Many Linux distributions use the word 'Linux' in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses and recommends the name ' GNU/Linux' to emphasize the use and importance of GNU software in many distributions, causing some controversy. Linux is typically packaged as a Linux distribution (distro), which includes the kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Linux ( / ˈ l ɪ n ʊ k s/ LIN-uuks) is a family of open-source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991, by Linus Torvalds. Most distributions include a desktop environment ( GUI).
