During this time, it has managed to become the most popular operating system in the world, although of course the main credit for this goes to its mobile variant, Android. This may come as a surprise and a new discovery to many people, but the system present in our smartphones, tablets and netbooks is open source software based on the Linux kernel. It is therefore worth taking a closer look at the idea of this free operating system, its functionality and the story behind the cuddly penguin mascot Tux.
Operating system with the idea of free software - what does the Linux environment and distribution model look like?
It is well known that in order for a computer hardware or electronic device to want to listen to us and execute commands, it needs a language of communication, commands and commands that is responsible for running specific programmes. In order for this to be used, an interface between the human and the machine's processor is necessary, and the operating system that creates the environment to control and run tasks must provide methods to perform certain operations. Schematically, the user, through a programme communicating with the operating system, passes a command to the system kernel (kernel), then the intended action takes place. Of course, this is a major simplification, but it is needed to illustrate the essence of OS operation.
Birth of Linux in the early 1990s were the result of a passion for programming indulged in by Finnish computer science student Linus Torvalds. The hobbyist, who decided to create his own operating system as an alternative to the then used MS-DOS or Unix, started working on the project in April 1991, and by September of the same year had already released the first version of his original system, although he had not yet used the name Linux. But what lies behind its success and popularity? Certainly its primary advantage is its open source code, which made it possible for other programmers - talented, creative and open-minded - to develop and expand its capabilities.
Naturally, at the time, the developer of Linux did not have the capacity to make suitable libraries or compilers in addition to the kernel, so in 1992 the GNU/Linux project was created, which integrated the existing Linux kernel with GNU tools to form a complete operating system. Here it is worth specifying that although Linux is perceived as an operating system, it is common to come across the term „GNU/Linux”, used for example by the Free Software Foundation to emphasise the inseparability and major contribution of the GNU project to most existing Linux systems.
Shortly thereafter, the hobbyist software gained popularity as an example of a real system of open source, and subsequent Linux distributions have promoted the development and promotion of free software principles - not in the operational sense, of course. Here, however, the unrestricted possibility of free modification and customisation of the system through the use of the source code, the active assistance in solving problems from the community of developers and enthusiasts, and the stability and reliability have won it many supporters to this day. It is a fact that it requires more technical knowledge, especially when it comes to the command line, and that it does not have full support from all hardware manufacturers, but this should be considered more of an intrinsic characteristic than a significant drawback. The Linux operating system is applicable where its unique qualities can be fully exploited.
A once-in-a-lifetime licence and software that every developer can improve - the road to the perfect OS
This open, modular design and the great flexibility of the Linux kernel is the basis for the various distributions and applications of this operating system, while developers from around the world particularly value its performance and highly stable operation. For this reason, it is ideal for applications that require reliable operation and maximum uptime, so it supports large cloud infrastructure environments, application servers as well as desktop environments and embedded systems.
It is also the first choice for local converged infrastructure facilities, which is a system that integrates server, storage space and network-related functions into a single organism and provides the ability to be managed in a unified way through a layer of dedicated software. In it, the graphical user interface (GUI) is not an integral part of the operating system, but an additional set of programmes, optional for different platforms.
In 2013, NASA declared that it was migrating from Windows to Linux because it needed a stable and reliable operating system, and in our national backyard, a similar decision was made by the Stock Exchange, among others, during the same period. This was a symbolic poke in the nose for the Redmond giant and, at the same time, the best testimony given to the Linux operating system, or more precisely to the whole family, which, unlike commercial solutions, is still made available under an open software licence. And since its source code can be freely modified and distributed without restriction, it is no wonder that various versions and configurations of the system are created to suit specific requirements. The term „ The Linux distro” hides a multitude of variations, and the vast majority of distributions contain many elements of the GNU project.
In addition to the system kernel itself, each includes core programmes and services, a shell, startup scripts, configuration tools and a sizable set of utility applications, which have their own unique features and are tailored to different applications. This, in turn, enables users to choose the version that is appropriate for their needs in a given context, whether in the area of servers, computer security or simply desktops.
Linux for everyone? The kernel of the system and how you can modify the code and run your own distributions
As far as the most popular distributions are concerned, several can be mentioned, with Debian Linux and the associated Ubuntu being the most recognisable among the consumer audience. Created and developed primarily with home and office users in mind, Ubuntu offers both a large and committed support community and an extensive ecosystem of applications.
In addition to Ubuntu itself, there are quite a few other variants of the distribution, differing in the basic set of packages, released in parallel and using the same package repositories, including Edubuntu for schools, teachers and students or Ubuntu Studio, designed for multimedia applications, for sound engineers, musicians or graphic designers. You could say that Linux Mint, which offers a friendly environment for people who have previously used other operating systems, especially Windows, is a suitable Linux for beginners, ideal for hardware such as a laptop.
Business and server users benefit from distributions of a different nature, such as CentOS, which is used by IT specialists primarily for clusters and database servers or when performing numerical simulations. Kali Linux, on the other hand, is indispensable for protecting computer systems and is often used by security and cyber-security experts.
The whole idea behind Linux and its file system is that virtually anyone can create their own distribution based on the available source code, choosing from off-the-shelf components. This results in the creation or existence of many twin distributions either from different companies, but which are in fact interchangeable. In this way, it is possible to achieve a specific optimisation for each purpose, enriching it with specialised functions, automatic installation of patches or higher database performance.
Linux distribution and its advantage over Microsoft Windows - will the new open source-based system work for every company?
Among other things, it is the choice of priorities and the audience group that determines the classification criteria and distribution design. Servers require completely different considerations than desktops, just as a specialised industry purpose will compile completely different components than a general, universal multi-platform.
So who needs Linux? Since its advantages have been appreciated and confirmed in battle by banks, financial and government institutions, the military or intelligence agencies, its implementation has a really solid foundation. Getting used to successive versions of Windows can sometimes be fatal, because in many critical situations, the reliability and stability of Linux is simply priceless. On the other hand, the implementation of changes itself requires the involvement of people or companies that have the appropriate knowledge and skills - advanced IT administrators can modify Linux freely, adjusting it to current needs, but you have to reckon with the cost of their work - here the advantage of free open source ends.
On the other hand, paid licences for Windows and its components are inherent in the use of solutions from Microsoft, so it may well be that the benefits of once-paid-for software will actually prove illusory. Also of considerable importance to many companies are the hardware requirements, which are much lower for the new Linux distributions and do not require expensive hardware upgrades. Windows and its source code is developed internally by Microsoft and is therefore not made available for users to modify. Philosophy open source This bypasses the bottleneck limiting the introduction of personalised system changes, and free Linux includes the basic components needed to start building your own specified operating environment.
Putting the universality, popularity and general good knowledge of Windows, which does not require specific knowledge, against the universality, flexibility and reliability of distributions based on the Linux kernel, we can indicate the areas of application of these operating systems in companies. Their integration is possible, for example, for typical office applications a product signed with the Microsoft logo, and for server rooms a suitably prepared version of Linux software. It is certainly worth considering where each failure, downtime or server shutdown entails costs, complications or other problems when restarting the system. The self-satisfied figure of the Tux penguin can therefore be seen as a symbolic metaphor for the calm and composure that a properly implemented Linux will guarantee.
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