When most people hear about operating systems, they think about Windows and Mac OS. But there is an open-source software called Linux. Linux was created by Linus Torvald on September 17, 1991. The goal of Linux was to create an open-source software that would rival other OSs like Microsoft and Mac. 

Linux has a kernel, which means it can run many operating systems affiliated with it. The most popular Linux distros are Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Zorin OS, Fedora, Linux Mx, etc. There are a whopping 600 Linux-affiliated distros.

Many Linux distros are free and open-source software, meaning all the features are completely free, and you don’t have to pay a price for an object or a feature. This would save people money, but there is a cost to it most of the time. Some features may not be available compared to the other features.  The developers would also want money by asking people for donations rather than subscriptions or one-time pay.

Linux is also different because of its desktop environments. There are many desktop environments out there, including popular ones like Gnome, which is a tablet-like desktop. Then there is KDE Plasma, which is for people wanting a Windows 11-like vibe. Then there is Lxde, which is for users who want to perverse their old laptops.  

Linux has grown in popularity in recent years. In 2024, Linux hit the 4 percent desktop share market. Installing Linux is also simple. Download the ISO file. Then, use a web program that boots your USB, like BleneaEtcher. Once it finishes making your bootable USB, plug it into a computer, go to your boot menu, and boot the USB. It should take you to the Linux distro you want. Follow the installation instructions, and boom, you have your own Linux distro.