What is the OS linux?

Question

I was quite happy with the knowledge i had about windows as a windows user,but recently i found about open source OS like ubuntu and mint.After searching in google for a while,i understood that they both are operating systems based on the linux kernal and are one of the many linux distributions.

But it has left a doubt on my mind for which i couldn't find the answer,and the question is....Is there any pure linux OS or anything like that? Comparing it with a smartphone OS android....there is a samsung android experience,HTC android experience but there is also a pure google experience on the nexus phones...similarly i wanted to know if there is also an OS which was purely linux....or anything like.This may be a very silly doubt but i have to be 100% confident on the stuff i know about.Especially if I'm about to explore a new OS.

Answer 1

As you stated Linux is the kernel.



Android also uses the Linux kernel. There are many things that use the Linux kernal, like mp3 players, dvd players, tvs, space stations, the new class of US battle ships, and many other things.



Richard Stallman came up with the idea of making a complete and free operating system in the 80s. He and his team had written much of the software, but lacked a good kernel (he was working on it). Called the GNU project.



Linus Torvalds wrote a kernel that he made free and open source. Stallman used this kernel rather than spending time working on his (makes more sense).



Thus was born GNU/Linux.



There is no "true Linux". Since everything is free and open source, you can create an OS that uses the Linux kernal and use whatever GNU software you need, and call it whatever you want. Out of the hundreds of distros out there, many are just rebrandings of the same distro. Take Debian, there are many distros based on it that has software added or removed, depending on the developers interest or needs. Same with Ubuntu (which is Debian based - which they added software to make it easier to use).



Here is an image that explains the evolution of GNU/Linux distros:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/Linux_Distribution_Timeline.svg



The good thing about having hundreds of choices is you can pick one that fits your needs. GNU/Linux detractors love to say how the Linux community is fragmented. This is a plus if you ask me.



Imagine going to the store and having only 2 choices of toilet paper. Most may like this, but having hundreds of choices is MUCH better.



So if you are looking to use a GNU/Linux distro use one that is made for beginners. I suggest to pick a desktop environment first. For ease of explanation this is the GUI. Winblows has only one. GNU/Linux distros can use many:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desktop_environment#Gallery



If you are going from Winblows to Linux I suggest KDE. But this is not for older ow slower machines. For those try LXDE. XFCE is also one that is better for older computers but I find it harder to use than LXDE.



Once you have several distros that you want to try, use a program called YUMI to put as many of these distros on a USB as it can hold. This way you can boot into the usb and pick the distro.



You may have problems with drivers. This has nothing to do with GNU/Linux, it is because the makers of the computer choose to use parts from manufacturers that only have proprietary software. Those manufacturers write the drivers for Winblows machines. It is Winblows that has the lack of driver support, not Linux.



Another thing to remember, you can not use GNU/Linux like you do Wimblows. Most people that do not like Linux is because they did not give them selves enough time to get out of "Winblows mode".

Remember Linux is not "harder", it is just different.



Switching from Winblows to GNU/Linux was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Answer 2

Because Linux is open source, anyone can grab an existing version, tweak it or change it & re-release it under a different name...



Personally, I'd consider Red Hat Linux to be one of the least got-at versions. That's a commercial package and used to run many business & commercial systems, plus mainframe and supercomputer installations. It's also the basis of a military high security system.



It's also very expensive...



However, as the source packages are still free to anyone, there are free rebuilds that are unmodified except for not using the (trademark) RedHat name.





Look at CentOS - completely free, incredibly stable, guaranteed to have updates for five years following each release.



As it's and 'enterprise class' system that must be extremely reliable, it does not support new hardware the instant things are released - everything in it is tested to ensure no bugs, which means it does not have 'cutting edge' inclusions.



It does mean it's excellent for machines that should be able to run without attention for years at a time.





If you want a comparable release that does have the 'bleeding edge' bits in it, look at Fedora linux - it's the stuff that may eventually go in to Redhat / Centos etc.



I would advise only installing on a bare PC, not trying to multi-boot with Windows.

It can be an old, low powered machine as it only needs a fraction as much CPU power to run.





Many people may advise Ubuntu or others, but having looked at that (and many other releases) I'd avoid it - it's one of the got-at builds and not representative of serious releases.



Note that Android is also a 'flavour' of Linux and if you add a terminal program (command prompt) you will see the similarities with PC builds.



Centos has a full graphical interface not that different to Windows, though the individual commands are somewhat different.



You can use a terminal to do just about anything, and you may well find after a while that is easier than the graphical tools. You can also use a terminal remotely to do just about anything with the system - it's the normal way of managing servers that do not have monitors attached.



[Commercial system builder for many years using Redhat / Centos].



See the links.

Answer 3

Linux is, in simplest terms, an operating system. It is the software on a computer that enables applications and the computer operator to access the devices on the computer to perform desired functions. The operating system (OS) relays instructions from an application to, for instance, the computer's processor. The processor performs the instructed task, then sends the results back to the application via the operating system.

Over 1,000 developers, from at least 100 different companies, contribute to every kernel release. In the past two years alone, over 3,200 developers from 200 companies have contributed to the kernel--which is just one small piece of a Linux distribution.

Answer 4

There is no 100% pure Linux as you are referring. Actually they use Linux core (Karnel) and on top of that the applications are designed by developers. As there is no control (It is free to develop and distribute) in the development, you can find many different Linux OS with different capabilities.There are few brand names like Red Hat, Ubunto and so on. But as of my personal experience if you are a Windows user and use computer for fun, then don't go for Linux.

Answer 5

SouthParkEasterEgg has absolutely no clue what they are saying. My wife uses linux, she has never seen a command line, and she doesn't know a mouse from a toaster. Yet she uses linux for email, Internet, IM, Facebook, office apps, games, etc. She doesn't even know what linux is. Linux for end users is a mature capable produce. It is, unlike Windows, free. And it doesn't get viruses like Windows does, and it doesn't crash regularly, does not have a registry to bloat and corrupt like Windows does. I abandoned Windows years ago and now use LInux for everything I used to use Windows for.

Answer 6

there all pure Linux mint Linux is the best for a former windows user. check out distrowatch.com and maybe test them in vmwareplayer before getting rid of windows