Introduction to Linux

Objectives

Developing the Information Technology, Programming and Development and Literacy learning strands, specifically:

  • Researching information and collecting and presenting data.
  • Investigate the background and context of a specific information technology.
  • Examine technical information of a system to be able to navigate it as a basic user.

Introduction

Learn It

  • An operating system is software that controls computer hardware and software.
  • There are many different operating systems you can use to control a computer; you're probably familiar with some of these already both on PC and mobile.
    • Microsoft Windows 10
    • Apple MacOS X El Capitan
    • Google Chrome OS
    • Apple iOS
    • Google Android
  • One you may not have heard of is Linux. Unlike all the Operating Systems named above, this one isn't written by a company, but instead is written and maintained by individuals around the world, who collaborate together to produce a free, open-source platform for users.
  • Open source means that anyone can look at the code the operating system runs on, see exactly how it works and modify it to meet their own requirements.

Learn It

linus.jpg

  • (Picture courtesy of softpedia)
  • Linux was released to the word in October 1991, when Linus Torvalds released his home-made operating system for others to use.
  • A year after its release, Linus posted on an online newsgroup, requesting that anyone using his new OS should send him a postcard. He was inundated with postcards from around the world very quickly, leading his family to suspect that something big was happening!

Research It

  • Linux can be used in various different desktop environments, so it can be customised to look however you want. Users can install several at once, and have a different experience every time they boot their computer.
  • Find screenshots on four of the following Linux desktop environments, and put them on a word document.
    • GNOME
    • Raspbian (used on Raspberry Pi computers)
    • KDE
    • Unity
    • Xfce
    • Cinnamon
    • Xmonad
    • MATE
    • LXDE

Badge It

  • Answer as many of the following questions as possible to collect the badges.
  • Silver: One Linux graphical desktop environment is 'GNOME'. Find out about three others, and write a sentence about what makes each unique. If you're writing your answers in Word, you could include a screenshot of each.
  • Gold: Write a short piece explaining the history of Linux. Include:
    • What operating system it's based on,
    • When it came out,
    • At least 3 Linux facts.
  • Platinum: Linux users often use the command line. Find out three different commands, and briefly explain what they do.