# Linux Doom
**Wikidata**: [Q67198928](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q67198928)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/linux-doom

## Summary
Linux Doom is an official source port of the video game Doom, developed by Dave Taylor to run on the Linux operating system. It is based on the id Tech 1 engine and is licensed under the GNU General Public License, version 2.0 or later. Written primarily in the C programming language, it represents one of the earliest efforts to bring id Software's landmark first-person shooter to the open-source Linux platform.

## Key Facts
- Linux Doom is an official source port of the game Doom.
- It was developed by Dave Taylor.
- The port is based on the id Tech 1 game engine.
- It is specifically designed to run on the Linux operating system platform.
- The software is licensed under the GNU General Public License, version 2.0 or later.
- The primary programming language used is C (Q15777).
- The software's copyright status is classified as copyrighted.
- It is documented on The Doom Wiki with the ID "Linux_Doom" (reference ID 14125).

## FAQs
**Q: What exactly is Linux Doom?**
A: Linux Doom is a source port of the original Doom game, specifically created to allow the game to run on Linux-based operating systems. It was developed by Dave Taylor and utilizes the id Tech 1 engine.

**Q: Who developed Linux Doom and what technologies does it use?**
A: Linux Doom was developed by Dave Taylor. It is built upon the id Tech 1 engine and written in the C programming language.

**Q: Under what license is Linux Doom distributed?**
A: Linux Doom is distributed under the GNU General Public License, version 2.0 or later. Despite this open-source license, the software retains a copyrighted status.

**Q: How is Linux Doom documented in the gaming community?**
A: Linux Doom is officially documented on The Doom Wiki (DoomWiki.org) under the ID "Linux_Doom" and the internal qualifier ID 14125, providing a historical reference for the port.

## Why It Matters
Linux Doom holds historical significance as a pioneering effort in bringing major commercial gaming titles to the Linux ecosystem. At a time when Linux was still establishing itself as a viable desktop operating system following its inception in 1991, having a high-profile game like Doom—powered by the revolutionary id Tech 1 engine—ported directly to the platform demonstrated the technical viability and potential of open-source operating systems for entertainment software. 

Developed by Dave Taylor, who was an instrumental figure at id Software, this port showcased the adaptability of the C programming language and the id Tech 1 architecture across different computing environments. By utilizing the GNU General Public License, version 2.0 or later, Linux Doom aligned itself with the free software movement, embodying the principles of user freedom to run, study, change, and distribute software. This helped foster a culture of technical experimentation and community-driven development within the Linux gaming space, proving that the Unix-like architecture of Linux could support complex, resource-intensive graphical applications and paving the way for the robust Linux gaming ecosystem that exists today.

## Notable For
- **Official Source Port**: Recognized as an official source port of the legendary game Doom, granting it a distinct status over community-made reverse-engineered versions.
- **Platform Pioneer**: Serves as an early and significant example of bringing a major commercial video game to the Linux operating system platform.
- **Engine Implementation**: Demonstrates the successful cross-platform implementation of the highly influential id Tech 1 game engine.
- **Open-Source Licensing**: Distributed under the GNU General Public License, version 2.0 or later, allowing users to freely study and modify the code.
- **Creator Pedigree**: Developed by Dave Taylor, directly tying the port to the internal talent of id Software during its most influential era.

## Body

### Overview and Technical Specifications
Linux Doom is a source port of the iconic first-person shooter Doom, classified under the "source port" instance type. It was explicitly designed to run on the Linux platform, a family of Unix-like operating systems created by Linus Torvalds in 1991. The development of this port was handled by Dave Taylor, and it functions by utilizing the underlying architecture of the id Tech 1 game engine. The software itself is written in C (Q15777), a foundational programming language that aligns with the broader Linux ecosystem and original Doom development.

### Licensing and Copyright
The distribution and usage of Linux Doom are governed by specific legal frameworks. The software is explicitly licensed under the GNU General Public License, version 2.0 or later. This licensing choice ensures that the source code remains free and open-source, permitting users to run, study, modify, and redistribute the software. Despite the open-source nature of its license, the official copyright status of Linux Doom remains classified as copyrighted.

