Linux Intro
What is Linux?
Linux is an open source operating system and is the most widely used operating system for websites due to it’s open source nature. It is also considered to be a very secure system based on the way it handles files and directories with it’s permission handling.
Linux was first released on September 17th, 1991 by Linus Torvalds and is packaged in what’s called a Linux Distribution.
Linux Distributions Explained
There are numerous distributions of Linux that you can use either for a Windows or MacOS alternative or as the operating system used for your website. Below is a short list of a few popular versions of Linux.
- Ubuntu Desktop
- Ubuntu Server
- CentoOS
- Fedora
- Debian
- Red Hat
- Arch Linux
- Mint
- openSUSE
- Kali Linux
Those are just a few of the Linux Distributions available.
For the purpose of the Linux Tutorials here on PixemWeb, I will be focusing on using Linux for web development, how to use it locally and on production websites.
While there are Desktop versions of various Linux Distros, those won’t be covered here in detail other than in passing when talking about using a virtual machine like virtual box.
Which Linux Distribution Should You Use?
I will also be focusing primarily on how to use the Ubuntu Server Distribution since it’s a popular option but I will mention some of the differences in other distros like CentOS which is another popular option.
I will guide you through using the Command Line Interface aka terminal to access and manage your server.
Who Would Benefit from These Linux Tutorials?
If you’re hosting your website on a VPS aka Virtual Private Server or a Dedicated Server, learning how to use the Command line will be a useful skill to have.
These tutorials are also useful for computer science students who will often be working with a Linux OS.
If you’re looking to be a power user and fully take control of your operating system, then learning the Command Line will be extremely useful. You can get things done faster via the command line versus a graphical user interface. Plus, it’s cool learning how to work via the command line.
Windows and Linux
Over the past few years, Windows has been incorporating a Linux Subsystem into it’s main OS which means you can use both Windows and Linux natively. This is extremely helpful especially if you don’t want to use a virtual machine.
MacOS and Linux
MacOS shares a somewhat similar architecture as Linux does. This is because they are both based on the UNIX OS. This means they share many features and you can use most of the commands you would use on a Linux System as you would on a MacOS system. That being said, they aren’t 100% compatible so keep that in mind.
Become a Linux Power User
In the following Linux Tutorials, I will provide you everything you need to effectively and securely manage your remote web server via the command line.
I will cover topics such as navigating your web server via the command line, how permissions work, how to secure your web server, using SSH and SFTP and even some Bash Scripting which is when the fun begins.