Linux Myths
From Linux 101, The beginner's guide to all things Linux.
Contents
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[edit] Intro
There are many common misconceptions that people have when they first consider using Linux. This document aims to dispel some of the myths that have come to be associated with Linux over the years, and to answer some of the questions new users usually have.
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Note: Throughout this article I refer to simply "Linux". When I say this I am referring to "the Linux OS" - the Linux kernel, the GNU tools that commonly come with a Linux distribution, and all the other software that is included as well. Similarly, if I say "Linux developers" it is only because it is easier than saying "Free/Open Source Software Developers", which is really what I mean. I am referring to any/all of the developers who contribute to "the Linux OS". I refer to software which is not open source "proprietary" software. This includes software sold or given away for free - for instance Winamp is free but still closed source, so it is proprietary. |
[edit] Cost & Quality
[edit] Since Linux is free, it's not as good
First off, we must clarify how Linux is free. It is mainly free for anyone to use, modify, and distribute. It is also commonly free of cost. [1]
The biggest difference between Linux and proprietary software is this: open source software is built by a community of developers and users dedicated to their project, while the goals of proprietary software developers are usually only monetary. Furthermore, because of the open nature of Free software development, any number of developers can make contributions both large and small, while proprietary software teams are limited by the development budget their company has. This sometimes means that open source software communities are much bigger than their proprietary counterparts.
In fact, there are many advantages to open source software development that make it better. For instance, if a proprietary software company goes out of business, users of their software can no longer get support or upgrades, and they must switch to some other software. Also, companies usually don't allow users to modify or redistribute their software. This means that often bugs go unfixed, security problems are rampant, or new features users want are slow to come about. With open source software such as Linux, if a user wants changes made, they can simply make them.
[edit] Linux is buggy
While this is sometimes true, in general it is false. It is true in the way that all software has some bugs, regardless of who makes it or how they do it.
Generally, the trick to making software without problems is to expect those problems and try to minimize them. There is a whole area of learning dedicated to this process, called software engineering. Some proprietary software developers use this process, and some don't. Likewise, some open source projects use it and some don't. In general, Linux and other Free software projects use the same kinds of development processes that any developers do.
If a given Free software project has a lot of bugs and the developers aren't adapting the development process to account for this, then it is likely that someone else will either start a new project based on the source code of the old one, or start another project to replace the old one altogether. This evolutionary process guarantees that the best software processes prevail in the open source world, while proprietary software development is generally guided by the market (so if a company has no competitors, its software will probably not get much better).
[edit] Since Linux is free, I won't be able to get support
Quite to the contrary, it is much easier to find Linux support than for other operating systems. Proprietary software vendors are sometimes the only place to get support for their products, and sometimes their support is not very good. Many Linux vendors sell support plans for their Linux products as well. There are even Linux certification programs to help train computer professionals to use Linux.
Most importantly, there are Linux User Groups all over the world made up of people who know Linux well and use it regularly. These people are very willing to help people new to Linux install it on their computer, and answer any questions they may have. Best of all, most of them do Linux support for free! Their reward is the opportunity to learn more about Linux, and expand their own knowledge. These organizations welcome new users and are eager to help others learn.
[edit] Compatibility
[edit] I won't be able to use my old files in Linux
While this can sometimes be true, generally there is some method for Linux users to use the documents and other files they created using proprietary software.
As stated above, most proprietary applications have some sort of open source equivalent. These equivalent programs usually have some way to import files from proprietary programs. If they don't, there is often some way to convert proprietary file formats to a format that is readable by open source applications. Another way to accomplish this could be to use the proprietary software to export the old files into a format that is readable by open source software.
There are still a few cases where very specialized or uncommon proprietary formats are not supported, but these are getting fewer every day. If you're unsure about support for your format, a quick search on the internet should reveal to you whether or not your format is supported.
[edit] Linux doesn't have the software I need
Many proprietary programs are only available for Windows, or perhaps Apple's Mac OS X. Many software vendors do not bother to port their software to Linux because they don't feel that there is enough market for their software with Linux users. While this can be an initial barrier to using Linux, because the software people are comfortable with is usually not available, there are often many alternative ways to get the same things done.
