GNU/Linux has taken the world of computers by storm. At one
time, personal computer users were forced to choose among
proprietary operating environments and applications. Users had
no way of fixing or improving these programs, could not look
"under the hood," and were often forced to accept restrictive
licenses. GNU/Linux and other open source systems have changed
that—now PC users, administrators, and developers can choose a
free operating environment complete with tools, applications,
and full source code. A great deal of the success of GNU/Linux
is owed to its open source nature. Because the source code for
programs is publicly available, everyone can take part in
development, whether by fixing a small bug or by developing and
distributing a complete major application. This opportunity has
enticed thousands of capable developers worldwide to contribute
new components and improvements to GNU/Linux, to the point that
modern GNU/Linux systems rival the features of any proprietary
system, and distributions inc