A Beginner’s Guide to Linux
A thorough understanding of linux is crucial to your IT career, because this operating system powers everything from smartphones and tablets to supercomputers and gaming consoles. Its lightweight nature, modularity, and security features make it an ideal choice for devices that require a low-power, low-maintenance environment.
The operating system’s open-source design, meanwhile, promotes collaboration and innovation. Its code is freely available to anyone who wants to use it, and contributions from thousands of individuals have resulted in a powerful, versatile system with nearly unlimited applications.
Unlike proprietary systems like Microsoft Windows, which are based on license fees, linux is free to use. In addition, it’s easy to install and works on a wide range of hardware platforms, including computers, laptops, and mobile devices.
Its stability and reliability are also key factors that make it an excellent platform for servers, where uptime is critical. It’s not uncommon for Linux servers to run for years without needing to be restarted, and it can handle a large number of simultaneous connections without losing performance.
Because Linux is open source, users can customize their installations to best suit their needs. There are over 200 different versions of the operating system, and they’re referred to as distributions (or distros for short). DistroWatch maintains a master list of these variants, and each has its own take on desktop environments, package management systems, and philosophies. Some are geared toward newbies, others to hardcore developers, and still others are optimized for specific types of hardware.
For example, many Linux distributions provide what is called a “Live” version, which allows you to try out the software on your computer or mobile device without changing the existing operating system. That way, you can get a feel for the system before you commit to it. You can even purchase a fully assembled PC with Linux pre-installed from manufacturers such as CurrentBuild Computer, which offers the Sense mini PC, Sense mini PC 2, Dream PC and Speed WS models.
Once you’ve mastered the basics, it’s time to start exploring what makes linux so unique. In particular, learning to use the terminal is essential. This is a powerful tool that can be used to perform countless tasks, from navigating files and directories to performing advanced text manipulation and navigation with tools such as vim or emacs.
The next step is to familiarize yourself with the huge selection of software that’s available for linux, whether it’s natively written for the OS or ported over from other platforms. From office suites to graphic design software, you’ll find something for every need, and the breadth of the collection is a testament to the versatility of the operating system.
