Linux distributes software.
Debian ( [ ˈdɛbiən ] ) is a Unix-like computer operating system that is composed entirely of free software , most of which is under the GNU General Public License and packaged by a group of individuals participating in the Debian Project . Linux . oggˈlɪnəks ] or , less frequently , [ ˈlaɪnəks ] ) is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open-source software development and distribution . Some of the most popular mainstream Linux distributions are Arch Linux , CentOS , Debian , Fedora , Gentoo Linux , Linux Mint , Mageia , openSUSE and Ubuntu , together with commercial distributions such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server . A Linux distribution ( often abbreviated as distro ) is an operating system made from a software collection , which is based upon the Linux kernel and , often , a package management system . The Linux kernel is a monolithic Unix-like computer operating system kernel .