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What is Linux?


 

How can I get started using Linux?

There’s some chance you’re using Linux already and don’t know it, but if you’d like to install Linux on your home computer to try it out, the easiest way is to pick a popular distribution designed for your platform (for example, laptop or tablet device) and give it a try. Although there are numerous distributions available, most of the older, well-known distributions are good choices for beginners because they have large user communities that can help answer questions if you get stuck or can’t figure things out. Popular distributions include Elementary OS, Fedora, Mint, and Ubuntu, but there are many others. It's a common saying that the best Linux distro is the one that works best on your computer, so try a few to see which one best suits your hardware and your style of working.

You can install Linux on your current computer (be sure to back-up your data first), or you can buy a System76 or Purism computer with Linux already installed. If you're not looking for the fastest computing experience possible, you can also install Linux on old computers, or buy a Raspberry Pi.

Once you've installed Linux, read our article on how to install applications on Linux, and check back often for news and tutorials on all the best applications open source has to offer. Ultimately, getting started with Linux is a matter of getting started with Linux. The sooner you try it, the sooner you'll get comfortable with it, and eventually you'll blissfully forget that non-open operating systems exist!




How can I contribute to Linux?

Most of the Linux kernel is written in the C programming language, with a little bit of assembly and other languages sprinkled in. If you’re interested in writing code for the Linux kernel itself, a good place to get started is in the Kernel Newbies FAQ, which will explain some of the concepts and processes you’ll want to be familiar with.

But the Linux community is much more than the kernel, and needs contributions from lots of other people besides programmers. Every distribution contains hundreds or thousands of programs that can be distributed along with it, and each of these programs, as well as the distribution itself, need a variety of people and skill sets to make them successful, including:

  • Testers to make sure everything works on different configurations of hardware and software, and to report the bugs when it does not.
  • Designers to create user interfaces and graphics distributed with various programs.
  • Writers who can create documentation, how-tos, and other important text distributed with software.
  • Translators to take programs and documentation from their native languages and make them accessible to people around the world.
  • Packagers to take software programs and put all the parts together to make sure they run flawlessly in different distributions.
  • Enthusiasts to spread the word about Linux and open source in general.
  • And of course developers to write the software itself.

Where can I learn more about Linux?

Opensource.com has a huge archive of Linux-related articles. To view our entire archive, browse our Linux tag. Or check out some of our favorites below.

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