What is Linux?
Linux is a free open-source operating system which has also been described as a UNIX-like operating system. Linux was a UNIX clone originally designed to be like and act like UNIX, but shares none of the code base of the UNIX operating system. Linux has grown to be independent and freely available for users at all levels. You can even see the Linux source code at www.kernel.org. Go ahead and check it out!
Content Overview
- The History of Linux
- Linux Today
- Popular Linux Distributions
- The Pros and Cons of Linux
- How to get started with Linux
The History of Linux
Linux began as a personal project and was first released in 1991 by the legend himself Linus Torvalds. Who by the way is still alive today and is still reviewing the changes to the Linux source code. Enter the Linux kernel with the capability of managing and interacting with low-level hardware. However, the kernel is just one important piece comprising the operating system as a whole. With every kernel we need a shell or additional software to run on top of the kernel for us to be able to interface with the kernel. This is where the GNU project comes in.
GNU stands for “GNU Not Unix,” which started as another open-source system project to be Unix-like. GNU is a collection of free software, where this software ran on top of the Linux kernel formulating the many distributions of Linux we have today. This truth has led to much naming controversy in the Linux community with many people advocating for GNU/Linux operating system naming conventions. Linux makes up just the kernel while the GNU software collection creates the shell and other software packages running on top of it. Both are needed for a fully functional operating system. The GNU project has their own kernel, called Hurd, that they’re still currently developing but has yet to release a stable version.
Linux Today
Linux, or GNU/Linux, has grown to be a popular and widely used operating system at the individual level and the enterprise level, from personal computers to servers. It’s use case is competitive to other big name operating systems like Windows and MAC. I’m sure you may have seen the Linux logo which is just a plump little penguin named Tux. The amount of growth Linux has done in the last few decades is nothing short of impressive.
There are millions of lines of code written in the C programming language where thousands of individuals and organizations have contributed to the Linux code base. That is the beauty of open source, everyone can see it, everyone can contribute to it and improve the system, and anyone can create a branched version from it. There are close to a thousand different distributions of Linux and many of the servers on the web run Linux. Many programmers, developers and hackers tinker with Linux daily so if you’re into computer science try Linux. If you ever thought about using Linux here are some popular distributions that you can try out.
Popular Linux Distributions
Ubuntu
Ubuntu is a Debian-based Linux distribution developed by Canonical. It is usually a go to recommendation for people just starting out with Linux. It comes in multiple versions, desktop, server, and core. The desktop version has graphical user interface along with other essential desktop software making it a more user-friendly environment than other Linux systems.
CentOS
CentOS, also known as, Community Enterprise Operating System is an RPM-based distribution and was initially a fork of the famous Red Hat Enterprise Linux, meaning CentOS codebase is identical to Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Eventually CentOS and Red Hat were joined together and now CentOS is essentially in the upstream development of where Red Hat Enterprise development aims to go. Red Hat operates at the enterprise level and if you have a desire to be a Linux Administrator one day you might consider dabbling with CentOS.
Fedora
Fedora is an RPM-based language and aims to be the leading source of open-source technology. Fedora Linux is the upstream development of both CentOS and Red Hat Enterprise Linux putting it further toward the edge of development. Fedora comes in five editions, personal computer, server, cloud computing, containerization, and IOT (Internet of Things). If you’re feeling fancy and want to live life on the edge of development, consider trying Fedora.
Linux Mint
Linux Mint is an Ubuntu-based Linux distribution, which in turn is a Debian-based Linux distribution. It is known for its user-friendliness and similar UI (user interface) to the Windows operating system. Linux Mint is primarily used for desktop environments and can serve as a good transition point from other popular non-Linux desktop operating systems. Its ease of use can make learning other Linux distributions more difficult. None the less, Linux Mint is still a viable option for everyday users.
Kali Linux
Any aspiring ethical hackers out there? If so, you will want to get familiar with Kali. Kali Linux is a Debian-based Linux distribution with a focus on penetration testing and digital forensics. It comes with a desktop environment and many software tools used for ethical hacking. It can do some really cool stuff but also has a steeper learning curve than other Linux Distros. If you are interested in offensive cybersecurity, checking out Kali Linux is a must… along with a few tutorials.
The Pros and Cons of Linux
There are a few advantages and disadvantages to using Linux over other operating systems. Obviously, Linux requires a bit more technical proficiency and varies from distribution to distribution but overall here are some of the pros and cons to using Linux.
Pros:
- Free/Open-Source : Public freely available source code.
- Speed : Configurable for increased efficiency of computer resources.
- More Customizable : Configurable for countless customizations in the hands of a skilled user.
- More Secure : Configurable for more control of system security.
- More Diversity : More Distros, more options.
Cons:
- Learning Curve : Takes time to learn the OS, and some distros even longer.
- Easy to Misconfigure : If you don’t know what you’re doing you can easily misconfigure something.
- Less desktop support : Unlike proprietary operating systems, Linux doesn’t have the same technical support due to its open-source nature.
- Not Gaming friendly : If you’re into gaming, Linux is probably not the system to do so. It’s currently making efforts to incorporate more mainstream gaming platforms like steam, it still has some ways to go in the gaming department.
- Software Support : Because Linux isn’t typically used by your everyday user, there are a lot of popular software options that don’t support Linux.
How to get started with Linux
There’s a couple of options when first getting started with Linux. You can install the operating system directly on your computer’s hardware and overwrite your current operating system along with any data that might be on the storage device. You can also partition your disk drive to dual boot with both your current operating system and a Linux distribution of your choice. Finally, which I highly recommend, is using a hypervisor, or virtual machine manager to install a Linux distribution as a VM (Virtual Machine). A virtual machine is kind of like a computer within a computer, but more on that another time. By starting out using a virtual machine it allows you mess around and explore the system without fear of totally breaking your host operating system.
Conclusion
Overall Linux is an amazing system with so much potential. It’s a system that allows users to really look under the hood and see how a computer works. It will take some time to get used to, but the efforts are well worth it. The flexibility and wide use of Linux around the world has contributed to so many different projects and solutions that its credibility is undeniable. Go ahead and download a VM Hypervisor like Virtual Box or VMware and spin up a VM today! Until next time Monkeys!