Linux Wizard to the Rescue

What is Linux?

Linux is a free, stable, fast and easy to use operating system.
Even if you aren't aware of it, you have probably used Linux (indirectly). In fact, you using Linux right now! This site is hosted on a running on a "lLinux-based" server. According to a Netcraft survey, the majority of www servers are running on Linux. While Linux is a very powerful server operating system, it is not exclusively a server operating system. Linux is a very good Workstation/Home use operating system, as well. Apple has incorporated Linux into the new Macintosh OS X operating system

But... isn't it this weird textmode operating system only experts can use?

No. There are several very user-friendly interfaces for Linux - the most important ones being KDE and GNOME.
It is true that Linux also includes a text mode interface that can be quite scaring to beginners - but there's no need whatsoever to use it unless you want to. Keeping this interface around makes sense because once you're familiar with it, many things can be done much faster than with any graphical interface.
            find . -name "*.c" |xargs perl -pi -e "s/Windows/Linux/g"
may look scary - but how would you tell a graphical interface to replace Windows with Linux in all C source files in the current directory and all its subdirectories?

How do I get Linux?

See the "Distribution Links" page - you can download or buy a Linux distribution, get computers with Linux preinstalled and make use of Linux by getting server hosting on Linux machines.

But what about my applications?

Virtually all important applications are available for Linux. Freshmeat.net is a kind of listing of Linux software - with more than 10,000 entries, it's still not complete.
Virtually everything Linux was lacking a couple of years ago is available now - for example, there are several office suites, such as KOffice, Star Office, ApplixWare and GNOME Office, graphics programs, such as GIMP, CorelDRAW for Linux or Canvas for Linux and games, including Alpha Centauri, Civilization III, Sim City 3000 and Soldier of Fortune.
Besides, there are several ways to run Windows and DOS applications in Linux: Wine is a Windows (3.x, 95, 98, NT and 2000) emulator. It's free, but not yet complete - it can currently run about 50% of all Windows applications.
VMWare allows you to run another operating system inside of Linux (requires a copy of the other operating system though).
DOSEmu permits you to run DOS applications in Linux.
Lastly, all Linux distributions come with a boot manager that permits you to choose between several operating systems at bootup time. Installing Linux does not necessarily mean removing Windows. Trying Linux won't do any harm.

What's this Open Source stuff about?

The Linux kernel and many Linux applications are released under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) and other Open Source licenses.
Basically, this means you get Linux for free and including the source code, meaning the "text" programmers can read and modify.

I don't know anything about programming - does Open Source affect me?

Yes. Not directly, though.
First of all, due to the fact that Linux is Open Source, many more people take a look at the source code and fix problems or add new features. Linux wouldn't be where it is if it weren't Open Source.
Also, if you find a problem in Linux and your Distributor doesn't want to fix it, you can fix it yourself, or find someone else who can.
If you have a problem with Windows and Microsoft doesn't fix it, you're on your own. With Linux, you can just go and find someone who fixes it.
The same goes for support - someone who doesn't have access to the source code can't provide full support. With Linux, if you aren't content with the support your vendor offers, just ask someone else!

I'm a professional software developer. Won't Open Source kill my job?

No. Some companies, including Red Hat, VA Linux Systems, SuSE and MandrakeSoft have found ways to make money developing Open Source software - by selling support, training and other services.
Also, the operating system being Open Source does not mean everything you write for Linux will have to be Open Source, as well - some companies, such as LokiGames and ApplixWare are making their money making and selling non-free software for Linux.
Developing a new application or game under an Open Source license has a lot of advantages - including but not limited to faster development, reduced development cost and an increased acceptance in the Linux community - but we do realize that, for example, selling support for games may not be a viable business model.

Sponsoring the TeachTime Free & Easy Encyclopedia; Card Players; Orioles; Linux; AC Units; Internet Hotel Solutions.