Linux is now more than 25 years old — halfway to a midlife crisis — so I figured: why not make one of those kooky tie-in listicles other websites do to celebrate major milestones?
Linux has travelled beyond the data centre – farther than anyone could have expected
Et voila: this is it!
New draft in hand, I popped open Firefox with one aim: listing 25 awesome (and in a few cases, unexpected) things, companies, and services that make use of Linux.
As you’ll seen, Linux is at the beating heart of modern tech infrastructure.
But when Linus Torvalds announced Linux back in August 1991 he described it as “just a hobby, won’t be big and professional”.
Time disagreed.
25 Linux Powered Things
1. Super Computers
When compiling a list of super impressive Linux-powered ‘things’ it’d be remiss to not start with the ultimate powered thing: super computers!
But do you know what’s more impressive than knowing some of the these powerful Peta-flop pummelling projects using Linux to manage and optimise their workloads?
The fact that all of them do.
Yep, every single one of the world’s top 500 supercomputers use Linux.
2. NASA
NASA’s use of Linux and open-source software is testament to the versatility and adaptability of the kernel and its related software ecosystem.
From storing data sent down from satellites and telescopes, to crunching that data for research institutions and the greater public to use, NASA relies heavily on Linux.
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory also uses Linux to “…help with projects relating to the construction of unmanned space flight and deep space exploration”.
3. Space Robots
Did you know that the first humanoid robot — the Robonaut 2 — sent into space (and floating above your head right now in the International Space Station) runs on Linux? You betcha!
NASA’s experience with R2 on the station is helping them understand the capabilities and possibilities for robots in future space missions.
Not that you’ll get to meet this pioneer any time soon; NASA say there are ‘no plans’ to bring R2 back to earth!
4. Games Consoles
Steam was key to the industrial revolution, and Steam has been key to the uptick in Linux gaming. SteamOS and Steam Machines lead the charge for gaming on Linux (though retro-style handhelds, cloud gaming and Android do, in theory, also count).
Certain gamers among you may remember some of the (not hugely successful) Linux-based handhelds like the Pandora and the Neo Geo X. They were a little “before their time”, but paved the way for the arrival of the much-coveted million-selling Steamdeck.
Trivia: Sony released a Linux for Playstation 2 kit. It could turn the (then new) games console into a desktop Linux PC, running a Window Maker desktop, pre-loaded with a suite of desktop apps (including Mozilla Suite), and more!
5. The Large Hadron Collider
It’s one of the most important scientific research facilities in the world, not to mention the most expensive at $10 billion. The Large Hadron Collider relies on Linux to handle, process, store and distribute the petabytes of data it accrues.
6. Roku
Beating even Google’s (Linux powered) Chromecast and Amazon’s (Linux powered) FireTV, Roku is the most popular media streaming box (or dongle, depending on which you own) in the US.
All Roku hardware runs a custom, heavily modified version of Linux called ‘Roku OS’.
The NowTV box in the UK is a rebranded Roku device, fact fans.
7. TiVo
Personal digital video recorders (colloquially known as ‘DVRs’) such as TiVo — arguably the best selling DVR in the world — feature an embedded Linux-based OS.
It’s this OS that handles the recording, playback and management of your fave movies and TV shows and runs your fave TV apps.
8. Smart TVs
Linux doesn’t just power a plethora of set-top boxes. A number of leading TV manufacturers offer a built-in ‘smart TV’ experience using, you guessed it, Linux.
From LG (who use WebOS) to Samsung (who use Tizen) to Sharp, HiSense, Philips and Panasonic… The list of gogglebox giants making use of Linux goes on!
9. Smartwatches
From the marketing you’d think Apple was the only smart watch seller whose device has an embedded operating system — but it’s not.
As far back as 2000 IBM was demoing a smartwatch that runs Linux. Some 16 years on from that and you can’t move for smartwatches that run it, with Samsung’s Tizen watches, and a sleeve full of Android Wear devices leading the field.
10. The Amazon Kindle
The Kindle is almost a byword for digital e-readers, but few give much thought to the embedded operating system it runs, but it is Linux. Some hackers even managed to install Ubuntu on the early-gen Kindles!
The very first version of the Kindle OS used Linux kernel v2.6.26, while the most recent, the Kindle Oasis, uses v3.0.35.
