Fedora (operating system)

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Not to be confused with Red Hat Linux or Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
This article is about the operating system. For other uses, see Fedora (disambiguation).
Fedora

Fedora 20 (Heisenbug) with GNOME 3.10
Company / developer Fedora Project,
(owned by Red Hat, Inc.)
OS family Unix-like
Working state Current
Source model Open source (with exceptions)[1]
Initial release 6 November 2003 (2003-11-06)[2]
Latest stable release 20 (Heisenbug) (December 17, 2013 (2013-12-17)) [±]
Available language(s) Multilingual
Update method Yum (PackageKit)
Package manager RPM Package Manager
Supported platforms i686, x86-64, ARM
Kernel type Linux
Userland GNU
Default user interface GNOME 3
License Various free software licenses, plus proprietary binary blobs.[1]
Official website fedoraproject.org

Fedora /fɨˈdɒr.ə/ (formerly Fedora Core) is an operating system based on the Linux kernel, developed by the community-supported Fedora Project and owned by Red Hat. The Fedora Project's mission is to lead the advancement of free and open source software and content as a collaborative community.[3] Fedora uses the RPM package management system.

Fedora contains software distributed under a free and open source license and aims to be on the leading edge of such technologies.[4][5] Fedora developers prefer to make upstream changes instead of applying fixes specifically for Fedora—this ensures that their updates are available to all Linux distributions.[6]

A version of Fedora has a relatively short life cycle—the maintenance period is only 13 months: there are 6 months between releases, and version X is supported only until 1 month after version X+2.[7] This promotes leading-edge software because it frees developers from some backward compatibility restraints, but it also makes Fedora a poor choice for product development (e.g., embedded systems), which usually requires long-term vendor-support, unavailable with any version of Fedora.

The Fedora Project is governed by a board whose majority is elected by the Fedora community.[8]

Linus Torvalds, author of the Linux kernel, uses Fedora on all his computers.[9]

History

The Fedora Project was created in late 2003, when Red Hat Linux was discontinued.[10] Red Hat Enterprise Linux was to be Red Hat's only officially supported Linux distribution, while Fedora was to be a community distribution.[10] Red Hat Enterprise Linux branches its releases from versions of Fedora.[11]

The name of Fedora derives from Fedora Linux, a volunteer project that provided extra software for the Red Hat Linux distribution, and from the characteristic fedora hat used in Red Hat's "Shadowman" logo. Warren Togami began Fedora Linux in 2002 as an undergraduate project, intended to provide a single repository for well-tested third-party software packages so that non-Red Hat software would be easier to find, develop, and use. The key of Fedora Linux and Red Hat Linux was that Fedora's repository development would be collaborative with the global volunteer community.[12] Fedora Linux was eventually absorbed into the Fedora Project, carrying with it this collaborative approach.[13]

Fedora is a trademark of Red Hat, Inc. Red Hat's application for trademark status for the name "Fedora" was disputed by Cornell University and the University of Virginia Library, creators of the unrelated Fedora Commons digital repository management software.[14] The issue was resolved and the parties settled on a co-existence agreement that stated that the Cornell-UVA project could use the name when clearly associated with open source software for digital object repository systems and that Red Hat could use the name when it was clearly associated with open source computer operating systems.[15]

Features

Distribution

Fedora's Update Manager
PackageKit, Fedora's default package manager front-end

The Fedora Project distributes Fedora in several different ways:[16]

  • Fedora DVD/CD set – a DVD or CD set of all major Fedora packages at time of shipping;
  • Live images – CD or DVD sized images that can be used to create a Live CD or boot from a USB flash drive and optionally install to a hard disk;
  • Minimal CD – used for installing over HTTP, FTP or NFS.[17]

It is also possible to create Live USB versions of Fedora using Fedora Live USB creator, UNetbootin or dd.

Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux (EPEL) is a volunteer-based community effort from the Fedora project to create a repository of high-quality add-on packages that complement the Fedora-based Red Hat Enterprise Linux and its compatible spinoffs such as CentOS or Scientific Linux.[18]

Software package management is primarily handled by the yum utility.[19] Graphical interfaces, such as pirut and pup are provided, as well as puplet, which provides visual notifications in the panel when updates are available.[19] apt-rpm is an alternative to yum, and may be more familiar to people used to Debian or Debian-based distributions, where Advanced Packaging Tool is used to manage packages.[20] Additionally, extra repositories can be added to the system, so that packages not available in Fedora can be installed.[21]

Software repositories

Fedora comes installed with a wide range of software that includes LibreOffice, Firefox, and Empathy. Additional software that is not installed by default can be downloaded using the package manager.

Before Fedora 7, there were two main repositories – Core and Extras. Fedora Core contained all the base packages that were required by the operating system, as well as other packages that were distributed along with the installation CD/DVDs, and was maintained only by Red Hat developers. Fedora Extras, the secondary repository that was included from Fedora Core 3, was community-maintained and not distributed along with the installation CD/DVDs.

Also prior to Fedora 7 being released, there was a third repository called Fedora Legacy. This repository was community-maintained and was mainly concerned with extending the life cycle of older Fedora Core distributions and selected Red Hat Linux releases that were no longer officially maintained. Fedora Legacy was shut down in December 2006.

Third party repositories exist that distribute packages not included in Fedora either because they don't meet Fedora's definition of free software or because their distribution may violate US law. One of the most popular third-party repositories is RPM Fusion.

Desktop environments

The default desktop in Fedora is the GNOME desktop environment, with Fedora offering the GNOME Shell as its default interface since the release of Fedora 15.[22] Other desktop environments are available from the Fedora package repositories, and can also be installed from the Fedora installer, including the KDE Plasma Workspaces, Xfce, and LXDE desktop environments.[23] In Fedora 18 both the MATE and Cinnamon desktops were made available in the package repositories.[23]

Spins

The Fedora Project also distributes custom variations of Fedora which are called Fedora spins.[24] These are built from a specific set of software packages and offer alternative desktops custom configured or target specific interests, such as gaming, security, design, and robotics. Fedora spins are developed by several Fedora special interest groups.[24]

Fedora spins are similar to Debian blends.

Security

Security is an important feature in Fedora. One specific security feature in Fedora is Security-Enhanced Linux, which implements a variety of security policies, including mandatory access controls, through the use of Linux Security Modules (LSM) in the Linux kernel. Fedora adopted SELinux early on:[25] it was introduced in Fedora Core 2[26] and enabled by default in Fedora Core 3.[27]

Releases

Fedora 18 with KDE
Fedora Core 1 with GNOME
Main article: List of Fedora releases

The current release is Fedora 20, codenamed "Heisenbug", which was released on 17 December 2013.

