What is an Operating System?

Every time you switch on your computer, you see a screen where you can perform different
activities like write, browse the internet or watch a video. What is it that makes the computer
hardware work like that? How does the processor on your computer know that you are asking it
to run a mp3 file?
Well, it is the operating system or the kernel which does this work. A kernel is a program at the
heart of any operating system that takes care of fundamental stuff, like letting hardware
communicate with software.
So, to work on your computer, you need an Operating System(OS). In fact, you are using one as
you read this on your computer. Now, you may have used popular OS's like Windows, Apple OS
X but here we will learn what Linux is and what benefits it offers over other OS choices.

What is Linux?
Linux is an operating system or a kernel. It is distributed under an open source license. Its
functionality list is quite like UNIX.
Who created Linux?
Linux is an operating system or a kernel which germinated as an idea in the mind of young and
bright Linus Torvalds when he was a computer science student. He used to work on the UNIX
OS (proprietary software) and thought that it needed improvements.
However, when his suggestions were rejected by the designers of UNIX, he thought of launching
an OS which will be receptive to changes, modifications suggested by its users.
The Lone Kernel & the early days
So Linus devised a Kernel named Linux in 1991. Though he would need programs like File
Manager, Document Editors, Audio -Video programs to run on it. Something as you have a cone
but no ice-cream on top.
As time passed by, he collaborated with other programmers in places like MIT and
applications for Linux started to appear. So around 1991, a working Linux operating system with
some applications was officially launched, and this was the start of one of the most loved and
open-source OS options available today.
The earlier versions of Linux were not so user-friendly as they were in use by computer
programmers and Linus Torvalds never had it in mind to commercialize his product.
This definitely curbed the Linux's popularity as other commercially oriented Operating System
Windows got famous. Nonetheless, the open-source aspect of the Linux operating system made
it more robust.
Linux gets its due attention
The main advantage of Linux was that programmers were able to use the Linux Kernel to design
their own custom operating systems. With time, a new range of user-friendly OS's stormed the
computer world. Now, Linux is one of the most popular and widely used Kernel, and it is the
backbone of popular operating systems like Debian, Knoppix, Ubuntu, and Fedora.
Nevertheless, the list does not end here as there are thousands of OS's based on Linux which
offer a variety of functions to the users.
Linux Kernel is normally used in combination of GNU project by Dr. Richard Stallman. All
mordern distributions of Linux are actually distributions of Linux/GNU
The benefits of using Linux
Linux now enjoys popularity at its prime, and it's famous among programmers as well as regular
computer users around the world. Its main benefits are -
It offers a free operating system. You do not have to shell hundreds of dollars to get the OS like
Windows!

 Being open-source, anyone with programming knowledge can modify it.

 The Linux operating systems now offer millions of programs/applications to choose
from, most of them free!
 Once you have Linux installed you no longer need an antivirus! Linux is a highly secure
system. More so, there is a global development community constantly looking at ways to
enhance its security. With each upgrade, the OS becomes more secure and robust
 Linux is the OS of choice for Server environments due to its stability and reliability
(Mega-companies like Amazon, Facebook, and Google use Linux for their Servers). A
Linux based server could run non-stop without a reboot for years on end.
Is it for me?
Users, who are new to Linux, usually shun it by falsely considering it as a difficult and technical
OS to operate but, to state the truth, in the last few years Linux operating systems have become a
lot more user-friendly than their counterparts like Windows, so trying them is the best way to
know whether Linux suits you or not.
There are thousands of Linux based operating systems; most of them offer state-of-the-art
security and applications, all of it for free!
This is what Linux is all about, and now we will move on to how to install Linux and which
Distribution you should choose.
I am asked to Learn Unix? Then why Linux?
UNIX is called the mother of operating systems which laid out the foundation to Linux. Unix is
designed mainly for mainframes and is in enterprises and universities. While Linux is fast
becoming a household name for computer users, developers, and server environment. You may
have to pay for a Unix kernel while in Linux it is free.
But, the commands used on both the operating systems are usually the same. There is not
much difference between UNIX and Linux. Though they might seem different, at the core, they
are essentially the same. Since Linux is a clone of UNIX. So learning one is same as learning
another.
The main difference between kernel and shell is that the kernel is the core of the operating
system that controls all the tasks of the system while the shell is the interface that allows the
users to communicate with the kernel.

Unix is an operating system. It is the interface between the user and the hardware. It performs a
variety of tasks including file handling, memory management, controlling hardware devices,
process management and many more. There are various versions of Unix: Solaris Unix, HP
Unix, AIX, etc. Linux is a flavor of Unix, and it is free and open source. Unix is popular in
enterprise level because it supports multiple user environment. Kernel and Shell are two
components in Unix architecture. Kernel is the heart of the operating system while Shell is a
utility to process user’s requests.

What is Kernel
Kernel is the heart of the operating system. The term kernel often refers to the operating system.
The critical code of kernel is stored in a special memory area to protect it from other programs. It
is a vital component as it is the basis for the proper functioning of the entire system. Kernel
performs a variety of tasks including process management, managing hardware devices and
handling interrupts.
What is Shell

Shell is the interface between user and kernel. It is a command line interpreter and is the
interface between the user and the kernel. The user can enter commands to the shell. Then it
interprets the commands to perform the required task. Furthermore, it executes programs and
shell scripts. A shell script is a set of commands. The user should follow the standard syntax to
write commands to the shell.

Difference Between Kernel and Shell

Definition

The kernel is a computer program which acts as the core of the computer’s operating system and
has the control over everything in the system. A shell is a computer program which works as the
interface to access the services provided by the operating system.

Usage

Kernel is the core of the system that controls all the tasks of the system. Shell is the interface
between the kernel and user.

Types

Kernel does not have different types. Shell has different types such as Bourne shell, C shell,
Korn Shell, Bourne Again Shell, etc.

Conclusion

The difference between kernel and shell is that the kernel is the core of the operating system that
controls all the tasks of the system while the shell is the interface that allows the users to
communicate with the kernel. In brief, the shell is the interface that helps the users to access the
services provided by the operating system

What are the similarities and differences between UNIX and Linux?

The primary difference is that Linux and Unix are two different Operating Systems though they
both have some common commands.

Let’s talk about Linux OS first.

 The source code of Linux is freely available to it’s users. Check it out here.
 Linux primarily uses Graphical User Interface with an optional Command Line Interface.
 Linux OS is portable and can be executed in different hard drives.
 Linux is very flexible and can be installed on most of the home based PCs.
 Linux is used on home based PCs, Mobile Phones, Desktops, etc.
 Different version of Linux are Ubuntu, Linux Mint, RedHat, Solaris, etc.
 Linux installation is economical and doesn’t require much specific and high end hardware.
 The file systems supported by Linux are as follows: xfs, ramfs, nfs, vfat, cramfsm,
ext3, ext4, ext2, ext1, ufs, autofs, devpts, ntfs.
 Linux is development by an active Linux Community worldwide.

Now comes the UNIX OS.

 The source code of Unix is not available for the general public.
 Unix primarily uses Command Line Interface.
 Unix is not portable.
 Unix has a rigid environment of the hardware. Hence, cannot be installed on every other
machine.
 Unix is mainly used in Server Systems, Mainframes and High End Computers.
 Different Versions of Unix are AIS, HP-UX, BSD, Iris, etc.
 Unix installation is comparatively costlier as it requires more specific hardware circuitry.
 The file systems supported by Unix are as follows: zfs, js, hfx, gps, xfs, vxfs.
 Unix is developed by AT&T Developers.