Linux operating systems. Linux - what is it? Linux OS: review, instructions, reviews. How to start using Linux First Linux

There are many types of operating systems. One of them is the Linux operating system. What is this operating system? Where is it used? How is it organized?

How is it different from operating systems of the Windows family? What are Linux distributions? We will try to find answers to these and other questions in this review.

Linux: what is it

Linux is an operating system in which the user has a wide choice software, which will be installed in it. In this operating system, you can choose between several types of desktops and a dozen shells for command line, which, by the way, is called the terminal and plays a rather important role. Due to the fact that this operating system is designed to run several programs at once, it is not very prone to failures.

No program can be launched by default without the knowledge of the user, so it is very difficult to encounter a virus written for Linux. If they infect computers, it is only because the user himself launched a suspicious application. Samples of this system can work via USB or optical drives.

Linux: development history

In Russian, the name of this operating system does not translate. It is named after its pioneering founder, Linus Torvalds. He presented his creation to the public in 1994. The development of the system began in 1991. Due to the fact that this operating system was open source and could be modified by everyone, so it had followers around the world. Developments are beginning to be used by various companies that produce paid distributions.

At the same time, entire communities of developers have emerged who, on a voluntary basis, create and distribute their own builds. As of 2016, there are about a dozen popular versions of Linux operating systems. What does this state of affairs mean? This means that there is serious competition and diversity. In addition to popular versions, less common ones are also used, which are designed to perform a certain range of tasks. If you are interested in the Russian version of the Linux operating system, then it is worth noting that downloading it today is not a problem. For other versions, there are russifiers that can translate at least part of the designations.

Linux and Windows: Differences

These operating systems at first glance have serious differences. However, in reality, everything is not quite so. There are differences, but to see them, you need to look a little deeper. We will focus on the Linux operating system, but since we will be comparing with Windows, we will have to describe this OS as well. We will consider the file system, graphical shell, system configuration, scope. At the end of the article, we will pay a little attention to distributions.

File system

First of all, it is worth noting that in the usual sense in the Linux operating system there is no hard drives. What can this state of affairs be about in the first place? Physical disks and logical partitions are saved, here they will be represented by directories. The OS connects to some folder, everything that will be created will fall into it. Work can only be done with the files that are in it. The main folder is called the root folder. It is denoted by the sign /. User files are usually stored in the /home/username/ folder. You can change the location as you wish.

Graphical shell

After using the Windows operating system, moving to Linux may seem inconvenient at first. However, this is only true when using the terminal. There are graphical shells with which you can work with the familiar interface. The terminal is used either by very advanced users or on servers. Graphically designed shell will suit all other users who do not want to remember the exact directories of information. Thus, we can say that the Linux operating system can appear in various types. There are several options for customizing the desktop. Graphic design is calculated in hundreds of variations.

Configuration

In the operating room Windows system this information is in system registry. It is a kind of database. It is required so that the programs that run in the operating system of the program are correctly configured at the first boot and at the beginning of work. In the event that the registry is damaged, only a complete reinstallation can help. However, this has a certain advantage: everything is in one place. In the Linux operating system, developers decided to take a slightly different path. In this OS, each program is the owner of a separate configuration file, and maybe even several.

These files can be viewed and edited at will. text editor. If there are several more files, then this has its advantages. If one of them is damaged, only part of the developments will be lost. In the worst case, only the program will have to be reinstalled. In addition, if the user wants to change the computer, he does not have to start all over again. He can simply copy the necessary files between machines, either directly or using media. But what if the operating system was damaged? This is another important advantage of the Linux operating system.

The OS needs to be reinstalled and you need to do it. But file settings will not disappear after this process. However, there is one small drawback here: each program has its own configuration file format. It will be necessary to understand them well before editing anything.
Applications

We have already talked about the Linux operating system, and how it differs from the Windows OS familiar to many users. Today we will focus on the areas of its application. Alas, it will not find application everywhere. Linux, whether it's an office or home workstation, is close to ideal. The thing is that for this OS there are many created or ported games. There are also separate programs that run complex engineering programs or graphics packages like Adobe.

With the help of emulation, this problem in most cases is solved quite simply. However, not all users need a computer that can solve specific problems. Let's take a look at the list of features of this operating system. The Linux operating system allows you to create office documents, process texts, create spreadsheets. It is also possible to view and edit photos and images. You can watch videos and listen to music. You can even play simple games on the system. It is possible to carry out communication processes via the Internet.

It is worth noting that in this regard, the Linux operating system is significantly superior to its competitor. Linux is great for programming. The user can easily explore the Internet space. It is also convenient to remote control any operating systems. Available here Email and various messaging programs. File sharing is quite convenient.

