What's Ubuntu, and how is it different from Linux?

Linux penguin
The Linux penguin is the mascot for a popular open-source operating system kernel.
Logo courtesy Larry Ewing

There's a kind of war going on and we're all caught in the middle. In that war, the two superpowers are Microsoft and Apple. The battlefield is the operating system. Numerous ad campaigns give the impression that these are the only two choices out there for anyone looking to buy a computer. But there's a small group of rebels out there who know better. Their OS of choice is Linux and they back a very different philosophy than the one followed by the big companies.

Linux is an open-source operating system. To really understand what that means, we need to define some terms. An operating system is a layer of software on a computer that acts as a foundation for computer programs. It's the OS's job to monitor computer resources and allocate those resources to programs that need them. When you execute a program, the OS acts like a supervisor and makes sure the program has the processing power, memory and any other resources it might need to function. Operating systems make it easy for program developers to write software -- without an OS, the programmer would have to create software to work directly from the hardware itself.

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That covers what an operating system is, but what about open source? Operating systems like Windows and Mac OS X are compiled. They're easy for machines to understand. But compiled code is difficult for humans to understand -- it's extremely complex. That means it's not easy for the average user to see how Microsoft or Apple put their operating systems together.

Unlike compiled OSes, an open-source operating system includes the source code for the OS. Developers write software in source code. There are many different coding languages but they all share a common trait: It's relatively easy for humans to understand it (assuming that human has studied the language). Machines can't understand source code, which is why developers feed the source code through a compiler.

Because Linux includes the source code for the operating system, you can see how the OS works just by downloading it. You'll have to understand programming languages but there's no level of secrecy with what makes Linux tick. The benefit of this approach is that many Linux users are also the developers for the OS. If a user sees a bug or vulnerability, he or she can whip up some code to fix the problem and contribute to the next version of Linux. The same is true for features -- if you think of a cool function that you believe Linux should support, you can build it into the source code.

You could also build your own operating system using the Linux kernel -- its foundation -- as the basis for your OS. That brings us to Ubuntu. Let's take a look at what Ubuntu is and how it relates to Linux.

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Ubuntu Basics

Ubuntu is a distribution -- or distro -- of Linux. In Linux lingo, a distribution is a version of the operating system that has the Linux kernel as its foundation. There are literally hundreds of different Linux distros out in the wild. Many are free and have communities of users who provide each other with guidance and support. But installing a free Linux distro with limited support options can be intimidating to the average computer user. That's where Ubuntu comes in.

Ubuntu, distributed by a company named Canonical, is an example of a commercial project based on the Linux kernel. Founded by businessman and philanthropist Mark Shuttleworth, Canonical's mission is to provide a software platform that is free for users and developers. Rather than charge for the operating system, Canonical's business depends upon providing commercial support for its products. It also helps companies and organizations design computer systems with an eye on efficiency and cost management.

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What that means for you is that Ubuntu is a free operating system you can install on a computer. Getting a copy is simple -- you can visit the Ubuntu Web site and download the OS directly. You'll need to have either a CD or USB drive to save the OS. Once you've copied the OS to the drive or CD, you can boot your computer using Ubuntu.

One cool feature of Ubuntu is that Canonical doesn't care if you have a fear of commitment. Booting from the USB drive or CD lets you play with the Ubuntu OS without overwriting your computer's native OS. If you're a loyal Windows user or Mac OS X devotee, you don't need to feel guilty. You can see Ubuntu on the side without hurting your long-term OS relationship.

If you find Ubuntu to be exactly what you need, you can load it on your computer to either run side-by-side with your existing OS, or you can break up with your old SOOS -- that's significant other operating system -- and start seeing Ubuntu exclusively. There's even an option to run Ubuntu within Windows itself as if it were any other piece of software.

Next, we'll take a look at what sets Ubuntu apart from a basic Linux OS.

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Ubuntu Versus Linux

Ubuntu screenshot
Here's a screenshot of a freshly-installed Ubuntu operating system.Credit: Screenshot by HowStuffWorks.com
Screenshot by HowStuffWorks.com

At Ubuntu's heart is the Linux kernel. Ubuntu relies on the architecture of Linux to communicate with a computer's hardware so that software can do what it's supposed to do. Ubuntu commands follow the rules and procedures that hundreds of other Linux distros also use. But Ubuntu has its own style and list of features.

Ubuntu has a graphical user interface (GUI), making it similar to other popular operating systems like Windows, Mac OS and even smartphone systems like Android. The OS represents applications as icons or menu choices that you can select using keyboard commands or a mouse -- there's no need to learn a library of commands or terms. If you've used other operating systems that rely on a GUI, you can navigate through Ubuntu easily.

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The operating system supports a wide variety of software. You'll find dozens of examples of productivity applications, media software and communications programs that run on Linux and, in turn, Ubuntu. Some of them are compatible with applications that run on other operating systems, such as Microsoft's Office suite.

In fact, Ubuntu will support software that's compatible for Linux. In the end, Ubuntu is just one attempt at leveraging the Linux operating system in a way that's easy and intuitive for the end user. Behind the scenes and at its very core, Ubuntu is Linux. It's just the outward shell that sets it apart from a basic Linux distribution.

If you're curious about Ubuntu, you can download it for free and give it a try without risk. You don't have to replace your current operating system. Who knows? You might find that you prefer Ubuntu's approach and your next machine might well be a Linux system.

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Frequently Answered Questions

What is Ubuntu is used for?
Ubuntu is a popular operating system that can be used for a variety of purposes. Some people use it for personal computing, others use it for web development or server administration.
Is Ubuntu better than window?
It is difficult to compare Ubuntu and Windows because they are two different types of operating systems. Ubuntu is a Linux-based operating system, while Windows is a proprietary operating system. Both systems have their pros and cons. Ubuntu is typically faster and more stable than Windows, but Windows has more features and is easier to use.
Is Ubuntu os good?
Ubuntu is a good operating system with a lot of features.

Lots More Information

Related Articles
More Great Links

  • Canonical. "Overview." (Sept. 17, 2011) http://www.canonical.com/about-canonical/overview
  • Hess, Kenneth. "Commercial Linux Distro Support: Which is Best?" internet.com. March 3, 2009. (Sept. 17, 2011) http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/osrc/article.php/3808206/Commercial-Linux-Distro-Support-Which-is-Best.htm
  • Hess, Kenneth. "The 10 Best Linux Distributions." DaniWeb. Oct. 11, 2008. (Sept. 17, 2011) http://www.daniweb.com/hardware-and-software/linux-and-unix/linux-servers-and-apache/news/219749
  • Smith, Rod. "Linux Distributions Guide." March 27, 2004. (Sept. 17, 2011) http://www.rodsbooks.com/distribs/
  • Shuttleworth, Mark. "Biography." 2007. (Sept. 17, 2011) http://www.markshuttleworth.com/biography
  • Ubuntu. (Sept. 17, 2011) http://www.ubuntu.com/

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