I think Unix-based would imply that Linux was derived from an existing Unix system, rather than being made from scratch. Something can only be called Unix if it's certified by the Open Group. Also, "Unix-like" is technically a trademark violation.

Lots 'o fun.

[ 14 November 2001: Message edited by: thedexman ]

[teeitup]

http://www.linuxcentral.com/linux/index.php3?id=ZeukqMzrjdf9E
http://www.linux.org/info/index.html
http://www.li.org/whatislinux.php
http://www2.linuxjournal.com/cgi-bin/frames.pl/index.html

[Icarus]

The best way to discribe Linux it like taking a UNIX OS but it in a blender with DOS 6.0, stir well so the DOS is deluted and hardly noticable and pour.
At work I maintain a HP-UX 11.0 server, I've worked with IBM's AIX and use DOS a lot. Linux has traits of all of these. I have not had any chances to mess around with any other UNIX flavors, but they are overall simular...like Linux.

my 2 cents :)