Linux - Revision history

Anonymoususer852: Linked David A. Wheeler's article to Linux presence in server space. The same article doesn't focus on server environments, but does make good references in where Linux is widely used in that same space. Updated Linux as utility section, with ref.

2025-08-20T07:29:09Z

Linked David A. Wheeler's article to Linux presence in server space. The same article doesn't focus on server environments, but does make good references in where Linux is widely used in that same space. Updated Linux as utility section, with ref.

Anonymoususer852: /* Linux as Utility */ Added link to Forensics and Law Enforcement. Changed wording for court scenarios, to make it sound "better".

2025-08-16T02:56:14Z

‎Linux as Utility: Added link to Forensics and Law Enforcement. Changed wording for court scenarios, to make it sound "better".

Anonymoususer852: /* Links */ Add linux-hardware.org.

2025-08-12T00:42:57Z

‎Links: Add linux-hardware.org.

Anonymoususer852: /* History */ Wording...

2025-08-09T15:29:10Z

‎History: Wording...

Anonymoususer852: Dropping "(Wikipedia link)" in links to Wikipedia. The article doesn't feel as polished with it.

2025-08-09T15:26:52Z

Dropping "(Wikipedia link)" in links to Wikipedia. The article doesn't feel as polished with it.

Anonymoususer852: Page overhaul. Typos fixed, better wording is used, Bullet points incorporated for legibility sake. References added to make it more credible. More examples provided.

2025-08-09T14:51:41Z

Page overhaul. Typos fixed, better wording is used, Bullet points incorporated for legibility sake. References added to make it more credible. More examples provided.

LostinlodosR: /* Who uses Linux? */ adjustment

2022-08-23T20:06:17Z

‎Who uses Linux?: adjustment

Zzo38: Windows programs running on Linux can actually sometimes work better than the same program on Windows.

2021-11-22T05:38:25Z

Windows programs running on Linux can actually sometimes work better than the same program on Windows.

Kayvon2008: /* Pros and Cons of running Linux */

2021-11-22T04:44:42Z

‎Pros and Cons of running Linux

Kayvon2008: /* Who uses Linux? */

2021-11-14T07:42:23Z

‎Who uses Linux?

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 Linux is a very small fraction (about 2%) of desktop computers worldwide, however,
 * It is a leader in cellphones and tablets, it being the core of the Android, which is the most used OS in the world overall. The [[Android]] operating system (which uses non-GNU utility programs) and the related [[iOS|Apple iOS]], a BSD derivative, are the two major players in these markets.
-* In the server market, websites specifically are dominated by Linux among Unix(-like) installations with about 60% of that market.
+* In the server market, websites specifically are dominated by Linux among Unix(-like) installations with about 60% of that market. Many server operators transitioned away from proprietary, but also generally costly solutions to Linux.<ref>[https://dwheeler.com/oss_fs_why.html Why Open Source Software / Free Software (OSS/FS, FLOSS, or FOSS)? Look at the Numbers! - David A. Wheeler]</ref>
 * It sees users in cloud computing environments, for example Azure Linux,<ref>[[wikipedia:Azure_Linux|Azure Linux on Wikipedia]]</ref>
 * It exists in networking devices (e.g. [https://openwrt.org/ OpenWRT]) along with other embedded devices like Single Board Computers (SBC) for example, [https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/operating-systems/ Rasbian for Raspberry Pi].
 * It is also among the top 500 supercomputers worldwide.<ref>[https://www.top500.org/lists/top500/2025/06/ June 2025 - Top500]</ref>
-=== Linux as Utility ===
+=== Linux as utility ===
 Many technicians supporting '''[[Microsoft Windows]]''' operating systems use a bootable live environment, for instance [http://livecdlist.com/ '''Linux LiveCD/DVD'''] to diagnose storage mediums, perform repairs, and retrieve data that may be lost, should their repair efforts require them to format and re-install Windows.  In addition, there are tailored distros used by digital [[Forensics and Law Enforcement|forensics]] to analyze data. These are used by experienced computer security people, for instance to examine a suspect's computer for alleged computer crimes they have been accused of in court scenarios.<ref>[https://www.sans.org/cybersecurity-focus-areas/digital-forensics-incident-response Digital Forensics and Incident Response Training - SANS.org]</ref>
 === Linux for the technically inclined ===

