Linux是由 Linus Torvalds 于 1991 年开发的操作系统。“Linux”这个名字来源于 Linux 内核。它是开源的，可以免费使用操作系统。用于计算机软硬件、游戏开发、大型机等，可以运行各种客户端程序。
Unix是一种便携式、多任务、多用户操作系统，由 AT&T 开发。它最初是在贝尔实验室的肯·汤普森 (Ken Thompson) 的倡议下进行的单人创业。它逐渐成为使用最广泛的操作系统。它用于 Web 服务器、工作站和 PC。许多业务应用程序都可以在其中访问。
| Linux | Unix |
|---|---|
| Linux is Open Source, and a large number of programmer work together online and contribute to its development. | Unix was developed by AT&T Labs, different commercial vendors, and non-profit organizations. |
| It is an open-source operating system which is freely accessible to everyone. | It is an operating system which can be only utilized by its copywriters. |
| Threat recognition and solution is very fast because Linux is mainly community-driven. So, if any Linux client posts any sort of threat, a team of qualified developers starts working to resolve this threat. | Unix clients require longer hold up time, to get the best possible bug fixing patch. |
| It supports more file system than Unix. | It also supports file system however lesser than Linux. |
| File system supports – Ext2, Ext3, Ext4, Jfs, ReiserFS, Xfs, Btrfs, FAT, FAT32, NTFS | File system supports – jfs, gpfs, hfs, hfs+, ufs, xfs, zfs |
| Linux provides two GUIs, KDE and Gnome. But there are many other options. For example, LXDE, Xfce, Unity, Mate, and so on. | Initially Unix was a command based OS, however later a GUI was created called Common Desktop Environment. Most distributions now ship with Gnome. |
| It is used everywhere from servers, PCs, smartphones, tablets to mainframes. | It is used in servers, workstations, and PCs. |
| The default interface is BASH (Bourne Again SHell). | It initially used Bourne shell. But is also compatible with other GUIs. |
| Anybody can use Linux whether a home client, developer or a student. | Developed mainly for servers, workstations, and mainframes. |
| The source is accessible to the general public. | The source is not accessible to the general public. |
| Originally developed for Intel’s x86 hardware processors. It is available for more than twenty different types of CPU which also includes an ARM. | It is available on PA-RISC and Itanium machines. |
| It has about 60-100 viruses listed till date. | It has about 85-120 viruses listed till date (rough estimate). |
| Some Linux versions are Ubuntu, Debian GNU, Arch Linux, etc. | Some Unix versions are SunOS, Solaris, SCO UNIX, AIX, HP/UX, ULTRIX, etc. |
有趣的事实：
- Linux 只是内核，而不是使用的完整系统。
- 目前超过 90% 的 Linux 源代码是由其他开发人员编写的。
- 最初，Linux 是使用 GNU C 编译器编译的。
- 有超过 10 种基于 Linux 的移动操作系统，如 Sailfish OS、Ubuntu Touch、Ubuntu Mobile 等。
- 每个主要的太空计划都使用 Linux。
- 排名前十的公共云中有九个在 Linux 上运行。