CHAPTER 2

Investigating Linux's Principles and Philosophy

You can frequently select a product or technology on purely pragmatic grounds—what OS works well for a given task, which software suite is the least expensive, and so on. Sometimes, though, understanding the principles and philosophy that underlie a technology can be useful, and might even guide your choice. This is true of some Linux users; the open source model of Linux, which I introduced in Chapter 1, “Selecting an Operating System,” has implications that can affect how Linux works. Furthermore, some people in the Linux world can become quite passionate about these principles. Whether or not you agree with these people, understanding their point of view can help you appreciate the ...

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