What is Linux and why is it used?
In: Technology
It’s an operating system. To ask why it’s used is to ask why operating systems are used. Operating systems are used to provide a layer of abstraction between hardware and vendor software.
Ok, what does that mean? Back in the 80s, we had operating systems, and they did really very nearly next to nothing. It was good for loading programs. If your program was a game and you wanted graphics, you had to write code specific to the video cards out on the market at that time. If your video card wasn’t in that list, then that game wouldn’t work.
So operating systems got more sophisticated, and now the video game only has to talk to the operating system and say “draw like this”. The game doesn’t have to know anything about video cards beyond this single interface the OS provides. The hardware manufacturer can make any video card they like, and they see the opposite side of the OS video interface, they tell the OS “this is how I draw”.
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So why does Linux exist? Because there isn’t one OS to rule them all. Because there’s more than one way to do something. Because any way you do a thing is an exercise in compromises, and Linux meets the needs of some market segment.
Linux is THE MOST POPULAR operating system on the planet! Most servers on the internet are running Linux, lots of the networking hardware that just routes or filters traffic run Linux, and most tablets and phones all run Linux. The Android operating system, for example, is actually Linux.
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Linux is free as in gratis – it doesn’t cost money. But also you don’t get guarantees or support beyond volunteer. You can absolutely pay someone for Linux support, if you want to, but how often have you called or emailed Microsoft for support?
Linux is also free as in freedom. You have access to the source code so it can be audited or changed as you see fit. For the individual, that might not be all that important, but for businesses, it can be essential.
I’m answering this question on an Ubuntu Linux machine right now. I’ve got a graphical desktop, Chrome and Firefox browsers, and many, many software packages that do all sorts of things. There’s a whole community of free software – I haven’t bought a piece of software in years, and I’m not talking about piracy, either. If you’re more interested in getting work done than how you get that work done, then the alternatives to popular software products might appeal to you. But if you want that one software product you know, and your only option is to buy it, then your only option is to run that software on whatever OS the vendor supports, as well.
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