Linux gains likely good for the Valley

In just 13 years, the Linux open-source operating system has grown from an obscure computer programming tool to a mainstream product adopted by some of the world’s largest technology companies. At the fifth annual LinuxWorld Expo in San Francisco this week, vendors touted the operating system’s ease-of-use and flexibility inside everything from the most consumer-oriented gadgets to key desktop systems. Some even said Linux can become an engine for Silicon Valley’s continued economic growth.