Linux has a strange reputation.
For some people, it is a system for developers, hackers, servers and obscure command lines. For others, it is a free alternative to Windows or macOS. And for many people, it is simply a name they have heard before, without really knowing what it means.
And yet, Linux is everywhere.
Not always on the screen we are looking at. But in the servers that host websites, in digital infrastructure, in supercomputers, in connected devices, in embedded systems, and even indirectly in Android.
Linux is one of those invisible tools that support part of the modern digital world.
But before talking about distributions, terminals or open source, we need to start simply.
What is Linux?
Linux is first and foremost a kernel.
The kernel is the technical heart of an operating system. It connects hardware and software: processor, memory, disk, peripherals, network.
When we say “Linux”, we often mean a complete operating system. But technically, Linux mainly refers to this central kernel.
Around this kernel, communities and organizations build complete systems called Linux distributions.
That is why we hear about Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, Linux Mint, Arch, openSUSE or Kali. All these distributions use Linux, but they do not offer exactly the same experience.
We can summarize it simply:
Linux is the core. A Linux distribution is the complete system that the user installs and uses.
It is a common base that can give rise to several different environments.
Some are very easy to use. Others are designed for servers. Others for developers. Others for learning, testing, securing or deeply customizing a system.
Linux is therefore not a single face. It is a family.
Who created Linux?
Linux was created in 1991 by Linus Torvalds, then a Finnish computer science student.
At first, it was not a huge global project. It was an experimental kernel, developed out of passion, to understand and build a system inspired by Unix.
But something important happened: the project was shared, improved, reused, discussed, corrected and enriched by other developers.
Linux did not grow like a closed product designed only inside a company’s offices. It grew as an open project, carried by a global community.
This is one of the reasons why Linux became so important: it does not depend on a single machine, a single manufacturer, a single use case or a single market.
It can be adapted, transformed and optimized.
Who owns Linux?
This is an interesting question, because the answer is not as simple as it is for Windows or macOS.
Windows belongs to Microsoft. macOS belongs to Apple.
Linux, on the other hand, is free and open source software.
This does not mean that “nobody takes care of it”. It means that its code can be viewed, studied, modified and redistributed according to the rules of its license.
Linux is therefore not the exclusive property of a single company that would decide its future alone.
Companies contribute to Linux. Independent developers contribute to Linux. Institutions, researchers, communities and organizations also participate in its evolution.
There is governance, maintainers, rules, technical decisions and debates. It is not a jungle. But it is not a closed product controlled from beginning to end by a single brand either.
That is part of its strength.
Linux belongs less to a company than to an ecosystem.
What is open source?
Open source means that the source code of a piece of software is accessible.
The source code is the internal recipe of the program. It is the set of instructions that developers can read, understand, correct or improve.
In closed software, the user can use the program, but does not really see how it works. They have to trust the publisher.
In open source software, the code can be examined. This makes it possible to:
- understand how the software works;
- detect errors;
- fix vulnerabilities;
- adapt the software to a specific need;
- share improvements;
- build common tools.
Careful: open source does not automatically mean perfect, secure or simple. Open software can have bugs. It can be poorly maintained. It can be difficult to use.
But open source changes our relationship with software.
We do not only receive a finished tool. We can also understand, verify, modify and participate.
That is a major cultural difference.
Who uses Linux?
Linux is used by far more people than we usually imagine.
It is very present in servers. When we visit a website, use an online application, store files in the cloud or watch a streaming video, there is a strong chance that part of the infrastructure relies on Linux.
It is also very present in software development. Many developers appreciate Linux for its tools, stability, terminal, proximity to server environments and ability to be customized.
Linux is also used in supercomputers, scientific infrastructure, embedded systems, some network equipment, connected devices, industrial machines and specialized environments.
And then there is Android.
Android is not a classic Linux distribution like Ubuntu or Fedora, but it is based on the Linux kernel. This means that a huge part of the mobile world uses Linux somewhere in its foundations.
That is the paradox:
Linux may seem marginal on the consumer desktop. But it is central behind the scenes of the digital world.
Why is Linux everywhere if we rarely see it?
Because Linux is often used where the end user does not look directly.
We see Windows on our PC. We see macOS on our Mac. We see Android or iOS on our phone.
But we do not always see the system powering:
- a web server;
- a database;
- a router;
- a cloud infrastructure;
- an industrial machine;
- an online service;
- a supercomputer;
- a connected device.
Linux is very good in these areas because it is adaptable, robust, modifiable and efficient.
It can be reduced to the essentials for a specialized machine. It can be hardened for a server. It can be customized for a precise use case. It can run without a graphical interface. It can be automated at scale.
It is less spectacular than a beautiful desktop interface, but often more strategic.
Linux is a bit like the digital plumbing of the modern world: we do not look at it every day, but when it works, everything else can flow.
Is Linux only for developers?
No.
Linux attracts many developers, that is true. But it is not reserved for them.
Today, some Linux distributions are perfectly accessible for everyday use: web browsing, office work, email, videos, music, file management, simple image editing, writing, development and learning.
Distributions such as Ubuntu, Linux Mint or Fedora can suit curious users who want to try something other than Windows or macOS.
But we should be honest: Linux sometimes requires a little more autonomy.
Some professional software is not available. Some games can be problematic. Some poorly supported peripherals may require research. Some Windows or macOS habits do not translate exactly.
Linux is not necessarily difficult. But it sometimes means accepting a different logic.
It is not just “a free Windows”. It is not “an open source macOS” either.
It is another world, with its strengths, limits, communities, tools and culture.
Why choose Linux?
There are several reasons to choose Linux.
To regain control over your machine. To use a free system. To learn computing more deeply. To do development. To extend the life of an old computer. To avoid certain overly closed ecosystems. To create a personal server. To experiment. To understand what is happening under the hood.
Linux is not the best choice for everyone. But it is an excellent choice for people who want a more open, transparent and customizable relationship with their machine.
It should not be presented as a magic solution. It should be presented as a possibility.
And that is already a lot.
Key takeaways
Linux is first a kernel, the technical heart of an operating system.
Around this kernel, there are many distributions such as Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, Linux Mint or Arch.
Linux was created by Linus Torvalds in 1991, then developed by a huge international community.
It is free and open source, which means that its code can be studied, modified and shared.
Linux is very present in servers, development, infrastructure, supercomputers, embedded systems and Android.
It is not reserved for developers, but it naturally attracts people who want to understand, customize and control their computing environment more deeply.
Linux is less a simple system than a technical culture: that of a computer that can be opened, understood and adapted.
And now that we know what Linux is, one question naturally follows:
why are there so many different versions of Linux, and how do you choose between Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, Arch or Linux Mint?
