问题描述
什么是Unix，Linux，Ubuntu？
它们是相同的东西还是不同的版本或完全不同的东西？
这总是让我困惑，任何解释都会很棒。
最佳解决方案
Unix曾经(并且大部分)都是专有的。因此，有些人在20世纪80年代将他们的集体noggin放在一起并组合了一些可以复制Unix功能而不复制其源代码的东西，这本来是非法的[在这里插入关于Richard Stallman和Linus Torvalds的更长版本]。
最早的GNU /Linux发行版之一是Debian。 Ubuntu是由参与Debian的人创建的，Ubuntu正式为其Debian的根源感到自豪。它最终都是GNU /Linux，但Ubuntu是一种风味。就像你可以有不同的英语方言一样。源是开放的，所以任何人都可以创建自己的版本。
然而，Debian对于像我这样的凡人来说并不是真的可用，而且就像Ubuntu之类的东西一样。事实上，我明白它是针对non-geek用户的Canonical(Ubuntu背后的公司)的战略。这就是为什么大多数新的GNU /Linux用户首先来到Ubuntu或Mint(基于Ubuntu)的原因。
次佳解决方案
这是from Wikipedia: Linux。作弊我知道….
The Unix operating system was conceived and implemented in 1969 at AT&T’s Bell Laboratories in the United States by Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna. It was first released in 1971 and was initially entirely written in assembly language, a common practice at the time. Later, in a key pioneering approach in 1973, Unix was re-written in the programming language C by Dennis Ritchie (with exceptions to the kernel and I/O). The availability of an operating system written in a high-level language allowed easier portability to different computer platforms. With a legal glitch forcing AT&T to license the operating system’s source code to anyone who asked,[22] Unix quickly grew and became widely adopted by academic institutions and businesses. In 1984, AT&T divested itself of Bell Labs. Free of the legal glitch requiring free licensing, Bell Labs began selling Unix as a proprietary product.
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of Linux is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released 5 October 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux was originally developed as a free operating system for Intel x86-based personal computers. It has since been ported to more computer hardware platforms than any other operating system. It is a leading operating system on servers and other big iron systems such as mainframe computers and supercomputers:more than 90% of today’s 500 fastest supercomputers run some variant of Linux,including the 10 fastest. Linux also runs on embedded systems (devices where the operating system is typically built into the firmware and highly tailored to the system) such as mobile phones, tablet computers, network routers, televisions and video game consoles; the Android system in wide use on mobile devices is built on the Linux kernel.
Ubuntu is a computer operating system based on the Debian Linux distribution and distributed as free and open source software, using its own desktop environment. It is named after the Southern African philosophy of ubuntu (“humanity towards others”). As of 2012, according to online surveys, Ubuntu is the most popular Linux distribution on desktop/laptop personal computers, and most Ubuntu coverage focuses on its use in that market.
Ubuntu is sponsored by the UK-based company Canonical Ltd., owned by South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth. Canonical generates revenue by selling technical support and services related to Ubuntu, while the operating system itself is entirely free of charge.
第三种解决方案
(我已将overview-poster添加到相关问题half-jokingliy;但在这里，它实际上对其他答案有帮助:)
我依旧记得，还有一个更详细的海报，但为了快速总结，这应该足够了：
来自Wikimedia commons: Unix history-simple的图片
(有关详细信息(全部)，请参阅GNU/Linux Distribution Timeline 12.10 – 但是“稍微更详细的海报”我依稀记得介于两者之间…)
第四种方案
来自： – Comparison between Linux And Unix Operating System
Many a times we get confused with Unix and Linux also threat them as synonyms but that is not true. UNIX is copyrighted name only few of the companies are allowed it i.e. IBM AIX and Sun Solaris and HP-UX. This quote from Official Linux kernel README file confuses most.
Linux is a Unix clone written from scratch by Linus Torvalds with assistance from a loosely-knit team of hackers across the Net. It aims towards POSIX compliance.
In this article I am trying to describe the various differences between Unix and Linux under the following headings.
- History
- Usage
- Cost
- GUI
- Security
- Future OS
History
UNIX was created in the 1960s by the AT&T Bell Labs (Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie) and first commercially UNIX OS became available in 1970. First release of Unix was having a command line interpreter and some small utility programs with future extension for the multitasking and UNIX evolved from there.
In 1991, Linus Torvalds began working on a UNIX like OS known as Minix. The Minix source code was freely available under GNU GPL and he successfully modified this code for use on x86 PC systems. By September 1991, Torvalds has successfully completed the first Linux kernel designed for PCs. This kernel included various system utilities and libraries from the GNU project to create a usable operating system based completely on open source code.
Usage The UNIX operating system is used in internet servers, workstations & PCs. Backbone of the majority of finance infastructure and many 24×365 high availability solutions.
Linux can be installed on a wide variety of computer hardware, ranging from mobile phones, tablet computers and video game consoles, to mainframes and supercomputers.
Cost Linux is Free (as it is opensource, except the case where you need a supported version i.e. RHEL). You can download it from the Internet or redistribute it under GNU licenses. You will see the best community support for Linux. Most UNIX like operating systems are not free (but this is changing fast, for example OpenSolaris UNIX). However, some Linux distributions such as Redhat / Novell provides additional Linux support, consultancy, bug fixing, and training for additional fees.
GUI Any modern system discussion can not be completed untill unless we discuss about graphical interface. Linux typically provides KDE and Gnome, but there are many alternatives such as LXDE, Xfce, Unity, Mate, twm, ect. where as Unix most distributions now ship with Gnome (initial GUI used to be called CDE i.e. Common Desktop Environment).