About distributions

If you want to install a Russian version of Linux on your computer, then it's worth talking a little about distributions. The user has the opportunity to choose the language and geographic orientation. In addition, with the help of this operating system, you can seriously study languages. But now we are talking about distributions. The main difference is that the programs are located in the file system. This is not to say that one distribution is more convenient to use than another.

Here everything will depend on the range of tasks to be solved. You can use a version in which it is convenient to do programming, but there is poor Internet support. This option suitable for those users who need to concentrate on work instead of being constantly distracted by the Internet. There are also versions that allow you to best customize the power. This makes it possible to get maximum performance. In general, there are plenty to choose from, you just need to stop at one or another version.

In this article, I will try to tell you as simply and clearly as possible about what is linux, what is a linux distribution, I will talk about the features of Linux and the differences from the Windows operating system, we will also talk about the graphical user interface in Linux and much more.

linux is a free operating system for computers based on the Linux kernel.

Linux kernel- This is the main component of the operating system, which is the center of this system, around which everything is built. The Linux kernel coordinates all activities between the computer hardware and all operating system components, including applications. Thus, the Linux kernel is the base, the basis on which the Linux operating system is built.

The Linux kernel first appeared in 1991, developed by Finnish programmer Linus Torvalds.

Official symbol of Linux is a penguin named Tux, which is different from "ordinary" penguins with yellow beak and paws. Therefore, do not be surprised that almost all mentions of Linux are accompanied by such a penguin.

The Linux operating system is a modular system and it is extensible, thus, the Linux operating system consists not only of the kernel, it also includes a graphical shell ( GUI user), a set of applications, and other components that connect to and interact with the Linux kernel.

Software for Linux is distributed in the form of packages and is stored in special so-called repositories.

repository is a repository that stores application packages or just packages to extend the functionality of the Linux operating system. The repositories can be freely accessed from the operating system, so you can install additional programs very easily.

On a note! If you want to learn how to use Linux on your home computer without using the command line, I recommend reading my book - " »

Linux GUI

The main and popular ones in Linux are:

KDE (K Desktop Environment) - one of the largest and most popular graphical shells, has a beautiful, convenient and functional interface, due to this, it is quite demanding on computer resources;
GNOME (GNU Network Object Model Environment) is another desktop environment that is widely used and is also very popular and functional. Starting with version 3, GNOME began to use the technology GNOME Shell, which made this environment completely new and significantly different from the classic version. It was this fact that inspired the creation of new shells that continued the classic GNOME environment, but with a different name;
MATE- has an intuitive and, most importantly, convenient user interface, due to this it is very attractive. Given environment is a continuation classic interface GNOME;
Cinnamon- another continuation of the classic GNOME using modern technologies. Very comfortable, functional and beautiful desktop environment;
xfce- a simple, functional and at the same time very fast and lightweight graphical shell;
LXDE (Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment) is one of the lightest and fastest desktop environments that is not demanding on computer resources, so it has a very conservative interface.

Feature of Linux and difference from Windows

The main feature and difference between Linux and the Windows family of operating systems is that Linux uses a completely different approach to organizing file system and the use of completely different types of file systems.

In Windows, you are used to seeing logical drives C, D, and so on; in Linux, there are no such drives. Instead, Linux has a root (/) from which everything grows. All file and directory addresses start from the root, all partitions are mounted to the root, including physical disks ( USB flash drives and so on).

Thus, absolutely all physical disks and partitions are combined into a single file structure, starting with a root (/).

Linux, as already noted, uses other file systems, not like, for example, Windows - NTFS or FAT, although Linux can work with these types of file systems.

Linux actively uses the following types of file systems:

ext4- a modern journaling file system, which is standard for Linux;
btrfs- a fairly new file system based on B-tree structures, in some tests it even shows better performance compared to ext4;
xfs- this file system is distinguished enough high performance in terms of writing and reading data. However, due to the nature of this file system, there is a risk of data loss in case of serious failures.

In general, the internal workings of Linux and Windows systems, of course, are significantly different, but today for the average user home computer these differences are almost invisible. Modern Linux is a very user-friendly, already user-oriented operating system.

Nevertheless, Windows still remains the most popular operating system, and just because of this, the most vulnerable. Since it is under Windows that most viruses are created, daily "bad" developers are looking for vulnerabilities in this operating system in order to create another virus.

In Linux, things are much better with viruses; under Linux, viruses are created much less, and as a result, Linux is considered a safer and more virus-resistant operating system.

