What is Linux?

Techquickie ·Techquickie ·2017-05-06 · 1,016 words · ~5 min read
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0:00 When Linux 1.0 was released to the world
0:03 almost 25 years ago, its model of free
0:06 and open-source software knocked down all of the walls that had previously
0:10 been put in place by proprietary software giants like Microsoft in order
0:14 to maintain control over the development and distribution of computer programs.
0:20 And as was said, in a world without walls, who needs Windows and gates? When
0:26 using Windows, its high degree of compatibility makes it fine for everyday
0:30 use for many people, especially gamers.
0:33 But since Windows is a proprietary operating system, developers and users
0:38 more or less have to work within a relatively closed software environment
0:43 that places certain restrictions on what you can do. Anyone who has dealt with
0:47 Windows Update or Microsoft DRM features
0:50 knows what I mean. Linux, on the other hand, has a completely open-source
0:54 kernel. the central part of the operating system that links your
0:58 hardware with applications. Meaning that it can be used freely for a purpose of
1:02 whatever you want for tons of different use case scenarios etc. These different
1:06 versions of Linux are commonly called distributions or distros which provide
1:12 different stacks of software tools and desktop environments all of which are
1:16 tied to the Linux kernel that combine to form a complete operating system. These
1:21 dros can range from anything like Ubuntu or Mint, which are popular desktop
1:26 distributions often used as alternatives to Windows to something like Android on
1:30 your smartphone to versions of Linux found on supercomputers. Linux's focus
1:35 on security and stability compared to Windows, which focuses more on ease of
1:40 use, has made Linux extremely popular
1:43 for servers and other super critical applications. Linux is also generally
1:48 more lightweight and less resourceheavy than Windows, which is beneficial for
1:52 home users who just want a very fast computing experience on a possibly
1:57 low-end machine. And even professionals running servers that require high
2:01 efficiency as they can pick a DRO tailored for them by being very light on
2:05 stuff like I candy and background processes, even to the point of being
2:10 just a command line interface. And while that all sounds great, that doesn't mean
2:14 that it's a great idea to just run home and migrate your home PC from Windows to
2:19 Linux. Although a lot of work has gone into making desktop Linux distributions
2:23 more userfriendly over the last 10 years, there's still a pretty sharp
2:28 learning curve if you've never used Linux before. Linux offers a lot more
2:32 granular control over your computer than something like Windows or MacOSS, which
2:38 actually does share a common ancestor with Linux being Unix, but that's maybe
2:43 something for a different day. Taking advantage of this granular control often
2:48 requires a fair amount of technical knowledge. Even if you're running a
2:52 simple system like something like a Raspberry Pi, it can still be rather
2:56 complicated. And even dros that place a greater emphasis on ease of use do take
3:01 some getting used to if all you've ever known is Windows or Mac. For example,
3:06 most software isn't downloaded through a web browser and installed through an
3:09 .exe file like as it is in Windows, but instead goes through a package manager
3:15 which downloads software from large repositories specific to each
3:19 distribution. Kind of like an app store on your phone. That might sound a little
3:24 bit restrictive compared to the open nature of searching for Windows software
3:29 on the web. There's actually a wide variety of applications available
3:33 through these package managers, and tons
3:37 of these are free programs, continuing the Linux tradition of using open-source
3:42 code. But what if you want to game? This can admittedly be a challenge for a
3:46 number of titles, requiring you to run a Windows compatibility layer, such as
3:50 Wine uh to even to get them to work at all. But the good news is that Steam now
3:55 features over 1,000 games that work on Linux just fine. And the new Steam OS is
4:01 Linux- based as well. So, if trying to master the challenges that Linux
4:05 presents in order to tap into its potential sounds like something that you
4:09 want to do, check out some of the numerous free resources available
4:13 online, like Linux newbie guide to get additional technical info and figure out
4:17 exactly how you'd like to customize it. But if that sounds a little bit
4:22 overwhelming and you're mostly drawn to Linux because of its infinitely cute
4:26 penguin mascot, Tux, you can download the completely open- source sewing
4:31 patterns to make your own Tux plushy. And even though they've been in alpha
4:36 since, I believe, 2004, you don't have to worry about recompiling the kernel in
4:41 order to do it. Another thing you don't have to compile the kernel to do is
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4:53 wipe Charlie's post shave moisturizer, travel sizes for like all of these
4:57 things, and a variety of shavers up to the six blade executive. So, no need for
5:02 vibrating handles or none of that nonsense as you probably know. Just some
5:05 highquality razors and other various bathroom supplies like butt wipes sent
5:10 directly to your door. Go to dollarshaveclub.com/lininus
5:13 and sign up if you are in the US, Canada, or Australia. Thank you guys for
5:18 watching. If you like recompiling kernels and doing all that nerdy stuff,
5:21 press the like button. If you don't like doing that kind of stuff, press the like
5:24 button. If you dislike this video, press the dislike button. If you want to see
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5:31 funny videos that don't make you think so much, click the button on my face.
5:35 It's literally anywhere on the screen. It's the easiest one you could possibly
5:38 press. And I'll see you guys next