Linux

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(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.)
 
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'''Linux''' [https://www.linux.com/] is an operating system (OS) closely related to '''Unix''' [http://www.unix.org/]. 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. 
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[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.
  
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== History: ==
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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.
  
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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]
+
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. 
 +
 
 +
== History ==
 +
 
 +
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? ==
 
== 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 OS. The Apple iOS and Android 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,
 +
* 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. 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>
  
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== Linux as Utility ==
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=== Linux as utility ===
  
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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 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 is also used to diagnose variants of its own<ref>[https://android.stackexchange.com/questions/258236/squashfs-explanation-for-android-system SquashFS explanation for Android system - Android Enthusiasts - Stack Exchange]</ref>, where there is a somewhat growing community of hardware hackers interested in the likes of reverse engineering a device, and that the tools available within Linux makes it an easier choice overall.<ref>[https://embeddedbits.org/reverse-engineering-my-routers-firmware-with-binwalk-embeddedbits/ Reverse engineering my router's firmware with binwalk - embedditbits.org]</ref>
 +
 
 +
=== 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]] 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 ===
 +
 
 +
There is a growing trend among Linux converts, typically from Windows, who are concerned with the likes of [[wikipedia:Telemetry#Software|software telemetry]] being added to Windows 11<ref>[https://www.extremetech.com/computing/342941-windows-11-collects-an-awful-lot-of-telemetry-about-your-pc Windows 11 Collects an Awful Lot of Telemetry About Your PC - Extreme Tech]</ref>, which constitutes as one of the many possible motives as to why Linux might be gaining some popularity among the heavily dominant Windows in desktop computer space.  At the same time, telemetry may also exist in Linux, often creating heated discussions with those who value their privacy and software choices, over features in software that could otherwise potentially help software developers.<ref>[https://github.com/audacity/audacity/discussions/889 Actions we propose to take on PR #835 #889 - Audacity discussions - GitHub]</ref><ref>[https://discussion.fedoraproject.org/t/f40-change-request-privacy-preserving-telemetry-for-fedora-workstation-system-wide/85320 F40 Change Request: Privacy-preserving Telemetry for Fedora Workstation (System-Wide) - Fedora Discussions]</ref>
  
 
== Pros and Cons of running Linux ==
 
== Pros and Cons of running Linux ==
  
 
'''PROS:'''
 
'''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.  
 +
* Being a very small part of the overall market share for desktop computers, there are few Linux malware to contend with, the malware writers concentrate on the more dominant 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 generally a free OS, there is no direct cost to the user.  Paid Linux distributions exists for those who desire specifics like priority support, especially if using in commercial contexts.
 +
* It is a very stable OS.
  
 
'''CONS:'''
 
'''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 emulator 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 perhaps are a bit more complex on Linux. Broadly speaking, interested individuals are encouraged to have an open mind.
 +
* [http://www.winehq.org/ '''[[Wine|WINE]]'''] for instance allows certain Windows software to run in Wine, but it doesn't always perform as well as it would in a native Windows environment, conversely sometimes they work better than a native Windows environment. Virtualization by means of using [[Virtualization Software]] may also be an option for running certain Windows software inside Linux, at the cost of increasing complexity as well as potentially having performance penalty, especially on older hardware.  Gaming on Linux is somewhat possible via the likes of Steam.<ref>[https://fedoramagazine.org/gaming-on-fedora/ Gaming on Fedora - Fedora Magazine]</ref>
 +
* Vendors (software or hardware) may simply choose to not support Linux on whatever befitting reason they have on the matter.  Users are better off exercising their own discretion.  When these are offered for "free", these may often not include free technical support, contrary to how Linux is regarded a "free OS".
  
 
== Links ==
 
== Links ==
 +
* [https://www.kernel.org/ The Linux Kernel Archives]
 
* [http://archive.org/details/linux_distributions Archive of historical Linux distributions]
 
* [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]
 +
* [[wikipedia:PlayStation_3#Use_in_supercomputing|Sony PlayStation 3 used in supercomputing - Wikipedia]]
 +
* [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]
 +
* [https://linux-hardware.org/ linux-hardware.org - a crowd-sourced hardware compatibility database]
 +
 +
== References ==
 +
<references/>
 +
 +
[[Category:Operating Systems]]
 +
[[Category:Software]]

Latest revision as of 07:29, 20 August 2025

Software > Operating Systems > Linux

Linux is an Open Source operating system (OS) closely related to 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 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.[1][2] As are exceptions to that rule by using the likes of 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.

