LINUX

What is Linux?

Linux is an open-source technology, meaning that it was created by developers who leave its original source code freely available for distribution and modification. The software itself is an operating system, like Windows or Apple OS for Mac computers. It was created in 1991 by Finnish student and developer, Linus Torvalds, whose aim was to produce a free operating system kernel for personal computers. He succeeded, and that kernel has grown constantly over the years, modified, added to and used by thousands across the globe.

How does Linux work?

 

Linux is the kernel. But with many other components, it becomes an operating system. Linux is built with a certain set of principles which is also known as the Linux Way. Linux Way means the philosophy behind the Unix system. The components of Linux are replaceable, which differs the distros from each other.

The Linux way can be summarized as follows:

• Use programs that do the required task well
• Link the programs to accomplish complex tasks
• Store information in plain text files when possible
• There are several ways to do the tasks
• Master the command line to have more power
• Prefer command line over the user interface

 

The core components of a Linux system are the Boot Loader, Kernel, Daemons, Shell, X Window Server, Window Manager, and the Desktop Environment.

 

What is Linux Kernel?

 

The kernel is the main component of the Linux operating system. It communicates with the hardware directly. The kernel allocates system resources, manages the memory, processor time, disk space and any other external devices running on the system. New kernel versions are released periodically so it is good to upgrade the kernel for the system to perform better.

What can Linux do?

For a regular user, it works like a Windows or macOS operating system. You can browse the web, check your emails, use Office applications, read PDF documents, listen to music or watch videos, and view or manage your photos. Not with limited those, it is also possible to play video games on a Linux operating system. This can be done via an application like WineHQ or directly executing the game itself. Nowadays there are too many video developers that create games for Linux operating system too.

For more advanced users, Linux can be used as a server. It also can be used as an alternative network element, or it can also be a router/transition element for connecting multiple networks, especially in different protocols. When used for this purpose, it can easily be configured as a firewall for security purposes.

Here are many different web servers that can be installed on a Linux operating system. The most popular are Apache, LiteSpeed, Tomcat JSP, and Nginx. You can manage your hosting business with a stable, strong Linux server distro such as AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, Debian, Ubuntu Server, OpenSUSE, Fedora, CentOS, etc. It is also possible to find many premia or open-source web control panels and billing systems that run on the Linux operating system flawlessly.

Linux vs. Windows: What’s the difference?

In many ways, Linux and Windows are quite similar. You’re probably familiar with the Microsoft operating system, so when you use Linux, you’ll note several similarities – but also a few key differences.

Like Windows, Linux has a graphical interface, which allows users to interact with it using icons and visual indicators rather than text commands and navigation. There are also Linux equivalents for virtually all the programs you’ve used on Windows, such as Office applications. Most Windows-based applications and programs you can name will have a similar version on a Linux operating system.

The differences between the two systems first become evident when you recall the fact that Linux is open source software. This means that the code used to create it is freely available to anyone to use and even edit if they can, making it a highly customisable piece of software – and therefore a highly desirable one, too. Windows, while still perhaps the most popular operating system available, does not allow any public access to its source code, meaning your customisation options are limited.

This key difference also means a difference in licensing. Anyone is able to download a single copy of a Linux distribution or application and install it on multiple machines, but Windows is restricted – you are only able to install and utilise Microsoft licences on one machine at a time.

Installation of external programs is another example of a process that differs between Linux and Windows. The process is simpler with Linux; it utilises a package manager, which allows you to browse, install and remove your programs in a more direct and streamlined fashion than the Windows installation package allows you to.

Both Windows and Linux have their advantages and disadvantages. Perhaps the most common advantages of Linux are its lower cost, its customisability, and its reliability and security. Its most common disadvantages, when compared to Windows, are the steep learning curve users must face to master it, and the fact that many commonly used programs will not run on Linux. However, these issues can be overcome with the right insight and training.