Linux is an operating system that can be downloaded free and “belongs” to the entire community of developers, not one corporate entity. In other words, anyone from a professional software developers to a hobbyist computer hackers can access and make changes to the Linux kernel-all the information about Linux is open and available to everyone. That’s why Linux is known as “open source” or “free software”, because there is nothing secret about this system. This freedom also allows companies to sell and distribute Linux on CD-ROM or by other means, although those companies must keep their code open to the public.
With more and more people looking for an alternative to Windows, Linux has recently grown in popularity and is quickly becoming a favorite among major corporations and curious desktop users. Not only does it give users a choice of operating systems, it also proves itself valuable with its power, flexibility and reliability
Credit : Momos Open Source