CHAPTER 1Starting with Linux
The operating systems war is over, and Linux has won. Proprietary operating systems simply cannot keep up with the pace of improvements and quality that Linux can achieve with its culture of sharing and innovation. Even Microsoft, whose former CEO Steve Ballmer once referred to Linux as “a cancer,” now says that Linux’s use on Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing service has surpassed the use of Windows.
Linux is one of the most important technological advancements of the 21st century. Beyond its impact on the growth of the Internet and its place as an enabling technology for a range of computer-driven devices, Linux development has become a model for how collaborative projects can surpass what single individuals and companies can do alone.
Google runs thousands upon thousands of Linux servers to power its search technology, along with billions of Linux containers. Its Android phones are based on Linux. Likewise, when you download and run Google’s Chrome OS, you get a browser that is backed by a Linux operating system.
Many of the largest companies on Earth—including Amazon, Netflix, NASA, and Facebook—rely on Linux for their internal servers. In fact, Facebook itself uses an open source development model, making source code for the applications and tools that ...
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