Quora It is a social network in which people ask all kinds of questions on any topic and other people answer them. These are some questions about Linux on Quora that I will try to answer in this post as they may be of interest to new users.
The good thing about reading questions on non-specialized sites is that it reminds us more experienced users that not everyone is born knowing and that Sometimes we must start our answers with the basics.
Questions about Linux on Quora
A little introduction
Generally many questions start from thinking that Linux is the same as macOS or Windows, in the sense that it is a complete operating system marketed by a company. Linux is a kernel, that is, the base of an operating system, to which other open source projects are added to form what is known as a Linux distribution. Linux distributions are made up of:
- Grub: It is the program that makes the distribution start.
- Kkernel linux: It is the one that allocates hardware resources according to the needs of the distribution.
- Startup process: It is the first program to run Linux and the last to shut down. It is responsible for launching the rest of the programs.
- Demons: They are programs that other programs call upon for tasks like printing documents or saving a file.
- Graphic server: It is the one that displays the graphics on the monitor.
- Desk: Set of applications with graphical interface in charge of the interaction with the user.
Starting from a common core, developers of Linux distributions offer them with different desktop and graphical server options.
Now we go with the questions
Who sells Linux?
The Linux kernel is available under a free software license. This means that Anyone can take the code and distribute it, modified or not.. That is to say that there are Linux distributions that can be downloaded for free and others that can be purchased.
In general, the paid versions are aimed at the corporate market and what you actually pay for is technical support. Some examples are: Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux, or Oracle Linux.
There are also computer manufacturers that come with pre-installed Linux distributions. Some of them are System76, Slimbook, Dell or Lenovo.
When is Linux coming out?
As I explained above, a Linux distribution is made up of different open source components each with different update cycles. Generally, To adapt to changes there are two approaches:
- Lifecycle.
- Continuous update (Rolling release)
in the first approach the developers release a new version from time to time (Usually 6 months) These versions have a timeframe during which they continue to get updates. Then it will be necessary to install the new version.
Distributions based on the Rolling release method continue to receive updates on an ongoing basis as long as they continue to be used. In any case, from time to time the developers publish versions with the most current packages available so far.
Which approach is better?
It depends, if you are going to use the computer with the same applications as always and you plan to make important modifications, the permanent update could be convenient for you. On the other hand, if you are constantly testing things or like to keep up with the latest versions, the life cycle mode is ideal for you.
Which is better: Windows, Linux or macOS?
It depends on the use you are going to give it. Windows has the largest catalog of programs available and the greatest hardware compatibility. From the market. Of course, you will have to pay for a license or endure the endless updates of the Insider version.
Linux gives you more freedom in what you want to install on your computer, in addition to the security that you do not share your data with anyone and that you are not obliged to change hardware from time to time to be able to continue using your software.
macOS for its part guarantees a more consistent user experience since the software and the hardware are perfectly integrated.
In short, the best operating system is the one that is most useful to you