In terms of software, Linux has become so widespread that a huge number of applications are being developed for this system, including the most popular ones that are in Windows. And by the way, installing applications in modern Linux has become much easier than in Windows. The installation process resembles something like installing applications on smartphones, i.e. everything is installed from one point in one click. That is, you launch a system component that accesses the repositories and reads the list of available packages ( with description, with ratings, with comments from other users), and you just click on the one you need and that's it. Of course, not all Linux distributions have such functionality, but in the most popular ones, the installation happens exactly like this.

Also, the main difference from Windows is that Linux is a completely free and open source operating system. source code. Any developer can modify it and create their own system on its basis with absolutely legal rights. All software in Linux is mostly free as well. Linux is free to distribute and use. Therefore, there are a huge number Linux distributions, and what it is, I'll tell you now.

What is a Linux distribution?

Linux distribution is a variation of the Linux operating system. There are many Linux distributions, as any developer can use the Linux kernel and create their own operating system. Thus, developers unite in communities and create operating systems based on the Linux kernel, which are distributions. Distributions include all the necessary software for work, and often most distributions have everything you need to start using the system immediately after installation, unlike the same Windows, where you still need to install the software necessary for work after installing the system.

Also, distributions can create and maintain various companies, and such distributions may already be paid.

A Linux distribution can be based on another distribution, and thus, countless varieties of distributions are born that are based on each other and they all have the same base, the same foundation.

Almost every distribution has its own repository, which stores all packages compatible and supported by the distribution, respectively, when installing applications from standard repositories, you always install only verified versions of programs.

Linux distributions can be roughly divided into two very large branches of development, two directions. Here I mean the division according to the way the software is organized and managed, i.e. packages.

There are two popular package management systems:

DEB- the package file format used by the Debian distribution and all distributions based on it;
RPM is a package manager used by the Red Hat distribution, as well as many other popular distributions.

If you are a beginner Linux user, then you don't need to look at what package management system the distribution is based on, you need to look at the distribution as a final product, ie. for what purposes it was designed. I brought this division only so that you know that it exists, it will practically not affect your acquaintance with the Linux operating system in any way. The only time you will encounter this is when you install third party software that is not in the standard repositories. Since you will need to choose the type of package to install that matches your system.

Before you switch to Linux, you need to know what a particular distribution is designed and intended for. Since there are, for example, distributions that do not have a graphical shell, i.e. server systems, there are distributions that are purely command-line driven and are designed for advanced users, but at the same time, there are distributions that are as simple and user-friendly as possible that are not inferior to Windows.

We will talk more about Linux distributions in the next article.

That's all I have for today, bye!

Many of those who switched to Linux now do not want to go back to the Windows operating system. This is due to the availability of this operating system even for novice users. If you want to install Linux, then you need to download one of the many distributions that are written based on the Linux kernel. We give examples of the best of them and talk about the features of the system.

What is Linux and why are there so many operating systems based on it?

GNU/Linux was designed as a multi-user and multi-tasking kernel for various operating systems. For which programmers have created many graphic managers and software shells. The distribution (operating system) determines what you will use the computer for. Each Linux-based operating system is distinguished by its functional part. A single part of all distributions is the "Terminal", this is their main part. With it, you can:

install and launch programs;
add repositories for storing software;
configure configuration files and the distribution itself.

Now this system is especially popular among programmers, it is also very often used for servers.
It began to be widely distributed in home computers relatively recently, having won the love of users due to its wide customization options: some versions of distributions can be run directly from a flash drive, others are suitable for weak computers. Distributions differ in their functionality, size and appearance.

Not all Linux-based operating systems can be downloaded. For example, Google Chrome OS (yes, there is such an operating system, not just a browser) comes pre-installed on some models of Samsung, HP laptops, etc. In the public domain, official distributions of this operating system cannot be found. But there are many forks and copies. We will not link to such sites in this review. For each distribution in the review, we give a download link to the official website or the official community.

Why are users ditching Windows for Linux?

Most often, the advantages of Linux-based operating systems are called:

