Chapter 1: What is Linux and Why Using It?
Strengthening almost everything from mobile phones, servers, and PCs, Linux is a standard operating system that people commonly use. Indeed, all over the world, several individuals use Linux in all fields and applications you can imagine. Linux has been around since the 90s. From your TV stick to the fridge and everything, Linux runs everything. And much of the internet has support from Linux. Since the computer operating system has powered several innovations, many scientific breakthroughs have Linux to thank. Even though for decades, Linux has been supplying secure, reliable OS duties, the word Linux has no familiarity with the general public.
But Linux operating system is everywhere, from enterprise servers to home desktops, home appliances, supercomputers, cars, and smartphones. Everywhere, you will find Linux, and it is on your television, Roku devices, refrigerators, and thermostats. For being one of the stress-free, most secure and reliable operating system available, Linux prides itself as a preferred platform running embedded systems, servers, and desktops all over the world.

What is Linux OS?
In the first place, what do you understand by an OS or operating system? In a physical computer, the management of the hardware is the duty of the computer code known as the operating system. Between the hardware and software, the operating system exists as a layer. Also, in assembler, communicating with a graphics card or addressing a CPU is not what most people want to know. And what acts as a middleman is an operating system like Windows or Linux.
Therefore, Linux, like Mac OS, iOs, and Windows, is an operating system. Essentially, Linux operating system powers Android, which is the most popular platform in the world. The software is likely not to function without the operating system since, as an operating system, Linux manages the communication between the hardware and software.
There are so many different pieces that Linux operating system comprises and they are:

Applications not all the complete array of apps that the desktop environments provide. As such, you can quickly find and install several thousands of software that are high-quality through Linux, typical of macOS and Windows. There are simplicity and centralization in the application installation by most modern Linux distributions. For example, typical of GNOME Software, there is Ubuntu Software Center by Ubuntu Linux that, from one centralized platform, speeds up the discovery and installation of apps among thousands of them for users.

Desktop environment users can interact with this piece. You can choose from several desktop environments like Xfce, KDE, Enlightenment, Pantheon, Mate, Cinnamon, GNOME, and so on. There are built-in applications for each desktop environment, including games, web browsers, configuration tools, and file managers.

Graphical server on your monitor, you will get a graphic display with this subsystem. It is known as X or X-server by many people.

Daemons after logging into the desktop or startup during boot, these are background services such as scheduling, sound, printing, and so on.

Init system user space is bootstrapped by this subsystem, and the control of daemons is in its charge. As such, system, as the most controversial, is an init system most widely used. When the bootloader, like Unified Bootloader or GRUB, handles the initial booting, the init system manages the boot process.

OS Kernel can be referred to as a complete piece known as Linux for the management of the peripheral devices, memory, CPU, and the core of the system is the kernel.

Bootloader this software manages the process of the computer boot. It is a splash screen that pops up in the operating system and soon goes away to boot for most users.

OS Shell the shell is what we use to tell our operating system the things we want it to do. As the command line by many, you use text to instruct the OS. However, the code of command-lines is known by quite a few people. As such, this caused people to stay away from using Linux. The modern distribution of Linux changed this since, just like Windows, Linux will use a desktop.

Why Using Linux?
Most people ask this question almost all the time. When the OS that ships virtually all servers, laptops, and desktops function correctly, why would anyone bother to learn a wholly different computing environment? The answer to that question will pose another question rather than a response; are you okay with the working of your current operating system? Or are you struggling with license fees, costly repairs, crashes, slowdowns, malware, and viruses? For you, Linux may be the perfect platform if you find yourself struggling with the above. On the planet, right now, the most reliable computer ecosystem is Linux. For a desktop platform, you will have a perfect solution when you combine such the entrys zero cost with reliability. As there isnt any payment for server licensing or the software, you can have as many computers as you like to install Linux. Also, you wont have any requirement to make any payment to access Linux.
Besides that, what about having as long as you want, a stress-free, stable operating system if you are not bothered about the zero cost implications? There hasnt been an issue of viruses, malware, or ransomware by so many people using Linux, both on server platform and desktop, for more than two decades. The thing is, such attacks have no power over Linux. If only the kernel is updated, they are necessary for server reboots. And it may not be entirely out of the ordinary for a Linux server to go for years without being rebooted. You will surely enjoy dependability and stability when recommended updates are strictly followed.
Also, our computers have most of the desktop operating systems we use, and changing the operating system is something we rarely probe. Whats more? Learning a new operating system is not what most people are inclined to do. However, here are some of the reasons you need to try out Linux:

A host of different distributions
There is variance in the Linux different distributions or editions. Some are for server software, while others are designed for desktop use. And while some are designed with beginners in mind, others have their focus on the advanced users. Most Linux editions otherwise referred to as distributions, use USB drive for installation, an optical disk, or can be downloaded for free. The Linux distributions are quite endless. Though some popular choices are openSUSE and Debian, the default preferences for desktop users are mostly Linux Mint, Arch, and Fedora. Courtesy of Ubuntu Unity, Ubuntu becomes one of the most modern Linux distributions. Through the inclusion of openSUSE, you can get a more traditional Linux look with KDE. Also, it is quite a long list if you are looking for the list of server Linux OS. CentOS, SUSE Enterprise, Ubuntu Server, and Red Hat are some of the most well-known distributions. However, you may need to invest in some money with the use of some Linux server distributions as licensing may be required to use Red Hat. But, quite essential for your business is the support, which you get for your license fee in return.

