XI Международная студенческая научная конференция Студенческий научный форум - 2019

This article is an attempt to consider Linux as a valid alternative to the most widely spread operating system Windows. Operating systems are essential components of any personal computer. Operating systems are computer programs. An operating system is the first piece of software that the computer executes when you turn the machine on. The operating system loads itself into memory and begins managing the resources available on the computer. It then provides those resources to other applications that the user wants to execute. The fact that there seemed few alternatives to the Windows OS drew my attention to one valid alternative; LINUX.

I would like to consider few aspects such as the history of its invention, its variations and distinctive features. Surprisingly Linux is not as popular in Russia as abroad.

Firstly, Linux is an operating system -- very much like UNIX -- that has become very popular over the last several years.

Linux is as much a phenomenon as it is an operating system. To understand why Linux has become so popular, it is helpful to know a little bit about its history. The first version of UNIX was originally developed several decades ago and was used primarily as a research operating system in universities. High-powered desktop workstations from companies like Sun proliferated in the 1980s, and they were all based on UNIX. A number of companies entered the workstation field to compete against Sun: HP, IBM, Silicon Graphics, Apollo, etc. Unfortunately, each one had its own version of UNIX and this made the sale of software difficult. Windows NT was Microsoft's answer to this marketplace. NT provides the same sort of features as UNIX operating systems -- security, support for multiple CPUs, large-scale memory and disk management, etc. -- but it does it in a way that is compatible with most Windows applications. The entry of Microsoft into the high-end workstation arena created a strange dynamic. The proprietary operating systems owned by separate companies and the lack of a central authority in the UNIX world weakened UNIX, but many people have personal problems with Microsoft. Linux stepped into this void and captured a lot of attention.

We should mention the Linux kernel, created by Linus Torvalds, that was made available to the world for free. Torvalds then invited others to add to the kernel provided that they keep their contributions free. Thousands of programmers began working to enhance Linux, and the operating system grew rapidly. Because it is free and runs on PC platforms, it gained a sizeable audience among hard-core developers very quickly. Linux has a dedicated following and appeals to several different kinds of people, e.g.

People who already know UNIX and want to run it on PC-type hardware;

People who want to experiment with operating system principles;

People who need or want a great deal of control over their operating system;

People who have personal problems with Microsoft.

Secondly, Linux is capable of practically any function people expect from a computer, surfing the Internet, writing documents, working with spreadsheets, watching videos, listening to music, retouching a photograph, etc., etc. Of course, Windows has a greater diversity of applications and has the advantage that the support in video games is much more extensive and if you are playing games regularly that would possibly that tilt the balance to Windows.

Anyway, Linux has some advantages over Windows that are worth mentioning in this article and that are important. Let’s mention few on them:

Cost

Since the creation of Linux is free to use software, so we don’t have to pay any license fee as in Windows, which in itself is quite expensive and can only be one computer. In the case of Linux, we must clarify that most distros are free to use and only some are paid, as in the case of Red Hat.

Security

If there is something that Linux has always highlighted, it is security. It is no coincidence that 99% of Internet servers use a Linux operating system. Although no operating system is exempt from any vulnerability, Linux always has very effective and fast support patching any vulnerabilities that come out every day.

Freedom

Linux in all its flavors always allows excellent personalization and liberty. For those more experienced users, they can configure the Linux Kernel completely. If they want they can change some parameters, such as setting the different services and utilities that are loaded at the beginning of the system; not to mention the configurations of desks, windows, etc. It is even possible to change the entire desktop environment for another that seems better, changing entirely the way the system behaves. With Windows, this you cannot do and is limited to the configuration options imposed by Microsoft.

Applications

Windows has to its disposal an extensive collection of applications available but Linux does not come lame regarding applications. For example, only in text editors alone you can choose from more than 100 different kinds, with different functions and appearance that fit your taste.

The advantage of free software is that any user with knowledge can contribute to improving Linux applications, although free software can also exist in other operating systems and is not exclusive to the ‘Penguin,’ but is more widespread here.

Hardware

Another of the universal truths that exist around Linux is that, in general, it is a system that takes better advantage of hardware resources. This results in higher system performance with the same computer configuration as Windows. It is also possible to use one or another distro or desktop environment depending on the power that our computer has; scalability is one of the strengths of this system.

6. Open Source Nature

What is it like when you buy a car, but you cannot see what’s under the hood? Similar is the case with when you use a Windows-powered system. However, in contrast, Linux is completely an open source project. You can have a look at the source code of a Linux OS, which is a plus. I know, most people don’t care about this openness of Linux, but to me, this is the most important advantage of using GNU/Linux.

7. Perfect For Programmers

Linux supports almost all of the major programming languages (Python, C/C++, Java, Perl, Ruby, etc.). Moreover, it offers a vast range of applications useful for programming purposes. The Linux terminal is superior to use over Window’s command line for developers. You would find many libraries developed natively for Linux. Also a lot of programmers point out that the package manager on Linux helps them get things done easily. Interestingly, the ability of bash scripting is also one of the most compelling reasons why programmers prefer using Linux OS. Linux also brings in native support for SSH, which would help you manage your servers quickly. You could include things like apt-get commands which further makes Linux one of the most popular choices of the programmers.

8. Software Updates.

Microsoft pushes a software update when it receives a set of problems or if something major needs to be fixed. Linux, on the other hand, offers software updates to address a little problem. So, with Linux, you will notice more updates to fix the problems you might be facing. You will not only encounter a larger number of software updates, but you will also observe much faster software updates.

9. Better Community Support.

Linux Community Support is one of the advantages of Linux over Windows .You do not need to hire an expert to solve a problem you are facing on your Linux system. You just need to search for a similar thread on the web for a solution or post a thread to let others solve the problem. Within minutes of posting a thread on any of the Linux forums, you may expect a reply along with a detailed solution which would finally help resolve your problem at no cost! There are a lot of active Linux users who are always ready to respond to a relevant thread one might have created. The number of community users active on such forums is more than the number of active members on any Windows-focused forum. However, the community response might vary depending on the Linux distribution being used.

10. Reliability

Windows, as we know it, becomes sluggish day after day. You will want to re-install Windows after a while when you encounter crashes or slowdowns on your system. If you are using Linux, you will not have to worry about re-installing it just to experience a faster and a smoother system. Linux helps your system run smooth for a longer period (in fact, much longer!).

Also with Windows, you will have to adapt to a habit where you keep on rebooting the system for just about everything.

If you just installed software, reboot!

If you recently uninstalled software, reboot!

If you just installed a Windows update, reboot!

If the system seems to slow down, reboot!

11. Privacy

Microsoft certainly tries to anonymize the data collected from every user. However, it does not look convincing with Microsoft’s latest Windows 10. It has already received an enormous amount of criticism of how it collects data, what it should collect and what it should not. If you have ever used Windows 10, you could only head into the privacy settings to know that everything is enabled by default. Even if you opt out to send Microsoft information about your data, it is still being collected. Of course, Microsoft will not bother revealing it officially with a press statement, but it surely does. So you would need a set of tools to disable the spying modules of Windows. In contrast, Linux would be the perfect solution for a privacy buff. First of all, Linux distributions do not collect much data (or none). Moreover, you will not need additional tools to protect your privacy.

So for the more experienced PC user Linux is an OS that besides offering the same functionality as Windows has a lot off advantages, such as price, security and stability.

https://computer.howstuffworks.com/

https://thelinuxcode.com/

https://itsfoss.com/

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