Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems. There are many versions of Linux with different user interfaces, themes and they are often tailored to specific interests including amateur radio, certain scientific fields and so forth. Linux can run an operating system on a personal computer or function as a server. Some distributions of Linux are designed for old obsolete computers, giving old computers a new lease on life. The operating system is usually free and one can even tinker with it as it is completely open to tinkering. The operating system comes with a library of software packages that are also open source and capable of being tinkered. Some of these, such as LibreOffice, are full-featured programs that are comparable in performance to commercial grade programs. For students, persons of limited economic means and not for profit organizations, this is very useful. Large organizations, including NASA and CERN are replacing their expensive operating systems with Linux. One has probably seen Linux already - Android is a version of Linux on smart phones and tablets. Linux has been notorious for its security - in a good way. Many of the security features now found in MS Windows were copied from early distributions of Linux. In 2015 it was estimated that 97% of web servers ran Linux. Linux is the preferred platform device for motion pictures.
For amateur radio operators, there is much software that runs on Linux for their applications. But amateur radio operators do like to recycle old equipment and Linux gives them the opportunity to put into use old computers. Recently small computers have come into being that are very cheap and very modifiable - such as the raspberry pi. These computers were intended for educational purposes as they were basic but gave access to the users to programming and various input and output ports (GPIO). They use very little power (5V and 3 A or 15W) and are very modular - one can install all sorts of hardware and program the computer to do a variety of tasks from running robots and drones, setting up weather stations, running a software defined radio or even controlling the watering of plants. There are variants that are even smaller and cheaper.
Some of our members are active in programming. Linux is quite easy to work with for the purposes of programming and was designed to facilitate computer science education. Programming can vary from C to Python.
Once again, this sort of tinkering is a way of exploring the technology at our fingertips and employing it for amateur radio and in our daily lives. Curiosity leads to learning which in turn, when combined with imagination, leads to interesting and novel applications.
Some Further Reading: