Operating system Linux has made it off the servers and onto personal computers. An operating system is a software that lays on top of basic functions of a computer. They allow a user-friendly experience with the computer system; let me assure you the command line is not exactly user-friendly, operating systems are your friend. Windows and Mac have ruled the scene as operating systems, and I would bet that most people have not even heard of Linux. Nevertheless, Linux has risen to the scene, and fights with the best.
Security
Security was always kept in mind during the development of Linux, and the efforts paid off with Linux being less apt to getting malware and viruses than Windows. The reasoning behind this is the structure of how the system allows changes. No program can make a change to the system, unless the user is logged in as a root. The root is similar to the administrator in Windows, however, unlike Windows users are not typically logged in as the root. Consequently, users typically cannot do a large amount of danger to the system itself, rather just personal files and programs. Additionally, Linux has an antivirus software, ClamAv, to give an extra boost to security. Furthermore, Linux is an open source software. The importance of this, is that many programmers have scraped through Linux’s code, finding nearly all the bugs and the solution to them. Browse the Internet with ease, knowing that your system will be kept safe under Linux.
Stability
The Linux system itself is extremely stable, meaning it isn’t likely to crash. Moreover, unlike other systems, Linux does not slow down. We have all experienced a seemingly yearlong update from Windows, but Linux can last years without losing its momentum. This is due to Linux servers’ uptime and availability clocking in at about 99.9%, in short extremely reliable. Another perk of Linux is that you do not have to restart after an update. Unheard of! This is also the reason that Linux has the highest number of servers on the Internet, a whopping 96.3% according to zdnet. Linux accomplishes this by have a central repository that ensures the system is updated safely. Another advantage over Windows, is that Linux updates 3rd party software, so you do not have to do that manually. Linux can be installed on just about any hardware, there is a multitude of installation options, and can be specific to hardware. This means you can breathe new life into systems that are slowing down by installing Linux onto them. Stay away from system headaches and install Linux.
Open Source
Being an open source software is a key behind the beauty of Linux. Firstly, Linux is FREE to download. Note, that some companies may sell you their customized version of Linux, which may save some time, however, Linux is at the basis free! Save yourself from spending $99 for Windows software. Also, being open source allows many developers to play around with the source code. This means, there are already many GUIs (graphic user interface) that help make using Linux user-friendly, this also allows for flexible customization to make Linux your own. Additionally, this allows Linux to mimic Windows’ features, and there are programs that allow Linux to run Windows programs and games. This being so, Linux still cannot meet the full access that Windows has. Furthermore, and perhaps most important is the great community behind Linux. There are many forums to use as reference while figuring out how to perfect your own Linux system. With the sheer number of users, most forums get a quick and a variety of replies.
If changing up your entire operating system seems a little scary, that’s understandable. My recommendation would be to revive an older computer with Linux, or run a dual Windows and Linux set up. Linux is surely coming up to the ranks to be a solid competitor to Windows. Let me know if you use Linux, or if you would ever try it down in these comments below!