Freeware and Shareware are variations on these various licensing methods. Freeware may or may not be GNU GPL or Open Source, but the creator doesn’t charge for the software. Usually Freeware and Shareware are not descriptive of the Open or Closed Source nature of the program. By using the GNU GPL or Open Source Initiative license, the developers of Linux and its associated programs have allowed the use, change, and redistribution of these programs under the GNU GPL or Open Source method to create excellent growth in the OS world.

The Growth of Linux

The growth of Linux is subject to some debate, but the best indicators of the power of Linux are the following:

Major companies that support it, such as Intel, IBM, Dell, and Google

Governmental use as the only operating system in offices or throughout an entire country

The increase of non-technical users who use Linux as their operating system

The major companies support Linux as an alternative to other operating systems on the market because there is a great demand for the reliability and security of Linux that the other operating systems often can’t provide. These corporations determined that there was a need to support, install, sell, or use Linux in the day-to- day workings of the company. For example, Dell and IBM may sell, install, and support Linux as an operating system on their PCs through server lines of

equipment — simply because users ask for it. In addition, Google uses Linux to power its search engine because Linux has proven itself to be stable and clusters (lots of servers working as one) well.

Another area representing the growth of Linux is the increase of Linux within governmental offices. Several countries have determined that Linux should be the operating system of choice, and in some cases, the only operating system that is used in government offices or throughout the country. These governments have determined that Linux fits their needs better than other operating systems for economical, political, and technical reasons.

Furthermore, many non-technical users are now using Linux as their operating system of choice. Whether they saw a TV show, read an article, or saw an experienced user utilize Linux in a helpful way, non-technical users are trying Linux out or switching to it as an alternative to other operating systems — and then staying with Linux after it proves itself to be stable, reliable, and easy to use. Last year, according to the market research firm International Data Corporation (IDC), Linux operating system growth outpaced all other client and server operating systems.