Linux and its Basic Operations

What is Linux?

Just like Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Mac OS X, Linux is an operating system. An operating system is software that manages all of the hardware resources associated with your desktop or laptop. To put it simply – the operating system manages the communication between your software and your hardware. Without the operating system (often referred to as the “OS”), the software wouldn’t function.
But Linux also is different from other operating systems because Linux is open source software. The code used to create Linux is free and available to the public to view, edit, and—for users with the appropriate skills—to contribute to.


Linux is comprised of a number of pieces:

• The Bootloader: The software that manages the boot process of your computer. For most users, this will simply be a splash screen that pops up and eventually goes away to boot into the operating system.
• The kernel: This is the one piece of the whole that is actually called “Linux”. The kernel is the core of the system and manages the CPU, memory, and peripheral devices. The kernel is the “lowest” level of the OS.
• Daemons: These are background services (printing, sound, scheduling, etc) that either start up during boot, or after you log into the desktop.
• The Shell: You’ve probably heard mention of the Linux command line. This is the shell – a command process that allows you to control the computer via commands typed into a text interface. This is what, at one time, scared people away from Linux the most (assuming they had to learn a seemingly archaic command line structure to make Linux work). This is no longer the case. With modern desktop Linux, there is no need to ever touch the command line.
• Graphical Server: This is the sub-system that displays the graphics on your monitor. It is commonly referred to as the X server or just “X”.
• Desktop Environment: This is the piece of the puzzle that the users actually interact with. There are many desktop environments to choose from (Unity, GNOME, Cinnamon, Enlightenment, KDE, XFCE, etc). Each desktop environment includes built-in applications (such as file managers, configuration tools, web browsers, games, etc).
• Applications: Desktop environments do not offer the full array of apps. Just like Windows and Mac, Linux offers thousands upon thousands of high-quality software titles that can be easily found and installed. Most modern Linux distributions (more on this in a moment) include App Store-like tools that centralize and simplify application installation.

Why Linux?

Here are some reasons why people prefer Linux over Windows:

1. Security - No operating system can claim to be completely risk free the fact remains that Windows is a big target for developers of viruses and malware. Linux by its very nature is just more secure than Windows. 
2. Cost - Linux can be freely distributed, downloaded freely, distributed through magazines, Books etc. There are priced versions for Linux also, but they are normally cheaper than Windows.
3. Compatibility - New version of linux support many kinds of hardware
4. Performance - Linux even with all the effects and shiny features of the desktop environment runs faster than Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.
5. Updates - Within Linux Mint the updates are far more controlled and they never get in the way of actually doing stuff. Even whilst the updates are installing I can access the internet, continue working on documents or play games.

Basic Linux Commands

This list will not make your a Linux System Admin however it will get you on your way with your foot in the ocean. There are a ton of other commands - more sophisticated commands, but we are just going to discuss my top ten commands (just so you know linux commands are case sensitive unlike windows command):

• ls - The list command, functions in the Linux terminal to show all of the major directories filed under a given file system
• cd - The change directory command, will allow the user to change between file directories
• mv - The move command, allows a user to move a file to another folder or directory.
• man - The manual command, is used to show the manual of the inputted command. The man command is the meta command of the Linux CLI
• mkdir - The make directory command allows the user to make a new directory
• rmdir - The remove directory command allows the user to remove an existing command using the Linux CLI
• touch - The touch command a.k.a. the make file command allows users to make files using the Linux CLI. Just as the mkdir command makes directories, the touch command makes files.
• rm - The rm command remove is meant to remove files from your Linux OS. Whereas the rmdir command will remove directories and files held within.
• locate - The locate a.k.a. find command is meant to find a file within the Linux OS.
• clear - The clear command does exactly what it says. When your Linux CLI gets all mucked up with various readouts and information, the clear command clears the screen and wipes the board clean.

For more about linux commands click here, here or here