Distributions may not be the favorites when choosing an operating system to run on the home PC, but many things use Linux and the system created by Linus Torvalds is essential to society in different ways. Today, it is present in a multitude of places, including inside your home and other places you might not expect.
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In addition to being an operating system for common users, the Linux takes different forms thanks to the versatility and reliability of its structure. In this article, the Canaltech brings together some of the most interesting examples of institutions and devices that use kernel versions to function.
13. Android phones
Every Android phone is a Linux computer because Google built the Robot System using the open source kernel framework. Currently, the giant’s platform is something very different from the original project, but it still carries Penguin in its DNA and maintains the open source legacy present in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP).
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12. Videogames
The Linux kernel is the core of a number of operating systems, including some present in video games. The best-known example is Steam Deck, Valve’s portable console that runs SteamOS, a customized version of Arch Linux with native support for Proton, which in turn is a compatibility layer for Windows software.
And it’s obvious he’s not the only one. Other devices such as the Neo Geo X and Pandora also ran Linux distributions. It is also worth mentioning that Linux was also used to expand the potential of well-known consoles and Penguin distributions also serve as a bridge for emulation, app development and even piracy.
11. (Almost) the entire internet
Websites and internet services need to be online all the time and constantly handle a huge flow of data, so it is essential that they are powered by stable and extremely reliable operating systems. It is for this reason that Linux tends to be the most interesting option to install on servers.
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Linux distributions (in particular, the LTS versions) are famous for ensuring integrity to the data contained on the computer: Ubuntu Server, Fedora CoreOS and Red Hat are some of the main names in the segment. Ensuring data availability for online platforms, such as virtual banks, social networks and a number of other platforms is essential — can you imagine having your bank balance reset by a computer bug?
Amazon, Google and Meta are known to use Linux for their servers and online tools. Even Microsoft recognizes the importance of the open source kernel and has released its own Penguin distro.
10. NASA
Greater information integrity is also why Linux is the best solution for NASA PCs. Perseverance, the agency’s fifth rover to land on Mars, is embodied by a software framework with a version of Linux.
It was the Penguin’s first time on Mars, but not his first time in space. The agency also embeds kernel-based software into instruments and satellites in Earth orbit. In addition, it is worth mentioning that SpaceX, Elon Musk’s company, is also adept at the platform created by Linus Torvalds.
9. Supercomputers
The supercomputers used for research also take advantage of Linux to function. All 500 of the most powerful computers in the world are powered by Penguin-based software. Even Azure, the platform that owns Windows, uses tools from the competing core.
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8. The world’s largest particle accelerator
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) also operates on a Linux-based framework. Researchers from CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) claim that even the identification of the Higgs Boson was only possible by using the Penguin in the body of the structure.
7. United States Department of Defense
Sensitive US Department of Defense information also circulates on computers running Linux. The country’s military considers the network structure powered by the kernel a vital part of the entity’s command.
6. Connected houses
Inside your home, many devices use Linux-based systems to function. Smart TVs (webOS by LG and Tizen by Samsung, for example), television dongles (Roku, Mi Stick TV, Chromecast and many others), intelligent washing machines and virtual assistants are some of the examples of domestic devices that use systems based on Penguin to work.
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This is due to the versatility of the open source kernel. Linux is extremely flexible and scalable, and can be adapted to equip appliances with very low processing capacity and useful for basic household tasks, still ensuring specific advantages such as connectivity and stability.
5. Car multimedia center
The multimedia center of modern cars also uses Linux to present content. In this case, there are a multitude of solutions for each automaker, each focused on vehicle use.
The highlight is Android Auto, a Google operating system tool for smartphones that, when connected to the car’s system, mirrors the laptop’s screen to make the center even more useful during the ride.
4. Autonomous cars
If traditional cars have a bit of Linux, self-driving cars are also powered by it. A well-known example is Google’s self-driving vehicles, which are used to map Google Maps territories (where permitted). Some General Motors and Volkswagen cars also have kernel-based systems.
3. The United States Federal Aviation Administration
In 2006, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) migrated its systems to Red Hat Enterprise Linux, an enterprise distribution of Penguin. The software structure is still present on the entity’s computers and is responsible for managing the information of millions of passengers daily.
2. The New York Stock Exchange
Another entity that has Linux as a core part of its operations is the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The system is responsible for the infinite daily purchase and sale operations, so it is very important that there is not a single error.
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1. Japanese bullet trains
The network that manages the Japanese bullet trains popularly known as the Shinkansen is governed by Linux-based software. Key tasks such as mapping, control, scheduling, tagging, and communications rely on a kernel-based framework to function.
Read the article on Canaltech.
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