What is Linux and Why Linux?

What is Linux?

Did you know Linux powers 90% of the world's supercomputers and most of the internet's servers? But have you ever thought about using it as your daily driver?

Welcome to this blog, In this blog I will discussing about Linux and why its better to daily drive a Linux.

Linux is a Operating System (or more like Kernel) based on Unix-like operating systems created by Linus Torvalds in 1991. It is an open source operating system and has very huge use cases in the field of technology.

A kernel is nothing but a set of rules which instructs the computer hardware to follow given set of protocols and helps in interacting with the software and acts as a bridge between the hardware and the software.

The Linux Kernel is made on C programming language and some of the parts are being converted to Rust language for better functioning of the system.

Why is it a better option to daily drive Linux?

Linux is a very lightweight operating system which only takes around 1.5 GB to 2.5 GB of RAM consumption on a 16 GB RAM CPU which is very much ideal for older laptops and PCs. Linux runs on any hardware like x86, ARMs and much more. Whereas. Windows takes 5 GB to 6 GB on average.

Linux is faster than Windows by lightyears in any given situation and Windows simply cannot match with the speed of Linux.

Since Linux is a kernel, its source code is used to create many distributions of Linux (shortly called Distro). Every single distro serves for a general purpose as well as for specific purposes.

For example:

Likewise, there are more than hundreds of Linux operating systems to choose from.

Security and Privacy

Since, the Linux kernel is Open Source, it's source code is available to everyone to audit and improve. Vulnerabilities if discovered, are quickly fixed by the community.

Unlike proprietary systems like Windows Operating Systems where there is way less transparency, there are no hidden backdoors that would compromise user privacy.

Becasue of Linux's relatively low market share when compared to Windows and MacOS, there are way way waaayyy less malwares and viruses made for Linux.

Cost Efficiency

Most of the best and popular Linux distros are completely free unlike Windows which requires us to pay Rs. 12000 ($139) to buy the OS.

There are many kinds of Updates in Linux, like Desktop Environment update, Distro update and Kernel level updates which are completely free of cost to get them updated.

Customizability

Linux is highly customizable and is relatively easy when compared to customising other non-linux Operating Systems.

There are many distros and there are many Desktop Environments (shortly known as DE) like Gnome, KDE, Sway, XFCE. We can choose whatever DEs we want on our system depending on our requirements.

There are many tiling window managers like Hyprland, i3, AwesomeWM, DWM and BSPWM. Window Managers are nothing but automatic window tiling instead of manually.

Hyprland
KDE

The above two are my Linux configurations. The one on the left is Hyprland, a WM (Window Manager) and the one on the right is KDE Plasma a DE (Desktop Envornment).

Likewise, we can customise them accordig to out personal needs and also make them visually pleasing.

Software Availability

One of the common conceptions of Linux is that it lacks software, but in reality its quite the opposite.

There are many package managers for every distros like:

There are also many Open Source alternatives:

There are much more softwares available on Linux which would take years to describe about, using Linux also increases interests in FOSS (Free and Open Source Software), since it's usage and software availability revolves around Open Source.

Perfomance and Stability

Linux is well-known for it's perfomance due to less bloatware when compared to Windows and MacOS.

LTS Distributions and LTS Kernels

LTS is a common terminology in Linux which abbreviates as Long Term Support.

There are Linux distros with long term support for particular version ensuring years of stability with tested updates and patches.

There is also LTS versions for Linux kernels which contain the stable driver updates with updates for kernel-level security protocols

Enhanced Productivity and many use cases

Using Linux boosts productivity since it's faster allowing us to do more work in a short period of time. Linux has a very rich support for command line tools. Linux has very good support for GUI than Windows but using Linux for a period of time gets people encouraged on to using the CLI more than the GUI itself.

90 percent of the internet servers run on Linux due to its extreme stability and its ability to handle network traffic very well when compared to other Operating Systems. Cybersecurity Engineers use more Linux than any other Operating System since many of the Cybersecurity tools work better in Linux.

Linux as a skill is helpful during interviews as it reflects our knowledge on troubleshooting and knowledge on being able to handle the command-line very well.

Common Myths about using Linux

There are numerous myths about using Linux.

How to get started using Linux?

Try a beginner friendly distro like:

Bottom Note

Linux is more than just an operating system—it’s a philosophy of freedom, efficiency, and empowerment. With its vast software availability, robust security, exceptional performance, and endless customizability, Linux offers a compelling alternative to traditional operating systems for daily use. Whether you’re a developer, a creative professional, or someone simply looking for a reliable and cost-effective solution, Linux has something to offer for everyone.

Transitioning to Linux might feel unfamiliar at first, but its intuitive interfaces, active community support, and wealth of resources make the journey both rewarding and enjoyable. By taking the leap, you’re not just choosing an OS—you’re joining a global movement built on collaboration and innovation.

So why not try using Linux? There is world of possibilities and you might just discover a new way of using computers. :)

Thank you for reading this blog