Differences between Linux and Windows

• Introduction to Linux and windows
• Differences between Linux and windows
• Similarities between Linux and windows

Introduction to Linux and Windows

Microsoft Windows is the most popular operating system when it comes to personal computers. It is the most commonly used operating system in the entire world. Everyone from programmers to the general public uses this operating system.

Most of the students who try to learn Linux must be using Windows at home or college somewhere and they may find Linux a little strange. So while learning about Linux it is essential that you are aware of the similarities and dissimilarities between Windows and Linux, so that you can make better use of Linux.

Keeping this in mind, there is a similarity and inequality between Linux and windows.

Differences Between Linux and Windows

The disparities found between the following Windows and Linux operating systems are described below.

Costing

Linux is free of cost operating system. While Windows is commercial software. Not only this, but software programs used on Linux also have free of cost.

Open-source

Linux is an open-source operating system. Its code is available free of cost to download. Anyone can contribute to its development. As I stated earlier, Windows is a commercial operating system. Its code is available only by Microsoft pass.

No other programmer or community can contribute to its development. However, any open-source or commercial software can be used on windows.

Customization

Linux is a customizable operating system. That is, any person or community can change it and use it according to their own usage. Only Microsoft can make any kind of change in the Windows operating system.

Security

Linux is a very secure operating system. There is also no greater risk of virus or malware attack in this. While Windows is a vulnerable operating system, there is a high risk of attacks like viruses and malware, etc.

Kernel

The Linux operating system consists of a monolithic kernel. A monolithic kernel acts as a single process, in which all functions are performed directly by the same process. Whereas the Windows operating system is microkernel which is divided as separate processes that are responsible for performing different tasks.

Slash

In Linux, the path of any directory, etc. is defined by forward-slash () /. Whereas in Windows it is defined by a black slash () \.

File names

File names in Linux are case sensitive. That is, both age and AGE are considered equal in Linux. Whereas file names in Windows are case insensitive. That is, both age and AGE are considered different names.

File structure

In Windows, where the disk is divided into different drives, in Linux, everything is stored in a tree structure. The drives are mounted in this tree and the data is stored in them. In Linux, files are organized into a tree structure.

Similarities Between Linux and Windows

Apart from differences, some similarities are found between Linux and Windows operating systems. These are being told further.

User Accounts

Both Linux and Windows operating systems provide you the ability to use the operating system by multiple user accounts. You can log in through more than one account. The data of each account is stored separately. The Administrator account is able to see the data of all accounts.

Development Tools

Both Linux and windows come with the ability of software development. You can do software development using any operating system like Windows and Linux.

Hardware Support

Both Linux and Windows support many hardwares without any additional program etc.

Web services

Both Linux and windows have basic web services such as email, web surfing, database, etc. available.

Automated Tasks

Programs are available to automate tasks in both Linux and windows. In Linux, this is done by Cron and in windows by Task Scheduler.

Update

Both Linux and Windows operating systems are periodically updated.

Virus

Both Linux and Windows operating systems can contain viruses. But still, the Linux operating system is more secure than windows.

Can Run on Same Hardware Simultaneously

Both Linux and windows can be used by installing on the same hardware. However, only one operating system can be used at a time.