Look around and you will see Linux everywhere, yes it is right! Linux is present in Android phones. Android uses the Linux kernel under the hood. As Linux is an open-source operating system, Google’s Android developers generally modify the Linux kernel to satisfy their requirements. Linux offers the Android developers a pre-built already maintained operating system kernel to commence with, so no need to start afresh. This is the way many different devices are built. For example, the PlayStation 4 uses the open-source FreeBSD kernel, while the Xbox One uses the Windows NT kernel found in modern versions of Windows.
If you are an Android user you can see Linux kernel version running on your device under About phone or About tablet in Android’s Settings. You will be surprised to know that entire clan of supercomputers run on Linux kernel, the reason being Linux is free and easily customizable. After all, not just applications, such as word processors and web browsers, can be discarded but also users can choose core components, such as which system displays graphics, and other user-interface components. Below are some reasons that describe why Linux is better:
1. The main highlighting feature of Linux is that it is open-source software. The code used to create Linux is free and accessible to society to view, edit, and for users with the relevant skills to contribute.
2. One of the most stimulating things about using Linux is that there are no forced reboots or no contentious update nags. And the fact that most of the software installed updates right alongside the system. If an application is being used, Linux simply postpones them until the software is shut down. Once the system restarts, the new version is loaded. No nags, no interruptions, no stepping through multiple dialogue windows. It’s pretty much an invisible process to the user.
3. An even elevated level of security on Linux machines is implemented by IPtables. This is a firewall that allows you to create a further secured environment for the execution of any command or access to the network.
4. Linux is available in distributions such as Linux Mint, Debian, Ubuntu, Gentoo, Kali, and many others. Various email clients, the environment, console and system packages also make the system extremely fragmented.
5. Linux is completely free and with the long-term support (LTS) so no need for an activation key, unlike Windows-which will also display a pop-up on every screen prompting to ‘Activate Now’, ruining all your screenshots at once.
6. In Linux, you get superUser access and privileges (for real), as Linux OS will not take any step without the consent of the superuser. So while installing updates in Windows, you have to reboot while in Linux you have to be root.
7. While Linux installation, you don’t need to install drivers for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mouse, touchpad etc. explicitly as they can be installed during installation with little patience. While windows will tell (not ask) you to update for the first time to install updated drivers and by chance, if you happen to update on mobile data then all the data for the day go point of!!! So if you want to use your internet to its full capacity, then switch to Linux.
8. Windows is known for its good-looking GUI, but there are some things that cannot be done using a couple of mouse clicks so you need a Command Line Interface which is the Linux terminal.
9. Linux distributions are architectured in such a way that they can work smoothly, without any glitch, even in a system with 2 GB RAM. So, Linux is stable with fewer specifications.
10. Linux community is loyal to all the Linux users so it would give Long Term Support, unlike the Windows community which recently stopped giving support for Windows 7 users so for any bugs or data breaches in Windows 7, you cannot contact Windows help centers.
11. A Linux distribution is fully customizable right from the start screen (Plymouth) to the Desktop environment, from icons to mouse pointers, you have full access to your OS. The best part is, Make up your own Linux using a Linux kernel and make it public.
12. Currently, there are 500+ distributions of Linux available on the digital web, so it’s difficult to tell which one is the best. The clear answer is based on the requirement:
- For general-purpose, use Linux based on Debian and red hat
- For programming purposes, use Linux based on Arch
- For hackers, there is Kali Linux, cyborg, parrot
13. Ever heard of anti-virus for Linux? Because they don’t exist as Linux malware is not over the internet like Windows malware is so feel free to download anything. Also due to the security features of Linux, it is less vulnerable.