Let's look at an example. Many people use Microsoft's Office software suite, which includes software for creating spreadsheets, presentations, documents, and other things. Office is not available for Linux. However, there are several open source products which are available to all Linux users for free that do the same thing. OpenOffice and KOffice are complete application suites, and other programs are available to replace individual components of Office - AbiWord is a good word processor, and Gnumeric is a good spreadsheet program. All of these alternative programs support Microsoft Office's file formats.
Most proprietary software has some open source equivalent. We've compiled a list of Program Equivalents to make it easy for new Linux users to find the software they need.
[edit] Installing Linux will erase Windows
If installed properly, it is possible (and quite common) to have both Linux and Windows (or another OS) installed on the same computer. This is called "dual-booting". Dual-Booting does not require any special hardware and almost every Linux distribution supports doing this without hassle.
The process usually involves resizing the Windows C:\ drive to make room for Linux on the hard drive, then installing Linux in the free space. Most distributions will automatically see the Windows install and create a menu that comes up when the computer boots, allowing the user to choose the operating system they wish to start. Switching to the other OS is as simple as rebooting, and choosing it from the menu.
Consult your distribution's documentation or a Linux support group for more information.
[edit] Linux won't work right with my special hardware
Many people have special hardware in their computer to allow them to do some specific task. This hardware might be a webcam, a special sound card, or a wireless network card. To use this hardware in any operating system, there must be a driver for it. Linux has many drivers built in when it is installed, and others are available to be added later.
Most hardware is autodetected by Linux when it is installed on a computer. Some hardware, though, can not be autodetected easily. Other hardware requires a special method to install the drivers. In general, it is a good idea to check on the internet to see if your hardware is supported by Linux before you begin installation. This way you know what to expect in terms of what works or doesn't. You may also find helpful hints on how to install drivers for tricky hardware. Linux hardware compatibility lists exist in many places on the internet, and usually a quick search will reveal the support status of most devices.
Why would a piece of hardware not be supported by Linux? There are usually two reasons: the first is that no Linux developer has this hardware so no one has tried to develop support for it. The second and much more common reason is that the hardware's manufacturer has resisted or refused giving Linux developers information about their devices, forcing developers to reverse-engineer the drivers. Reverse-engineering can be a difficult and slow process, but most devices end up being supported regardless.
Hardware support is always getting better. There are now several pieces of old hardware that are unsupported by Windows that still work fine in Linux.
[edit] I can't play games on Linux
Many avid PC gamers are reluctant to try Linux because they think that Linux is not a good operating system for gaming. While there aren't anywhere near as many games available for Linux as Windows, most gamers are surprised at just how many are.
[edit] Commercial Game Ports
It is obvious that few game publishing companies port their games to Linux. They are often more likely to make an Apple port first, if they make any ports at all. Nonetheless, quite a few games are released with a native Linux version. id Software has been known for their Linux support and they've been releasing Linux versions of their games (Quake, Doom, Wolfenstein) for years. Epic Interactive has supported Linux in their Unreal line for many years as well. Many games based on these games' engines are available for Linux (for instance Postal).
For several years, many Linux game ports were published by Loki Games, until the company failed due to mismanagement. Now, new commercial Linux game titles are published by Linux Game Publishing (LGP). Many of these titles as well as some old Loki titles can be purchased at Tux Games. Several games have been ported by the work of Ryan Gordon and many game projects exist on his web site at icculus.org.
[edit] Running Other OS Games on Linux
It is possible through different types of compatibility layer programs and emulators to play games originally for other operating systems and platforms.
[edit] Wine
Well, the Wine project aims to provide a Windows API layer on Linux. Through this many native Windows games are playable. Frank's Corner provides extensive lists of Windows games and other applications that will work using Wine.
[edit] Cedega
Wine's support for games is a side-effect of its usual functionality, and there is yet another product available for playing even more Linux games. TransGaming created a product based on Wine called Cedega (formerly WineX) that allows many DirectX 9 games to run well. See their Games Database for an exhaustive list of supported games. Cedega is not free, unfortunately, but it only costs $5 per month for a subscription (minimum 3 month purchase).
[edit] DOS Emulators
Many old DOS games are supported by (like DOSBox and DOSEMU).
[edit] Console Emulators
not finished...
