# Learning About Linux --- ## About me <figure class="portrait"> <img src="/learning-about-linux/levi-zitting.jpg" alt="Levi Zitting" width="1000" height="1000" /> </figure> - Levi Zitting - President of Springfield Devs - Senior software engineer for 10 years - First used desktop Linux in 2017 --- ## Show of hands - Windows, Mac, or Linux? - What do you use your computer for?

## Linux is everywhere - Servers - Running much of the web and cloud infrastructure - Android phones and tablets - Everyday hardware - Routers, TVs, and some car infotainment systems --- ## What is a kernel? - The core of an operating system - Shares processor time and memory between running apps - Uses drivers to communicate with hardware - Gives apps a common way to use devices - A text editor doesn't need special code for every keyboard model --- ## Open source - The source code is available for people to read - People can modify it and share their changes - Improvements can benefit everyone who uses it --- ## Linux's origins <figure class="portrait"> <img src="/learning-about-linux/linus-torvalds.jpg" alt="Linus Torvalds speaking at LinuxCon in 2011" width="602" height="900" /> </figure> - Started by Linus Torvalds in 1991 - Began as a project for his own PC - He shared it online, and other developers joined in - Their work grew into the Linux used today --- ## The Linux Kernel Today - Thousands of contributors - 2,057 developers on a single release in 2025 - Microsoft and Google employ Linux developers - Microsoft: support for its Azure cloud servers - Google: Android, security, and bug-finding tools - Intel, AMD, and Red Hat also contribute engineers - Hardware support, fixes, and long-term maintenance

# Desktop Linux --- ## Linux on the desktop - An alternative to Windows or macOS - A desktop interface, everyday apps, and the Linux kernel underneath - Available as complete operating systems called distributions --- ## Parts of a Linux distribution - Kernel - Desktop environment - Apps - Package manager - Maintainers put these pieces together, test them, and deliver updates - Many distributions build on an existing one - Others adapt it with different software, defaults, or goals --- ## Distribution branches <figure class="distribution-tree"> <img src="/learning-about-linux/distribution-branches.png" alt="Two stacked Linux distribution timeline excerpts: Debian branching into Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and many other distributions; Red Hat branching into Fedora, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and their derivatives" width="3520" height="1840" /> </figure> --- ## Desktop environments - Your menus, windows, panels, and settings - Different desktops organize the same everyday tasks differently - Many distributions offer a choice of desktops <button type="button" data-desktop-gallery aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Explore desktop screenshots. Use left and right arrows to browse, Escape to close.">Explore desktops</button> --- ## Long-term support - **Debian** started in 1993. Major releases about every 2 years. - Debian 13 has support through 2028, then LTS through June 2030 - **Ubuntu** started in 2004. New LTS versions every 2 years. - 26.04 LTS gets standard security updates through May 2031 - **Linux Mint** started in 2006. Its release schedule is changing. - Mint 22.3 gets updates through April 2029 - **Fedora** started in 2003. New versions about every 6 months. - Each gets about 13 months of support. No LTS edition. <aside class="notes"> Years beside distribution names refer to their first releases. Ubuntu also publishes interim releases every six months; the five-year standard security window for LTS applies to packages in Main, not every third-party application. Debian 13 has regular support through August 9, 2028, then LTS through June 30, 2030; LTS coverage is more limited. Mint previously released about every six months, with a new major series about every two years; its longer cycle is still being defined. Fedora support ends about one month after the release two versions later. Sources: https://ubuntu.com/about/release-cycle ; https://www.debian.org/releases/trixie/ ; https://linuxmint.com/download_all.php ; https://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=5019 ; https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/quick-docs/upgrading-fedora-offline/ </aside> --- ## Computers built for Linux <figure class="hardware-photo"> <img src="/learning-about-linux/system76-darter-pro.png" alt="System76 Darter Pro laptop running Pop!_OS" width="1115" height="780" /> <figcaption>System76 Darter Pro</figcaption> </figure> - **Established hardware brands** - Lenovo and Dell ship Linux on selected computers - Framework officially supports Linux - **Linux-focused manufacturers** - System76, TUXEDO, and Slimbook

