Sunwah Linux (rays Linux Distribution)
Encyclopedia
Sunwah Linux is a Chinese
Linux
desktop distribution
specifically addressing the Chinese
localization
need in handling and translation between Unicode
, Big5
, and various versions of Guobiao
character encoding
. In the mainland China
it is known as RAYS LX Linux Desktop Distribution.
-based distribution. It was the first Chinese Linux distribution to receive Linux Standard Base
(LSB) certification. The system architecture was designed in Hong Kong
and the programming was developed in Nanjing
. The distribution was sponsored by the Sunwah Group in Hong Kong and the Jiangsu
Provincial Government of China.
The software can be downloaded at the Open Rays community website.
Sunwah - PearL Linux
(abbreviated SWP), the technology training entity of the group, has been providing research assistance, testing, and training support for the distribution. SWP is a joint establishment of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University
and the Sunwah Group.
In 2005, Sunwah Linux was installed in over 140,000 PCs in primary and secondary schools in China. As of that time, the installation was the world’s largest Linux desktop rollout.
Sunwah Linux also supports some community events, including Software Freedom Day
, Linux Professional Institute
, International Information and Communication Technology Council Certification Program
, and Linux World.
in Boston
. According to Albert Chung, who presented the distribution to the judges, "The competition was fierce. We were proud of our Chinese Linux desktop distribution being recognized by industry experts and judges."
Since then, the distribution has also won several other Chinese national and Hong Kong awards.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
desktop distribution
Linux distribution
A Linux distribution is a member of the family of Unix-like operating systems built on top of the Linux kernel. Such distributions are operating systems including a large collection of software applications such as word processors, spreadsheets, media players, and database applications...
specifically addressing the Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
localization
Language localisation
Language localisationThe spelling "localization", a variant of "localisation", is the preferred spelling in the US and Canada. is the second phase of a larger process of product translation and cultural adaptation to account for...
need in handling and translation between Unicode
Unicode
Unicode is a computing industry standard for the consistent encoding, representation and handling of text expressed in most of the world's writing systems...
, Big5
Big5
Big-5 or Big5 is a character encoding method used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau for Traditional Chinese characters.Mainland China, which uses Simplified Chinese Characters, uses the GB instead.- Organization :...
, and various versions of Guobiao
GB 2312
GB2312 is the registered internet name for a key official character set of the People's Republic of China, used for simplified Chinese characters...
character encoding
GB 18030
GB18030 is a Chinese government standard describing the required language and character support necessary for software in China. In addition to the "GB18030 code page" this standard contains requirements about which scripts must be supported, font support, etc....
. In the mainland China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
it is known as RAYS LX Linux Desktop Distribution.
Development and distribution
Sunwah Linux is a DebianDebian
Debian is a computer operating system composed of software packages released as free and open source software primarily under the GNU General Public License along with other free software licenses. Debian GNU/Linux, which includes the GNU OS tools and Linux kernel, is a popular and influential...
-based distribution. It was the first Chinese Linux distribution to receive Linux Standard Base
Linux Standard Base
The Linux Standard Base is a joint project by several Linux distributions under the organizational structure of the Linux Foundation to standardize the software system structure, including the filesystem hierarchy, used with Linux operating system...
(LSB) certification. The system architecture was designed in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and the programming was developed in Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
. The distribution was sponsored by the Sunwah Group in Hong Kong and the Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
Provincial Government of China.
The software can be downloaded at the Open Rays community website.
Sunwah - PearL Linux
Sunwah - PearL Linux
Sunwah – PearL Linux is a joint venture of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Sunwah Group . Sunwah – PearL Linux established the Sunwah – PearL Linux Training & Development Centre on the university campus on January 2001...
(abbreviated SWP), the technology training entity of the group, has been providing research assistance, testing, and training support for the distribution. SWP is a joint establishment of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University specialises in professional education in Hong Kong. The University’s teaching units are grouped under six faculties and two schools; the Faculty of Applied Science and Textiles, Faculty of Business, Faculty of Construction and Environment, Faculty of...
and the Sunwah Group.
In 2005, Sunwah Linux was installed in over 140,000 PCs in primary and secondary schools in China. As of that time, the installation was the world’s largest Linux desktop rollout.
Sunwah Linux also supports some community events, including Software Freedom Day
Software Freedom Day
Software Freedom Day is an annual worldwide celebration of Free Software. SFD is a public education effort with the aim of increasing awareness of Free Software and its virtues, and encouraging its use....
, Linux Professional Institute
Linux Professional Institute
The Linux Professional Institute Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides vendor-independent professional certification for Linux system administrators and programmers....
, International Information and Communication Technology Council Certification Program
International Information and Communication Technology Council Certification Program
The International ICT Council has been building up ICT certifications in the form of the International Information and Communication Technology Council Certification Program. The program has been adopting an open process, in which volunteers of communities can participate...
, and Linux World.
Awards
In April 2006, Sunwah Linux won the Best Linux Desktop Application Award at the LinuxWorld Conference and ExpoLinuxWorld Conference and Expo
OpenSource World is a conference and trade show that focuses on open source and Linux solutions in the information technology sector.The show is owned and managed by IDG World Expo, a business unit of International Data Group...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. According to Albert Chung, who presented the distribution to the judges, "The competition was fierce. We were proud of our Chinese Linux desktop distribution being recognized by industry experts and judges."
Since then, the distribution has also won several other Chinese national and Hong Kong awards.