Autumn's Realm
Linux. It is a word that strikes fear in the hearts of the bravest of Windows power users. However, contrary to the memes, Linux is actually very easy to use, and I would even go as far as to say it is easier to use most modern Linux than it is to use Windows. Lets get into it.
The Philosophy of GNU!
The GNU project was started many long years ago in 1984 by RMS, or Richard M. Stallman. Although he is a bit nutty, RMS saw what was happening in the computing industry and how it lead to a shocking dystopia. RMS saw how software companies were making their software more restrictive in their licenses, refusing to release source code, and trying to exploit uses for money. Now I know I just used a lot of jargon, so here is an easy to read summary of it:
- Companies were making it so users could not use the software in any way they were not explicitly allowed
- By making all of the sourcecode was hidden from users, companies could insert any code they wanted, and that code could be used (and is uses these days) to steal the users data, incorperate malware, and harm our, the users, freedom.
- By only giving out binairies, software companies remove compatibility between systems. Although it seems that code written for macs cannot run on a PC or Linux like system, this isn't generally true. Adobe, for example, could release the entire creative cloud on linux with about a weeks worth of work to change a few system calls and then recompile it, they choose not to because they are in kahoots with Apple and Microsoft. If their source code was free software, technically inclined users could go in and do the port for them free of charge, however they don't do this because of greed.
- Proprietairy software also greatly reduces security compared to free software. Now according to companies who make money from proprietary software, the oppisite is true; if people can see the code they will find security holes and then they will exploit them! This isn't the case, however. With free software projects (such as Linux or nginx (the web server I am using to host this site)) the users have a vested intrest in the softwares resistance to attacks and malware, so the people who can read the code either write a patch for the holes and submit it to the developers or at the very least create a bug report so that others can fix it.
- One final reason is the development time. When you have a team of, say, ten overworked developers, it will take more time than if you have an entire community of users working to get out new features. The Linux kernel has had over 15600 seperate people submitting code within the past 15 years alone, roughly only half of its lifespan. Compare that to Microsoft who has around 1000 people to develop entire opporating systems and you will begin to see the benifits of free software projects.