Why should you use Linux for your development and daily use purpose?

When you start comparing computer operating system, you probably prefer Windows against Mac OS, but Linux is rarely mentioned. Though, still, this lesser-known operating system has a strong and loyal following and offers a number of advantages over its competitors. Whether you're completely new to Linux or not, some corner side in you may consider running it on your next laptop or desktop or alongside your existing operating system. That's the reason, today, we pick up Linux in this article to discuss it. We will also point out the reasons that could change your conception of Linux and that will help you to make the decision to choose Linux as your next OS. So, let's start the topic -

About Linux

Linux is a family of free and open-source software operating systems built around the Linux kernel. It's packaged in a form known as a Linux distribution or distro in short for both desktop and server use. Linux distribution is an operating system that kernel first released on September 17, 1991, by Linus Torvalds. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name. The Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to refer to the operating system family. Linux was originally developed for personal computers based on the Intel x86 architecture but has since been ported to more platforms than any other operating system. Linux also runs on embedded systems devices which operating system is typically built into the firmware and is highly tailored to the system. This includes TiVo and similar DVR devices, network routers, facility automation controls, televisions, video game consoles, and smartwatches. Many smartphones and tablets run Android and other Linux derivatives.

Let’s take a look at the reasons that describes why you should switch to Linux

It’s free

Linux OS is completely free. That means you can download it and install it on as many computers as you like. If you choose to switch to Linux, you save at least your money which has to spend on other OS. Isn't sounds good enough for a reason, What do you think?

Open source nature

Linux is completely an open source project. You can have a look at the source code of a Linux OS, which is a plus point. Most people don’t care about this openness of Linux, but this is really the most important feature of using GNU/Linux.

More secure than others

Linux is not as vulnerable as Windows. It is just the way Linux works that makes it a secure operating system. The process of package management, the concept of repositories, and a couple more features makes it possible for Linux to be more secure than other OS. When you have Windows installed, you need to download/purchase an Antivirus program to keep your computer safe from hackers and malware. But Linux doesn't require any such kind of Anti-Virus programs, it is often unnecessary when you have a Linux system. Though, It has an inbuilt couple of software tools to help you keep your system free from threats. Being secure by nature would make things easier for you and save money as well.

Easy to try

If you are a regular user of Windows 10 and want to switch to Linux, then don't worry about that. You easily switch to Linux without any hesitation, because the popular Linux distros like Manjaro and Linux Mint kept their heads down and spit-polished the traditional PC interface. Linux Mint “Start menu” bears much more similarity to the traditional Windows Start menus than Windows 10’s Live Tile-infused alternative. Linux’s dark days of rampant incompatibility with PC hardware especially networking and audio components have largely been eradicated. Most Linux operating systems just plain work with a wide swathe of modern PCs and PC hardware. So, anybody who used Windows XP and Windows 7, 8 or 10, can pick up Linux easily and use. These days desktop Linux OSes run out of the box, have GUI tools and have all the functionality that you look for in Windows.

Easy to fix bugs

With Linux, you will notice more updates to fix the problems you might be facing. You will not only encounter a larger number of software updates, but you will also observe much faster software updates.

Customization

If you like tweaking your system’s looks, Linux is just perfect for you. Apart from installing themes, you have tons of beautiful icon themes. You can also use Conky to display system information on the desktop in the coolest way possible. Needless to say that you can do a lot around Wallpapers in Linux.

Reliability

When you using Linux, you will not have to worry about reinstalling it just to experience a faster and a smoother system. Linux helps your system run smoothly for a longer period, in fact, much longer.

High stability

The Linux system is very stable and is not prone to crashes. The Linux OS runs exactly as fast as it did when first installed, even after several years. The uptime for the Linux servers is very high and the availability is around 99.9 percent. You don't need to reboot a Linux server after every update or patch. Linux has the highest number of servers running on the Internet.

Drivers included

With Linux, most of the drivers are supported directly by the Linux kernel. Which means it's more like plug and plays for Linux, no struggling with drivers, largely.

Software repository

Most of the desktop Linux OS have their own ‘app store’ or ‘software repository’. You can look for any kind of application, libraries at one single place without the need of Googling all over the internet for it. Moreover, the software thus installed will be safe, compatible with your OS and will be getting automatic updates.

Awesome interface

Its Unity, Cinnamon, Gnome 3, KDE or even low-end desktop environments like Xfce or Lxde are much more good looking than the Windows desktop. Linux desktop is not a plain boring and dull looking. You can also choose a desktop flavor according to your choice.

Variety of distributions

You will find tons of Linux distribution catered for a different set of needs. So, you can choose to install any of the available Linux distros according to your requirements. There are Linux distributions for programmers, for extremely old computers and for everyone.

Work with Hard Drives and Partitions

If you dual- or triple-boot your system and ever want to move partitions around, you'll have a much easier time with a Linux live CD and GParted. Even, if you don't dual-boot, you'll still need a bit of help from Linux if you ever migrate to a solid-state drive, or upgrade to a more spacious drive. And, if you want to securely wipe it so no one can get at your data.

