Just what is an operating system, anyway? We cover what sorts of software exist on a PC, how these work together, and what alternatives there are.

We also look at source and object code.

What are the different licences for software, and what does it mean for a normal user? We look at what open source (or free) software there is, and why people would give it away.

This section looks at what is in a Linux system, and how it differs from a Microsoft system. We also cover areas where open source is mostly used.