Linux was developed in 1991 by a computer science student from Helsinki, Linus TorvaldsLinus began tinkering with the Minix operating system (Richard Tanenbaumto explore the possibilities of the 386 microprocessor, and that's how the Linux journey began. Later, Linus decided to write his operating system from scratch, without using Minix.
After asking the internet community for help to clear up his many doubts and after bitter arguments with Tanenbaum (also because of the news), He managed to publish a version of the Kernel in 1991 which could be considered usable. This version was made available to everyone; many people downloaded and tested it, and many felt they could contribute to this operating system and participated in its development. Linux gradually improved from that year onward, until reaching kernel version 2.4.
Another important step in the history of the evolution of Linux The development of operating systems as we know them today began with the emergence of distributions. Distributions are software packages that essentially contain the kernel, core applications, and methods for installing and maintaining the operating system, as well as other applications. The first distributions to appear were Slackware and Red HatThe latter, although not entirely free in all its versions, has always been a defender of Linux and has welcomed well-known figures from the Linux world into its ranks.
What is the GNU/Linux OS? Definition of Linux
Linux is mistakenly known as an operating system, when it is actually the system core (Kernel). Actually, The correct name is GNU/Linux whose main advantage is that it is completely free, a free and open source software.
What is the GNU/Linux operating system and when did it start?
The system as a whole is basically the GNU system with Linux integrated into it. Linux is the kernel of the GNU system, one of the main components for GNU.
The GNU/Linux operating system (not to be confused with UNIX) begins when the GNU project is merged (designed by Richard Stallman and the Free Software Foundation), with the Linux system kernel (designed by Torvalds).
In January 1995, the FSF (Free Software Foundation) named the operating system GNU/Linux.
How does GNU/Linux work and what are its main features?
This operating system It works differently from other similar programs on the market. Windows and macOS, for example, require the use of various commands to perform different tasks, such as modifying or deleting files. This differs from previous systems where these actions can be performed more quickly with just a click.
Its main features include:
- Multitask: Multiple processes can be run simultaneously.
- Multi-user: There can be multiple users on the same machine.
- Multi platform: It works on different CPUs, such as Intel.
- It has memory protection between processes.
- Load executables on demand: The system only reads the disk from those parts of a program when it is in use.
- Copy-on-write policy for sharing pages between executables: Different processes can use the same memory area to execute. When one of them tries to write to that memory, the page (4KB of memory) is copied to another location. This copy-on-write policy has two benefits: it increases speed and reduces memory usage.
- All source code is available including the complete kernel and all drivers, development tools and all user programs; moreover, all of this can be freely distributed.
- TCP / IPincluding ftp, telnet, NFS, etc.
- Its status as an open-source operating system It makes it possible to take advantage of the constant advances in software, with programs developed by different people around the world.
- It guarantees an advanced level of security.
- It allows for greater control of the devices.
Advantages
There are many advantages that could be mentioned, but among the main and most important ones are the following:
- It is free and open source software: This means that it is completely free and that users with sufficient computer knowledge can make modifications to the code or add other programs to improve the system, as long as they comply with the laws established for open source and free software.
- It has a high standard of safety.
- High system performance and speed.
- It has a wide range of free programs available for use: This means that there is a wide variety of open-source programs and free software available to all GNU/Linux users.
Disadvantages
Although there are few disadvantages, it is important to be aware of them. It is worth noting that in some of these areas, different programmers of this system are working to eliminate them and thus improve the user experience, while also targeting the system to more ordinary people and not strictly for users specialized in the area.
Among the various disadvantages we have:
- Less intuitive: Its user interface is not the same as Windows, which is designed for average users. However, some GNU/Linux distributions have improved in this area.
- Fewer controllers for peripherals.
- Many of the applications and programs are only available in English.
- Support: The various GNU/Linux distributions and the programs used in them do not have a company backing them, or cannot provide ideal support in case of errors or failures.
What are the main distributions or versions of GNU/Linux and what are their uses?
There are different versions of GNU/Linux, and this is due to the uses that have been given to the operating system, as well as the versions or updates that have emerged over time.
Debian
It was designed for general use. It is a GNU/Linux distribution created by a community of developers and users who intended to create a 100% free softwareThis was called Project Debian. This system is also considered a parent distribution, since countless distributions were born from Debian, such as Ubuntu or Mint.
Ubuntu
Born from Debian, Ubuntu was designed for general use. It is one of the most used operating systems along with Debian. Developed and maintained by Canonical, it is characterized by its software compatibility and ease of use, comparable to Mac OS X or Windows. It has several versions, including: Ubuntu Desktop, Xubuntu, Lubuntu and Ubuntu Server.
Fedora
It was designed primarily for workstations and servers. It is a stable and secure system, developed by Red Hat., the same company in charge of its maintenance, which has an international community of engineers, graphic designers and users who report bugs and test new software technologies as they are added. Its uses are primarily geared towards software and server development.
OpenSUSE
Its use is primarily intended for the administration of systems and services. Its distribution is sponsored by SUSE Linux GmbH; (an independent division of The Attachmate Group), and AMD. This operating system was created to provide stability, power, and manageability for truly advanced uses, while remaining user-friendly for the general public. That is, it's suitable for both advanced and novice users.
Other completely free distributions based on GNU/Linux
There are other operating systems based on GNU/Linux that are completely free and open-source software, and are seriously committed to this ideology. These same companies refrain from including applications, manuals, and documentation that are not free.
They are between them:
- Dragora GNU/Linux
- Dyne: bolic
- GNU Guide
- Hyperbola GNU/Linux-libre
- Parabola GNU / Linux
- PureOS (Librem)
- Trisquel GNU / Linux
- UTUTO XS GNU/Linux
What are the differences between the Windows and GNU/Linux operating systems?
Windows and GNU/Linux are two very different operating systems. The main difference lies in the policy of FOSS and open source that implements GNU/Linux and the proprietary software policy used by Windows, This indicates that in order to use it, the person who acquires this system must pay for a license and thus implement it in their personal computer.
It is also that the Programs and applications available for GNU/Linux systems are completely free. And they also come with open source code, which allows them to be modified by any user.
While in Windows almost any program or application that is required must be paid for in advance and should not be modified under any circumstances, doing so without authorization can lead to serious legal problems. In Windows, changes cannot be made to the source code. because this is illegal and violates the license agreements.
In GNU/Linux, all programs must comply with the open source standard.and in some cases free software (currently there are programs that ignore the GNU initiative to be completely free of charge). It is usually the operating system used in the supercomputers.
What type of license does the GNU/Linux operating system have?
This is known as: GNU General Public License, or also known by its English name of GNU General Public License, (or simply its acronym in English, GNU GPL).
This is a copyright license widely used in the world of free and open-source software. which guarantees end users (individuals, organizations, and companies) the freedom to use, study, share, copy, and even modify the software in any way they wish without legal problems.
What are .DEB files in Linux and what are they used for?
These packages of .DEB files They are binary documents that contain two types of records, one of which is responsible for keeping the information controlled in storage, while the other is responsible for managing all the actual program data for that package.
In other words, this Debian software packages are compressed files that are commonly used within the Linux system and their various versions, where they are mainly used to carry out installations on these operating systems. Other important ones are the .RPM filesThese files in this format are used to install programs and software for this operating system.
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