Free Linux OS and GNU Commands Software - Why Do People Develop Software - For Free?

The GPL (General Public License) licensing terms and the communications capabilities of the Internet enable a programmer to collaborate and create the Linux OS, the GNU commands, and thousands of other Linux software programs.

Linux Software Programs, Programmers and Linux Commands

Programmers work together to create the source code (text file) of a program and make available to millions of others. The source code can then be downloaded and compiled to create a binary of the program. Often, the binary generated from the source code can also be

downloaded (so that you don't have to compile the program yourself).

Linux Commands Training Tips: Each Linux command is a binary created by compiling the source code of the Linux command. The GNU / Linux commands are common to all Linux distributions because they are all compiled from the same source code files.

However, one Linux distro may slightly modify the source code of a command so that the command works slightly differently (from another Linux distro).

For example, the adduser command is used to create (add) a Linux user. This command: 1. creates a user with the name you specify, such as cboom 2. creates a home directory for the user below the /home directory and -> 3. assigns the user permissions to the user's home directory. <-

The Linux user home directory is the same name as the user that is created. So, when the adduser command is used to create a Linux user named cboom, a directory named cboom is created below the /home directory path and the full path to the Linux user home directory is /home/cboom.

And here's the point: The adduser command is virtually identical in all Linux distros, but the permissions assigned to the user's home directory, such as cboom may be slightly different from one Linux distro to another.

Why is Linux OS Software and Other Linux Software Developed for Free

However, you may be wondering why so many people work on developing the Linux OS and Linux software components for free. There are actually several possible reasons.

People that are a part of the free software culture are not just motivated by money. Often, a person or organization has a need for a software component that does not exist, or the existing software is simply not good enough.

For example, a NASA engineer (a rocket scientist) needs a fast and efficient driver for the Ethernet cards on his network. Therefore, he writes a very fast driver (software interface for the Ethernet cards) and then decides to share the development with others! This is a way of thanking others for developing the free software that he has used. It is also a way of making a contribution to the free software community, of which the Linux OS and GNU commands are a part.

As another example, a programmer writes a utility that she needs to manage user data files, such as word processing and spreadsheet files.

She creates the utility and then makes it available under the GPL. She releases the source code over the Internet and other programmers make enhancements to the utility, add them to the source code, and then make the code available to her (and everyone). This has been described as loaning your tools out to someone and getting them back sharpened!

Being recognized in the free software community for having developed quality programs is a great feeling! People that like your work will respect you and thank you for your contribution. Having your software accepted by the community is good for your self esteem, your career, and your resume!

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