<P> The primary difference between Linux and many other popular contemporary operating systems is that the Linux kernel and other components are free and open - source software . Linux is not the only such operating system, although it is by far the most widely used . Some free and open - source software licenses are based on the principle of copyleft, a kind of reciprocity: any work derived from a copyleft piece of software must also be copyleft itself . The most common free software license, the GNU General Public License (GPL), is a form of copyleft, and is used for the Linux kernel and many of the components from the GNU Project . </P> <P> Linux - based distributions are intended by developers for interoperability with other operating systems and established computing standards . Linux systems adhere to POSIX, SUS, LSB, ISO, and ANSI standards where possible, although to date only one Linux distribution has been POSIX. 1 certified, Linux - FT . </P> <P> Free software projects, although developed through collaboration, are often produced independently of each other . The fact that the software licenses explicitly permit redistribution, however, provides a basis for larger scale projects that collect the software produced by stand - alone projects and make it available all at once in the form of a Linux distribution . </P> <P> Many Linux distributions, or "distros", manage a remote collection of system software and application software packages available for download and installation through a network connection . This allows users to adapt the operating system to their specific needs . Distributions are maintained by individuals, loose - knit teams, volunteer organizations, and commercial entities . A distribution is responsible for the default configuration of the installed Linux kernel, general system security, and more generally integration of the different software packages into a coherent whole . Distributions typically use a package manager such as apt, yum, zypper, pacman or portage to install, remove, and update all of a system's software from one central location . </P>

Installation of operating systems (windows linux etc)