11. Instagram (And Basically The Entire Internet)
When you’re scrolling down through selfies, food snaps and insane promotions on Instagram you probably don’t give much thought to what powers the experience.
With over 1 billion app installs on Android, serious power is needed behind the scenes to handle, process and serve millions of 1:1 pictures and videos, comments and accounts every day.
And when you need power and adaptability you use Linux — which is what powers Instagram (and a host of other social networks) behind the scenes.
Instagram is not alone. Many market-disrupting companies like Airbnb, Uber and Netflix also run on Linux and open-source software.
12. In-Car Entertainment
From the Tesla Model S to the 2013 Cadillac XTS, many cars are turning to Linux to power their in-car infotainment systems.
13. In-Flight Entertainment
Oh yeah, it’s not just cars that get to have all the nerdy fun. Plenty of in-flight entertainment systems aboard airplanes run Linux, including that used by Delta Air Lines.
Next time you’re whizzing across the planet in a metal tube pay extra attention to the screen in front of you: it could be powered by open-source.
14. Digital Signage
From advertising screens to train station terminals: Linux is used in a variety of kiosk and signage situations around the world — far too many to list individually!
There’s (naturally — this is the internet!) an entire Tumblr dedicated to Linux in public.
15. Self Driving Cars
Google’s autonomous car computers run Linux, as do prototype self-driving vehicles from General Motors (GM) and Volkswagen.
16. Smart Electric Motorbike
The Mavizen TTX02 was more than the first electric-powered racing bike to come on the scene. Keeping the electro-bike firmly up to speed was an on-board computer running Linux. This has a USB port and Wi-Fi to allow real-time system feedback, manual tuning and other monitoring to take place.
17. Smart Refrigerators
ChillHub is a smart fridge that runs on Ubuntu – but it’s not the only cool kitchen appliance kitted out with Tux. The Electrolux fridge released in early 2010 also uses Linux to keep things nice and chilled.
18. Washing Machines
Newer washing machines come with all sorts of fancy features, from load-sensitive scales that adjust the amount of water needed, to programmable washes that kick in at a certain time. And powering much of those on-board brains is Linux.
Samsung is a big user of Linux in its range of modern washing machines.
19. Advanced Air Traffic Control
The Federal Aviation Administration of the United States switched to Linux back in 2006. It runs custom-built software to manage and display air traffic flow – software that runs on Linux.
20. Chromebooks
You’d be surprised how many people think Chromebooks run Android, but they don’t. Chromebooks run Chrome OS, which is a custom-made Linux distribution based on (if heavily modified from) a Gentoo package base (though it was initially based on Ubuntu).
21. Japanese High Speed Trains
The Shinkansen “Bullet Train” is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan that hit pretty breathtaking speeds of 240–320 km/h.
To keep things running smoothly the Shinkansen employs a centralized traffic control to keep all train operations – and all tasks relating to train movement, track, station, schedule, etc. – networked and computerized.
And what do these system run on? Yup, you guessed it: Linux!
22. The New York Stock Exchange
The world’s financial exchanges have long been fans of open-source software and Linux thanks to its ability to perform, transact and analyse calculations, quotes, prices and messages at lightning fast speed.
23. U.S. Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the single biggest customer of Red Hat Linux.
The military (!) are enthusiastic about open source software, with one military bigwig calling it a vital part “of the integrated network fabric which connects and enables our command and control system to work effectively, as people’s lives depend on it.”
24 Nuclear submarines
Way back in 2004, Lockheed Martin gave the US government a nuclear submarine powered by Red Hat Linux. Linux is used to power the submarine’s on-board sonar systems.
If it was running Windows I don’t think I’d be able to sleep as soundly!
And Finally…
25. Your Computer
The most important thing that Linux runs is you—well, your computer. It’s everyday people using Linux to do humdrum and wonderful things, mood depending, that has lead to the “not big and professional” project becoming just that.
Linux’s flexibility, adaptability, and open-source license gives it an enviable advantage versus closed-source, rigid kernels whose use and malleability is stifled by licensing, redistribution, and other monetarily-minded restrictions.
This article on Linux was, of course, written on Linux. It is hosted on a server that runs Linux. And, chances are, you are reading it from Linux, in a browser whose backend infrastructure or code repo runs on Linux.
Cheesy thought it is, the most powerful thing Linux will ever power is your potential to do, as Linus himself did, whatever you want to do.