Linux is used in many everyday devices and systems. It powers technologies like Android phones, Google services, NASA systems, eReaders, smart TVs, smartwatches, laptops, vehicles, gaming platforms, social media sites, stock exchanges, government systems, retail point-of-sale devices, routers, and more. Linux provides advantages like reliability, flexibility, customizability, support from many vendors, and ability to run on a wide variety of hardware.

1. Everyday uses of Linux

2. Everyday uses of Linux
By : Khawar Nehal
25 September 2021

3. Google
Google uses Linux.
Everyone uses Google.

4. NASA
NASA’s Pleiades supercomputer runs Linux.
The International Space Station switched from
Windows to Linux six years ago due to the
operating system's reliability.
NASA even recently deployed three "Astrobee"
robots—which run Linux—to the International
Space Station.

5. eReaders run on Linux
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, which runs Linux
(though most people are completely unaware of
that fact). If you use any of Amazon’s services—
from Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon
EC2) to Fire TV—you are running on Linux. When
you ask Alexa what time it is, or for the score of
your favorite sports team, you are also using
Linux, since Alexa is powered by Fire OS (an
Android-based operating system).

6. Android is Linux
Linux powers 74.5% of today’s mobile phones
globally.
In Pakistan it is 96% of all the phones.

7. TV runs on Linux
If you have a TiVo, you are also running Linux. If
you are a Roku user, then you too are using
Linux. Roku OS is a custom version of Linux
specifically for Roku devices. You may opt to use
Chromecast—which runs on Linux—for video
streaming. Linux doesn’t just power set-top boxes
and streaming devices, though. It likely runs your
smart TV, too.

8. TV runs on Linux
LG uses webOS, which is based on the Linux
kernel. Panasonic uses Firefox OS, which is also
based on the Linux kernel.
Samsung, Phillips, and many more use Linux-
based operating systems to power their devices.

9. Smartwatches and laptops
If you own a smartwatch, it’s likely running Linux.
School systems throughout the world have been
implementing one-to-one systems where each
child is provided their own laptop. A rapidly
increasing number of those institutions outfit their
students with a Chromebook. These lightweight
laptops use Chrome OS, which is based on Linux.

10. Cars
The car you drive might well be running Linux.
Automotive-Grade Linux has enlisted
manufacturers like Toyota, Mazda, Mercedes-
Benz, and Volkswagen in a project that will see
Linux as the standard code base for automobiles.
It is also likely that your in-vehicle infotainment
system runs Linux. The GENIVI Alliance develops
"standard approaches for integrating operating
systems and middleware present in the
centralized and connected vehicle cockpit,"
according to its website.

11. Games
If you are a gamer, then you might be using
SteamOS, which is a Linux-based operating
system. Also, if you use any of Google’s myriad of
services, then you are running on Linux.

12. Social media
As you're scrolling and commenting, you may
realize what a lot of work these platforms are
doing. Perhaps then it's not so surprising that
Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter all run
on Linux.

13. Social media
Additionally, the new wave of social media, de-
centralized, federated nodes of connected
communities like Mastodon, GNU Social,
Nextcloud Social (microblogging platforms similar
to Twitter), Pixelfed (distributed photo sharing),
and Peertube (distributed video sharing) are, at
least by default, run on Linux. Being open source,
they can each run on any platform, which is a
powerful precedence in itself.

14. Businesses and governments
The New York Stock Exchange runs on Linux, as
does the Pentagon. The Federal Aviation
Administration handles over sixteen million flights
a year, and they operate on Linux. The Library of
Congress, House of Representatives, Senate, and
White House all use Linux.

15. Retail runs on Linux
That entertainment system in the seat back on
your latest flight is likely running on Linux. It’s
possible that the point of sale at your favorite
store is running Linux. Tizen OS, which is based
on Linux, powers an array of smart home and
other smart devices. Many public libraries now
host their integrated library systems on Evergreen
and Koha. Both of those systems run on Linux.

16. Apple runs on Linux
If you are an iOS user who uses iCloud, then you,
too, are using a system that runs on Linux. Apple
Computer’s company website runs on Linux. If
you would like to know what other websites are
run on Linux, be sure to use Netcraft and check
the results of "What’s that site running?"

17. Routers run on Linux
If you are an iOS user who uses iCloud, then you,
too, are using a system that runs on Linux. Apple
Computer’s company website runs on Linux. If
you would like to know what other websites are
run on Linux, be sure to use Netcraft and check
the results of "What’s that site running?"

18. Security
Since the design is for reliability, there is no need
for security administrators, antiviruses, firewalls
and other perimeter fluff to protect the reliable
system.
A reliable system by design ignores attempts to
confuse it.
Also it deliberately ignores attempts by
unauthorized users to make it unreliable or
unavailable to authorized users.

19. Security
To understand this point completely, you need to
learn the 4 levels of security by Khawar Nehal
(me) which explains what is going on and why this
method works.
An explanation is located here
http://atrc.net.pk/products/ict/security/real%20sec
urity%20course%20by%20kn%20july%202021/re
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20. Performance
Linux runs on almost any hardware from a 4 bit
CPU to the largest super computers.
By November 2017 all top 500 supercomputers in
the world were running Linux.

21. https://www.top500.org/statistics/list/

24. Message Passing Interface (MPI) is a standardized and portable message-
passing standard designed to function on parallel computing architectures.

25. Performance
Linux runs on almost any hardware from a 4 bit
CPU to the largest super computers.
By November 2017 all top 500 supercomputers in
the world were running Linux.

26. Ease of use
The best example currently is of Android.
Android is a slimmed down version of Linux
implemented for mobiles.
Over a billion people use it without needing a
manual.

27. Ease of use

28. Ease of use
The users who start with Linux find other
operating systems as harder to use.
This demonstrates that ease of use is related to
which system a user starts with first.
However another system user can be provided a
similar experience in Linux due to the large
number of similar interfaces available.
They are called desktop environments.

29. Ease of use

30. Customization
Since it is more flexible and open, ICT
departments can configure it based on their
detailed requirements.
This allows less time to configure systems based
on various requirements.
Also these functions can be automated with less
labor time if your ICT department people are open
to learning the existing tools available.

31. Customization

32. Customization

33. Multiple vendor support
Companies and users are not limited to a single
vendor for updates and support.
All users can be supporters too and can fix
anything without the prior approval of any vendor.
This is the main reason for the reliability of the
systems.
Anyone can fix them as soon as they find
something wrong or a bug. And the fix is available
in minutes to everyone else globally.

34. Easy and Hard
Linux is easy because it can do a lot of the tasks
which are commonly required.
It is hard because it allows for unlimited
possibilities as compared to closed systems to
which it is compared to. Customers can expect
more so they expect a lot of work to be done
to meet their new possibilities and
requirements.

35. Easy and Hard
If you take it easy, the common things shall get
done well in a reliable manner. No more worrying
about viruses or firewalls.
If you take the hard route and deliver what cannot
be delivered by other closed systems, you can get
rewarded more for better meeting the customer’s
requirements.
More recognition and / or payoff is the result of
that.

36. Computing Rule
You can either make the
user sweat or the
programmer sweat.