Linux Series: Bash Programming & Operating Systems (Part - 1)

Linux Series: Bash Programming & Operating Systems  (Part - 1)

Overview

  • In this guide, I will walk you through the basics of Linux. If you are new to Linux and unsure about its origins and purpose, this blog will provide you with a comprehensive overview.

  • If you're not sure how to install Linux on your system, don't worry! There are multiple ways to use Linux even if you're currently using Windows as your operating system.

  • Be sure to check out my step-by-step guide on installing Linux within Windows. Here's the link for easy access: Blog Link

What Happens When you start your computer?

  • Now, you pressed the button to start your pc/Laptop,

    • First, it executes the software in BIOS(Basic Input Output System).

      • What is a BIOS?

        • It is a basic input-output system. OR

        • you can call it firmware(Firmware comes installed by default in a computer stored in a small chip(Small chip: ROM(Read Only Memory) in the motherboard).

    • Second, It loads the Bootloader(Initializes the Operating System). But it is not always the case, it can be different for some PCs.

What is an Operating System?

  • Operating System is Software to manage and operate a Computer Device.

  • It acts as a bridge between the computer hardware and the applications that run on the computer.

  • Now, software needs to pass these conditions to be considered an Operating System:

    • Kernel

    • File System

    • User Interface [ CLI(Command Line Interface), GUI(Graphic User Interface) ]

    • Should be able to manipulate data based on commands.

What is a File System?

  • A file system is a method or data structure used by the operating system to store, organize, and retrieve data on a storage device such as a hard drive or solid-state drive.

  • The file system defines how the data is organized and stored on the storage device and provides a set of rules for accessing and retrieving the data.

  • In today's time our computers are very fast, any file that we want to open. It does not take much time to find the file we are looking for.

    Reason: The memories and rams are pretty advanced these days and are becoming more faster and optimised these days.

What is a Kernel?

  • A kernel is any core of any Operating System. It manages the communication between hardware and software components.

  • It has complete control over everything in the system. It can control the memory and the CPU time of any software that is out there.

Windows vs Linux, Why use Linux?

  • First going into the comparison, let's see the types of Operating Systems(Famous):

    • Windows

    • MacOS

    • Linux

  • MacOS and Linux are pretty similar as they both are UnIx Based.

  • Windows has some similarities with Unix but is a proprietary Operating System, it has some components that are Unix-based but majorly it is derived from other Operating Systems but it remains a distinct and separate operating system from Unix.

  • That is why developers prefer using either Linux or MacOS.

Why Use Linux?

  1. Open Source

    • Linux is an Open Source Operating System, which means its source code is available to everyone.

    • This makes it a popular choice for developers as they can customize it according to their needs without being restricted by proprietary(relating to an owner or ownership) licenses or fees.

  2. Terminal

    • Linux provides a powerful and versatile command-line interface, commonly referred to as the terminal.

    • This allows users to directly perform a wide range of tasks from the command line.

    • The terminal is also highly customizable/

  3. Easier to get things done

    • Linux is known for its simplicity and efficiency, and many tasks that are difficult or time-consuming on other operating systems can be performed more easily and quickly on Linux.

    • For example, software installation and updates are typically handled through centralized package managers, making it easier to manage software on Linux systems.

    • The benefit of Linux being open-source means that there is a large community of users and developers who are constantly contributing to the development and improvement of the operating system.

History of Linux

  • In 1969, two developers namely one was Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie.

  • If you know C language already, then you must be familiar with Dennis Ritchie.

  • In the late 1960s, Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie developed Unix while working at Bell Labs. In the 1970s, the entire Operating System was rewritten in C language to make it more portable, and Unix soon became a widely used operating system.

  • This is how the first Unix-based operating system came into the picture.

  • In 1983, Richard Stallman started the GNU project to create a free and open-source operating system. Other operating systems like BSD, MINIX, etc. were also developed around this time.

  • However, all of these operating systems lacked a unified kernel.

  • In 1991, Linus Torvalds started working on the Linux kernel, which became the unified kernel for all distributions of Linux.

  • Linus Torvalds is now known as the "Father of Linux."

Linux Distributions (Which one to choose?)

  • All the Linux distributions that are there, use the Linux Kernel, which Linus Torvalds developed in 1991.

  • There are so many distributions of Linux, but in my opinion, Ubuntu is the best blend between a GUI(Graphic User Interface) and CLI(Command Line Interface). That is why I shifted from Windows to Linux Operating System.

You can find me on these platforms 🤝 :

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