What is Ubuntu Linux?
Linux
Linux is one of the most popular and widely used operating systems in the world. Linux is used to power almost everything - from phones and tablets to home appliances, servers on the internet, and even supercomputers.
Linux was developed in the 1990s and has been around since then. It was a free and open-source alternative to the UNIX operating system that dominated the industry before Linux. However, since UNIX was not open-source or free, it fell out of popularity once Linux was available to the world.
Linux distributions
Linux comes in many “flavors”. These different flavors of Linux are referred to as distributions (distros for short).
Each of the distributions comes with the Linux Kernel accompanied by a package management system.
Package managers maintain a database of the packages installed on the system. They keep a record of the version number, hashes, and dependencies related to the installed software to prevent mismatches and missing dependencies.
As of now, Linux has hundreds of distros, each catering to a different user base. Some of the most popular distros are:
- Ubuntu
- Red Hat
- Debian
- Arch Linux
- SUSE Linux
- Fedora
- Kali Linux
Here, we are going to explore Ubuntu, the most widely used Linux distro out there.
Ubuntu
Ubuntu is a Debian-based distribution, often considered the best distribution if you are new to the Linux system. Ubuntu has widespread use in personal and desktop systems but is also used in servers across the internet.
The feature that stands out in Ubuntu is its use of GNOME (GNU Network Object Model Environment), a graphical user interface and set of applications that are similar to the Windows operating system.
Ubuntu is maintained by Canonical, a community of developers that roll out new versions every six months and then roll out long-term support every two years.
By default, Ubuntu contains a whole host of applications including LibreOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, and Transmission, along with some simple games.
Additional applications can be installed using the APT package management system or “Ubuntu Software,” which is the default app store that comes with Ubuntu.
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