Linux and Windows: differences and similarities

What is better between Linux and Windows and what are the differences and similarities of these operating systems?  

As we know, Linux and Windows are two distinct operating systems with some notable differences and a few similarities. 

𝚆𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚞𝚜𝚎, 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝙻𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚡 𝚒𝚜 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚒𝚝𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚋𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚢. 𝙸𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜, 𝙻𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚡 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚙𝚘𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚔𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚖, 𝚖𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚍𝚞𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚛𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚛-𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚕𝚢 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚋𝚞𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚊𝚜 𝚄𝚋𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚞 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙼𝚒𝚗𝚝.

Another charaterictic,  Linux is known for its limitless options for customization.

Linux is free open source operating system it's more secure than windows, Linux mostly kernel code are written in C, Linux is operating system have full package program of GPL(general public license) Linux kernel is written based on Unix kernel, Linux is console operating system than windows operating systems, Linux can share multitasking systems... 

While windows is non open source software their codes is not free for programmers windows at this nowadays is written in C, C++, C#, Assembly language windows can support both console and graphical operating systems windows can share also multitasking systems windows many ports are open but for Linux is closed programming applications for windows programmers is difficult than Linux application programmer

In terms of security Linux is good and on the other hand is robust and resilient this feature comes in just because it belongs to Unix family.

Here's an overview of their key characteristics.

Differences

Kernel and Architecture

Linux uses the Linux kernel and is primarily based on Unix-like principles. It is open source, meaning the kernel and many of its components are freely available for anyone to modify and distribute.

Windows uses the Windows NT kernel and is a proprietary operating system developed by Microsoft. It is not open source, and access to its source code is restricted.

Licensing and Cost

Linux is typically free and open source. You can choose from a variety of Linux distributions (distros) with different licenses (e.g., GNU GPL) and costs (usually none).

Windows requires a paid license for most versions, although Microsoft offers Windows 10 and Windows 11 Home as free upgrades for users of older versions.

User Interface

Linux offers various desktop environments (e.g., GNOME, KDE, Xfce) and window managers, allowing for a high degree of customization.

Windows provides a consistent user interface across versions, with the Windows Desktop being the most widely used.

Software Compatibility

Linux has a wide range of open-source and proprietary software available, but not all Windows applications are natively compatible. Compatibility can be achieved through compatibility layers like Wine or virtualization.

Windows is the dominant platform for commercial software, and most Windows applications are designed to run on Windows. Many cross-platform and open-source applications are available as well.

File System

Common file systems on Linux include ext4, Btrfs, and XFS. They are known for their stability, performance, and support for advanced features.

Windows primarily uses NTFS (New Technology File System), which offers features like access control lists (ACLs) and journaling.

Command Line Interface

Linux: Linux has a powerful command-line interface (CLI) with numerous utilities and scripting capabilities. The Bash shell is one of the most common on Linux systems.

Windows: Windows also has a CLI (Command Prompt and PowerShell), but it traditionally had fewer features than Linux. PowerShell provides more advanced scripting capabilities.

Similarities

1. Both Linux and Windows support a wide range of hardware, making them versatile for desktop, server, and embedded applications.
2. Both OSs have robust networking capabilities, supporting a wide range of protocols and networking hardware.
3. Linux and Windows are multitasking operating systems, allowing multiple processes to run concurrently.
4. Both operating systems offer security features, including user accounts and permissions, firewall capabilities, and security updates.
5. Both have a large ecosystem of software and support for web development, databases, and other application domains.
6. Both have active communities and support forums, making it easier to find solutions to issues and receive assistance.

Ultimately, the choice between Linux and Windows depends on your specific needs and preferences. Linux is popular in server environments and among developers, while Windows is dominant in the desktop and corporate world. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, and the choice often depends on your use case and familiarity with the operating system.

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