You don't know what it is, but you use it everyday!
There is something out there, so powerful, so useful, that manufacturers have taken it’s source code and modified the Kernel, making some of the coolest tech we have today possible. That thing is Linux.
Linux is an operating system (os)
When you think of an operating system, what most likely comes to your mind is Microsoft Windows. This is okay, because Windows has been around for decades and likely powers your computers at work and at home. But in the last decade, Linux has gained grown in both support and popularity. So much so, that Google, that big corporate conglomerate, took notice.
the mobile age is born
In 2007, Apple did something that no one saw coming. They released a touch screen cellular phone complete with a repository for applications, along with a camera, and an on-screen keyboard. It was revolutionary. Now you can check your email, browse the web, take pictures of your cat, all from a cellular phone.
Thankfully, there was another company that had vision, that had the means, and money, to go against Apple. The same Apple that was always 2nd to Microsoft in sales and support. Who was this company? Nope, not Microsoft. They were already the leading os and had been for years. They didn’t fear apple. But if not Microsoft, who?
Google.
Google? The search engine people use to find the number for their favorite pizza joint? That Google? YES. How could this have come about? Google has never made phones before. They have never made an OS before. They wern’t really software people, hardware people, only a website. What enabled them to have a way to compete with a tech giant like Apple, when they themselves were still relatively new to the party?
Linux.
the rise of android
Google took the open-source code of the Linux kernel, and built a touchscreen responsive OS around it. Because of the open-source licensing of the code, google couldn’t make something proprietary. And that was ok. Dev’s from Google, coupled with the Linux community, all joined together to create Android. Today, you can freely download, manipulate, modify, add, subtract, whatever you want to do, to Android. The project is called AOSP (Android Open Source Project). This is what has allowed cell manufacturers to modify the Android OS on their devices, allowing for custom launchers, apps that are pre-loaded and unable to install, and so on.
But if this wonderful OS is free, how is Google making money?
Well, this is the genius part. Google couldn’t make android propietary because of the open source licensing of the code in which it is built on. So, they they create a repository for the software. A central location that users can go to and search for software for their device. This also meant that developers had a central location to place their software for users to locate, and download. Google charges a small percent to the devs to house their apps on Google Play. This generated revenue that allowed Google to invest in other software such as MAPS and Google DOCS. But didn’t you say I use it everyday? What if i’m an Apple user? How can that statement be true? Lets discuss that in more detail.
Other implementations of Linux
Chrome OS
After the phenomenal launch of Android, Google expanded it’s sights to enter the laptop market with another open-source operating system called Chrome OS. This too, has a modified Linux kernel and file system. Up until a year ago, Chromebooks were geared to educational markets. But them the best thing happened. Chrome OS adopted Android. Now you can download and run Android apps on a Chromebook! And as of this moment, Google is designing native Linux app support with a Bash shell on their Chromebooks!
What else uses Linux?
- Amazon Fire TV
- Alexa (echo dot, show)
- Chromecast
- Steam
- Cable TV boxes
- Many BLU-RAY Players
- Your home router
- Your car sterio system
- Much of the Web you browse is hosted on Linux Web Servers
- and more…