@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 === Linux as Utility ===
-Many technicians supporting '''[[Microsoft Windows]]''' operating systems use a bootable live environment, for instance [http://livecdlist.com/ '''Linux LiveCD/DVD'''] to diagnose storage mediums, perform repairs, and retrieve data that may be lost, should their repair efforts require them to format and re-install Windows.  In addition, there are tailored distros used by digital forensics to analyze data. These are used by experienced computer security people, for instance to examine a suspect's computer for alleged computer crimes they have committed in court scenarios.<ref>[https://www.sans.org/cybersecurity-focus-areas/digital-forensics-incident-response Digital Forensics and Incident Response Training - SANS.org]</ref>
+Many technicians supporting '''[[Microsoft Windows]]''' operating systems use a bootable live environment, for instance [http://livecdlist.com/ '''Linux LiveCD/DVD'''] to diagnose storage mediums, perform repairs, and retrieve data that may be lost, should their repair efforts require them to format and re-install Windows.  In addition, there are tailored distros used by digital [[Forensics and Law Enforcement|forensics]] to analyze data. These are used by experienced computer security people, for instance to examine a suspect's computer for alleged computer crimes they have been accused of in court scenarios.<ref>[https://www.sans.org/cybersecurity-focus-areas/digital-forensics-incident-response Digital Forensics and Incident Response Training - SANS.org]</ref>
 === Linux for the technically inclined ===

@@ Line 59: / Line 59: @@
 * [http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/124287-the-worlds-slowest-linux-pc The world’s slowest Linux PC]
 * [https://dmitry.gr/index.php?r=05.Projects&proj=07.%20Linux%20on%208bit Linux on an 8-bit micro]
 == References ==

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 == History ==
-Linux is created by [[wikipedia:Linus Torvalds|Linus Torvalds]] and began its life as a hobby<ref>[[wikipedia:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linus_Torvalds#cite_note-22|Cite note-22 - Linus Torvalds on Wikipedia]]</ref>, that used software utilities from [https://www.gnu.org/ '''GNU (GNU not Unix) Project'''].  GNU created sets of Unix-like software utilities, but lacked a fully functional kernel, the "heart of the OS", which was needed to make a fully functional OS.  Linus Torvalds combined his kernel with the GNU software and Linux was born.<ref>[https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~awb/linux.history.html LINUX's History by Linus Torvalds - Carnegie Mellon University of Computer Science]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030818084123/http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~awb/linux.history.html LINUX's History by Linus Torvalds - Carnegie Mellon University of Computer Science - Internet Archive mirror]</ref>
+Linux is created by [[wikipedia:Linus Torvalds|Linus Torvalds]] initially as a hobby<ref>[[wikipedia:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linus_Torvalds#cite_note-22|Cite note-22 - Linus Torvalds on Wikipedia]]</ref>, that used software utilities from [https://www.gnu.org/ '''GNU (GNU not Unix) Project'''].  GNU created sets of Unix-like software utilities, but lacked a fully functional kernel, the "heart of the OS", which was needed to make a fully functional OS.  Linus Torvalds combined his kernel with the GNU software and Linux was born.<ref>[https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~awb/linux.history.html LINUX's History by Linus Torvalds - Carnegie Mellon University of Computer Science]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030818084123/http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~awb/linux.history.html LINUX's History by Linus Torvalds - Carnegie Mellon University of Computer Science - Internet Archive mirror]</ref>
 == Who uses Linux? ==

