Linux: For the People, by the People
There are lots of Linux users who don’t care how the kernel works, but only want to use it. That is a tribute to how good Linux is.
-Linus Torvalds
Linux OS is a Unix-based Operating System. Its initial release was almost 20 years from now, September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Now, this man made Linux just as a hobby, yes HOBBY!
For most part of this article I will be comparing Linux with Windows because over 90% of the market share is for Windows computers and the reason Windows is so widely popular is mainly its Graphical UI, user-friendly experience, and also because most of the users actually grew up with different versions of Windows OS (98, xp, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 to name a few). Once you’re familiarized with one OS it is difficult to change to any other.
Now there are a few percentage of people who use MacOS as their daily OS but apart from these, people don’t know any more alternatives. But again one should admit that Windows is indeed well designed and convenient, tasks are performed easily and it has regular updates (actually more than regular, sometimes those updates are painful!).
Now the alternative I present here is Linux. This OS is associated with developers around the world but it is not like that. People are convenient with clicking their way around the OS like Windows or MacOS but if they are willing to give up this convenience, they get performance. Linux’s hardware requirement is considered a lightweight. For the same set of hardware Linux provides better efficiency, better performance than Windows.
So if you ever feel your system is getting slower it might not be a hardware problem, you’re just not using the right OS.
Where is Linux used widely?
For starters, Google’s own Chrome OS, it is based on Linux kernel. Android OS is based on Linux. Coming to the lesser known systems, Smart Home Technologies, routers, automation controls, Smart Televisions all run on Linux.
Furthermore, the infotainment system used in cars, Digital cameras/video recorders, Videogame Consoles and smartwatches, these too run on Linux!
Companies and Industries that provide computers to their employees are Windows based mostly but 97% of these companies use Linux at server-side.
Of the top 500 supercomputers in the world, approximately zero of them don’t run Linux (give or take…zero).
Read. It. Again.
Inside Linux
Now it is pretty much clear that Linux isn’t as user friendly as Windows. So how does it operate?
While using Linux more than 90% of your work will be done on Terminal. From creating a file to installing a software or an application and even configuring a server, everything will be done via terminal.
If you’re a developer then an added benefit, apart from installing a software, you can run servers, train machine learning models, access remote machines, and compile and run scripts from the same terminal window. The productivity is boosted intensely.
If we look at the security, it is true, Linux doesn’t require Anti-viruses to clean the malware. It is an open-source software, that means everyone can contribute to enhance the experience.
At it’s initial release, Linus Torvalds wrote 100% of the code for Linux but if we look at it now, Linux has come so far that the original code maybe less than 1% of the current version. So now I guess Linus just sits and spends his time merging all of contributions he gets from all around the world.
In real open source, you have the right to control your own destiny.
-Linus Torvalds
Being open-source might have it’s own cons, people might try to insert malicious code but as it is a large community, the percentage of people trying to prevent these kind of malicious codes is incomparable. So having many pair of eyes examining this open-source OS takes care of the mentioned con.
Linux ‘Flavors’
Linux ‘flavors’ is just an elegant name for different types of Operating Systems that are in turn just different forms of Linux. These flavors are often referred to as Distros.
This is simply because Linux is so incredibly configurable that different forms tend to be developed for different userbase needs or interests. Now these flavors are divided by the name but the applications and software and cloud-based applications are exactly the same for every flavor of Linux present.
Each Distro focus on different and specific environments, some might favor programming or scientific application, while others would have concerns such as security, resource use, and similar.
Linux distros come with a variety of different ranges of bundled software. Some might come with a lot of basic applications already pre-installed, while others will have the barest minimum. Linux is very customizable, far beyond what normal Windows or Mac users may be used to. Users can commonly configure everything from their desktop to security and privacy settings.
There are distros that are commercially available like RedHat Enterprise Linux which is paid version of Linux basically. But focusing on open-source, these are the flavors that are available in the market:
- Ubuntu
This is one of the most popular flavors that Linux has to offer. It is Strongly recommended for those who are just about to start with Linux (or Linux novices).
Security and Stability is well maintained for Ubuntu with its yearly releases of LTS (Long Term Support) version. Each LTS version guarantees five years of security and general maintenance updates with monthly updates.
Ubuntu has other flavors of itself, one such flavor is Lubuntu, smartly designed for low-spec computers.
2. Elementary OS
If you ask me Elementary is the best looking Linux distro. It has an excellent desktop environment, it doesn’t have much preinstalled applications but it just looks great. When you turn it on, you’ll feel like the design gives a tribute to macOS.
The latest version of Elementary OS is called Hera (5.1), which features a new onboarding experience, new ways to install apps, applies a major update to settings as well as improving core apps, as well as redesigning the login and lock screen along with other desktop tweaks.
3. CentOS
You can say CentOS is just a spin-off version of RedHat Enterprise Linux. Its focus is on stability rather than constant updates.
CentOS is designed to be super-reliable, which is why it’s a great choice for a server. It’s not quite such a good bet for someone looking for a new OS for daily use on their desktop PC or laptop.
Other Flavors
Fedora, Arch Linux, Tails, openSUSE, Linux Mint, etc. are some other not so popular flavors of Linux.
Should you shift to Linux?
As mentioned earlier it is really difficult to change a daily OS, some of you might even feel like breaking up with the current OS to shift to Linux. But you have to move on.
Linux is traditionally associated as being an operating system for coders and programmers, but over the years there have been real attempts to make Linux more attractive to general consumers(not developers).
Now I’m not taking anyone’s bias here, especially if you are a general consumer. You can dual boot your system with Windows and Linux, but it’s not recommended because if you’re willing to change, you can not do it with Windows still sitting on your system.
But if you are a developer, I strongly suggest that you should get familiar with Linux and learn basic commands. If you don’t want to shift your full work to Linux, don’t worry, use Virtual Machine instead, there are free products available like Oracle VirtualBox or VMware, use them to install Linux as a virtual OS on top of your Host OS. But do learn Linux.
Linux is not for everyone. Check to see if it fits your needs before you decide to switch. If you consider yourself either a technological entrepreneur, developer, data scientist, or programmer, you should definitely check out Ubuntu.
If Microsoft ever does applications for Linux, it means I’ve won.
-Linus Torvalds