# Linux vs. Windows --- ## A lighter desktop - Linux Mint needs less memory and storage to get started - Windows 11 minimum - 4 GB RAM, 64 GB storage - Linux Mint 22.3 minimum - 2 GB RAM, 20 GB storage - A way to extend the life of older PCs --- ## Hardware drivers - Drivers let the operating system talk to your devices - Many Linux drivers are built in - Hardware makers contribute them to the kernel - Many printers, scanners, and webcams work without manual driver installs - Driver updates arrive with system updates --- ## Customization - Choose your desktop and default apps - Change panels, menus, themes, and keyboard shortcuts - Decide when to install updates and restart - Use changes shared by other people, without writing code --- ## Privacy and telemetry - Windows 11 sends required diagnostic data to Microsoft - Linux Mint does not collect usage telemetry - Ubuntu lets you decline system reporting - No online account required to use the desktop

# Software on Linux --- ## Installing apps - **From a software store** - Mint Software Manager, Ubuntu App Center, or Flathub - Installs and updates are handled for you - **From the developer's website** - Linux doesn't run Windows .exe or .msi installers - Linux packages commonly use `.deb` or `.rpm`, depending on the distribution - Some apps offer an AppImage that runs without a normal installation --- ## What's the Same? - Popular browsers like Firefox and Chrome have Linux versions - Many familiar apps, including Spotify, Discord, and Zoom, are available too - Most browser-based apps work on Linux through those same browsers - Familiar apps generally look and work much like their Windows versions --- ## Microsoft Office and Outlook - Microsoft doesn't offer Linux desktop versions - LibreOffice and ONLYOFFICE are alternatives to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint - Thunderbird is an alternative to Outlook for email - Microsoft's web apps remain an option --- ## Creative apps - Adobe's main desktop apps aren't available natively - **Photo editing**: GIMP - **Painting**: Krita - **Illustration**: Inkscape - **Video editing**: Kdenlive --- ## Specialized tools - Some equipment depends on Windows-only companion software - Work-specific software may have no suitable Linux replacement - Keeping Windows may be necessary for those tasks <aside class="notes"> Tell the genealogy camera story here. The point is the page-correction software needed for the work, not whether Linux can take a picture. If those tools require Windows and no Linux alternative covers the workflow, that's a reason to keep Windows. </aside>

## Protected content - Many streaming services require DRM (Digital Rights Management) to play their content - Linux can play protected content through browsers such as Chrome and Firefox - Services decide which platforms and playback features they support - Linux may get lower video quality or less official support than Windows and macOS

## Graphics drivers - Intel and AMD - Open drivers usually come with your distribution - NVIDIA can take more setup and troubleshooting - Driver installation and updates need more attention - Laptop GPU switching and some display features lag behind Windows --- ## Gaming - Steam has native Linux games - Proton uses Wine to run many Windows games - Powers Windows-game compatibility on Steam Deck - Steam Deck ratings and ProtonDB show game compatibility - Anti-cheat prevents some multiplayer games from working on Linux - Some anti-cheat systems support Linux, but developers must enable it

# Trying Linux yourself --- ## Trying Linux - **Live USB** - Start Linux from a USB drive without installing it - Try it on your own hardware - **Virtual machine** - Does require special software and BIOS settings enabled --- ## Creating a Linux USB - Download and verify an ISO image - From the distribution's website - Open Etcher, Rufus or another image writer - Select the ISO and USB - Double-check the drive before writing - **Writing the image erases the selected USB drive** --- ## Booting from USB - Restart and open the one-time boot menu - Often F12 or Esc - Select the USB - Usually no permanent boot-order change needed - BIOS or UEFI settings also control boot order - Try the live desktop before opening the installer --- ## Before installing - Inventory your software and check compatibility - Back up your files first - Follow the installation guide - The installer walks you through most steps - Erasing the drive replaces its contents with Linux --- ## Getting help - Start with your distribution's documentation - Search using your distribution name and version - Ask questions in its community forums - AI tools like ChatGPT can help quite a bit here - For many people, having somewhere to ask questions makes Linux more approachable

# Demo --- ## Questions - What would you need to run on Linux? --- ## Try the demo computers - Ubuntu, Kubuntu, and Mint - Volunteers can help - Try something you do on your own computer