Although considered a powerful alternative to Windows, the GNU/Linux operating system remains discreet and its market share has never really taken off, at least in the desktop segment. But in the last few months, the situation is beginning to change and its popularity is growing.

A Fortune Business report claims that the Linux market is set to reach a dazzling 19.2% growth by 2027. It is also forecasted to reach $15.64 bn in 2027. In 2019 that market was worth $3.89 billion. The figures confirm that Linux is becoming more and more popular with the general public. The latest statistics show that its adoption is improving at a steady pace. However, it is still (very) far from overtaking Windows.  With this progression, it is possible that Linux could start challenging Apple. 

There are essentially three reasons for the observed growth of Linux, two of which are consequences of the choices of...Microsoft!  First one: The giant has put an end to the existence of Windows 7.  What makes this decision severely problematic is that Windows 7 previously had no particular worries and was capable of responding perfectly to the majority of uses by hundreds of millions of users who are therefore forced to change operating systems due to being deprived of security updates. Next, the forced switch to Windows 10 has generally been badly received and not really justifiable, especially since the procedure is not necessarily free. It is therefore not surprising that many users are trying to take a step back from Microsoft and have turned to Linux and one of its many distributions (some of which are graphically very close to Windows).

The third reason is that the Windows 10 operating system imposed in this way suffers from problematic maintenance, intrusive telemetry, and advertisements offered through its interface.  "Windows 7" users, therefore, wish to retain the "traditional" desktop experience, which is Something that Linux can perfectly meet their needs. Last but not least, Linux has taken advantage of a very active community in recent years to win the hearts of "Windows" users with distributions that are always easier to use and have a very Windows-like interface. It is therefore possible that Linux will continue to grow to the point of becoming closer to Apple's macOS, even if it has been years and years that nothing has really changed in the world of desktop operating systems.

Even though Microsoft fixes user issues and bugs with every new version of Windows 10, for some of us, it is not enough.  Most are forced to the point of looking for a credible alternative to Microsoft's latest release. What if Linux was a solution? 

If you think that Linux is that black screen full of scary commands and reserved for computer enthusiasts, you're wrong! Let's be serious: in 2021, these preconceptions no longer apply.

Linux is as accessible and easy to use as Windows, so long as you have compatible hardware and the motivation to learn a new work environment. Indeed, Linux is not Windows, so you will have to acquire new habits! But nothing insurmountable if you are a little bit motivated.

What is Linux?

Before we start, I think it's important that you understand what Linux is.

Linux is an operating system kernel. The kernel is the heart of the system, it manages the resources of the computer and allows the different components - hardware and software - to communicate with each other. Linux itself is NOT an operating system.

To be an operating system, the Linux kernel has to be accompanied by software, such as GNU software. In this case, we speak of a GNU+Linux operating system, even if we use the term "Linux" by metonymy. The Debian 9 operating system, for example, consists of GNU software, assembled around the Linux 4.9 LTS kernel.

Note: the GNU and Linux parts of an operating system are independent, there are both systems with Linux and without GNU - like Android - and GNU systems without Linux - like GNU+Hurd.

Companies and communities offer their own GNU+Linux operating system, still called "Linux distribution". There are more than 500 of them currently under development. 

Among all these Linux distributions, some stand out from the crowd. Among the most popular are Debian, Ubuntu and Fedora.

How is one Linux distribution different from another?

Each Linux distribution has its own goals and philosophy. Some are oriented towards stability at the expense of "freshness" of software (Debian), others are intended for beginners (Ubuntu), others still work in "rolling-release" (Arch Linux) ...

A Linux distribution integrates differently several elements that make it unique, including:

• A Linux kernel;

• GNU tools and libraries;

• Software (most are free and open-source software, but some Linux distributions include proprietary software needed for some drivers);

• Documentation;

• A Windowing system;

• A Window manager;

• A Desktop environment;

• A Package manager.

By contrast, Windows 10 integrates:

• An NT 10.0 kernel;

• Specific software (Edge, OneDrive, Paint 3D, Microsoft Store...);

• Some services (Windows Update, Windows Firewall...);

• The Windows Shell graphical interface (Desktop, Start Menu, Task Bar, etc.);

• DirectX...

What you want to install on your PC is therefore a Linux distribution (or, to be more precise, a GNU+Linux operating system) and not "Linux."

The Advantages of using Linux for small businesses, large enterprises, and industrial production lines

Why switch to Linux?

You may want to switch to Linux because of the inconveniences you encounter in your daily life with Windows.

Flaws in Windows:

• Forced rebooting of the PC after installing a Cumulative Update or Feature Updates while you were working on a project.


• Obligatory cumulative updates* to be downloaded and installed every month.


• Obligatory large feature updates to be downloaded and installed every six months.


• Support for each new version of Windows 10 (1703, 1709, 1803...) is provided for only 18 months (via cumulative updates) from the time they are released. This situation sooner or later "forces" users to install feature updates to benefit from security patches.


• The collection of diagnostic data - sent to Microsoft's telemetry servers - is opaque and difficult to control, although this tends to improve with each new version. For example, Windows 10 Spring Creators (v. 1803) adds a diagnostic data viewer, and the ability to remove it.


• Security: Windows is the number one target of hackers, as evidenced by the latest global ransomware attacks that have appeared in recent years: NotPetya, WannaCry, Locky + Malware hidden in application installers and web pages.


• Note: Only the Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions can defer the download and installation of Windows Update: up to 30 days for cumulative updates, and up to 365 days for feature updates.

You may also want to switch to Linux because of the many qualities that Linux has compared to Windows:

• Performance: Thanks to its lightweight architecture, Linux consumes fewer resources and is faster than Windows.


• Security: You don't need antivirus measures: 


• Clear separation of privileges: All programs run as a standard user. To raise the privileges of a program, you must log in to the super-user (root) account or use sudo by entering your password. On Windows, the user is by default part of the Administrators group, which can cause security problems despite the presence of User Account Control (UAC) which can be bypassed by malicious programs.


• File system permissions: almost all files are non-executable (you have to make them executable with chmod). So even if you download a malicious script, at least if you expressly made it executable, it won't be able to affect your system.


• Package Manager: all software comes from a reliable and tested central server. All files there are usually signed and verified via GPG. There is no fear of installing malware by installing software via the package manager.


• Open source: millions of users fix bugs and patches.
 

• Package Manager (= application store): This allows you to install and update programs on your system with a simple command. No need to look for "clean" links to the right and left to download your software.


• Customizable Environment: choice of icons, fonts, desktop environments (Desktop Environment): GNOME, KDE, Xfce... when Windows only offers its Windows Shell.


• Console: powerful, it allows you to perform all kinds of operations faster than with the graphical interface.


• Free: (costs 0,00 $). This operating system is free and we know that in the case of an industrial PC, the operating system license can represent a large part of its price.


• Privacy: no data collection, no spying, no tracking.


• Stability: it is not for nothing that the majority of Web servers use a Linux distribution to host their files. 


• Community support: the GNU/Linux community is a community of enthusiasts, ready to help you if you need it: Unix & Linux Stack Exchange, /r/Linux, LinuxQuestions.org, askubuntu.com... there is no shortage of forums! There are also associations and groups which you can join to discover, learn and share all that is related to open-source software.