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 |}
-[https://www.linux.com/ '''Linux'''] is an Open Source operating system (OS) closely related to [http://www.unix.org/ '''Unix'''], and is often referred to as "Unix-like". Technically, Linux is the kernel at the core of an operating system; the kernel alone isn't of much use by itself without the various utility programs that are typically "bundled" with the kernel, many of which came from the GNU project.  The bundling of Linux kernel with typically GNU utility programs became what is known as '''distributions''' or [http://distrowatch.com/ distros] for short.
+[https://www.linux.com/ '''Linux'''] is an Open Source operating system (OS) closely related to [http://www.unix.org/ '''Unix'''], and is often referred to as "Unix-like". Technically, Linux is the kernel at the core of an operating system; the kernel alone isn't of much use by itself without the various utility programs that are typically "bundled" with the kernel, many of which came from the GNU project.  The bundling of Linux kernel with typically GNU utility programs became what is better known as '''distributions''' or [http://distrowatch.com/ distros] for short.
-Certain users calls it as '''GNU/Linux''' as the proper term for the operating system as a whole, major "religious wars" are fought over the correct naming schema.<ref>[[wikipedia:GNU/Linux_naming_controversy|GNU/Linux naming controversy on Wikipedia]]</ref><ref>[[wikipedia:GNU_Hurd#Development_history|Development history section - GNU Hurd - Wikipedia]]</ref>  As are exceptions to that rule by using the likes of [[wikipedia:BusyBox|BusyBox (Wikipedia link)]] instead GNU software components.
+Certain users calls it as '''GNU/Linux''' as the proper term for the operating system as a whole, major "religious wars" are fought over the correct naming schema.<ref>[[wikipedia:GNU/Linux_naming_controversy|GNU/Linux naming controversy on Wikipedia]]</ref><ref>[[wikipedia:GNU_Hurd#Development_history|Development history section - GNU Hurd - Wikipedia]]</ref>  As are exceptions to that rule by using the likes of [[wikipedia:BusyBox|BusyBox]] instead GNU software components.
 Owing to license being GPLv2, users are not held hostage over the Linux source code.  As such, Linux is also noted for being supported by many free software projects as a solution, that replaces their dependency on proprietary counterparts which are often used in many other operating systems.  There are free and open source word processors for example.
@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 === Linux for the technically inclined ===
-"Power users" or tinkerers are generally experienced users who knows their way around OS may find Windows restrictive.<ref>[https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-windows-11-losing-trust-power-users-what-means-techs-dening-2ofrc Why Windows 11 Is Losing the Trust of Power Users - And What That Means for Tech’s Future - LinkedIn]</ref>  Linux as a whole does not restrict users ability to perform certain dangerous tasks that could otherwise damage their installation.  While it is possible to lock down users in Linux, and have it available as a Linux distro for convenience.  This unfettered access across the OS could be seen as a benefit for those that do not appreciate the one-suit-fits-all approach Microsoft employs.  If certain features are unavailable in Windows, it might also not be a feature that could be unlocked for free, contrary to power tools under Linux which are mostly available for free.  [[wikipedia:WindowBlinds|WindowBlinds (Wikipedia link)]] is an old example of this, in Linux, many modern popular graphical environments already offers (customizable) desktop/window transparency for free.
+"Power users" or tinkerers are generally experienced users who knows their way around OS may find Windows restrictive.<ref>[https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-windows-11-losing-trust-power-users-what-means-techs-dening-2ofrc Why Windows 11 Is Losing the Trust of Power Users - And What That Means for Tech’s Future - LinkedIn]</ref>  Linux as a whole does not restrict users ability to perform certain dangerous tasks that could otherwise damage their installation.  While it is possible to lock down users in Linux, and have it available as a Linux distro for convenience.  This unfettered access across the OS could be seen as a benefit for those that do not appreciate the one-suit-fits-all approach Microsoft employs.  If certain features are unavailable in Windows, it might also not be a feature that could be unlocked for free, contrary to power tools under Linux which are mostly available for free.  [[wikipedia:WindowBlinds|WindowBlinds]] is an old example of this, in Linux, many modern popular graphical environments already offers (customizable) desktop/window transparency for free.
 === Linux for the privacy conscious individuals ===

