What is Linux?

I admit it, I have been out of touch. Not completely; I haven't taken much of a break from the internet. When it comes to Web 2.0 and social media, I am your guy. For the past few years, though, I just haven't been paying much attention to the operating system wars. So long as I wasn't running Vista, I was fine. This might not sound like much of a big deal to most of you but if you knew where I was coming from, you would be astounded.

There was a time when I ran no less than seven server class computers in my home, for no purpose other than to see how they worked together. Admittedly, I was teaching professionals how to use these systems, so I had a vested interest. As microsoft's enterprise class product offerings at the time were out of reach of most private citizens' budgets, I discovered Linux. (lĭn'ŭks)

If you're like most of my acquaintances, you're probably wondering what Linux is. What I tell people without in-depth computing knowledge is that it's another kind of operating system for your computer. When they ask me what an operating system is, I tell them that it's the program that runs all the other programs on the computer. The usual question at this point is, "like windows?"

"Kinda," I say, "but not really."

Most of us use our computers the way we use our cars. We get in, turn it on, and drive. Maybe we'll do an oil change or rotate the tires, but anything more in-depth and we take it to a professional. If you think of computers like cars, then Windows is like a golf cart, and linux is like a rail buggy.

If you consider the hardware to be the bare bones of the vehicle, steering wheel, tires, motor, chassis, then the operating system is everything else that makes those pieces work together. Gears, gauges, wires, hoses, belts, seats, everything.

Your Windows desktop functions like a really nice golf cart. It goes forward and backward and steers. There isn't much in the way of feedback about the system The linux workstation, on the other hand has guages, dials, monitors, accessories, beeps, whistles, and more accessories than you might possibly ever think about needing. (Need a robotic cat that dances in rhythm with your odometer? It's got it.)

That isn't to say that you can't get the same performance out of the machines, it's just that they are developed from different basic motivations, and this is reflected in the product. The Windows model is driven by one question, "How can I make this simple and attractive enough to get my Aunt Bessie to pay to use it?" The Linux model is driven by a different question, "Wouldn't it be cool if Linux could do THIS?"

The result is that you have a very opaque operating system that gets basic tasks done available for a modest price, or bundled with hardware. Most people can walk right up to a fresh Windows installation and get their work done without much trouble. The problem arises when you want to do more with that system and have to start shelling out hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. Another drawback is the "make-it-easy-for-the-user" approach results in a huge, highly complex system that is subject to instability, security vulnerabilities, viruses, and poor performance. Everything is bundled into the core of the program, called a kernel, whether you want to use it or not, and your system must be powerful enough to run all of that overhead BEFORE you start running your own programs. You can't put 10 lbs in a 5 lb bucket, no matter how tight you stuff it.

With Linux, the approach has always been "less is more". Not counting the thousands of Linux implementations that power our modern internet infrastructure, many of us are probably actually using Linux every day and don't even know it. The kernel starts with the bare minimum needed to coordinate storage, processor, memory, and input, and then all the other flashy gadgets are added on, as needed. For this reason, very tiny Linux implementations, called "thin" or "light" distributions are installed as operating systems or supervisory programs on many of today's advanced electronics. What this means to you, the desktop or notebook computer user is that you can have an operating system and program suites customized exactly for your specific uses, designed to get the maximum performance out of your hardware investment. Because it is customized specifically for you, it is more stable, more powerful, and more secure than ANY out-of-the-box solution for your particular computing environment.

Sounds great, right? The catch is that Linux has historically been very difficult to learn for the casual user. When you can see everything and control everything, there is a lot of information to sift through in order to get those advanced tasks. Even people like me, who work with similar systems for multi-billion dollar multinational corporations, get stuck trying to perform what would seem like a simple task at times. Unless you've got a helping hand to show you where to look, you might miss everything that this operating environment has to offer.

For years, I've dabbled with the desktop and been unsatisfied. Hardware support has been spotty. Administration has been vague. Application support and compatibility was wanting. I ignored the platform for years and simply bought my wintel boxes that did what I wanted till they broke. If not for the pain of a nasty trojan horse type virus that destroyed my Windows XP installation, I may still not know how far Linux has come. Fortunately, I got that virus. My computer was fast on its way to becoming an expensive brick, and I had to do something. I decided that, rather than re-installing xp, spending a week installing programs and running updates, and getting the same bloated, slow-moving turd-bucket, I'd see how Linux was doing.

This is not your geeky virgin cousin's open source operating system, any more. Projects started 15 years ago have finally come to fruition, informed by the progress of commercial, open source, and proprietary lines of development. Modern Linux is powerful, slick, sexy, and able to hold its own in the consumer market. With a little tender loving care, you can be the proud owner of a sleek new Linux desktop, for the low, low price of absolutely nothing but a little time and effort.

If you're tired of sluggish performance, security threats, viruses and crashes, you might be ready to learn a little Linux.

"What, my husband/wife/father/mother/daughter/son can't use Unix?" You, the keeper of the home computer system may say.

"Poppycock," I retort. My wife can't tell the difference, other than to note that "Farmville is running a little faster". If you manage your family's computing needs and are constantly cleaning up after their internet escapades, this platform is for you. Linux was designed around the concept of limited user permissions from the beginning. Once you get the initial setup done, your headaches caused by unwanted software installs and configurations will completely disappear.

This is part one of an ongoing series of articles intended to promote information about and usage of Linux and open source software. I invite any and all questions about any aspect of computing and technology, and if I can't answer them, I'll find someone who will.

If you want to learn how to get more from your computing experience, stay tuned, you're going to love this. If your involvement and interest with working with your computer begins and ends with your web browser, office suite, and email program, you might not enjoy it as much, but I'm positive you could still find it useful.

Check back soon for Part II, "Getting Started with Debian Linux." In the meantime, why not download a "live" CD version that will run on your computer, from the CD, without changing anything one bit? http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html