Today, we’ll discuss the most popular Linux distribution in the world, called Ubuntu. If you’ve heard the names “Linux” & “Ubuntu” before but have no idea what they mean, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I’ll explain all the necessary details of Ubuntu in an easy-to-understand language.
Ubuntu can be considered as the most popular Linux distribution that you can find out there. This operating system is based on Debian. Ubuntu has the potential to offer a solid desktop experience to users. In fact, Ubuntu uses the GNOME 2 desktop environment to enhance its user-friendliness. Another impressive feature about Ubuntu is that they offer a new release once every 6 months. Currently, the Ubuntu developers are working on expanding their distribution by introducing an operating system to be run on smartphones and tablets.
But before we get down to the details of Ubuntu, let’s first understand these two terms “operating system” & “open source.”
Ubuntu: A Brief History
As mentioned above, Ubuntu is the most popular iteration of Linux around the globe, but this was not always the case. In fact, it’s actually a relatively new distribution when compared to others. With that said, the ascent of this Linux distribution aligns pretty well with the upswing in Linux popularity as a whole.
Developed by Canonical, it is built on Debian’s architecture and infrastructure. The initial goal of Ubuntu was to take the oldest and most well-respected distribution Debian, which was not-so-easy to install at the time (2004), and make an easy-to-use Linux distribution.
The earliest releases of this Linux distribution focused on developing user-friendly features, such as a graphical installer that walked users through the setup procedure. Unlike other distributions, Ubuntu configured your computer for you. Another problem Linux users complained about was the lack of easy access to third-party software, which was solved to a large extent by Ubuntu.
Clearly, the developers succeeded in making Linux accessible because Ubuntu quickly won the hearts of longtime Linux users and newcomers alike.
What exactly is Ubuntu?
You will be able to call Ubuntu an operating system. This operating system is developed by a worldwide community that is made out of skilled programmers. Along with that, you will also be able to see how the employees who work for the commercial sponsor of Ubuntu are working for the developments. This is an open-source and free-to-use operating system. In other words, you don’t need to have any license to use Ubuntu and get the job done. You will be able to download and use this for free.
Since Ubuntu is a complexly Linux-based operating system, you can expect to receive a high level of security and stability out of it. But, on the other hand, people are provided the opportunity to keep on using Ubuntu while keeping peace of mind. Back in the day, Ubuntu was a workhorse serve. In fact, some of the top supercomputers in the world were powered up with Ubuntu. However, things have changed in the recent past. That’s because Ubuntu could become popular among computer users in the form of an operating system.
What are the features of Ubuntu?
If you are about to download Ubuntu, you should be aware of the features that come along with it. One of the best features that you can find in Ubuntu is that it is easy to use. If you are used to Windows, macOS, or any other mainstream operating system, you will not encounter any major struggles when using Ubuntu. That’s because you will be provided with access to an easy-to-use operating system, which you can use according to your needs.
When you look at the desktop version of Ubuntu, you will figure out how it is offering all the ordinary software applications that you will use on your Windows computer daily. In other words, you have the chance to use internet browsers such as Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. But, on the other hand, you will be able to use VLC Media Player to play your media files.
You can also get an excellent alternative to the MS Office suite as you are using Ubuntu. That’s because it will provide you with access to LibreOffice. You can also find an in-built email software offered along with this operating system. This email software is known as Thunderbird. It will provide you with access to different email exchanges. So whether your emails are stored in Hotmail, Gmail, or anywhere else, you can easily gain access to them.
Along with the help of Ubuntu, you can gain access to a large number of free applications. These free applications will assist you with getting the work done without encountering any major struggles. For example, if you want to view and edit photos, Ubuntu provides user-friendly software that you can use. Likewise, you can also find applications that will help you view videos and even share videos.
One of the most prominent features that you can get along with Ubuntu is the smart searching facility. This facility will help you search for something you want without going through any major challenges. This will help you save your time in day-to-day life as you continue using Ubuntu and getting your work done. You will also be able to use this as a free operating system. Hence, there is no need to spend your money on it at all.