Privacy

Linux would be the perfect solution for a privacy buff. Linux distributions do not collect much data or none. Moreover, you will not be needing additional tools to protect your privacy.

Runs great on old PCs also

Hundreds of millions of people rely on PCs which are several years old. If you installing Linux on your old PC, it's not only plopped an up-to-date and updated operating system on your PC, it can breathe new life into your computer if you choose a lightweight distro designed for aging PCs such as Puppy Linux or Lubuntu.

Better community support

There are a lot of active Linux users who are always ready to respond to a relevant thread one might have created. The number of community users active on such forums is more than the number of active members on any Windows-focused forum. Even, you do not need to hire an expert to solve a problem you are facing on your Linux system. You just need to search for a similar thread on the web for a solution or post a thread to let others solve the problem. Within minutes of posting a thread on any of the Linux forums, you may expect a reply along with a detailed solution which would finally help resolve your problem.

 

Let’s find out if Linux is also good for developer or not?

Yes, Linux is also popular with programmers, and for good reason. Linux and Unix have long been a mainstay of computer science education for a long time. Whether you want to develop software professionally or just for fun, there’s no better platform to cut your teeth on. If you design and/or develop for the web, then Linux is a fantastic fit for web development for numerous reasons.

Here are a few reasons why you should use Linux including the BSDs in your development process.

It’s been around forever

Linux builds on the Unix tradition by offering tried-and-true tools. You can pick up a book on Unix from the ’80s and much of it will still be applicable to a modern Linux distribution today. Although the GNU project and others have rewritten and enhanced many of the classic Unix tools, they still work pretty much the same as they did back in the ’70s and ’80s.

Make easy to build programs

One reason Unix and Linux have been popular with programmers all these years is that it’s incredibly easy to build complex programs without a whole lot of effort. The most notable feature of Unix is the way shells handle input and output. It’s easy to send the output from one program to the other. If you tried to code up something similar in C from scratch, you’d be looking at least a thousand lines of code. The use of pipes, on the other hand, turns Unix and Linux into software LEGO, which lets you build complex programs out of a simple set of building blocks. This is also the reason serious Linux users prefer the command line. It’s almost impossible to pipe input from graphical programs.

Make the environment your own

Not just desktop wallpapers and icon sizes, everything is customizable in Linux, from changing the placement of the menu panels to picking an entirely different desktop environment. You can crack open the code and create your own options. That’s the beauty of working in an open source OS.

Development environment will match with the production environment

When you’re running Linux locally you can mimic the production environment exactly. Same file system permissions, same version of PHP/Ruby, same web server, etc. Means that when you test your site locally, you can be assured that it’s running precisely as it will after you deploy it, and you’re much less likely to run into platform-specific issues. This makes deployment a simpler, more predictable, more bug-free process.

Many of your tools will work better

Many of the popular web development tools and languages were designed for Unix-like systems e.g. Linux. Ruby, Jekyll, Grunt, Git, to name just a few, all play nicer with Unix and Unix-based systems. You won’t need to install extra shell software or worry about system compatibility. Everything will run smooth as silk on Linux.

Most programming languages are supported

Linux supports almost all languages such as C, C++, CSS, Java, JavaScript, HTML, PHP, Perl, Python, Ruby, or Vala, and the list goes on. Sure, you will hit some roadblocks. Visual Basic only supports Windows, but you can use Apple’s Swift. Generally, if a programming language isn’t limited to a specific operating system, then it likely works on Linux. If a language that you’d like to use isn’t already installed by default, you can typically get the packages from your distribution’s repositories. Search your default package manager for the name of the language, and then something you want should appear.

The power of Bash Scripting

If you’re just programming to get something specific accomplished but don’t care about the language, it’s time to learn Linux commands and try your hand at writing Bash scripts. Many of the commands that come with Linux are so efficient and powerful that some Linux users prefer to live in the terminal. With a Bash script, you can put commands together to create more complex combinations.

Rebuilding after a major crash

Linux upgrades, so you don’t require an application to reinstalls. Many of the software can be reinstalled with batch files made up of multiple sudo apt install statements. It’s just far quicker.

Linux terminal

The Linux terminal is superior to use over Window’s command line for developers. You would find many libraries developed natively for Linux. Also, a lot of programmers point out that the package manager on Linux helps them get things done easily.

Native support for SSH

Linux also brings in native support for SSH, which would help you manage your servers quickly. You could include things like apt-get commands which further makes Linux one of the most popular choices of the programmers.

Allow for Dual-Booting

Dual-booting isn’t hard to do with Linux. Installing Linux alongside Windows has been easy for well over a decade, assuming you have compatible hardware. If you can click checkboxes in an installer, you can dual-boot.

 

Conclusion

If you’re happy with your current OS and have no desire to try something new, there’s nothing wrong with that. But, we believe that the best software is that in which you’re the most productive and customize it according to you. If you feel a constant desire to push your skills forward, to learn new things and to break out of your comfort zone for the sake of gaining new experiences then get Linux a try. Thank you!