Linux. It has been around since the mid-90s and has since had many friends, from home users to organizations and companies that choose stability and security.
For those who know, Linux is really everywhere: it's on your phones, in your cars, in your refrigerators, on various other devices. It manages most of the Internet, supercomputers that make scientific discoveries and stock exchanges around the world.
But before Linux became a platform for desktops, servers, and embedded systems around the world, it was (and still is) one of the most reliable, secure operating systems.
For those who do not know, below you will find all the information you need to understand the Linux platform.
Like Windows XP, 7, 8, 10 and Mac OS, Linux is an operating system. An operating system is the software that manages all the hardware resources that your desktop or laptop computer "wears".
Simply put, the operating system manages the communication between the software and the hardware. Without the operating system (often referred to as the "OS"), the software would not work.
The operating system consists of several parts:
The Bootloader : This is the software that manages the boot process of your computer. For most people, this will simply be a splash screen that appears before the operating system starts.
The Kernel : Essentially “Linux” itself. It is the core of the system that manages the CPU, memory, and peripherals. The kernel is the “lowest” level of the operating system.
Daemons : These are background services (for printing, sound, programming, etc.) that either start at boot time or after you log in to the desktop.
Shell : You may have heard of the Linux command line. That’s the Shell – a command process that allows you to control your computer through commands. This used to be something many people feared about Linux (assuming they would have to learn a seemingly archaic command line structure to operate Linux). That’s no longer the case. With modern Linux, you don’t have to touch the command line.
Graphical Server : This is the subsystem that displays graphics on your screen. It is usually referred to as the X server or simply “X”.
Desktop Environment : This is the piece of the puzzle that users interact with. There are many desktop environments to choose from (Unity, GNOME, Cinnamon, Enlightenment, KDE, XFCE, etc.). Each desktop environment includes built-in applications (such as file managers, configuration tools, browsers, games, etc.).
Applications : Desktop environments don’t offer all the applications you need. But every Linux system gives you the ability to install thousands of high-quality applications. Most modern Linux distributions have App Store-style tools that centralize and simplify the installation of applications. For example: Ubuntu Linux has the Ubuntu Software Center (Figure 1) that allows you to quickly search among thousands of applications and install them from a central location.
George is still wondering what he is doing here….