[edit] Arcade Emulators
not finished...
[edit] Open Source Games
Besides the ability to play commercial Windows titles on Linux, gamers who run this operating system also have a plethora of choices provided by the open source world. Many very nice console emulators are available (such as ZSNES), as well as native Linux games for both original ideas and clones of other games (for myriad examples see The Linux Game Tome and Linux Games). Still other projects (like ScummVM) aim to recreate the engine of old commercial titles so that data from games whose parent companies are long since gone can still be used for fun.
[edit] Liberated Games
It is also worth mentioning Liberated Games, a project that attempts to convince game houses to open source code or give away game data for old, outdated or unsupported titles so that they can be enjoyed on many different platforms.
[edit] General
Overall, the Linux gaming community is a very rich one - there are probably more game titles available for Linux today than Windows XP, if you count all the old games which can be played on Linux that are no longer compatible with the newest version of Windows.
[edit] Worries
[edit] Installing Linux might mess up my computer
Many people think that installing a new operating system will somehow harm their computer. Some worry that they will lose important files or software on their computer.
If installed properly, Linux will not overwrite any of the files existing on a computer. That said, it is always a good idea to make periodic backups of important files in the event of catastrophe. It can even be installed alongside Windows or another operating system, without harming any of the software installed on the other operating system.
If you are worried that you won't know how to install Linux properly, seek help from your local Linux support group, or do internet research before beginning. Documentation exists for nearly every Linux distribution, and it never hurts to read the manual before installing.
[edit] I don't have time for Linux
While it does take a little time to install Linux (usually no more than an hour), and a little time to get accustomed to your new operating system, most people find that Linux actually saves them time in the long run. This is because they no longer have to deal with spyware and viruses, there is no required software registration, and there are many things present in Linux systems designed to save time in other ways. For instance, it is no longer necessary to visit the web sites of each piece of software one uses on their computer, but software can be installed and updated at the same time using package management systems. The best way to ensure that you'll save time running Linux is to get help from a friend who runs Linux, or your local Linux support group.
[edit] I'm not good with computers so I won't understand Linux
The software that comes with a Linux operating system is designed to be easy to use. In fact, it is designed to be even easier to use than what most people are used to (Windows). Many open source software projects use a set of "human interface guidelines" to make sure that their software is simple and consistent.
That said, these guidelines are often somewhat different than proprietary products. Open source software generally doesn't try to simply copy what other people have done, but often ends up with blend of useful features borrowed from other software as well as new ideas. The goal is to create a system that is consistently easy to use.
Sometimes Linux can seem difficult to use at first, because of the differences between it and the software people are used to. However, most find that as they become accustomed to Linux, it is much easier to use than what they had before.
[edit] Comparison
[edit] I've used Solaris or some other UNIX and didn't like it, so I won't like Linux
While UNIX and Linux have many things in common, particularly their backgrounds, there are also many differences between them. UNIX operating systems such as Solaris have a much different focus than Linux operating systems. While UNIX typically focuses on stability and tools for developers and system administrators, Linux tends to focus more on ease of use for home users.
Solaris is a good example of the differences between UNIX and Linux. This is a UNIX operating system created by Sun Microsystems. While "under the hood" these two operating systems are very similar, on the surface there are many differences. In Solaris, Sun controls all the aspects of the operating system. In Linux, users are typically encouraged to make their own software choices, whether it be about which browser to use, what desktop to use, or what filesystems. Since Linux use is now more widespread than UNIX, it tends to feel more like a modern operating system (like Windows or OS X) and has more software available for it than Solaris. Furthermore since Linux is a completely open source product, and Solaris is a proprietary product, most of the differences between proprietary and open source software mentioned above apply to Solaris just as they do to Windows.
[edit] Security
[edit] Since anyone can see the source code for Linux, it can be easily "hacked"
Many people seem to think that if some part or all of a technology is hidden away from view, that adds a mysterious extra layer of "unbreakability" to it. Let me extend this into a metaphor for the real world. Let's say a computer program is like a soldier in battle. If we send the soldier out into battle to defend our country, then we want him to be well protected, not just hidden. If we sent him with a blanket to cover up with, would that make him impervious to enemy attacks? No, this would just make it take longer for the enemy to find him. Now let's say, we gave him this blanket, and then forgot to send him with a helmet. Does the blanket reduce the need for the helmet? Of course not. Of course the enemy will find our soldier, blanket or not. In fact, what if the enemy puts huge fans on the battlefield to blow the blankets off all our soldiers? What if none of them have helmets? Well, we have just lost the battle!