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 |}
-'''Linux''' [https://www.linux.com/] is an operating system (OS) closely related to '''Unix''' [http://www.unix.org/]. Or, more technically, it's the kernel at the core of an operating system; it isn't of much use by itself without the various utility programs that are typcially packaged with the kernel, many of which came from the GNU project, so some tech people regard '''GNU/Linux''' as the proper term for the operating system as a whole. (Major "religious wars" get fought over this stuff.)  Linux is an Open Source OS which means that anyone can access the original source code and modify it to suit their purposes. This has resulted in the many different flavors of Linux referred to as '''Distributions''' (distros) [http://distrowatch.com/].  Linux is noted for being supported by many free software packages that replace the proprietary software used in many operating systems.  There are free and open source word processors for example.
+[https://www.linux.com/ '''Linux'''] is an Open Source operating system (OS) closely related to [http://www.unix.org/ '''Unix'''], and is often referred to as "Unix-like". Technically, Linux is the kernel at the core of an operating system; the kernel alone isn't of much use by itself without the various utility programs that are typically "bundled" with the kernel, many of which came from the GNU project.  The bundling of Linux kernel with typically GNU utility programs became what is known as '''distributions''' or [http://distrowatch.com/ distros] for short.
-== History: ==
+Certain users calls it as '''GNU/Linux''' as the proper term for the operating system as a whole, major "religious wars" are fought over the correct naming schema.<ref>[[wikipedia:GNU/Linux_naming_controversy|GNU/Linux naming controversy on Wikipedia]]</ref><ref>[[wikipedia:GNU_Hurd#Development_history|Development history section - GNU Hurd - Wikipedia]]</ref>  As are exceptions to that rule by using the likes of [[wikipedia:BusyBox|BusyBox (Wikipedia link)]] instead GNU software components.
-Linux started as the '''GNU Project''' [https://www.gnu.org/] which produced many software/utility packages for a future OS they wished to develop.  Linus Torvalds created the Linux kernal, the heart of the OS, in 1991.  Torvalds combined his kernal with the GNU software and Linux was born. [https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~awb/linux.history.html] There are purists who say that the resulting operating system should properly be referred to as '''GNU/Linux''' instead of just Linux, in order to acknowledge its heritage.
+Owing to license being GPLv2, users are not held hostage over the Linux source code.  As such, Linux is also noted for being supported by many free software projects as a solution, that replaces their dependency on proprietary counterparts which are often used in many other operating systems.  There are free and open source word processors for example.
 == Who uses Linux? ==
-Linux is a very small fraction (about 2%) of desktop computers worldwide, however it is a leader in cellphones and tablets, it being the core of the Android, which is the most used OS in the world overall. The [[Android]] mobile operating system and the related [[iOS|Apple iOS]], a BSD derivative, are the two major players in these markets.  Additionally, the server market, in particular Internet Service Providers, is dominated by Unix and Linux machines with about 60% of that market.
+Linux is a very small fraction (about 2%) of desktop computers worldwide, however,
-== Linux as Utility ==
+=== Linux as Utility ===
-Many technicians supporting '''Microsoft Windows''' operating systems use a bootable '''Linux LiveCD/DVD''' [http://livecdlist.com/] to access hard drives to perform repairs and retrieve data that may be lost if their repair efforts require them to format and reinstall Windows.  In addition, there are distros of Linux made and used to do computer forensic work, these are used by experienced computer security people to examine and clean up computers infected with viruses or malware.
+Many technicians supporting '''[[Microsoft Windows]]''' operating systems use a bootable live environment, for instance [http://livecdlist.com/ '''Linux LiveCD/DVD'''] to diagnose storage mediums, perform repairs, and retrieve data that may be lost, should their repair efforts require them to format and re-install Windows.  In addition, there are tailored distros used by digital forensics to analyze data. These are used by experienced computer security people, for instance to examine a suspect's computer for alleged computer crimes they have committed in court scenarios.<ref>[https://www.sans.org/cybersecurity-focus-areas/digital-forensics-incident-response Digital Forensics and Incident Response Training - SANS.org]</ref>
 == Pros and Cons of running Linux ==
 '''PROS:'''
-Linux, due to its architecture, doesn't require defragging. Being a very small part of the overall market share for desktop computers, there are few Linux viruses to contend with, the virus writers concentrate on the Windows platform. Linux installs are generally much smaller than Windows installs and can run on much older hardware.  Many old Windows XP machines that cannot handle Windows 7 and beyond do well with a Linux install.  Linux is a free OS, there is no direct cost to the user.  It is a very stable OS.
+* Linux distros, due to its nature, offers a wide range of choices to better suit individuals and their needs.
 '''CONS:'''
-While many modern distros are user friendly out of the box, there is a significant learning curve with Linux.  Many basic operations work differently and are a bit more complex on Linux.  Additionally, there are some software packages, not many, that are unavailable for Linux users.  There has been significant improvement in gaming for Linux of late, but many games are simply not available.  There is a Windows compatibility layer for Linux, '''[[Wine]]''', [http://www.winehq.org/] but Windows software run in Wine doesn't always perform as well as it would in a native Windows environment (although sometimes they work better than a native Windows environment). There are also some hardware driver issues for Linux users that require advanced expertise at times to overcome. '''To put it in short, the main problem is you need to know what your doing.'''
+* While many modern distros are user-friendly out of the box, there is a significant learning curve with Linux.  Many basic operations work differently and perhaps are a bit more complex on Linux. Broadly speaking, interested individuals are encouraged to have an open mind.
 == Links ==
@@ Line 33: / Line 56: @@
 * [http://archive.org/details/linux_distributions Archive of historical Linux distributions]
 * [http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/10/the-navys-newest-warship-is-powered-by-linux/ The Navy’s newest warship is powered by Linux]
 * [http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/124287-the-worlds-slowest-linux-pc The world’s slowest Linux PC]
 * [https://dmitry.gr/index.php?r=05.Projects&proj=07.%20Linux%20on%208bit Linux on an 8-bit micro]
 [[Category:Operating Systems]]
 [[Category:Software]]

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 '''CONS:'''
-While many modern distros are user friendly out of the box, there is a significant learning curve with Linux.  Many basic operations work differently and are a bit more complex on Linux.  Additionally, there are some software packages, not many, that are unavailable for Linux users.  There has been significant improvement in gaming for Linux of late, but many games are simply not available.  There is a Windows compatibility layer for Linux, '''[[Wine]]''', [http://www.winehq.org/] but Windows software run in Wine doesn't always perform as well as it would in a native Windows environment. There are also some hardware driver issues for Linux users that require advanced expertise at times to overcome.
+While many modern distros are user friendly out of the box, there is a significant learning curve with Linux.  Many basic operations work differently and are a bit more complex on Linux.  Additionally, there are some software packages, not many, that are unavailable for Linux users.  There has been significant improvement in gaming for Linux of late, but many games are simply not available.  There is a Windows compatibility layer for Linux, '''[[Wine]]''', [http://www.winehq.org/] but Windows software run in Wine doesn't always perform as well as it would in a native Windows environment. There are also some hardware driver issues for Linux users that require advanced expertise at times to overcome. '''To put it in short, the main problem is you need to know what your doing.'''
 == Links ==