Table of Contents
Introduction to Linux
 | There are penguins everywhere! Some cuter than others, but all seem to refer to Linux, the Zoo or somewhere very cold! In our case, we'll stick with computing! |
Linux on Raspberry Pi
We support Raspberry Pi devices from RasPi ZERO and ONE to the current RasPi Five!
Devices with other fruity names will be hit or miss if we do not have those boards in stock.
(You're welcome to donate hardware if you would like us to try!)
Intel and AMD PC Computers
We're officially claiming Pentium computers and newer being the default minimum of PC machinery we'll support.
Linux - What it Is Not
- Some people may claim Linux is a hacker's operating system. I assure you, there's an ample number of hackers on all flavors of operating systems. As of 2024/12/01 more than 83% of virus/malware attacks were focused on Windows® based computers and a large number of those who wrote the attack used and tested with a Windows® based machine.
- Some say that Linux and/or Unix is intended for people with an engineering or programming background.
- I'll admit, twenty years ago or so that could have been somewhat true as it was used primarily by people with a greater knowledge of computing, but as the times have evolved, so has the user-friendly level of many flavors of Linux - some of which have reached into the classroom even to a level for children. Today, the rules are quite different than before the Web was even “a thing.”
- Some have claimed special hardware is needed for Linux. This is far from the truth. Special hardware and/or software, when compared to PCs, is required for Apple/Mac. Linux tends to run on most any hardware which Windows® can be found on.
- Linux is not a cheap Windows® replacement. In fact, we cannot say any of the programs you're accustomed to using under Windows® will run under Linux! It's not saying they don't… we just can't say that they do! (If you post questions on the Forum pertaining to such, we're forced to refer you to “look it up in Google.”)
- Finally, what Linux is not… is expensive. In fact, most releases worth having have no price tag! (Enterprise versions of some releases where corporate phone support and the likes are involved tend to have a cost for services whereas even then, the software side is usually free.)
Linux - What it Is
- The two major forces running websites are Windows® and Linux. Web pages hosted which end in “.html” could be from any OS. Those which end in “.php” tend to be Linux hosted while those in “.asp” tend to be Windows®. As of 1st quarter 2024 stats claimed more than 70% of hosting services are running Linux; the other 30% being Unix®, BSD, Apple® and Windows® machines.
- Linux, like Microsoft Windows® or Apple's OSx® or MacOS®, is a computer operating system intended to run on hardware specific to that operating system.
- An “Operating System” has been called “the layer of software that manages a computer's resources for its users and their applications.”
- The Boot Loader is a specialized program responsible for telling the computer where to find the operating system.
- The Kernel is mostly responsible for opening a connection to the machine's hardware.
- The “Core” is the set of programs responsible for speaking between files or hardware devices and the shell or desktop.
- The “Desktop” is a set of programs responsible for creating and interacting with the graphics based environment.
- This list of layers applies to most operating systems out there; the names of each layer may be different but their purpose is mostly the same.