Absence. This is not to say that this system is generally impossible to hack, but hackers rarely show interest in Linux. There are a few rutiches that help infiltrate servers, but they almost never run on home PCs. The fact that the system is safe is also evidenced by the fact that none antivirus utility there are no databases specifically for Linux. Basically, programs are configured to search malicious code, which was transferred from using flash drives or disks.
Almost all distributions are distributed free of charge, which allows people with multiple home devices not to spend a lot of money on licenses. In this case, you can regularly reinstall distributions, test them and change them. An added benefit is that Linux software is also free. And a nice bonus is the absence of advertising inserts and third-party programs that are loaded into the PC's memory along with the main utility.
The system is diverse and unlimited possibilities for customizing the appearance. In addition to many distributions, you can install different desktop environments on your PC. This will help you change them according to need or mood.
Repository built into the system. His idea formed the basis of the app store Google Play. From it you can install a variety of programs without resorting to websites and third-party programs. The only inconvenience that is noticeable immediately after the transition from Windows is the lack of familiar utility names.
The system is convenient on the external interface and separating programs in the menu. Each utility occupies its own section in the menu, which makes it easier to find it. These small pleasant moments help to make the work much more convenient.
Almost all the necessary drivers are built into the Linux kernel. for peripheral equipment. You can install any device and it will immediately start working. You do not have to look for drivers, as for Windows, download them on another computer, so that later the equipment starts working without failures. There will be no inconvenience even when connecting a new network card.
By default, the system encrypts disks on its own., which allows you to protect files if your computer falls into the wrong hands. In Windows, this option is available only with the help of third-party programs.

These positive aspects are enough to make you want to try the operating system on the Linux kernel. But before choosing a distribution, you should familiarize yourself with the features of each shell and carefully study the shortcomings of the OS.

Disadvantages of Linux

To begin with, let's look at situations that the programmers who created Linux distributions could not cope with. Such troubles are rare, but for novice users they can be fatal.

Poor compatibility with modern devices . Most printers, scanners, routers, and other devices are built for Windows. Therefore, they may not always work correctly. Users can change the distribution kit themselves so that the connected devices work correctly. If you do not know how to independently adjust the OS settings in the same terminal, then you should just download and upload the modern version of the distribution.
Incorrect operation of the graphics subsystem. After waking up from sleep mode, when using discrete graphics cards, hangup may be observed. The only way to get rid of this problem is by rebooting. Problems with video cards most often appear after updating the kernel or components responsible for graphics output.
Despite the fact that many are sewn into the core, they can stop installing automatically or deleted after a system update. This problem is solved by rolling back to old version distribution or installing a new shell.
Incorrect operation of the cooling system in laptops. Due to improper management, coolers start to make noise or do their job poorly.
Steam for Linux is developing very slowly, users cannot download and purchase any music and applications. If you choose paid program, then problems may arise when entering card data (not all plastic is accepted by the store). Although it should be noted that the store Windows applications is not better developed, problems may arise when using it. But in the latter case, there are many alternative sources for programs.

In order not to encounter these problems, it is worth installing only modern versions of operating systems. For most ordinary users, such troubles can be a reason to abandon the Linux OS.

Although it is worth noting that in recent years the shell interface has become more and more friendly. The developers are trying to solve the problems listed above, but so far it has not been possible to completely get rid of them.

Overview of the best Linux distributions with download links from official sites

Before you install Linux, you should familiarize yourself with the features of its distributions. Each of them has its pros and cons.

elementary OS

If the design of the operating system is important to you, then you should opt for Elementary. Visually, the desktop resembles Mac OS, which makes it look expensive and beautiful. Among other distributions, this option stands out only in design and this is its drawback. Although it is for this that users fell in love with Elementary.

It is a light and handy system suitable even for low power machines. By default, it does not have the largest, but well-thought-out set of programs:

Midori browser;
file manager Pantheon Files;
media player Totem;
Geary mail client;
Shotwell photo manager.

This system performs everyday user tasks at 100%. In addition, the support of fans of this OS led to the fact that they began to develop their own software products inside the shell. But at the same time, users do not yet have opportunities for customization and fine tuning shells.

Linux Mint

This option is useful for onboarding users who have been working with Windows for a long time. They are similar to the taskbar area, navigation system, and desktop. Several working environments have been released for this system, from which you can choose the most convenient one. Mint is a different version of Ubuntu. It has several advantages over other distributions:

this assembly is quite common, has good support from users and developers;
free distribution;
multiple working environments can be easily switched using a lightweight and user-friendly graphical interface;
there are several built-in functions: plugins for fast loading applications, their launch and update;
frequently updated and modified.

There are two shortcomings: it is developed by a team of enthusiasts and there are no public security bulletins for this system. These shortcomings do not affect the operation of the operating system. The absence of a company responsible for the development can even be called an advantage - the creators of the system are closer to ordinary users.

Manjaro Linux

Several operating systems have been released based on Arch Linux. One of them was Manjaro. It has a number of features:

simple installation process;
automatic hardware detection;
extensive desktop customization;
work stability;
the ability to install multiple cores;
special scenarios.