Contents

 [hide] 

[edit] History

Linux is created by Linus Torvalds initially as a hobby[3], that used software utilities from 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.[4][5]

[edit] 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 operating system (which uses non-GNU utility programs) and the related 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. Many server operators transitioned away from proprietary, but also generally costly solutions to Linux.[6]
  • It sees users in cloud computing environments, for example Azure Linux,[7]
  • It exists in networking devices (e.g. OpenWRT) along with other embedded devices like Single Board Computers (SBC) for example, Rasbian for Raspberry Pi.
  • It is also among the top 500 supercomputers worldwide.[8]

[edit] Linux as utility

Many technicians supporting Microsoft Windows operating systems use a bootable live environment, for instance 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 been accused of in court scenarios.[9]

Linux is also used to diagnose variants of its own[10], where there is a somewhat growing community of hardware hackers interested in the likes of reverse engineering a device, and that the tools available within Linux makes it an easier choice overall.[11]

[edit] Linux for the technically inclined

"Power users" or tinkerers are generally experienced users who knows their way around OS may find Windows restrictive.[12] 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. WindowBlinds is an old example of this, in Linux, many modern popular graphical environments already offers (customizable) desktop/window transparency for free.

[edit] Linux for the privacy conscious individuals

There is a growing trend among Linux converts, typically from Windows, who are concerned with the likes of software telemetry being added to Windows 11[13], which constitutes as one of the many possible motives as to why Linux might be gaining some popularity among the heavily dominant Windows in desktop computer space. At the same time, telemetry may also exist in Linux, often creating heated discussions with those who value their privacy and software choices, over features in software that could otherwise potentially help software developers.[14][15]

[edit] Pros and Cons of running Linux

PROS:

  • Linux distros, due to its nature, offers a wide range of choices to better suit individuals and their needs.
  • Being a very small part of the overall market share for desktop computers, there are few Linux malware to contend with, the malware writers concentrate on the more dominant 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 generally a free OS, there is no direct cost to the user. Paid Linux distributions exists for those who desire specifics like priority support, especially if using in commercial contexts.
  • It is a very stable OS.

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 perhaps are a bit more complex on Linux. Broadly speaking, interested individuals are encouraged to have an open mind.
  • WINE for instance allows certain Windows software to run in Wine, but it doesn't always perform as well as it would in a native Windows environment, conversely sometimes they work better than a native Windows environment. Virtualization by means of using Virtualization Software may also be an option for running certain Windows software inside Linux, at the cost of increasing complexity as well as potentially having performance penalty, especially on older hardware. Gaming on Linux is somewhat possible via the likes of Steam.[16]
  • Vendors (software or hardware) may simply choose to not support Linux on whatever befitting reason they have on the matter. Users are better off exercising their own discretion. When these are offered for "free", these may often not include free technical support, contrary to how Linux is regarded a "free OS".

[edit] Links

[edit] References

  1. ↑ GNU/Linux naming controversy on Wikipedia
  2. ↑ Development history section - GNU Hurd - Wikipedia
  3. ↑ Cite note-22 - Linus Torvalds on Wikipedia
  4. ↑ LINUX's History by Linus Torvalds - Carnegie Mellon University of Computer Science
  5. ↑ LINUX's History by Linus Torvalds - Carnegie Mellon University of Computer Science - Internet Archive mirror
  6. ↑ Why Open Source Software / Free Software (OSS/FS, FLOSS, or FOSS)? Look at the Numbers! - David A. Wheeler
  7. ↑ Azure Linux on Wikipedia
  8. ↑ June 2025 - Top500
  9. ↑ Digital Forensics and Incident Response Training - SANS.org
  10. ↑ SquashFS explanation for Android system - Android Enthusiasts - Stack Exchange
  11. ↑ Reverse engineering my router's firmware with binwalk - embedditbits.org
  12. ↑ Why Windows 11 Is Losing the Trust of Power Users - And What That Means for Tech’s Future - LinkedIn
  13. ↑ Windows 11 Collects an Awful Lot of Telemetry About Your PC - Extreme Tech
  14. ↑ Actions we propose to take on PR #835 #889 - Audacity discussions - GitHub
  15. ↑ F40 Change Request: Privacy-preserving Telemetry for Fedora Workstation (System-Wide) - Fedora Discussions
  16. ↑ Gaming on Fedora - Fedora Magazine
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