Linux in layman’s terms

I’ve heard many people speak of free software called “Linux”. What is Linux?

Linux is an computer operating system, just as Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X are computer operating systems. Linux is open source software that is popular in enterprise computing situations, and among many computer enthusiasts. Linux is built upon the foundations of the UNIX operating system, developed a few decades earlier by AT&T employees working at Bell Labs.

A bit about Open Source Software

The term “Open Source” describes software whose source code is available for anyone to use, modify and distribute freely. Open source is a popular model of software licensing among computer enthusiasts because it encourages a community development process wherein open source software projects are collaborated on by many talented programmers from all over the world. Many IT security professionals value open source software for the fact that its flaws can be discovered, scrutinized and fixed by anyone who cares to download the source code. Finally, most open source software projects are also free software, available to the end user at no cost.

What is Linux?

The core of Linux is the Linux Kernel, the heart of the operating system that implements all of the most basic features that are necessary for the system to operate in conjunction with a computer’s hardware. The Linux kernel was invented by a student named Linus Torvalds, while attending the University of Helsinki in 1991. The liberal nature of open source licensing allowed other programmers to see the beauty of Torvalds’ creation, and begin working on expanding the software as a hobby, and eventually as a business venture.

Today there are many different versions of Linux that are based on the Linux Kernel. Some “flavors” of Linux are maintained by teams of dedicated programmers, while other flavors are offered by companies who are attempting build a valid business model around free open source software. These “flavors” all attempt to set themselves apart from the crowd with their own personality, design, and features. A good analogy for the existence of many different flavors of Linux is to imagine that Microsoft allowed IBM, NEC, Sony, Apple, and Dell all to design, implement and distribute their own independent versions of Windows.

Some of the different distributions of Linux are (in no particular order):

• Gentoo Linux
• Red Hat Linux
• Red Hat Fedora Linux
• Mandriva Linux
• SUSE Linux Enterprise from Novell
• Debian Linux
• Slackware Linux

Software Compatibility

Linux is an alternative OS and as such, there is not a high level of compatibility with software written for Microsoft Windows or Mac OS X. There are programs (e.g. Wine) that are able to run some Windows software on Linux, but in general people who migrate to Linux often find similar software packages that are designed to work with Linux. For example, Microsoft Office does not run on Linux, however the freely available Open Office.org software suite contains a similar set of programs & a word processor, a spreadsheet program, and a presentation manager. This practice goes back to Linux’s roots in the GNU project, whose aim is to create an operating system composed entirely of free software.

Who uses Linux?

Linux does not owe all of its success to the philosophy of open source software; Linux is a very stable, secure, well designed operating system that can be customized from the ground up, and so Linux powers many enterprise computing systems. The definition of “enterprise” can be a little murky, so in this case let’s just say that we’re using the word “enterprise” to refer to computer systems that support businesses and other purposeful organizations. Many websites live on web severs powered by Linux, and many bank transactions are processed by systems running Linux. Many Tivo digital video recorders run Linux, and the garage where I get my oil changed even uses a vehicle database powered by Linux.

Linux is extremely popular among computer programmers, hobbyists, and other such enthusiasts who value both the philosophy and intricacies of Linux’s design. Linux is a system that lets a programmer get underneath the hood.

Finally, Linux is popular among computer users who are looking for a viable alternative to closed source operating systems maintained by large corporations, such as Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X.

Should you use Linux at home?

Sure, why not? If you’re curious about Linux, there’s no harm in getting your hands dirty. You can install Linux on an older PC that’s sitting in the back of your closet, or Linux can share a computer with Microsoft Windows (this is called dual booting).

Should your company use Linux?

The answer to this question is beyond the scope of this article. If you’re considering powering your company with Linux, you should go forth and research the pros and cons of all your available options. Talk to people on both sides of the fence, and lead yourself to an educated decision.

Where can you get Linux?

There are many different places and methods when it comes to getting your hands on a copy of Linux. Linux can be downloaded over the Internet and then burned to DVDs or CDs, and Linux can be bought in the store or from mail order for a nominal fee. The Linux Distributions and FTP Sites page at Linux.org is an excellent gateway to all the different flavors of linux.

What distribution of Linux should you get?

Now there’s a loaded question! Not only could we devote an entire article just to the differences between distributions, but talking Linux distros is like preaching religion. Let us just say Of Zen and Computing likes Gentoo Linux for its ease of customization, and leave it at that.

For installation instructions, consult the documentation for the specific Linux distro that you choose. Be forewarned that while some distros (such as Fedora) have a simplified installation process, others can be fairly complicated.

[tags]Linux, Open Source, Free Software[/tags]