PCLinuxOS, often abbreviated as PCLOS, is a GNU/Linux distribution.

[http://www.pclinuxonline.com/pclos/ PCLinuxOS] is first and foremost an easy-to-use , where configuration and personal data will be saved, making it a LiveMove distribution as well.

Furthermore, PCLinuxOS is designed to be effortlessly installed to a local hard disk for a more permanent (and faster) solution; hence it can also be used like more traditional GNU/Linux distributions. Once installed locally, PCLinuxOS stands-out from other RPM Package Manager-based distributions by harnessing the power of the Advanced Packaging Tool, a package management system (originally from the Debian distribution), together with Synaptic, an intuitive Graphical user interface frontend to APT. This opens-up Web access to a vast software repository (and numerous mirrors), specific to PCLinuxOS, from where new packages and software updates can be retrieved.

= History and Background =

The precursor to PCLinuxOS was a set of RPM packages prepared specifically to improve successive versions of Mandrake Linux (now Mandriva Linux). The packages were created by an active contributor known as Texstar . From the year 2000 to 2003, Texstar maintained his repository of RPM packages in parallel with the Web site, [http://www.pclinuxonline.com/ PCLinuxOnline].

In 2003, Texstar created a Fork (software) of Mandrake Linux 9.2 (which was released in October 2003). Working closely with [http://livecd.berlios.de/ The LiveCD Project], Texstar has since developed that fork into the fully-fledged PCLinuxOS distribution.

= Relationship with Mandriva Linux =

Although it retains a similar but (as some would argue) more refined look and feel , PCLinuxOS has diverged significantly under the bonnet , by absorbing the best ideas and code from various separate sources: i.e. latest versions of Mandriva, Fedora Core, SuSE, Gentoo, YOPER and many other distributions. Furthermore, most parts, like the Linux kernel, GNU Compiler Collection and KDE (the desktop environment), have been independently packaged.

PCLinuxOS maintains its own software repository, available via the Advanced Packaging Tool (APT), completely replacing Mandriva s Urpmi. PCLinuxOS endeavours to have a fully valid upgrade path, meaning that an installation can be continuously updated to the latest versions of packages (hence to the latest equivalent ISO 9660 CD image or beyond). Nevertheless, PCLinuxOS remains mostly binary compatible with Mandriva Linux-specific RPM.

Other differences include its own menu arrangement and custom graphics and icon sets.

PCLinuxOS has a greater sense of focus than Mandriva Linux. While Mandriva Linux does make a good desktop OS, it is more of a jack-of-all-trades type of distribution. PCLinuxOS places specific emphasis on desktop computer in homes and small businesses, paying less attention to other more traditional uses, like servers (although packages for most server tasks are certainly available).

In summary, since the year 2000, Texstar has quickly gained a well deserved reputation for his special touch in polishing an already refined interface (that of Mandriva Linux), and PCLinuxOS is no exception.

= See also =

*List of Linux distributions *Comparison of Linux distributions

= External links =