Operating Systems: The Core of Your Computer

1.1 What is an Operating System?

An operating system (OS) is a system software that manages computer hardware
and software resources. It facilitates the execution of applications and provides a
user-friendly interface.

1.2 A Look at Different Types of Operating Systems

• Batch Operating System
• Multi-Programming System
• Multi-Processing System
• Multi-Tasking Operating System
• Time-Sharing Operating System
• Distributed Operating System
• Network Operating System
• Real-Time Operating System

2. Understanding Linux

2.1 What is Linux?

• Linux is an open-source operating system that you can use for free.
• There are many other operating systems, such as Windows and macOS, but each operating system has its own use case.

2.2 Why is Linux So Popular?

Linux is secure, reliable, and stable compared to other operating systems.

• It can be customized and has large community support through forums,
• mailing lists, and online communities.
• It is highly efficient and provides high performance.
• It supports a wide range of software.
• It is a very popular choice (around 90%) for servers and development
• environments.
• It has a variety of distributions, meaning different operating systems for
• different use cases.

3. A Look Back: The History of Linux

3.1 Before Linux: The Unix Era

Unix: Developed in 1970 at AT&T Labs by Ken Thompson and Dennis
Ritchie.

3.2 The Evolution of Linux

GNU is a separate project, not Linux, launched by Richard Stallman in 1983.

• On August 25th, 1991, a Finnish student named Linus Torvalds announced his work on Minix on a newsgroup: “I’m doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby, won’t be big and professional like GNU).”
• In 1993, Slackware, the first-ever Linux distribution, was launched by Patrick Volkerding. Using Slackware, some students in Germany formed a company called “Linux Systems Technologies” and created a new Linux distribution called “LST Power Linux.” Later, it was acquired by Caldera and formed the basis of Caldera Open Linux. In the same year, the initial version of Debian, which later became the basis of Ubuntu, MEPIS, etc., was released by Ian Murdock.
•  In 1995, Linus Torvalds released a version of the Linux OS called Linux 1.2.0, also known as “Linux ’95,” following his release of the groundbreaking Linux 1.0.
• In 2000, Linux experienced a remarkable 200% increase in shipments within just three months following the release of its second major version. In a significant development in 1999, the GNOME desktop marked the debut of the first-ever desktop version of Linux. Subsequently, according to the IDC report of 2000, Linux achieved the status of the second most widely adopted operating system for server computers globally. However, the pinnacle of achievement came when Ericsson unveiled the world’s first mobile phone powered by the Linux operating system during the same transformative year.
• In 2007, over a duration of seven years, Linux faced many legal claims over security threats, including challenges from companies like Microsoft, IBM, Apple, RedHat, etc. During this time, the community continued working on Linux and achieved a milestone by introducing its groundbreaking userfriendly desktop version named Ubuntu, distinguished by its unconventional version number 4.10.
• From 2008 to the present, the Linux user base has grown exponentially. Later, new versions and ideas continued to emerge.

4. Linux vs Unix: What’s the Difference?

• The Linux operating system was launched by Linus Torvalds as a hobby project at the University of Helsinki in 1991. The Unix operating system was launched by AT&T Bell Labs in 1960.
• Linux belongs to the Unix-like family and is widely used in desktops, laptops, smartphones, etc. Unix belongs to the Unix family and is widely used for workstations and servers.
• Linux distributions include Fedora, Debian, Red Hat, Ubuntu, Android, etc. Unix distributions include IBM AIX, Darwin, Solaris, HP-UX, macOS X, etc.
• Linux provides high security and is completely free, except for corporate support. Unix also offers high security, but in terms of costing, some versions are paid, and some are free.

5. Exploring the World of Linux Distributions

• Ubuntu
• openSUSE
• Linux Mint
• Gentoo
• Slackware
• Alpine Linux
• Kali Linux
• Fedora
• Debian
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• CentOS
• Arch Linux