If you've ever heard of Linux, you might relate it to programming, embedded devices like the Raspberry Pi, the command line, and even the web servers that run the internet as a whole (yes, including this blog!). You might think of distributions like Ubuntu or Fedora. If you're not so familiar, it might make you think of the words complicated, intimidating, and confusing. What if it didn't have to be those words? Instead, wouldn't it make you think of the words powerful utility and a dream come true? Hopefully, my blog jakespillstea.tech can convince you and show you the ins and outs, and do's and don't's of Linux.

So, what is Linux?

Linux, to be very exact, is a kernel. Okay, what is a kernel? A kernel is a piece of computer software that sits between the bare metal hardware of the computer and the operating system. It manages memory, I/O, drivers, processes, and more. Every time you save a file, render an image or load a web page, the kernel is working away behind the scenes to make the hardware do what it needs to do. It is one of the very first programs that load into memory when a computer starts and even contributes to loading up the rest of the system. The kernel is a very crucial and central part of the operating system.

A brief history

The Linux kernel started development in 1991 by Linus Torvalds. It was inspired by Unix (sometimes stylized UNIX), which at the time was another proprietary operating system and kernel developed by AT&T, Bell Labs, UC Berkeley, and others. Unix started a revolution in operating system development and even gave birth to some of the systems we know today, like Apple's macOS. Linux is not based on Unix, but instead is Unix-like and was designed to be similar and compatible with lots of Unix software.

Shortly after starting the development of his kernel, Torvalds crossed paths with Richard M. Stallman, the leader of the GNU Project. Its goal was to create a free operating system (as in freedom), but it was incomplete. Together, they combined both of their projects to make GNU/Linux, successfully creating a fully free-and-open-source operating system on a philosophical and economic level.

Fun fact: Linux didn't start as an open-source project. It was actually never meant to be open-source. Stallman needed help with development, so Torvalds released the source code to combine them.

What makes it special

It's free and open-source

One of the most eye-catching features of GNU/Linux is its free and open-source software (or FOSS) licensing. The Linux kernel is licensed under GNU General Public License version 2 (GPL-2.0), which means anybody has the right to freely use, distribute, and modify the software however they may please, but only under the exception that you may not apply any of your own restrictions and you keep the source code open. This concept is called copyleft, ensuring the product stays free and available for everybody, everywhere, forever.

It's the perfect development platform

Because Linux is FOSS, it is a very appealing workspace for developers to create their software. Most distributions come out of the box with Python, C, and other programming languages. If what you need doesn't come by default, installing software such as your favorite IDE or web browser is a total breeze with the package manager.
It's not only software developers. Many researchers, such as scientists and health professionals, use Linux to analyze and process data. Examples could be simulation protein folding, or studying data collected from outer space. Everybody has the power to tweak, debug, and tune it to work however they please for their applications—the (computing) world is your oyster.

Open source is more secure

It also allows us to look for security issues or bugs. It is always open for improvement. By design, open source is collaborative. Developers could cross-check the code for security bugs that may have been left undiscovered if said project was closed-source.

It's lightweight but powerful

Compared to other systems, Linux accomplishes being lightweight and powerful. Take Peppermint OS, for example; a fresh boot only uses about 300 MB but still accomplishes being a full-fledged desktop experience that you can even game on. Most Linux distributions come with lighter and more efficient software than Windows, which gives you the space and power to run what you want to run without the system slowing down as fast. On one of my home servers—which I will be writing a blog post about—running Debian only uses about 60 MB of RAM. If NASA uses Linux, I sure as hell will too. According to this article, the development of the Windows kernel tends to lag behind other operating systems.

It's customizable

You can make your Linux system your very own and unique to you. Linux distributions are highly customizable, from changing the system-wide font to which kernel and init system you want to run. Some people even go as far as making Linux from scratch. Do you want to have a feature-rich and modern workflow experience? Try Zorin OS or Pop!_OS. Do you want a more lightweight and simple system with the latest updates? Install a rolling-release distro like Arch Linux (good luck if you do!). Do you want to change the desktop environment from GNOME to KDE Plasma? Easily done. Do you feel like deleting the bootloader? Say less.

