Linux is the free most popular operations enviroment (core + base applications) that has started to compete with proprietary operating systems like Unix, y Windows. The base applications come from the Free Software Project GNU .

Pronunciation /lí.nuks/, no /lái.nuks/.

Presently there are few practical options for the Design and Engineering of Products, and almost none for the Control of Processes and Machinery, inside of the Linux Operating Environment.

Incorporated into Products: Many companies are starting to distribute commercial products based on Linux, from desktop computers and laptops delivered with Linux, cash registers, cell phones, network components (routers, firewalls, PBXs), automotive electronics (GPS navigators, stereos), home electronics, etc...

Many other programs of free software make the operative environment Linux productive and comfortable. Among these are

• Graphical environment (X11R6, KDE, GNOME, etc)
• Browsers (Firefox, Mozilla, Konqueror)
• Multimedia applications (audio, video, handling of graphics, drawing, musical notation, etc)
  
• Office Suite packages , Databases, etc
• Aplications asociated to the development of new programs

Acknowledging the increasing popularity of Linux, as well as its social importance, many producers of commercial software have started to adapt their products in order to execute in the Linux environment. It is expected that this tendency continue accelerating within the next years.

Some of these products have been delivered in versions of source code fuente, so they hace passed to be considered Free Software. Others are sold for commercial use, but they are available free of charge for non commercial use. Others are available free of charge in binary form. In many cases the producers allow the free use for the development of software applications.