Two versions are offered for the desktop, one of them is used for advanced users. It is a fast and popular system with big amount users, which allows good support communities. Inexperienced users in this system will be comfortable with a tool for downloading programs - AUR. It allows you to do without repositories.

ubuntu

This distribution is the most common and popular. Almost all Linux users have tried it at least once. The system is ideal for beginners who just want to familiarize themselves with the possibilities of distributions. There is nothing superfluous in the interface, including the developers got rid of the terminal. For inexperienced users, it may be a disadvantage to use the command line to work with the system.

Benefits of Ubuntu:

free distribution, programs and components can also be freely downloaded;
the installation process does not take more than 10 minutes;
the interface is easy to understand, it is understandable;
nothing happens in the system without the user's permission, so the risk of virus infection is minimal;
can be used on one computer with Windows, the possibility of multiboot is sewn into the system;
the assembly includes a sufficient set of programs;
communities and forums allow you to solve any problem.

The main disadvantage of this version is the instability of work. Many refuse the distribution due to the failures that accompany almost every system update. New versions often give errors that other users have not encountered before. After this version of Linux, it will be difficult to use other distributions.

openSUSE

This version is most commonly used for commercial purposes. The developers have released the source code of their system so that programmers from all over the world can improve it. This allowed for frequent releases of new versions. First of all, the openSUSE product is interesting for beginners who have not used Linux before.

You can install the system even on weak computers. Her minimum requirements are: 3 GB of free hard disk space, a Pentium 4 1.6 GHz processor and a total of 1 GB random access memory. The management of this system is concentrated in the YaST center. Inexperienced users should not install the Tumbleweed version, as it often causes problems. It's best to run on Leap, which is updated less frequently and is more stable.

Steam OS - Linux for games!

The big problem for Linux users is that few games have been released for this operating system. For this reason, Debian-based Steam OS was released for gamers. It is used by those who want to reduce resource consumption during games. In this version of the shell, the features and functions of the Steam platform were used. You can play with keyboard or joystick.

The disadvantage of this version is that the computer cannot be used to perform different tasks. After installing this operating system, it turns into a gaming machine. You can install the software to perform other tasks, but it will not work correctly. Another disadvantage is the low prevalence of the system and poor support. In addition, your processor must support 64-bit architecture.

Tails - for complete anonymity on the Internet

Based on Debian, another system has been released - Tails. It is intended for those who need to remain anonymous online. Of the advantages of this system: it does not need strong equipment, it is stable. Tails is ideal for surfing the Internet and solving everyday tasks.

CentOS 7

If you want to find free alternative Red Hat Enterprise Linux, then you should download CentOS 7 on your PC. Most often, the choice for this system falls when the user has already worked with Red Hat, but was forced to abandon it due to a failure. In this case, you will be able to use the same programs in both versions. You do not have to modify the system or look for a replacement for your favorite utilities.

Debian

This version is loved due to its stability and security. The development team is impressive, but system updates are rare. This system is convenient for remote administration, so it is often installed on servers. For beginners, the assembly is difficult, it has too many settings and programs. At the same time, the distribution kit has several positive qualities:

stability;
many architectures are supported;
safety in use;
more than a thousand software packages;
easily updated;
works quickly and efficiently even on outdated computers.

Unlike other versions of distributions, immediately after Debian installations will have to be configured. Only an experienced user can understand the number of options. The popularity of the distribution is maintained only due to its stability, but in terms of interface and usability, it is outdated. Operating system updates are rare, but downloading and installing them is extremely easy.

Fedora

If you want to be one of the first to test new things from the world of Linux, then you should install the Fedora distribution. He is also associated with Red Hat, which uses this version as a free testing ground for new products. Linux founder Torvalds Linus himself uses this distribution as his main distribution, and you should not trust his choice.

The only downside to this system is that there are only a few bugs after the update. The distribution is good for home use. It does not fail after the introduction of new products. It keeps up with the times and is suitable for computers with different capacities.

Choose a distribution based on your wishes. Each version of Linux is good in its own way, but not without flaws. You can write about your experience of using distributions of this operating system in the comments. If you liked the article, please share it with your friends.

By tradition, at the end of each year, the CRN editors name the 25 best "captains" of the US IT business. In 2004, this list included the most enterprising channel leaders, the CEOs of some of the leading vendor companies, and the people who are the idea generators, the visionaries who help their businesses grow and thrive even in difficult times. The first on this list was Linus Torvalds, whose efforts the Linux project gained unprecedented power in 2004.

Linus Torvalds is neither the CEO nor the chairman of the company. He does not have leadership status. It wasn't until 2003 that he first accepted a paid position in the Linux industry that he created.

But according to CRN, it is Torvalds, a 34-year-old programmer from Finland who created the Linux kernel, who deserves the title of the most influential leader of 2004. He earned this title by almost 15 years of selfless work on his brainchild. The past year has been a turning point for Linux and for the entire open source community. And Torvalds played an extremely important role in this.

