Introduction to the Linux Operating System

Before we learn Linux, let’s understand-

What is an Operating System?

Every time we switch on our computer, we see a screen where we can perform different activities like write, browse the internet or watch a video. What is it that makes the computer hardware work like that? How does the processor on our computer know that we are asking it to run a mp3 file?

Well, it is the operating system or the kernel which does this work. A kernel is the program at the heart of any operating system that takes care of fundamental stuff, like letting hardware communicate with software.

So, to work on our computer we need an Operating System(OS). In fact, we are using one. Now, we may have used popular OS's like Windows, Apple OS X but here we will learn what Linux is and what benefits it offers over other OS choices.

 

What is Linux? Who created Linux?

 

Linux is an operating system or a kernel which germinated as an idea in the mind of young and bright Linus Torvalds when he was a computer science student. He used to work on the UNIX OS (a proprietary software), and thought that it needed improvements.

However, when his suggestions were rejected by the designers of UNIX, he thought of launching an OS which will be receptive to changes, modifications suggested by its users.

The Lone Kernel & the early days

So Linus devised a Kernel named Linux in 1991. Though he would need programs like File Manager, Document Editors, Audio -Video programs to run on it. Something as you have a cone but no ice-cream on top.

As time passed by, he collaborated with other programmers in places like MIT and applications for Linux started to appear. So around 1991, a working Linux operating system with some applications was officially launched and this was the start of one of the most loved and open-source OS options available today.

The earlier versions of Linux were not so user friendly as they were in use by computer programmers and Linus Torvalds never had it in mind to commercialize his product.

This definitely curbed the Linux's popularity as other commercially oriented Operating System Windows got famous. Nonetheless, the open-source aspect of the Linux operating system made it more robust.

Linux gets its due attention

The main advantage of Linux was that programmers were able to use the Linux Kernel in order to design their own custom operating systems. With time, a new range of user-friendly OS's stormed the computer world. Now, Linux is one of most popular and widely used Kernel, and it is the backbone of popular operating systems like Debian, Knoppix, Ubuntu, and Fedora. Nevertheless, the list does not end here as there are thousands of OS's based on Linux which offer a variety of functions to the users.

 

The benefits of using Linux

Linux now enjoys popularity at its prime and it's famous among programmers as well as regular computer users around the world. Its main benefits are -

It offers a free operating system. we do not have to shell hundreds of dollars to get the OS like Windows!

•     Open Source − Being open-source, anyone with programming knowledge can modify it.

•     Multi-User − Linux is a multiuser system means multiple users can access system resources like memory/ ram/ application programs at same time.

•     Multiprogramming − Linux is a multiprogramming system means multiple applications can run at same time.

•     Hierarchical File System − Linux provides a standard file structure in which system files/ user files are arranged.

•     Shell − Linux provides a special interpreter program which can be used to execute commands of the operating system. It can be used to do various types of operations, call application programs. etc.

•     Security − Linux provides user security using authentication features like password protection/ controlled access to specific files/ encryption of data.

•     The Linux operating systems now offer millions of programs/applications to choose from, most of them free!

•     Linux doesn’t require any antivirus because Linux is a highly secure system. There is a global development community constantly looking at ways to enhance its security. With each upgrade, the OS becomes more secure and robust

•     Linux is the OS of choice for Server environments due to its stability and reliability (Mega-companies like Amazon, Facebook, and Google use Linux for their Servers). A Linux based server could run non-stop without a reboot for years on end.

Linux & Unix

UNIX is called the mother of operating systems which laid out the foundation to Linux. Unix is designed mainly for mainframes and is in enterprises and universities. While Linux is fast becoming a household name for computer users, developers and server environment. You may have to pay for a Unix kernel while in Linux it is free.

But, the commands used on both the operating systems are usually the same. There is not much difference between UNIX and Linux. Though they might seem different, at core, they are essentially the same. Since, Linux is a clone of UNIX.  So learning one is same as learning another.