### Platform Context: The Linux Operating System
Linux Doom runs on Linux, a major computing platform and family of Unix-like operating systems that was first released on September 17, 1991. Linux is based on the Linux kernel and is a prominent example of free software. It is highly versatile, supporting a wide range of processor architectures, including DEC Alpha, x86 (Q182933), x86-64 (Q272629), ARM architecture, PowerPC, RISC-V, and MIPS architecture. The operating system is primarily written in C and assembly language, and is distributed in various formats, including digital download, floppy disk, CD-ROM, and DVD-ROM. The Linux kernel, which is the core component of the operating system, is distinct from the broader Linux distribution ecosystem.

The operating system was influenced by MINIX and the original Unix system (Q11368) and is sponsored by The Linux Foundation. It boasts a massive online presence with 195 Wikipedia sitelinks, numerous subreddits (such as r/linux and r/linuxquestions), GitHub and GitLab topics, and active IRC channels (e.g., irc://irc.freenode.net/linux). The mascot of Linux is Tux the penguin.

### Associated Individuals
While Dave Taylor is the specific developer credited with Linux Doom, the broader Linux ecosystem has been shaped by numerous individuals who have contributed to the operating system and its related software. Notable figures include Michel Dutreix (born 1959), a French computer scientist known for his contributions to Linux; Natale Vinto, an Italian engineer contributing to Linux development; Frank Vasquez, specializing in embedded systems and Linux; Moshe Zadka, an Israeli-American engineer known for open-source work on Linux systems; Geert Van Pamel (born 1959), a Belgian engineer contributing to open-source software including Linux; Alessandro Rubini (born 1950), who has made significant contributions to the Linux operating system family; Vratislav Podzimek (born 1989), whose work includes Linux and Fedora Linux; Gerard Beekmans (born 1979), known for his work within the Linux operating system ecosystem; and Martin Dráb, a programmer known for his work involving Linux systems.

### Linux Distributions and Software Ecosystem
Linux serves as the foundation for a vast array of operating system distributions, which provide the environments where Linux Doom can be executed. These include Linux distribution (the general class), ROSA Linux, elementary OS, Openmoko Linux, Gentoo Linux, webOS, Unity Operating System (UOS), Linux on System z, Linux for PlayStation 2, GNU Guix System, Devuan, Dynebolic, Trisquel, ALT Linux, GeckoLinux, Enso OS, BLAG Linux and GNU, Exodia OS, TOSS, Linux Kodachi, CentOS Stream, Ultramarine Linux, Refracta, TwisterOS, Uenux, Mobilinux, Sophos Firewall OS, RedSleeve, Suicide Linux, and YunoHost.

Additionally, a wide variety of software applications are designed to run on the Linux operating system alongside games like Linux Doom. Notable software includes Buildroot, Galaxium, Swiftweasel, GNU Gatekeeper, CDemu, scikit-learn, KMyMoney, Canorus, Cantera, ThreadWeaver, HP Linux Imaging and Printing (HPLIP), Point-to-Point Protocol daemon (pppd), slapt-get, Wvdial, GNOME Screenshot, util-linux, GNOME Dictionary, lspci, wxMaxima, Autopano, ARES CAD, GitHub CLI, RustPython, Artichoke, Synthesizer V, bat, Excelize, Bevy, OrbTk, exfatprogs, Blockbench, Strawberry, Goodvibes, Toxygen, DOSBox-X, and Janium. Many of these applications utilize assembly language, a low-level programming language used in Linux development and originally developed in 1949.

### Documentation and Community Resources
Linux Doom is actively documented within the gaming and technical communities. Its primary reference source is The Doom Wiki at DoomWiki.org, where it is cataloged with the Doom Wiki ID "Linux_Doom" and the specific qualifier ID 14125.

## References

1. [Linux Doom - The Doom Wiki at DoomWiki.org](https://doomwiki.org/wiki/Linux_Doom)