ELI5: What the heck is linux? : explainlikeimfive

[–] chetradley@lemm.ee 2 points 1 month ago

A computer has hardware (your hard drive, memory, screen, processor) and software (a web browser, Discord, apps, etc.). Your operating system is what manages your hardware and software, and provides a user interface for you to interact with. Microsoft Windows, IOS and Android are all types of operating systems. They allow you to run software, change your display settings, connect to the Internet and do anything else that your hardware and software allow.

Linux is an operating system, or more accurately, a collection of operating systems that are free and open source. This means that anyone can take the Linux kernel (the base of the operating system), and create their own distribution, or distro for short. There are dozens of Linux distros out there, each serving different users or different purposes. For this reason, Linux is used on a wide variety of devices. Android on smartphones and tablets, steam OS on gaming handhelds, and the software that powers most smart home appliances, these are all different types of Linux distros!

[–] recursive_recursion@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

You can think of Linux as the underlying engine that runs your computer just like Windows 10/11 or MacOS.

Thankfully just like a car you don't need to fully understand the intricacies in order a Linux desktop🤗

[–] lemmy12369@midwest.social 2 points 1 month ago

Just like Windows (95, Me,Vista,XP, 10, 11)OS and macOS (Mountain Lion, Yosemite, El Capita) there is a 3rd option. Linux! It’s free and available to anyone and is highly compatible with most if not all types of hardware. Like all things in life, there are caveats and ability to customize to your discretion. Do not be intimidated by the flavors that exist, such as Ubuntu, Mint, Arch and many many more! As an example there is steamOS used on the Steam Deck. This a a divergent version of another open source OS, that is compatible in using for mobile gaming. My verbiage is limited and very very broad and brief. The history of it all stems from one singularity, the kernel or the “brains” of the computer. All variants of operating systems stem from Unix. This is particularly due to use cases of specificity task, or goal of the program to accomplish.

[–] Alice@hilariouschaos.com 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It's a desktop operating system

[–] leftzero@lemmynsfw.com 1 points 1 month ago

I'm fairly certain desktop computers (and PCs in general, including laptops) are a very small portion of the devices that use Linux.

I expect most Linux devices are phones and tablets (Android), followed by embedded devices (though BSD probably outweighs Linux on those), followed by servers, followed by desktop computers.

[–] Routhinator@startrek.website 2 points 1 month ago

Just adding to this, Linux is pretty ubiquitous these days, with it being found running billboards, menus, information screens, and many machines and appliances.

Though these versions are stripped down and no what you are used to from a desktop. They just have the kernel and a few services for the task at hand.

[–] Deepus@lemm.ee 1 points 3 weeks ago

Already some way better answers than i could give, however I would stonely suggest you take a look at using it. Windows is terrible, especially nowadays, and for the general user ("office", web browsing, etc) its 100% stable, easy to use, and free!

There will be a slight learning curve for new users if your not especially tech savvy, as your question implies you may not be, but if you choose the right distro (version) you'll be fine!

Linux can be super complicated, if you want it to be, but can also be super simple if you dont need it to be.

[–] resipsaloquitur@lemm.ee 1 points 1 month ago

Communist Windows.

[–] R3D4CT3D@midwest.social 0 points 1 month ago

computer go brrr

[–] moseschrute@lemmy.world -1 points 1 month ago

It’s kinda similar to Unix.

[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone -2 points 1 month ago

Linux is a vibe. Like a cosmic string vibrating in twelve dimensions all at once.

[–] theunknownmuncher@lemmy.world -3 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I scrolled the comments and every single one is incorrect.

Linux is not an operating system. It is a kernel, which is an important component of an operating system. Operating systems that use the Linux kernel are often referred to as "Linux" for simplicity and brevity, though. It should be understood that when someone says "Linux" they typically are meaning "an operatjng system that uses the Linux kernel".

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_kernel

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kernel_(operating_system)

load more comments (2 replies)

[+] SolidShake@lemmy.world -15 points 1 month ago

Linus is an overly complicated and super buggy OS for PC. But for everything else that uses Linux it works fine.

Good for cars, phones, consoles, smart TVs etc. but bad for personal computers as you need a 10 year degree in coding just to install a dumbass program that will probably crash the whole computer anyways.

I hate Linux. I have tried dozens of versions for dozens of years and every distro is the same shit box as the next. I think the real problem is you'll have a distro by a group of regular people and it sucks. Then you have a distro like steam OS where an actual company made it for one specific thing and it works fantasticly.

[+] Eideen@lemmy.world -16 points 1 month ago (5 children)

Okay, imagine your computer is like a big playground.

Linux is like a really cool, free, and super customizable manager for that playground.

Manager (Operating System): Just like Windows or macOS, Linux is the main software that runs your computer, manages all its parts (like the screen, keyboard, and internet), and lets you run other programs (like a web browser or games).
Free: Most of the time, Linux doesn't cost any money to use.
Customizable: Unlike some other managers that have strict rules for how the playground is set up, Linux lets you (or people who know how) change almost anything about how it looks and works. This is why there are many different "flavors" of Linux (called distributions or "distros" like Ubuntu or Mint), each with a slightly different setup.

In short: Linux is a free, open-source operating system that gives you a lot of control over your computer. Many phones (Android is based on Linux!), servers that run websites, and supercomputers use it because it's powerful and flexible

Yes I use AI

[–] leftzero@lemmynsfw.com -1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Yes I use AI

No you don't.

You used a large language model, which is a very fancy statistics based autocomplete algorithm, but has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with artificial intelligence, other than by harming public opinion of it and sucking off all the funding that could be used on actual AI research.

[–] can@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Good luck convincing the general population. Better to just accept AGI is the new term for what you're referring to.

[–] leftzero@lemmynsfw.com 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It's neither general nor intelligence.

[–] can@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

You misunderstand me.

AGI doesn't exist.

[–] leftzero@lemmynsfw.com 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Of course it doesn't, everyone is wasting time and money on LLMs instead of on proper AI research.

That's not a reason to call them AI or AGI, though. On the contrary, it's poisoning the term, because once the LLM bubble bursts no one will want to invest in AI research for decades, because they'll associate it with LLMs. (Not to mention how hard it'll be to research anything when all sources of information have been poisoned with LLM slop.)

[–] can@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 month ago

I never said we should call the LLMs AGI. All I'm saying is the general population does call it AI, and that's not going to change.

load more comments (4 replies)

Explain Like I'm Five