The creation of the Linux 2.6 kernel took the OS to the next level, making it suitable for enterprise use, forcing Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, and other OS vendors to radically rethink their sales models.

Much has changed in Torvalds' life lately: he completed the Linux 2.6 kernel and for the first time received official status in the Linux developer community, becoming an employee of the Open Source Development Labs (a software development laboratory with open source, OSDL). The organization is vendor neutral and was initiated by IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Computer Associates International, Intel, and NEC.

Now Torvalds has a position and a business card confirming his official status. But all this did not affect his usual way of life. Torvalds' departure from the microprocessor company Transmeta and his job at OSDL has allowed him to devote his time to developing the Linux kernel, as well as to his family, since he works from home.

“Initially, I planned to take a year off from Transmeta at my own expense, so that I could focus only on working on version 2.6 and not be distracted by anything else,” says Torvalds. "Being with the OSDL has been a great way to keep health insurance, get paid, and be independent from providers."

For the open source community, this event played an important role. Linus's decision to go official at a difficult time for Linux developers, at a time of intense criticism of open source and constant checks, the reason for which was the lawsuit of the SCO Group against IBM, gave his followers confidence in the future. This once again proves the enormous influence of Torvalds on the fate of Linux.

Last June, Linus left California with his wife, Tove, and their three daughters (three, six, and seven) and settled in a quiet suburb of Portland, Oregon. He lives in a new house, furnished quite simply, without frills, with elements of Danish modernity. Torvalds also does not attach much importance to clothing: he greeted the crowd of photographers who violated his privacy in shabby jeans. He seems to be amused by all this excitement around him.

Linus's home office has a private entrance at the back of the house, with a small kitchen and shelves for books that aren't stocked yet. The office windows overlook the backyard, where Torvalds is building a toy house for his daughters. Then there is a view of the forest. In this environment, which is not disturbed by any business problems or office routine, the sacred rite takes place - work on the Linux OS.

Linus usually sits in front of the monitor and, like a child, plays the keyboard - almost like in 1991, in Helsinki, when he first conceived the core of his OS. But today, Torvalds conducts a worldwide orchestra of thousands of developers and piece by piece put together a masterpiece that undermines the entire software establishment, painfully hits Sun, revives IBM, and makes even Microsoft doubt its own immortality.

“Today, thanks to the efforts of Torvalds, Linux is the most successful project in the open source world. It challenges the software industry," says a lead developer on another successful open source project.
“Linus exemplifies how to set himself up as a serious opponent of the strong players in the industry by skillfully managing the developer community and devoting himself entirely to his cause. He has shown the way for many professional open source developers. He's the reason JBoss started moving in this direction,” says Marc Fleury, CEO of JBoss, a J2EE application server developer.

Eric Raymond, author of The Cathedral & the Bazaar, a treatise on the open source movement, believes that Torvalds' talent and organizational skills allowed Linux to not only survive, but thrive, contrary to what experts predicted. “Linus has an amazing sense of purpose. He withstood the unbridled ambitions that ruined more than one project of this magnitude, says Raymond. - An even more important factor was the introduction of a decentralized code development model. It existed even before Torvalds, but he managed to systematize it.”

For Torvalds, this work is just a favorite thing: having all the rights to dispose of the Linux trademark, he does not receive a penny from them. It's paradoxical for an industry that produces billionaires: having revolutionized the software business, not being interested in the business at all.

“I don't think I could be the Bill Gates of this decade,” says Torvalds. - To do this, you need to stand at the very origins of a new technical direction. OS is not something new for a long time. Perhaps even more important to have a commercial streak. And this is what I have? Yes, I think least of all about business.

For all his modesty, Torvalds did work that brought the stagnant OS market back to life and made society think about the philosophical and social aspects of the question of how and for whom software products are created. Many representatives of the open source community believe that software is one of the benefits of civilization, like electricity, and therefore should not belong to a handful of capitalists, but to the whole society and be used for the benefit of society. There are also radicals who see the growing competition between Linux and proprietary operating systems as a struggle between good and evil, and Torvalds is considered the liberator of the world from slavery to Microsoft Windows.

True, Linus sees it quite differently. “I don’t have a philosophical view of open source at all. I'm more of a pragmatist in this regard. I really believe that teamwork and open knowledge sharing results in more high quality development. But sometimes, even with this style of work, you have to resort to licensing, because there will always be people who can calmly appropriate someone else's work. The idea of an open exchange of knowledge can be called "philosophy," but such an exchange actually exists, says Torvalds. - This is what distinguishes science from alchemy or witchcraft. I think those who don't believe it just don't want to take their blinders off."

