Linux OS
The Linux Operating System is an open source computer operating system that has been available free to use since 1991. Although mainly developed for use on personal computers, Linux systems are also used to run other devices such as mobile phones, routers, tablets, TVs, video game consoles, mainframes, and supercomputers. Linux is also the most widely used operating system for servers and runs the 10 most powerful supercomputers in the world.
Open Source and Why It Has Helped In the Evolution of Linux
Open Source software are legally free to download, share, use, study, edit, and improve because of its liberal licensing model and the availability of the programs' source codes. Because Linux is open source and freely available to the public, it reaped the benefits of this licensing model by continuously being shared, developed, and improved by the computer programming community.
Advantages of Using Linux
The biggest advantage of using Linux is the fact that it doesn't cost anything to use. The biggest competitors of Linux - Microsoft Windows and Mac OS, both cost so much to purchase, not to mention the high initial and recurring costs of the basic and essential software for these systems. Linux on the other hand is free to use and can even be installed on more than one computer.
Another huge advantage of using Linux is its absence of major security threats that plague other OSs such as Microsoft Windows. Linux as an operating system has been in use for almost twenty years now but is still considered the most secure operating system. Although many may argue that the reason behind this is the lower percentage of Linux users compared to users of other OSs, the fact that Linux is available as an open-source system refutes this misconception because any Linux virus that may crop up in the future can be fixed by patches released by the thousands of users and programmers who use the OS.
Linux has a huge advantage when it comes to available and free software and tools for many applications such as image, video, multimedia, engineering, programming, and web development to name a few. The large library of free software available for Linux is due to its open-source nature where hundreds of programmers and teams learn to share their work to the general public.
In addition, Linux can run efficiently even on old hardware that are considered obsolete by the standards of newer OSs released by competitors such as Microsoft and Apple.
Linux Distributions
People who wish to use Linux need to download and install a Linux distribution. Linux distributions are any of the operating systems that are based on the Linux kernel. Each of these distributions is unique from each other based on their hardware compatibility, software repository, and ease of use.
At present, there are plenty of Linux distributions that are available but only a few have made a mark and are gaining popularity with the general public. These distributions also have many features better than those found in commercial OSs.
Ubuntu is the most popular Linux distribution and is recommended for many beginners. Fedora has almost the same advantages as Ubuntu but is designed mainly for Linux experts. For users who want the most customizable Linux distribution, Arch does just the job. For people who wish to try exploring how Linux feels but are worried about their old hardware, Puppy Linux is the perfect solution.
There are many more Linux distributions available but choosing what you think is best for you all boils down to your personal preference.