What is Linux and why use it ?

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Igor Web is an expert company in all matters related to Linux systems. We work with, install, setup and maintain a wide range of Linux-based devices.

But what is Linux ? And why would businesses and individuals want to use it ?

What is Linux?

a penguin or something like that

Linux is not a single operating system, but a "family" of many many OSes.

Linux is in fact a kernel, standing at the center of your computer or phone, and is the link between your hardware and the applications you can run.

What makes the Linux kernel different is that it is free, free as in free of charge, and free as in without restriction : you can modify it to suit your needs and to install it to nearly everything.

This freedom, and the absence of subscriptions and fees make it a wise choice for businesses and individuals who want to use their devices to their maximum potential, without being chained to software vendors.

Some distributions such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and SLES are however paid, as they provide unmatched stability and support for critical enterprise systems, for example : banks or hospitals who need 24/7 availability and immediate support. That's also what makes Linux unique : there are solutions for all use cases, from embedded devices hobby projects to high level multi-million dollar systems.

Linux is free of charge.
Most Linux distributions can be installed and used forever, free of charge and without any subscription or advertising. Using Linux is a surefire way to reduce your IT acquisition costs. The fact that it can run on low-end or ageing hardware also contributes to lowering hardware costs for your organization, as you can space out renewals further in years. Some distributions do offer a subscription model, like Red Hat Enterprise Linux, in which you pay for 24/7 support, they are usually geared towards critical systems such as banks, factories and hospitals, and support is among the best you can find.
Highly configurable systems.
A Linux computer can become a single-purpose machine, like a shop checkout (POS), or it can become a multi-console emulator with thousands of games configured, or it can also be a humble desktop computer with office software, a student laptop, a server handling hundreds of processes at the same time... There is no limit to how much you can customize, or even carve out a Linux operating system. With our expertise and the Linux plasticity, you get exactly what you need for your business IT.
Backed by strong communities of experts and companies.
Some Linux distributions (versions) are backed by multi national companies (Canonical, Red Hat, SUSE), some are one-man projects such as Slackware (in its beginnings), some are community backed by volunteers, but they all share extensive documentation, be it by users or developers, which makes troubleshooting Linux systems easy and fast : all the documentation is open and available on the Internet.

Environmentally and society friendly
Compared to other operating systems, Linux distributions on average require less powerful hardware, it is not a pipe dream to use hardware that is ten or more years old as a daily driver with lightweight distributions such as Xubuntu or openSuse with XFCE (a lightweight and simple desktop environment). For the environment this means less e-waste and a longer lifecycle for computers. For society, this means that users are not being excluded due to not having means to purchase high-end hardware.
Privacy oriented.
Most Linux distributions don't send telemetry and user data to their developers, instead feedback can be sent voluntarily from users if they want to highlight a bug. You don't have to create any online account, or provide personal information to use it, thus Linux is a first-choice option if you value privacy.
Not locking you in
Linux is free of charge, but also free of chains. When you opt for a distribution, you are not locking yourself in any ecosystem, and you don't lose compatibility with Windows or MacOS computers. All these operating systems can work together, and provided you use some programs (compatibility layers such as WINE), you can even run Windows executables directly on Linux. This means that you can still use your applications, while benefitting from the many advantages that Linux provides for your business.