This principle, when applied to software, is called security through obscurity. Proprietary software designers often succumb to the logical fallacy behind this principle. Invariably, the insurgents of the computer world create bigger and better fans with which to blow off the obscurity security blanket. Hiding information inside compiled programs is not the way to be secure at all, rather, software designers must adhere to security best practices and rigorous testing to build their software's line of defense. It is the tools used for defense, not how they are hidden, which determines how effective security will be.
Once we have improved our security tools to be good enough to keep out who we don't want using our software, or blocking the ways in which we don't wish it to be used, then we find that the blankets we used to cover things up with never really were necessary in the first place. Back to our soldier metaphor, rather than give our soldier a silly blanket, we give him six layers of full-body concrete reinforced steel armor (assume that somehow he can still move around in this). Now anyone can see him, but does that make him more likely to fall in battle? Of course not, because now he's well protected.
In fact, when it comes to software security, it's actually a good idea to let others see your source code. Why is this? Well let's say that despite all a software team's tireless work evaluating and testing their code for security, they have missed something. If they release their source code, it is simple for security researchers and industry professionals to examine that code for flaws. If they find some, they will very likely report them to the authors so they can be fixed. Of course, unscrupulous individuals could also see this source code and find the flaws. Usually, though, the software security community is better trained and communicates better than the black hats of the world. Again, using the soldier metaphor, this is like letting our allies check our soldiers' armor for weak points. The enemy can do the same thing, and probably will - whether we cover it with a blanket or not.
So in this way, open source software is actually inherently more secure than proprietary software. Having the source code available does not make it more vulnerable to attack, on the contrary it makes it less vulnerable.
[edit] Since anyone can contribute to Linux, part of it could be a virus
This is another one of those things that, given the right circumstances and such, could happen, but generally doesn't. It would have to be an extremely clever programmer who could send a project a patch that does one thing, and also introduces a back door or other malicious code. Open source developers who accept such patches are generally picky, and either thoroughly check everything that a person submits, or don't accept patches from anyone who isn't trusted well. For instance, in order to contribute to many projects, one must first join the mailing list, submit bug reports, and other such things before they establish trust with the other developers. Linux and other open software developers tend to be paranoid about security, so it's very unlikely that something like this would happen - at least on a large scale.
[edit] If Linux gains widespread adoption on par with Windows, there will be viruses for it too
There have been viruses for Linux in the past - as well as worms and trojans - but none of this malware was ever very successful. One might say, "well, that's just because Linux has not enjoyed widespread adoption, so it is less likely to get a widespread infection." This may be one reason, but it is simple to cite other reasons why Linux is not affected by these problems.
- Linux software developers are generally very security-minded. They tend to be more worried about security than functionality even; they would rather something be secure and have less features than risk being insecure but have more features.
- Open source software can be checked for vulnerabilities by security professionals and other programmers.
- Every distribution of Linux is different. Even if there was a security vulnerability in one distribution, it is unlikely that another distribution would be affected by this.
- Linux distributions generally have built in ways of updating software so when security problems are found, it is easy for end users to upgrade their software and fix these problems.
- Linux distributions and support groups encourage users to use computers responsibly. They warn users that running programs with an administrative account is dangerous. They recommend users employ software which is well-tested and secure.
For these reasons and more, as Linux grows, it will remain a secure operating system. That's not to say that small security problems won't arise. These are unavoidable with any software. However it is highly unlikely that we will ever see any kind of malware spreading on a large scale through computers with Linux installed.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ This is not always the case. Several versions of Linux (such as Novell Enterprise Linux, Mandrake Linux Professional, or RedHat Enterprise Linux) do have a cost. Even so, those versions of Linux that do not have any cost are not "worthless". In fact, they are free of cost because their developers feel that everyone deserves high quality software regardless of what they can afford. Many Linux companies give away their software and sell support and other services.
