What is Operating System ?
An Operating System (OS) is software that acts as a middleman or a bridge between computer hardware and the computer user. It provides a user interface and controls the computer hardware so that software can function.
Types of OS:
Desktop Operating Systems - MS Windows, MacOS and Linux such as Ubuntu
Server OS - Windows server, Linux distributions like CentOS, RedHat Enterprise Linux
Mobile OS - Android, iOS, Windows
Embedded OS used in devices like routers, smart TVs, automobiles, home appliances etc.
Real-Time OS (RTOS) used in critical systems like medical equipment, car ECUs, aerospace, defense, network firewalls, home security etc.
What is Linux ?
Basically, Linux is a free and open source OS. It is very popular for its stability, security and flexibility. It can be modified and distributed by anyone, which has led to many different versions, knows as “Distributions“, and each distribution is tailored for different uses.
Its Open-Source nature means that a community of developers and users contribute to its development.
Some of the main features are-
Widely used in serves and cloud computing
Free software philosophy
Strong Command Line Interface
Faster processing
Enhanced Security
Customization because of open-source nature
Community support
Understanding of other OS
Linux Flavors-
“Linux Flavors“ = “Linux Distributions“ = or “distros“ for short
Ubuntu
Fedora
Debian
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
CentOS
Arch Linux
openSUSE
Linux Mint
Gentoo
Slackware
Alpine Linux
Kali Linux