The passion with which Linus writes codes makes him the number one open source developer.

“Linus is not only a brilliant programmer, he has good taste,” says Dirk Hondell, director of Linux OS and open source strategy at Intel, and one of the first developers of the Linux kernel almost from the project’s inception in 1991. “Torvalds finds simple and reasonable ways of solving problems, knows how to “sort things out”. He makes complex things simple. In my opinion, this is the main difference between an excellent programmer and just a good one.

Andrew Morton, right hand» Torvalds and number two developer on the Linux project, today also responsible for the Linux kernel work in the OSDL. He says that Torvalds "keeps the bar high" and this is also the key to the success of the entire project. “He managed to achieve a state where everyone works without haste and under equal conditions. There is a self-organization of the entire community and the distribution of roles among its members ... when no personal disagreements can seriously harm the entire project,” says Morton.

But this is by no means an easy task, says Alan Cox of Red Hat, one of the key developers of Linux. "Linus has two strong personality traits: he's honest and he doesn't stand by his point of view when it's wrong," says Cox. -Torvalds is able to lead, he has excellent intuition when choosing technical solutions and a reasonable approach to working with people. It is known that managing programmers is like "herding a herd of cats." But Linus does a great job of it, without prejudice to anyone's interests.

Torvalds is calm and natural, he has little interest in industry-wide issues, but for all his flexibility, he always has his own point of view and is not afraid to express it out loud. He openly criticizes the Microsoft Windows code, and calls SCO a failing company that takes credit for others.

Torvalds is proud of the Linux 2.6 kernel, which was completed in December 2003. This version is enterprise-ready. In terms of performance, reliability and scalability, it is not inferior to commercial operating systems. It is suitable both for working with corporate applications and for any tasks related to the processing of large amounts of data. Torvalds prides himself on the formal search procedure he and Morton developed, which facilitates the introduction of updates and fixes to the OS kernel.

At the same time, Linus prefers to keep a safe distance from any commercial and legal issues, says Stuart Cohen, general manager of the OSDL. “He has absolutely no interest in being a chief advisor or VP of technology,” Cohen says. - Torvalds already has enough to do. We try not to overload him, giving him complete freedom - he is free to do what he is interested in.”

Torvalds does not like to be in the spotlight, but occasionally participates in industry events. Trying to be extremely precise in everything - both in creating code and in determining his own role - Linus calls himself the chief technical officer, and not the chief architect, since he does not write himself so much as he supervises the work of other developers. And he is always ready to pay tribute to the programmers who played a prominent role in the development of open source, including the authors of the C language and the Unix operating system at Bell Labs - Brian Kernighan, Dennis Ritchie and Ken Thompson.

Torvalds does not consider himself a hero, but according to his friends, he is far from the worst role model. Hondel recalls how Torvalds was preparing to give a speech at the LinuxWorld Expo one day, when he suddenly disappeared just before going on stage. Panic and confusion seized, but Torvalds' wife, who often travels with him with her daughters, intervened and reassured him, saying that he ran to the car for diapers.

This is all very typical of Torvalds, Hondell says. Despite world fame, Linus is completely devoid of consciousness of his own greatness and does not walk surrounded by a retinue of assistants, like many celebrities. “Torvalds is a madman, worse than that, he is an outstanding madman. But, fortunately, despite this, he is an absolutely normal person and good friend Hondel says. “It’s enough to see him once with the children - and you understand that he remains the same as he always was - just a good guy.”

A user who just wants to get acquainted with operating systems based on the Linux kernel can easily get lost in the assortment of all kinds of distributions. Their abundance is associated with the open source of the kernel, so developers around the world are diligently replenishing the ranks of already known operating systems. This article will discuss the most popular of them.

In fact, the variety of distributions is only at hand. If you understand the distinctive features of certain operating systems, you will be able to choose the system that is perfect for your computer. Weak PCs get a special advantage. By installing a distribution kit for weak hardware, you can use a full-fledged OS that will not load your computer, and at the same time provide all the necessary software.

To try out one of the distributions below, just download the ISO image from the official website, burn it to a USB drive and start the computer from the USB flash drive.

If the manipulation of writing an ISO image of the operating system to the drive seems complicated to you, then you can read the manual on our website. Linux installation on virtual machine virtualbox.

ubuntu

Ubuntu is considered to be the most popular Linux distribution in the CIS. It was developed on the basis of another distribution - Debian, however, according to appearance there is no resemblance between them. By the way, users often argue about which distribution is better: Debian or Ubuntu, but everyone agrees on one thing - Ubuntu is great for beginners.

