An operating system that’s able to be run from a pen drive? Yes, please! Ok, so right out of the gate it already sounds like I’m trying to ’sell’ the idea of Linux to you. Scratch that. I do, however, think it is a very interesting concept, and the Operating Systems that are developed using the open-source Linux kernel are in themselves very intriguing, and altogether worthwhile.

Now then, to give you a brief overview, we have to go back to the 80’s. Its not been long since the founders of Apple Inc. and Microsoft went their separate ways, and home computing is still in its infancy. In 1983, Richard Stallman creates the GNU Project, with the vision of creating a free, open-source, UNIX-like operating system. However, even after years of development and an almost-complete operating system, the GNU kernel failed to get the required attention from developers to be completed. Enter Linus Torvalds (c1991). Linus took what was previously done under the GNU Project and created another project, that eventually became the Linux kernel. It’s that kernel that is still under development and iteration today, and that all Linux ‘flavours‘ must build upon.

So why should you be interested in Linux, or its many variants? Well, a lot of the best software available for desktop PC’s these days is open-source. Some of the most commonly used examples are; Firefox Web Browser, Thunderbird Email Client, Open Office Suite – I could go on but I’ll spare you the tedium! The general idea is that if you get a metaphorical room full of developers, fuelled only by their passion for creation, and let them combine their ideas into something – the result will be great. Of course, that’s not how it always works out, but that’s only to be expected, don’t you think? Anyway, I’m getting off track here. Some examples of the more popular (and stable) Linux flavours are Ubuntu, Fedora, and openSUSE. If you are at all interested in trying out new things with your PC (or just have a bit of time on your hands!) I recommend you try at least one of these. If this is your first Linux excursion, I’d probably start with the fairly user-friendly Ubuntu.

What’s different about Linux than other operating systems, namely Mac OS-X and Windows? Well, there are several key differences. There are, as I’m sure you’ve gathered by now, many variants of Linux – and they all do things a little differently. Linux uses a different filesystem from other OS’s, but that’s not too exciting. More of a hardcore-nerd topic. The really exciting thing about Linux which differs from other OS’s is the customisability of the interface. You can (if you’re willing to put in the time) basically change the interface to look like anything you want – even if that just involves re-creating OS-X or Windows 7, etc – just for the funnies! This is what I enjoy most about using Linux (or in my case, more specifically – Ubuntu), being able to get stuck into the OS and have a play around – even occasionally break parts of it by accident and have to figure out a) what you did to cock it up in the first place and b) how to fix it. That’s just me, though – everyone’s interested by different things, and if you’ve come this far then you’re probably interested in some aspect of what makes a computer run.

If for nothing else, Linux is at least interesting to try out just for a general change of scenery. It’s also very ‘lightweight’, so it’ll run on almost anything. I don’t necessarily suggest that you replace your current OS and use it as your primary – in fact, I never have. The way I do it is to ‘dual-boot’ it with Windows 7, which gives me the option at startup to choose either OS. If you are tech-savvy enough, or just generally enjoy a challenge, I definitely suggest you try out a flavour of Linux – probably (again) Ubuntu, as it has the ability to run a Live CD version of the OS right from the CD, without the need to ever install anything to your hard drive. Do you already use Linux? Which flavour do you prefer? Or are you just generally against the entire idea? Let us know in the comments below.

UPDATE [Euan]: Check out Simon Cathcart’s summation of some more of the attractive qualities of Ubuntu in particular in the comments below. Thanks, Simon!

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Tags: Linux, open-source, Operating System, Unix
Posted under Reviews, Software, Tech, Tutorials