What Can You Do with Ubuntu?
As evident from the discussion above, Ubuntu allows you to use it however way you like. To download Ubuntu, all you need to do is get the official version of the OS from its website and burn it into a CD/USB drive to install it. You can install and run this powerful and versatile Linux iteration on desktops and laptops or any other device you own. Once you’ve done that, you can now use that desktop or laptop to act as a server for hosting your website. You can take back your network data using Ubuntu if you want; you can run Ubuntu on your Android phone too. You can even use it as a secondary OS.
These are not the only ways you can utilize Ubuntu to your benefit; as mentioned earlier, you can install it on any device you want and any way you like. Let’s say you want to install it on your desktop; even there, you’ll find several options to choose from since it comes in several flavors, with each built for a specific purpose. Once installed from there, it’s like any other desktop OS. You can find any software you may need & most of it comes free of charge. Now that you know what exactly Ubuntu is, we will go into some of the advantages of this operating system.
Benefits of Ubuntu
The benefits of Ubuntu, Mac OS, and other operating systems are plenty. We will go into the benefits of Ubuntu below.
- It is free: The very first advantage of this operating system is that it is entirely free. Unlike Windows and other compiled OSs, you need not pay any fees to use it.
- It can be easily customized: Even though some customization features are provided now by Windows, Ubuntu is much more customizable than any other popular operating system. This ensures that you can use it exactly according to your needs.
- It is more secure: Most of the OSs have their own share of problems. When compared to some of the other OSs, Ubuntu is much more secure. You are not required to pay any fee to protect your machine when running on Ubuntu. This is one of the top reasons why you should go for this operating system.
- Ubuntu can run from a pen drive: You need not install it to run it. Instead, you can load it into a flash drive and run it from there. This also means that you will be able to carry your operating system with you wherever you go.
- Good choice for development: If you programmer, Ubuntu is one of your best choices. It provides you with quite a few by default options such as text editors, office suites, and so forth, ensuring that you can code right away. In addition, this means that you are not required to install separate compilers or software on your operating system to start coding.
- Frequent updates: The support provided by this operating system is much better than the others. Any bug or vulnerabilities are patched pretty fast. Moreover, with every update, you will have a host of new features as well. This will help you make your OS more efficient consistently.
- Virtual desktops: Ubuntu offers you multiple desktops, just like the screen on your Smartphone. You can switch between the different screens to work on different software. This ensures that you can increase your productivity significantly.
These are just some of the advantages of this operating system over the others. In all, it is not only easier to use but completely customizable, which is what makes it much better as compared to the other OSs.
Why should you switch to Ubuntu?
The reasons to switch over to this operating system are plenty. Some of them include:
- Free OS
- Secured OS
- Compatible with low-end hardware as well
- Easy to use
- All the drivers included
- Completely customizable
These reasons make it essential for you to look at Ubuntu as an OS for your machine rather than just relying on the other compiled operating systems.
You can find an extremely active development community behind Ubuntu. For example, almost 8 different patches are being pushed to the Ubuntu kernel per hour. People are free to use Ubuntu according to their preferences and come up with new products. Hence, they tend to use it for their development needs without keeping any doubts or second thoughts in mind.
During the early days, Ubuntu-related developments took place within the MINIX operating system. It was also possible to adopt a new file system, which is quite similar to Ubuntu. However, it didn’t last for a long period of time.
The very first version of Ubuntu was released back in the year 1994. However, the announcement of Linus was made about three years before. On the very first version of Ubuntu, there were around 175,000 lines of code. The second version of Ubuntu was released on the year 1996.
One of the best things about Ubuntu is that it has the potential to run on anything. They include submarines, servers, and even space rockets. So this is one of the most versatile kernels that you can find out there in the world.
So, if up until now, you have not used the Ubuntu OS, now is the time to check it out. With its mind-boggling number of features and complete customization options, you will be able to use your machine exactly as per your requirements, increasing your efficiency and productivity. It is time to explore Ubuntu in greater detail now that you are aware of the basics.