What's Linux?

Heard of MAC OS?  How about Windows?  Now have you heard of Linux?  Believe it or not, it's an operating system that you've used and had no idea you did.

THE BEGINNING

Linux is a free and open-sourced operating system that was created by Linus Torvalds.  Open source means that the consumer could customize the code inside of their operating system.  This is a function that is not available without retribution from proprietary operating systems such as MAC and Windows.

Distributions

The Linux kernel (the platform the operating system is installed on) can support many varieties of customized operating systems.  These are commonly referred to as distributions.  Each with its own set of applications and tools.  Popular distributions include Ubuntu, Mint, and Android. Linux can also be found on supercomputers due to its emphasis on security

Is Linux For Me?

If you're accustomed to Windows, the Linux interface may take some time to get used to.  The great news is there's a graphical user interface.  For quite some time Linux was command-line driven.  Meaning you had to put in commands to execute all functions (no pretty pictures). One advantage of Linux is that it's lightweight, making it great for home use.  Furthermore, you can pick or even create a distro that is tailored to your needs.  But if you've never used Linux before we suggest trying out Linux on a machine thats not your main device.  At least until you get the hang of it.

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