Glossary of Linux Terms

Boot Loader -- Program that allows user to select operating sytem they wish to run at computer startup

Debian -- A Linux Distro

Distro -- shorthand for distribution

Distribution -- Essentially a release of Linux from a specific company. Mandrake and Slackware are two Linux distributions

GCC -- "GNU C Compiler"; a populat C/C++ compiler for Linux

Gentoo -- A Linux Distro

Gimp -- "GNU Image Manipulation Program"; advanced image editor for Linux

Gnome - A Linux GUI

GNU License -- "GNU is Not Unix", Started by Richard Stallman, all software under this license is open source. The source is free to download, compile, use, modify, and redistribute.

GUI - "Graphical User Interface"

Intel x86 -- Hardware class including all Intel (like the Pentium 4) and AMD processors. PCs are Intel x86 machines.

KDE -- "K Desktop Environment"; A Linux GUI

Knoppix -- First and most popular Linux Live CD

Lindows -- A Linux Distro

Lilo -- a GNU boot loader

Mac OSX -- Apple's current operating system for their Macintosh Computers

Mandrake -- A Linux Distro

MINIX -- Operating system developed by Andrew Tananbaum for his students to use. Served as a base for Linux.

PowerPC -- Hardware that powers Apple's Macintosh computers

ppc -- shorthand for PowerPC

Red Hat -- A Linux Distro

Slackware -- A Linux Distro

SuSE -- A Linux Distro

UNIX -- Operating system developed by Bell Labs that serves as the base for Linux

x86 -- see intel x86

VI -- popular command line text editor for Linux

VMWare -- powerful emulation software for Linux and Windows