Operating Systems

Linux

Linux is a free and open-source Unix-like operating system kernel that serves as the core component of many operating systems, commonly referred to as Linux distributions. It provides essential services such as process management, memory handling, device control, and networking, enabling software to run on a wide range of hardware from servers to embedded devices. Developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991, it is widely used in enterprise servers, cloud computing, supercomputers, and as the basis for Android on mobile devices.

Also known as: GNU/Linux, Linux OS, Linux kernel, Linix, Lunix

🧊Why learn Linux?

Developers should learn Linux because it is the dominant platform for server-side development, cloud infrastructure, and DevOps, offering stability, security, and customization. It is essential for deploying web applications, managing containers with Docker, and automating tasks through shell scripting, making it crucial for backend engineers, system administrators, and anyone working in cloud-native environments. Knowledge of Linux also enhances understanding of operating system concepts and command-line proficiency.

See how it ranks →

Compare Linux

Linux vs Windows Server→Linux vs Macos→Linux vs Freebsd→

Learning Resources

The Linux Documentation Project

Linux Journey - Free Interactive Tutorial

Introduction to Linux on edX

Linux Tutorial for Beginners on YouTube by freeCodeCamp

How Linux Works, 3rd Edition by Brian Ward

Related Tools

Bash Scripting Docker Kubernetes Apache Nginx

Alternatives to Linux

Windows Server Macos Freebsd

Other Operating Systems

.NET is a free, cross-platform, open-source developer platform for building many types of applications, including web, mobile, desktop, games, IoT, and cloud services. It provides a unified runtime and framework with extensive libraries and tools, supporting multiple programming languages like C#, F#, and Visual Basic. The platform includes the .NET runtime (Common Language Runtime or CLR), the .NET SDK, and frameworks such as ASP.NET Core for web development and Entity Framework for data access.

.NET is a free, cross-platform, open-source developer platform for building many types of applications, including web, mobile, desktop, games, IoT, and cloud services. It provides a unified runtime and framework with libraries for common tasks, supporting multiple programming languages like C#, F#, and Visual Basic. The platform includes tools for development, debugging, and deployment across various operating systems.

.NET is a free, cross-platform, open-source developer platform for building many types of applications, including web, mobile, desktop, games, IoT, and cloud services. It provides a unified runtime and framework with libraries for common tasks, supporting multiple programming languages like C#, F#, and Visual Basic. The platform includes tools for development, debugging, and deployment, enabling developers to create high-performance, scalable applications.

.NET 5 is a cross-platform, open-source development platform for building modern applications, including web, mobile, desktop, cloud, and IoT. It unified the previously separate .NET Framework, .NET Core, and Xamarin into a single platform, offering improved performance, simplified deployment, and a consistent API surface. It serves as a foundation for building applications with languages like C#, F#, and Visual Basic.

.NET Core is a free, open-source, cross-platform framework for building modern applications, including web, cloud, mobile, desktop, IoT, and AI solutions. It is a modular, high-performance runtime and library set that supports multiple programming languages like C#, F#, and Visual Basic, and is designed to run on Windows, Linux, and macOS. It succeeded the older .NET Framework and is now part of the unified .NET platform.

.NET Framework is a proprietary software framework developed by Microsoft that provides a runtime environment and a comprehensive class library for building and running applications on Windows. It supports multiple programming languages, primarily C#, VB.NET, and F#, and includes features like memory management, security, and exception handling. It is widely used for developing desktop applications, web services, and enterprise software.