Developers regularly release updates that improve or fix its shortcomings. The network is distributed free of charge, including both security updates and corporate versions.

Among the advantages can be distinguished:

simple and easy installer;
a large number of thematic forums and tuning articles;
Unity user interface, which is different from the usual Windows, but intuitive;
a large amount of pre-installed applications (Thunderbird, Firefox, games, Flash plugin and many other software);
has a large number of software in both internal and external repositories.

Linux Mint

Even though Linux Mint is a separate distribution, it is based on Ubuntu. This is the second most popular, and also a great product for beginners. Has more pre-installed software than the previous OS. Linux Mint is almost identical to Ubuntu in terms of internal system aspects that are hidden from the user's eyes. The graphical interface is more similar to Windows, which undoubtedly inclines users to choose this operating system.

The advantages of Linux Mint are as follows:

it is possible to select the graphical shell of the system when loading;
during installation, the user receives not only software with free source code, but also proprietary programs that can ensure optimal operation of video-audio files and Flash-elements;
developers improve the system, periodically releasing updates and fixing bugs.

CentOS

As the CentOS developers themselves say, their main goal is to make a free and, importantly, stable OS for various organizations and enterprises. Therefore, by installing this distribution kit, you will get a stable and secure system in all respects. However, the user should prepare and study the documentation for CentOS, as it has quite strong differences from other distributions. From the main one: the syntax of most commands is different for her, like the commands themselves.

The advantages of CentOS are as follows:

has many functions that ensure the security of the system;
includes only stable versions applications, which reduces the risk of critical errors and other kinds of failures;
Enterprise-grade security updates are released to the OS.

openSUSE

openSUSE is a good choice for a netbook or low end computer. This operating system has an official website powered by wiki technology, a user portal, a developer service, projects for designers, and IRC channels in several languages. Among other things, the openSUSE team sends emails to users when updates or other important events happen.

The advantages of this distribution are as follows:

has a large number of software delivered via . True, it is somewhat less than in Ubuntu;
has a KDE graphical shell, which is in many ways similar to Windows;
has flexible settings performed using the YaST program. With its help, you can change almost all parameters, from wallpaper to the settings of internal system components.

Pinguy OS

Pinguy OS was developed with the goal of making a system that was both simple and beautiful. It is intended for the average user who decides to move from Windows, which is why you can find many familiar features in it.

The operating system is based on the Ubuntu distribution. There is both a 32-bit and a 64-bit version. Pinguy OS has a large set of programs with which you can perform almost any action on your PC. For example, turn the standard Gnome top bar into a dynamic one, like in Mac OS.

Zorin OS

Zorin OS is another system targeted at newbies looking to migrate from Windows to Linux. This OS is also based on Ubuntu, but the interface has a lot in common with Windows.

What sets Zorin OS apart, however, is its bundle of pre-installed applications. As a result, you will immediately get the opportunity to run most games and Windows programs thanks to the Wine program. The pre-installed Google Chrome, which is the default browser in this OS, will also please. And for lovers graphic editors There is GIMP (similar to Photoshop). The user can download additional applications on their own using Zorin Web Browser Manager - a kind of analogue of the Play Market on Android.

Manjaro Linux

Manjaro Linux is based on ArchLinux. The system is very easy to install and allows the user to start working immediately after installing the system. Both 32-bit and 64-bit OS versions are supported. Repositories are constantly synchronized with ArchLinux, in this regard, users are among the first to receive new versions of the software. The distribution immediately after installation has everything necessary tools to interact with multimedia content and third-party equipment. Manjaro Linux supports multiple kernels, including rc.

Solus

Solus is not the best the best option for weak computers. At least because this distribution has only one version - 64-bit. However, in return, the user will receive a beautiful graphical shell, with the possibility of flexible settings, many tools for work and reliability in use.

It is also worth noting that Solus uses the excellent eopkg package manager, which offers standard tools for installing / removing packages and finding them.

elementary OS

The Elementary OS distribution is based on Ubuntu and is a great starting point for beginners. An interesting design that is very similar to OS X, a large amount of software - this and much more will be acquired by the user who installed this distribution. A distinctive feature of this OS is that most of the applications that come with it are designed specifically for this project. In view of this, they are ideally comparable with the overall structure of the system, which is why the OS works much faster than the same Ubuntu. In addition, all the elements thanks to this are perfectly combined externally.

Conclusion

It is difficult to objectively say which of the distributions presented is better and which is somewhat worse, just as you cannot force someone to install Ubuntu or Mint on their computer. Everyone is individual, so the decision on which distribution to start using is up to you.