Version history

Project Name Version Code name Release date[28] End-of-life date[29] Kernel version
Fedora
Core		 Old version, no longer supported: 1 Yarrow 2003-11-05 2004-09-20 2.4.22
Old version, no longer supported: 2 Tettnang 2004-05-18 2005-04-11 2.6.5
Old version, no longer supported: 3 Heidelberg 2004-11-08 2006-01-16 2.6.9
Old version, no longer supported: 4 Stentz 2005-06-13 2006-08-07 2.6.11
Old version, no longer supported: 5 Bordeaux 2006-03-20 2007-07-02 2.6.15
Old version, no longer supported: 6 Zod 2006-10-24 2007-12-07 2.6.18
Fedora Old version, no longer supported: 7 Moonshine 2007-05-31 2008-06-13 2.6.21
Old version, no longer supported: 8 Werewolf 2007-11-08 2009-01-07 2.6.23
Old version, no longer supported: 9 Sulphur 2008-05-13 2009-07-10 2.6.25
Old version, no longer supported: 10 Cambridge 2008-11-25 2009-12-18 2.6.27
Old version, no longer supported: 11 Leonidas 2009-06-09[30] 2010-06-25 2.6.29
Old version, no longer supported: 12 Constantine 2009-11-17[31] 2010-12-02 2.6.31
Old version, no longer supported: 13 Goddard 2010-05-25[32] 2011-06-04 2.6.33
Old version, no longer supported: 14 Laughlin 2010-11-02[33] 2011-12-08 2.6.35[34]
Old version, no longer supported: 15 Lovelock 2011-05-24[35] 2012-06-26[36] 2.6.38[37]
Old version, no longer supported: 16 Verne 2011-11-08[38] 2013-02-12[39] 3.1[40]
Old version, no longer supported: 17 Beefy Miracle[41] 2012-05-29[42] 2013-07-30[43] 3.3[44]
Old version, no longer supported: 18 Spherical Cow 2013-01-15[45] 2014-01-14[46] 3.11[47]
Older version, yet still supported: 19 Schrödinger's Cat[48] 2013-07-02[49] 3.12[47]
Current stable version: 20 Heisenbug[50] 2013-12-17[51] 3.12[47]
Legend:
Old version
Older version, still supported
Latest version
Latest preview version
Future release

Releases of Red Hat Linux are listed here.