Community support is huge

Although Linux may appear like a small project, it is backed by approximately fifteen thousand developers, including big companies like Red Hat, Canonical, Google, Intel, Samsung, and even Microsoft. The reason is that all of these big companies also use Linux (yes, that's right). Web hosting is where it is most popular; over 96% of servers today are Linux-based.
The community seems so small because of its share of the consumer desktop market; only an estimated 1% of consumer PCs run Linux. Historically, it has had a hard time penetrating the consumer market, mainly because of Microsoft's agreement with Intel in the 90's to include a copy of Windows on every computer shipped with an Intel CPU.

Why you should care

In many people's opinions, including mine, a lot comes down to valuing your privacy and owning your data. Nowadays, it is prevalent to have your data collected and sold to advertisers to target you as a consumer. There's evidence that U.S. citizens have been spied on in their homes.

Big tech and telemetry

Unless you never have never used a computer, you might already know that Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google constantly track you online. They collect your search history and purchases to create a profile about you, share that data, then use that data for advertising to you and getting clicks. The cycle continues.
Telemetry is the recording of data that is transmitted back to the creator or distributor of that product. The collected data is generally statistical in nature, but that is a broadly used term. Have you ever talked about a product and then suspiciously enough seen advertisements for it later? It seems way too coincidental,  doesn’t it?

The Snowden leaks

In 2013, an NSA contractor named Edward Snowden began leaking documents to the press detailing a global surveillance scheme conducted by the NSA and other countries. This was in cooperation with multiple telecommunications companies that aided them by leaking private information about their users. Some of these companies included Verizon, Comcast, and others. This was called Operation PRISM.
This ignited public controversy against the U.S. and other governments regarding their privacy rights. Was anything private in this new digital age? How could you trust these companies again, and how do you know they are telling the truth?

I'd recommend reading Edward Snowden's book, "Permanent Record". There is also some documentation you can find on the internet about this.

The right to repair

Have you ever had a device notify you that it was "unsupported" and stopped receiving updates? Or have you had your computer tell you that it won't be supported for Windows 11 or the next version of macOS? Has your phone ever started running slow after an update? Maybe, you took your computer in for a small repair, but because of proprietary design, you had to spend to replace the entire computer instead.
The Right to Repair movement aims to ensure that all devices are repairable and modifiable by the consumer. That includes affordable access to parts, using non-proprietary and affordable hardware interfaces. A device shouldn't require a heat gun to melt glue and pry the screen off to repair.
The fundamental principles of the Right to Repair movement can be expanded to include long-lasting software support. Hardware can only be as good as the software it's provided (looking at you, Nvidia.)
One more thing that deserves to be mentioned is something called planned obsolescence. This is when a manufacturer will sell their product with a sort of built-in expiration date. This means that you as the consumer will have to go shell out cash for repairs, or an entire replacement.

Doesn't that all sound shitty? Everything just stated is precisely why open-source as a philosophy is important; everybody owns their data, knows how their software works, and can ultimately trust their computer. Anybody can read the code and see firsthand that the program does only what it's meant to, and nothing more. You should have the freedom to open your computer, phone, or tablet and repair them, without it costing a fortune. In our ever-evolving world of technology, it's become more important than ever to protect your data, and in turn your identity.

Is Linux successful?

Yes, but no. Sure, Linux is successful in the enterprise world, as a development platform, and as a learning tool. But it doesn't have the same amount of popularity that Microsoft Windows and macOS have. But to tell you the truth, that's unimportant to me. Not everybody will know of or use Linux in their lifetime, and that's just fine with me.  What we do have, though, is a vibrant community of enthusiasts, hobbyists, contributors, professionals, amateurs, geeks, and nerds alike. That is what matters most—that people care at all.

UP NEXT: Three Ways You Can Start Using Linux Today

A note for my readers:
I just want to say thank you for taking the time to read my very first blog post. This was actually a lot for me to write; it's been months in the making. I am still working on getting the email subscriptions up and running. UPDATE: I got email subscriptions to work! Please subscribe! I am shooting to be posting on a weekly cadence.