The World Of Linux

Linux is an open source operating system (OS). It was originally conceived of and created as a hobby by Linus Torvalds in 1991. Linus, while at university, sought to create an alternative, free, open source version of the MINIX operating system, which was itself based on the principles and design of Unix. That hobby has since become the OS with the largest user base, the most-used OS on publicly available internet servers, and the only OS used on the top 500 fastest supercomputers. 

Perhaps the best thing about Linux is that it's open source. Linux is released under the GNU General Public License (GPL). That means that anyone can run, study, share, and modify the software. The modified code can also be redistributed, and even sold, but must be done so under the same license. This differs greatly from traditional operating systems—Unix and Windows, for example—which are proprietary, locked-down, and delivered as-is and unmodifiable.

From smartphones to cars, supercomputers and home appliances, home desktops to enterprise servers, the Linux operating system is everywhere.

Linux has been around since the mid-1990s and has since reached a user-base that spans the globe. Linux is actually everywhere: It’s in your phones, your thermostats, in your cars, refrigerators, Roku devices, and televisions. It also runs most of the Internet, all of the world’s top 500 supercomputers, and the world’s stock exchanges.

But besides being the platform of choice to run desktops, servers, and embedded systems across the globe, Linux is one of the most reliable, secure and worry-free operating systems available.

What can you do with Linux?

Linux can serve as the basis for nearly any type of IT initiative, including containers, cloud-native applications, and security. It’s at the core of some of the biggest industries and businesses in the world—from knowledge-sharing websites like Wikipedia to the New York Stock Exchange to mobile devices running Android (which is a specific-use distribution of the Linux kernel with complimentary software). Linux has grown over the years to be the de facto standard for running highly available, reliable, and critical workloads in datacenters and cloud deployments. It has multiple use cases, distributions, target systems and devices, and capabilities—all depending on your needs and workloads.

Microsoft has embraced Linux and open source in other ways, producing a SQL Server for Linux and open sourcing their .NET framework (.NET Core/Mono) so that any platform can run it, opening up the capability for Linux-using developers to make applications with that framework. By 2027, all SAP customers will be moving to SAP HANA—an in-memory, relational database management system—which only runs on Linux. As of 2017, 50% of the SAP market are Windows customers.

When it comes to cloud, even on Microsoft’s Azure, more than 60% of the images on the Azure Marketplace and nearly ⅓ of virtual machines are Linux-based. Meanwhile, Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform, and IBM Cloud offer up multiple distributions of Linux in their publicly available images.

Linux continues to be the operating system of the future, with more and more systems depending on its stability and extensibility.

Key points about Linux

1. Bootloader :  The software that manages the boot process of your computer. For most users, this will simply be a splash screen that pops up and eventually goes away to boot into the operating system.
2. Kernel : This is the one piece of the whole that is actually called ‘Linux’. The kernel is the core of the system and manages the CPU, memory, and peripheral devices. The kernel is the lowest level of the OS.
3. Init system : This is a sub-system that bootstraps the user space and is charged with controlling daemons. One of the most widely used init systems is systemd, which also happens to be one of the most controversial. It is the init system that manages the boot process, once the initial booting is handed over from the bootloader (i.e., GRUB or GRand Unified Bootloader).
4. Daemons : These are background services (printing, sound, scheduling, etc.) that either start up during boot or after you log into the desktop.
5. Graphical server : This is the sub-system that displays the graphics on your monitor. It is commonly referred to as the X server or just X.
6. Desktop environment : This is the piece that the users actually interact with. There are many desktop environments to choose from (GNOME, Cinnamon, Mate, Pantheon, Enlightenment, KDE, Xfce, etc.). Each desktop environment includes built-in applications (such as file managers, configuration tools, web browsers, and games).
7. Applications : Desktop environments do not offer the full array of apps. Just like Windows and macOS, Linux offers thousands upon thousands of high-quality software titles that can be easily found and installed. Most modern Linux distributions (more on this below) include App Store-like tools that centralize and simplify application installation. For example, Ubuntu Linux has the Ubuntu Software Center (a rebrand of GNOME Software) which allows you to quickly search among the thousands of apps and install them from one centralized location.

How easy is it to use Linux?

Very easy. Almost every Linux distribution comes with a graphic-user interface (GUI) that makes point-and-click actions very easy. These GUIs revolutionized computing during the OS wars in the late 1970s by humanizing software—making it more visual. More real.

But at some point, you might need to ask the computer to do something outside the prepackaged bucket of actions a GUI can perform. At that point, you need to open up the command line—the strips of code you see tech-savvy geniuses in TV and movies feverishly typing away at. But that Hollywood treatment makes the command line (a staple of open source OSs) seem like something impossible to master.

What is a distribution?

Linux has a number of different versions to suit any type of user. From new users to hard-core users, you’ll find a “flavor” of Linux to match your needs. These versions are called distributions (or, in the short form, “distros”). Nearly every distribution of Linux can be downloaded for free, burned onto disk (or USB thumb drive), and installed (on as many machines as you like).

Popular Linux distributions include:

• LINUX MINT
• MANJARO
• DEBIAN
• UBUNTU
• ANTERGOS
• SOLUS
• FEDORA
• ELEMENTARY OS
• OPENSUSE

Each distribution has a different take on the desktop. Some opt for very modern user interfaces (such as GNOME and Elementary OS’s Pantheon), whereas others stick with a more traditional desktop environment (openSUSE uses KDE).

You can check out the top 100 distributions on the Distrowatch.

And don’t think the server has been left behind. For this arena, you can turn to:

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Server
• Centos
• SUSE Enterprise Linux

Some of the above server distributions are free (such as Ubuntu Server and CentOS) and some have an associated price (such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Enterprise Linux). Those with an associated price also include support.

Security and Permissions

Linux is known for its robust security features. It employs a robust permission system, which grants or restricts access to files and directories based on user and group privileges. This granular control enhances system security and helps prevent unauthorized access.

Networking Capabilities

Linux is widely used as a server operating system due to its exceptional networking capabilities. It supports a vast array of networking protocols, making it suitable for web servers, file servers, routers, and more. Additionally, Linux can be customized to function as a firewall or a network gateway, showcasing its flexibility and adaptability.

Portability

Linux’s versatility is evident in its ability to run on various architectures, from x86 and ARM to mainframes. This portability is a significant advantage, allowing Linux to power everything from smartphones and embedded devices to high-performance computing clusters.

Community and Support

The Linux community is an essential part of its success. A vast and dedicated community of users, developers, and enthusiasts contribute to the ongoing development and improvement of the system. This support network ensures that Linux remains secure, up-to-date, and supported for years to come.

Linus Torvalds(creator of Linux)

Conclusion

Linux stands as a testament to the power of open-source collaboration, adaptability, and customization. Its kernel, combined with the vibrant community and rich ecosystem of distributions and software, makes it a cornerstone of the digital world. Whether you’re an enthusiast, a developer, or a system administrator, Linux offers a world of possibilities, and its capabilities continue to expand with each passing day. So, embrace the world of Linux and explore its functions and features to harness its full potential.