While not as popular as Windows—at least, for some—Linux is definitely one of the most reliable Operating Systems around—and the best part about it is that it’s free, so you don’t really have to pay for anything just to get it, and you also wouldn’t have to go for counterfeit types of Operating Systems just because you could not pay for the legal copy.
Today, Linux is partly responsible for helping the world work like it should. From people who only work with computers at home, to larger feats such as NASA using Linux-powered computers, it is no surprise why Linux is getting the attention of many—and today; you have the chance to learn
about it, and more!
Linux is an operating system. An operating system is software that helps manage all the hardware resources that your desktop computer or laptop is using. Its primary purpose is to handle the communication between your computer software and hardware. If you do not have an operating system,
your computer software will not function at all.
Linux is one of the most reliable, stress-free and secure operating systems that we have in the world. It has been here since mid-90s. Over time, it has slowly dominated the market; and today, it is the widely used operating systems on the phones, computers and all other devices that we use these days.
Linux was created initially as a free operating system for Intel x86-based personal computers but as the time went by, it was ported to many other kinds of computer hardware platforms as seen today. It can now be used in so many other computer hardware platforms, much more than any other
operating systems out there. It is now the leading system on servers and other major systems like mainframe computers and supercomputers.
Linux is a fantastic fit for those who want something different. The efficiency of the system, the availability of applications and stability are just a few good reasons.
The first thing you need to know is that there is no such operating system called Linux. Linux is in fact the operating system kernel, the core component of an OS. When talking about Linux what we, and others, are referring to are one of the many distributions, or distros, that use the Linux kernel. No doubt you’ve heard of at least one of the current popular distros: Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora, openSUSE, Debian, Raspbian, the list goes on. Each one of these distros offer
something a little different for the user. While each has the Linux kernel at its core, they provide the user with a different looking desktop environment, different preloaded applications, different ways in which to update the system and get more apps installed and a slightly different look and feel throughout the entire system. However, at the centre lies Linux, which is why we say Linux.
Linux works considerably differently to Windows or macOS. It’s free for a start: free to download, free to install on as many computers as you like, free to use for an unlimited amount of time and free to upgrade and extend with, equally, free programs and applications. This free to use element is one of the biggest draws for the developer. While a Windows license can cost up to £100, and a Mac considerably more, a user, be they a developer, gamer or someone who wants to put an older computer to use, can quickly download a distro and get to work in a matter of minutes.