[Linux] Adam_Conway:
Switching over to Linux can be daunting, but pretty much everyone will run into the same problems at some point or another. That’s why we created this handy guide that you can reference for the most common problems and fixes!

What is Linux, exactly?​

“Linux” as we know it is actually comprised of different things, and technically referring to “Linux” means specifically referring to the Linux kernel. When we say “Linux”, we are actually referring to a wider family of operating systems that all have one thing in common - the Linux kernel.

The Linux kernel is underlying each and every Linux distribution, but many will conflate “Linux” to include other aspects too, such as the shell and the ability to launch applications. It’s not a distinction that hugely matters to anyone but the computer geeks, but it’s worth noting that “Linux” isn’t actually the operating system, but people often are referring to an operating system when they say Linux.

What are Linux distributions? What are the most popular “distros”?​

Linux distributions are collections of software that are all based around the Linux kernel. Distributions are commonly split into three major families (though there are more) - Debian, SUSE, and Fedora. From these three families, there are derivatives that exist in each. For example, Ubuntu is a derivative of Debian, but Linux Mint also started as a derivative of Ubuntu. Therefore, Mint is Debian-based, but it has features and software from Ubuntu that doesn’t exist in pure Debian.

If it sounds complicated, that’s because it kind of is. Thankfully, the complexity doesn’t hugely matter. Linux distributions have a lot of overlap, and while derivatives of each other exist, many of them spin-off and become their own thing over time. Mint being a derivative of Ubuntu isn’t really something that matters anymore, as it has become so unique that it no longer gets a huge amount of its identity from the base that it started from.

While most people would likely say to try out different distributions to see what you like best, you can look up reviews on YouTube or online of different distributions to get a feel for which you’d like best. Here are some of the most popular distributions that you can look up! There are many more out there too, so be sure to lookup more of them if none of these suit you.

Ubuntu

Mint

openSUSE

Manjaro

Red Hat Linux

CentOS Stream

Who created Linux?​

The creator of Linux is Linus Torvalds, though it has been maintained and developed by many talented developers over the years. In fact, in recent years, more and more companies have stepped up to contributing large swathes of code to the kernel, likely due to self-interest as Linux is used in practically everything in some way or another.

What can I do with the Linux source code?​

The Linux kernel source code is licensed under GNU GPL, meaning that any changes you make to the source code should be published. With this license, you can freely copy, change, or distribute the source code, and this is why smartphone manufacturers are obliged to release kernel source code with every release.

How much does Linux cost?​

Linux is a free operating system, and while a developer can charge for their operating system, most don’t. Some survive off of voluntary contributions and the sale of additional resources. For example, Red Hat Linux sells additional software packages that have documentation and web support for 60 days, with the lowest package costing $30. These organizations also often offer enterprise packages, which usually cost significantly more. As well, when downloading Ubuntu, you can choose to make a voluntary donation and choose where exactly your money goes. These are just a couple of examples, and there are so many different Linux distributions that many of them likely have their own monetization ideas.

What can I use Linux on?​

Pretty much any device can run some form of Linux, though it depends how “open” that device is to doing so. Famously, the Nintendo DS could even run Linux with the use of a flashcard, though it couldn’t officially do so without breaking Nintendo’s copy protection. In most cases, all there needs to be is some way to run your own code on a device, and it should, in theory, be possible to run Linux on it. This is obviously also dependent on the distribution used. The United States government even used a cluster of PlayStation 3s running Linux to build a supercomputer.

Will I be able to use X application if I switch from Windows?​

Nearly all applications have a well-made Linux equivalent, but for the few that don’t, you can use Wine and PlayOnLinux to execute most (not all) Windows applications natively on Linux. Wine is not an emulator (and that’s what Wine used to be an acronym for!), but rather a compatibility layer that translates calls as they are made in an application. Wine is the basis for Proton, a compatibility layer developed by Valve that makes many AAA titles playable on Linux. Games like GTA V and Cyberpunk 2077 are perfectly playable on Linux distributions with the use of Proton.

X is broken or does not work correctly​

As in all cases, the best thing to do on a Linux machine if something isn’t working is to ensure that all of your drivers are up to date. Googling whatever peripheral or device it is and “Linux” as a suffix will likely yield useful results, particularly if the device you are trying to use can be problematic. In rarer cases, you may need to build and install your own Linux kernel instead, if the chipset in your device is the issue.