Windows and macOS are two of the most popular operating systems today. However, Linux has been gaining more popularity every year not only among developers, but also among average consumers.
Linux is a great option if you are interested in building your own or trying out a free operating system. It comes in various distributions, such as fedora, Debian Y CentOS.
Also abbreviated as ‘distros‘, are operating systems that are based on the Linux kernel and Ubuntu is one of the most popular among them. It can be installed on personal computers and servers.
Unlike proprietary software, Ubuntu is open source. That means users can modify your code, create and install as many copies as they like, and distribute the customization anywhere. There is no need to pay for a license to use Ubuntu.
What is Ubuntu?
Ubuntu is a popular free and open source Linux-based operating system that you can use on a PC or .
Ubuntu was introduced in 2004 by the British company Canonical. It was based on Debian – a very popular distro at the time – which was difficult to install. Therefore, Ubuntu was proposed as a more user-friendly alternative.
As responsible for Ubuntu, Canonical is in charge of releasing a new one every six months. Canonical also provides hosting servers for the Ubuntu Community, which allows people from around the world to contribute to software bug testing, answer questions, and provide technical support for free.
This article will look at what Ubuntu is and various reasons why it is so popular. We will also explore the differences between Ubuntu and Linux.
Ubuntu vs. Linux: What’s the difference?
Linux is a family of operating systems based on the Linux kernel, the core of the operating system. It allows communication between hardware and software components.
Linux is based on Unix and is built around the Linux kernel. It was released in 1991 and is available for web servers, game consoles, embedded systems, desktops, and personal computers. It comes in many different versions, called distributions.
Ubuntu is a Linux distribution based on Debian. Serves for cloud computing, servers, desktops, and devices IoT (Internet of things). The main difference between Linux and Ubuntu is that the former is a family of operating systems based on Unix, while Ubuntu is a distribution of Linux.
Why is Ubuntu so popular?
According to , it is the most widely used Linux workstation platform in the world. We are going to explain six reasons why Ubuntu is so popular for both private computers and servers.
Easy to use
Ubuntu uses Linux desktop environments for its interface. Since Ubuntu 17.10, GNOME is the default. GNOME does not fill the screen with descriptions, instead it uses icons to make navigation easier.
By default, GNOME displays the dashboard. Activities in the task bar on the left.
The controls are located in the upper right corner of the screen.
A full summary of apps can be viewed by clicking the grid button in the bottom left corner of the screen.
Navigating the system is easy because all settings and application items are accessible from the main screen.
strong security
Ubuntu is an open source system, which undergoes constant controls and reviews by members of its community. As a result, any security vulnerability can be quickly identified and eliminated. Linux distributions generally have fewer security flaws compared to other operating systems.
In addition, Ubuntu uses AppArmor, a kernel enhancement that restricts the behavior of programs and limits their resources. It works when profiles are inserted into the kernel.
These consist of text files containing access rules for each application. AppArmor can mitigate the scope of security breaches, since programs don’t have unlimited permissions.
Additionally, there are a number of security practices that Ubuntu supports, such as automatically installing security updates, using sudo instead of the Linux root user, implementing complex passwords, and enabling .
More software options
Most popular macOS and Windows applications, such as slack, Spotify Y firefoxare also available for Linux users and can be installed via the Ubuntu Software Center. Even if you can’t find the app you want, chances are there’s a quality alternative available. For example, Libre Office works just as well as Microsoft Office.
Another option that you can use aside from the Ubuntu Software Center is Snapcraft. It is an application created by Canonical that contains open-source and proprietary software packages available for Linux-based operating systems. One of the main advantages of Snapcraft is that it uses the snapd daemon that automatically checks and updates applications.
Enhanced Privacy
Like any other operating system, Ubuntu has its . There are four fundamental principles that Ubuntu follows in the treatment of personal information:
- Ubuntu does not ask for personal data unless it really needs that information for legal purposes.
- Ubuntu does not share its users’ personal information with anyone except to provide its customers with products and services, comply with the law, and protect your rights.
- Ubuntu does not store personal information except as necessary to operate the services, provide products, comply with the law, or protect your rights.
Ubuntu also collects certain hardware information, as well as location and usage data. However, you can always prevent it from doing so. For example, location services can be disabled through the configuration of privacyas it’s shown in the following.
light operation
Ubuntu is not very resource intensive: it runs smoothly on low-end devices. The default interface can work with less than 1GB RAM. Also, many Ubuntu desktop environments are even more lightweight. For example, Lubuntu can run on systems with as little as 512MB of RAM.
In comparison, Windows and macOS require significantly more resources: both macOS Big Sur and Windows 11 require a minimum of 4GB RAM to work. This is because these operating systems have resource-intensive user interfaces (UIs) and advanced features built-in.
Gratuitous
Ubuntu is a free open source operating system that you can download from its official website. In addition, you can modify its source code as you wish. Currently, there are numerous projects based on Ubuntu.
By comparison, macOS and Windows are closed source operating systems. To use Windows, you have to buy a computer that comes with it or purchase a license that goes from $139. Meanwhile, macOS cannot be purchased, but instead comes pre-installed on Mac devices.
conclusion
Although there are several Linux distributions available online, the most popular one is Ubuntu. It is a free and open source operating system.
Here are six reasons why Ubuntu is so popular:
- Easy to use: Ubuntu has a simple and intuitive interface.
- strong security: Ubuntu employs AppArmor and advanced security measures to prevent breaches.
- More software options: Ubuntu has a huge number of applications that you can install, many of which are available exclusively for the operating system.
- greater privacy: Ubuntu ensures a strict data privacy policy and allows users to customize privacy settings.
- lightweight performance: Ubuntu’s default interface only uses less than 1 GB of RAM. Therefore, the operating system works on low-end devices.
- Gratuity: Ubuntu is a free and open source Linux distribution.
We hope this article has helped you learn more about Ubuntu. If you have any ideas or questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below.
Betania is a copywriter with a passion for digital marketing and website creation. She writes tutorials and performs SEO analysis on ‘s Content team. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, singing or watching a good classic movie.
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