Introduction to Linux
This workshop aims to get you started with desktop Linux by trying it out using a live USB on real hardware without having to permanently install anything.
Along the way we are going to cover a lot of extra material to give you a broad orientation to the who-what-why of the ecosystem to help demystify using Linux as your daily operating system. Honestly, you can skip all that if you want and just jump to downloading a distro ISO, burning a USB, and booting a live session–that’s the fun part!
But if you are still with me… let’s start with some background.
What is Linux?
Linux is a family of open source operating systems used to run all kinds of computers, from laptops to super computers. You might hear “Unix-like” or “*nix”, since Linux is part of a group of OS descended from the early research computing system UNIX.
An operating system (OS) is a package of software that manages and coordinates the hardware and software of a computer. In a basic sense it is made of components such as:
- Bootloader: starts the low level processes necessary to boot an OS, most linux distributions use GRUB.
- Kernel: manages the hardware and low level software components, coordinating the complete OS. This is actually “Linux”.
- Shell: a text-based command line user interface.
- Desktop environment: a graphical user interface.
- Applications: the individual programs run from the desktop or shell.
The core of Linux, The Kernel, is developed by the non-profit Linux Foundation and original creator Linus Torvalds, with contributions from thousands of people and corporations around the world.
Why Linux?
Linux core is Free Software, meaning free and open licensed.
This gives you freedom: you can fully control, inspect, modify, copy, and share the OS.
But for most users, that is not necessarily the most compelling reason to use Linux. Instead they just appreciate a solid, powerful, and user-friendly OS. Linux provides performance, security, privacy, and cost benefits (generally free), in addition to access to a huge ecosystem of open-source applications and services.
Linux runs the vast majority of web servers (95%+), super computers (all of the top 500), smart phones (80%+), Chromebooks, IoT, and single board computers. So if you want to use a VM in the cloud, do high performance computing, or tinker with a Raspberry Pi at home, it’s helpful to know Linux.
There are many practical and ideological reasons to use Linux, but it also just makes a great desktop OS for your personal computer!
Bloatware, adware, viruses, oh my!
Many people are sick of the shady commercial practices of Windows, Apple, and PC manufacturers that put user security and privacy at risk. Proprietary OS limit your rights and control as a user, and the sustainability of your systems. Linux distros are viable alternatives!
For an in depth introduction, try the free course from the Linux Foundation, Introduction to Linux.