Linux is the same as freedom
There is a need to have the definition of an open source as equivalent to Linux. There are a set of principles that any software follows, such as:

For any of your modified software, copies will have no restrictions

The software distribution will have no limit

There will be permission to make any changes needed by you, examine it, as well as study and disassemble the software

Irrespective of your goals or motive for running it, the full freedom to run the software

Primarily, open-source software does not correlate to a community, and you need to understand that. Linux is built by this community, and Linux enjoys robust maintenance from that community. As such, people made Linux as software for the rest of the world, if you are wondering what Linux is and what has brought about the popularity of Linux. It is all about this philosophy of open source.

Linux is excellent in reliability
Since it is quite reliable, for system administrators, life is comfortable with the use of Linux. As such, not every day that you will need to monitor your server, and there are no worries with running it. Also, without impacting the whole Linux OS, you can often restart the separate services because of the way they built Linux. You must rely on a tool called an operating system, going by convention. You can have the game-changing effect of reliability that Linux brings with it if the cost isnt the most significant factor for you. And what is the biggest benefit of the Linux operating system? The biggest reason to adopt Linux is that Linux has overall immunity to random issues of an operating system as well as malicious software and viruses and also its inherent reliability.

Linux saves you money
For you to try out Linux, you wont have to pay anything since Linux has a collaborative and open-source nature. Without licensing payment, it doesnt matter if you have multiple computers; you can go ahead and have the operating system installed freely on them. For many Linux distributions, whether desktop or server editions, this is simply the situation. For example, just for the software installation on one server, concerning the version of 2012, you will have to part with $1,200 to use the Windows Server of Microsoft. You will have additional client access license charges if you are the type that wants several clients to have access to it. And what about the required licenses for you to run web, Windows-based services, etc.? Contrary to that, there is an inclusion of open-source server software in Linux distributions that comes without any cost. Also, without any payment for licensing, you can make use of several web pages. And with just a few clicks, you can have up and running, an entirely efficient Linux web server.

You can easily try Linux
Linux is quite simple to try when you are prepared to experiment with it. If you are feeling hesitant, theres no need for you to have your Windows discarded. You may want to give the preferred operating system a whirl with a live DVD or drive before installing on the hard drive of your PC on a Linux distribution. You will have to install a flash drive or DVD on a Linux distribution, a bootable system. Then, instead of your drive, have your system configured to boot from that. The fuss and muss are quite minimal as you quickly test-drive some operating systems of Linux, and the primary storage drive you have is safe since it doesnt touch it.

Linux can run on outdated systems
A while ago, they have Windows XP tossed to the wolves, and the Windows Vista is swiftly on the brink to the end. However, some outdated PCs and many people rely on them. If you select a lightweight distribution designed for aging PCs, it can breathe a new life into your computer as well as splashes updated OS on your system. For old PCs, you can choose Lubuntu or Puppy Linux. You will also notice that there is nothing stressful concerning the transition. Since they designed it for Windows XP refugees, there is abundance when it comes to accessing Linux alternatives. For the mimic of feel and look of the operating system of Microsoft, which is highly revered, these distributions provide dedicated Windows XP Modes

More sophisticated than before
The desktops fundamental values are what most main Linux distributors follow. So, the established interface of the PC gets the spit-polish from distributions such as Linux Mint and Fedora, while with the Windows 8 disaster, Microsoft enraged the world. People can wrap their head around some Linux distributions if Windows 7 and Windows XP is their preference. It is typical for them to switch to Linux because of the learning curve that they will need to use Windows 8 or Windows 10. There is also a similarity with the Start menu of the long-established Windows with the Start menu of Linux Mint. Most fundamentally, using it with PC hardware, there is an eradication of the widespread incompatibility of Linux, particularly audio components and networking. Even though with Intel’s Secure Boot enabled to have additional steps performed for the installation of Linux on your system, there is a wide range of PC hardware and modern PCs that work with most Linux operating systems. Better yet, to know whether it will work or not before you go ahead with any installation, you can have Linux distributions tested on your system to remember your preference.
There are several compelling reasons you might want to consider to try out Linux on your computer, or at least, give it a hassle-free trial run. And if you are set to go ahead with it, let’s discuss the Linux distributions and how you can push forward and make the proper installation of Linux in the next chapter.