Derivatives

  • Notable Fedora derivative Linux distributions:[52]
    • Berry Linux – a medium-sized Fedora based distribution that provides support for Japanese and English.
    • Hanthana Linux – from Sri Lanka
    • Korora – is a complete and easy to use system for general computing that "just works" out of the box.
    • Linpus Linux – made by Taiwanese company Linpus Technologies for the Asian market.
    • Ojuba Linux – an Arabic Linux distribution.
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux – enterprise Linux offering from Red Hat, which branches from the current Fedora baseline.
    • Russian Fedora Remix – version of Fedora, adapted for Russia. Contains proprietary drivers and software.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Frequently Asked Questions about Fedora Licensing". Fedora Project wiki. Retrieved 1 March 2011. 
  2. ↑ Red Hat (2003-11-06). "Announcing Fedora Core 1". Retrieved 2007-10-18. 
  3. ↑ "Fedora Project Overview". Retrieved 2009-11-04. 
  4. ↑ Max Spevack. "Fedora Project Leader Max Spevack Responds". Retrieved 2006-12-17. 
  5. ↑ "Fedora Project Objectives". 2006-12-19. Retrieved 2007-02-12. 
  6. ↑ Paul W. Frields (2008-05-12). "Fedora 9". Fedora Project. Retrieved 2008-07-27. 
  7. ↑ Fedora Project life cycle and maintenance, accessed 2009–04–07.
  8. ↑ "Fedora goes to a community-dominated board". Retrieved 2009-06-22. 
  9. ↑ "Interview with Linus Torvalds from Linux Format 163". TuxRadar. Linux Format. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2014. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Fedora Project: Announcing New Direction". 2003-09-22. Retrieved 2007-10-18. 
  11. ↑ "The Fedora Project and Red Hat Enterprise Linux, part 4". 2006-08-22. Retrieved 2007-10-18. 
  12. ↑ "Warren Togami on the new Fedora Project". Retrieved 2010-02-09. 
  13. ↑ "Why Fedora? (.odp presentation)". Retrieved 2011-04-30. 
  14. ↑ Becker, David (21 November 2003). "Red Hat, researchers in name tiff". CNET News. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 3 February 2014. 
  15. ↑ "Fedora Repository Project History". Retrieved 3 February 2014. 
  16. ↑ Fedora Project. "New Users – How Do I Download Installation Files?". Retrieved 2009-04-03. 
  17. ↑ Fedora Project. "Alternative Install Methods". Retrieved 2009-04-03. 
  18. ↑ Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux (EPEL), accessed 2009–05–15.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Stuart Ellis. "Software Management Tools in Fedora Core". Retrieved 2007-11-18. 
  20. ↑ Fedora Project. "APT and Fedora". Retrieved 2007-11-18. 
  21. ↑ Stuart Ellis. "Using Repositories". Retrieved 2007-11-18. 
  22. ↑ "Fedora 15 and the Desktop: Is it Ready?". Retrieved 2012-05-30. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Fedora 17 now available for download". Retrieved 2012-05-30. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Custom Spins". Retrieved 3 February 2014. 
  25. ↑ "Mandatory Access Control with SELinux" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-10-07. 
  26. ↑ "Fedora Core 2 Release Notes". Retrieved 2007-10-19. 
  27. ↑ "Fedora Core 3 Release Notes". Retrieved 2007-10-19. 
  28. ↑ Fedora Project. "Releases". Retrieved 2008-06-23. 
  29. ↑ "End of life". FedoraProject. Retrieved 2012-01-25. 
  30. ↑ "Fedora 11 Release Schedule". The Fedora Project. 2009-05-31. Retrieved 2009-06-10. 
  31. ↑ "Releases/12". FedoraProject. Retrieved 2012-01-25. 
  32. ↑ "Releases/13/Schedule". FedoraProject. Retrieved 2012-01-25. 
  33. ↑ "Releases/14/Schedule". FedoraProject. Retrieved 2012-01-25. 
  34. ↑ "Fedora 14 Release Schedule and Codename - Softpedia". News.softpedia.com. Retrieved 2012-01-25. 
  35. ↑ "Releases/15". FedoraProject. Retrieved 2012-01-25. 
  36. ↑ "Reminder: Fedora 15 end of life on 2012-06-26". FedoraProject. Retrieved 1 June 2012. 
  37. ↑ "kernel". Admin.fedoraproject.org. Retrieved 2014-02-07. 
  38. ↑ "Releases/16/Schedule". FedoraProject. Retrieved 2012-01-25. 
  39. ↑ Gilmore, Dennis. "Reminder: Fedora 16 end of life on 2013-02-12". lists.fedoraproject.org. Retrieved 16 January 2013. 
  40. ↑ "Fedora 16 Release Notes". Retrieved 2012-11-10. 
  41. ↑ "Fedora Project Wiki". FedoraProject. 2012-01-16. Retrieved 2012-01-25. 
  42. ↑ "Releases/17/Schedule - FedoraProject". FedoraProject. 2012-04-05. Retrieved 2012-04-25. 
  43. ↑ Gilmore, Dennis. "Reminder: Fedora 17 end of life on 2013-07-30". lists.fedoraproject.org. Retrieved 7 August 2013. 
  44. ↑ "Fedora 17 Release Notes". 
  45. ↑ "Releases/18/Schedule - FedoraProject". FedoraProject. 2013-01-05. Retrieved 2013-01-05. 
  46. ↑ Gilmore, Dennis. "Reminder: Fedora 18 end of life on 2014-01-14". lists.fedoraproject.org. Retrieved 18 December 2013. 
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 "Fedora Kernel". 2013-07-31. Retrieved 2014-01-06. 
  48. ↑ "Results of Fedora 19 release name". FedoraProject. 2012-11-16. Retrieved 2012-11-16. 
  49. ↑ "Releases/19/Schedule - FedoraProject". FedoraProject. 2013-03-04. Retrieved 2013-03-04. 
  50. ↑ "Results of Fedora 20 Release Name Voting　". FedoraProject. 2013-09-03. Retrieved 2013-09-04. 
  51. ↑ "Releases/20/Schedule - FedoraProject". FedoraProject. 2013-11-12. Retrieved 2013-11-12. 
  52. ↑ "List of Fedora derived Linux distributions". 
  53. ↑ Fuduntu - Punny Name, Serious Distro, accessed 2011-03-18.

External links

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Derivatives of Red Hat Enterprise Linux or Fedora
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Operating systems that offer the MATE desktop
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Operating systems that offer the LXDE desktop

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