Linux - an open source software
What Is Linux?
Linux resides at the apex as one of the most popular and widely used open-source operating systems. Even though 85% of the computer operating systems are Windows, almost every Android phone uses the Linux kernel indirectly. Linux is not just a single operating system but comprises a wide variety of operating systems based on the Linux kernel. These operating systems are called distributions or distros. There are around 600 Linux distros even though some are not actively in development. The most popular ones are Ubuntu, Debian, Linux Mint, and Manjaro.
What does a Kernel do?
The kernel mainly has 4 jobs:
- It keeps a record of how much memory of the system is used to do a task or to store certain data.
- It prioritizes which process can be given to the CPU at what time.
- It acts as the mediator between the hardware and software processes.
- It can receive service requests from any process.
If the kernel is properly implemented then it is practically invisible to the user and it does its job in its virtual region called the kernel space. Inside the kernel space, it allocates memory for tasks and processes according to priority and keeps a track of where everything is stored.
Linux user base
Linux has a wide user base. People who may not even know about Linux probably would have used Linux at some point in their lives as one to two-third of webpages present on the internet are hosted on Linux based servers. Most companies and individuals choose Linux because it is open-source, secure, flexible and you can receive excellent support from a large community of users, in addition to companies like Canonical, SUSE, and Red Hat, each of which offers commercial support.
Most of the daily driver devices which are owned and operated by people such as Android phones and tablets and Chromebooks, digital storage devices, personal video recorders, cameras, wearables, and more, also run Linux. The car you use probably has Linux running under the hood. Even Microsoft Windows features Linux components, as part of the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).
MX LINUX
MX Linux has been the most popular Linux distro in use as of 2020 and 2021. It boasts high stability, an elegant and efficient desktop and an easy learning curve. It is a mid-weight desktop-oriented Linux operating system based on Debian. It supports all types of users and applications and has a simple configuration with great performance and a small footprint. MX Linux includes a set of handy tools which has the following functions:
- Create system backup
- Install drivers & codecs
- Edit boot options & menu
- System cleaning
- Conky management
- Bash configuration
- Repository management
- USB format
These tools are very easy to use and have a short learning curve.
Advantages of using a Linux based OS
Linux is not just limited to the operating system but is also used as a platform to run desktops, servers, and embedded systems. It is used to manage various services like basic peripheral devices, process and application scheduling, file systems and more.
Most developers use Linux because of its security feature. It has low vulnerability and it asks for admin authorization to run any program. Linux does not require antivirus software.
Linux is extremely stable and lightweight. It does not require high system specification for operations and requires only around 128MB RAM for functioning.
Since Linux has a lot of distros, users can choose among the wide variety to cater to their specific needs. Ubuntu and Linux Mint are mostly used by beginners whereas Kali Linux and Fedora are mostly used by proficient programmers. Linux can also be run without installation as almost all distros allow for live CD/USB operation. Linux provides multiple desktop environment support for its enhanced use and can be selected during installation. Any type of desktop environments such as GNOME or KDE can be selected, as both have their specific environment.
There are a lot of Linux operation tutorials for beginners to learn from and Linux also has an excellent set of command helplines for libraries and info pages.
