Operating Systems

Linux and Unix Topic Center

News, analysis and more about Unix and Linux

Kernel guru Greg Kroah-Hartman joins Linux Foundation

One of the principle maintainers of the Linux kernel, Greg Kroah-Hartman, has joined the Linux Foundation as a fellow, the same position held by Linux creator Linus Torvalds, the foundation announced.
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Cinnamon 1.2 Linux desktop now officially stable

Late last month the Linux Mint developers announced that they were working on a brand-new desktop environment designed to offer an alternative to the controversial GNOME 3, and on Monday they officially released the first stable version of the software.

Ubuntu to feature command line shortcuts

Canonical will provide the next release of its Ubuntu Linux OS with a new type of interface that will allows desktop users to execute functions for any program through a command line interface, or by voice command.

NSA releases security-enhanced version of Android

The National Security Agency (NSA) has released SE Android, a security-enhanced version of Android, which provides and enforces stricter access-control policies than those found in the popular mobile operating system by default.

As 2012 dawns, Mint leads list of top Linux distros

What a difference a year makes. Roughly 15 months ago, I put together a guide to the top 10 Linux distributions at the time, and Ubuntu was far and away the most popular choice.

Ubuntu 11.10 'Oneiric Ocelot' to power new PC line

The vast majority of Linux users may get the operating system by downloading and installing it themselves, but there's no denying that there are distinct advantages to buying hardware with Linux preloaded instead.

Ready for a Linux desktop? Meet Mint's 'Cinnamon'

If you've been following the world of Linux desktop environments in recent months, you may remember that the Linux Mint project has adopted a strategy of easing users gradually into the controversial GNOME 3 desktop.

Quest updates Sudo Unix management tool

Reflecting the growing need for automation tools in the enterprise, Quest Software has released a software package that could help Unix administrators better manage policy files that determine which users can access privileged material and programs on Unix and Linux systems.

Usenix: Dartmouth updating diff, grep Unix tools

With some funding from Google and the U.S. Energy Department, a pair of computer scientists at Dartmouth University are updating the venerable grep and diff Unix command line utilities to handle more complex types of data.

Want a job in Linux? Learn Java or Android

It's no secret that Linux skills are a hot commodity in today's job market, and on Wednesday the Linux Foundation will publish some data that paints that picture in finer detail.

Ubuntu Linux's new 'HUD' interface to do away with menus

A new kind of interface is coming to Ubuntu 12.04 'Precise Pangolin' that will ultimately replace menus in Unity applications and recognize voice commands.

Linux takes on a bigger role at CES

The annual Consumer Electronics Show event is always a fun place to learn about the latest new gadgets coming down the pike, but--aside from Google's ubiquitous Android platform--Linux has not typically played a starring role.

Desktop Linux gains market share in recent months

Linux's prospects as a desktop operating system have long been a topic of hot debate, with some arguing that it will never surpass 1% of the market while others -- including yours truly -- countering that it already has.

Image gallery: Which Linux desktop is for you?

The four top Linux distributions -- Fedora, Mint, openSUSE and Ubuntu -- differ widely in their approach to the desktop. We look at all four and figure out which is right for you.

Fedora, Mint, openSUSE, Ubuntu: Which Linux desktop is for you?

The four top Linux distributions -- Fedora, Mint, openSUSE and Ubuntu -- differ widely in their approach to the desktop. We look at all four and figure out which is right for you.

10 reasons to move to Linux in 2012

The past year was a tempestuous one in the world of desktop operating systems, it seems fair to say, with big changes occurring in just about all of the major contenders.

What's in a name? In the world of Linux, much silliness

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, as Shakespeare's Juliet so famously said, but what if its name were Pink Farting Weasel?

Razor-qt is a new Linux desktop alternative

Among GNOME 3, Ubuntu Linux's Unity, and Windows 8's Metro, there's no denying that desktop environments have become a hot topic in 2011. More specifically, mobile-inspired interfaces are becoming increasingly commonplace, challenging users to accept a whole new paradigm in the desktop world.

Expect more battery life with Ubuntu Linux 12.04 'Precise Pangolin'

The upcoming year is shaping up to be an especially good one for Linux users on laptops.

12 reasons to give Linux Mint 12 a try

For any new release of a popular Linux distribution, there are typically numerous fans eagerly awaiting the software's final debut. For Linux Mint 12, however, that anticipation may well have broken all previous records, so anxious have Linux fans been to see the new release's answer to the controversial desktop environments increasingly appearing in other operating systems.