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Nerav Doshi
Nerav Doshi

Posted on • Originally published at pipelineandprompts.com

Linux: The Operating System That Runs the Internet

#linux #beginners #terminal #devops

Pipeline & Prompts | Byte size guides on DevOps, Cloud and AI

The Day I Realised Linux Was Everywhere

When I first started working in Cloud and Infrastructure, I assumed most servers ran Windows — because that's what I grew up using on my laptop. Then I got access to my first cloud environment and was greeted with a black screen, a blinking cursor, and absolutely no Start menu in sight.

That was my introduction to Linux.

I typed dir (the Windows command for listing files) and got an error. I tried clicking around and realised there was nothing to click. Just me, a terminal, and a lot to learn.

If that sounds familiar — or if you want to avoid that moment of panic entirely — this article is for you.

So What Actually is Linux?

Linux is an operating system, just like Windows or macOS. It controls the hardware of a computer and lets software run on top of it.

But here's the key difference. Linux is:

  • Free and open source — anyone can use it, modify it, and build on it
  • Lightweight — it runs efficiently even on minimal hardware
  • Incredibly stable — servers running Linux often go years without needing a restart

This is why Linux powers roughly 96% of the world's web servers. When you visit Google, stream on Netflix, or order on Amazon — you are talking to a Linux server.

In the Cloud world, virtually every virtual machine, container, and Kubernetes cluster runs on Linux. If you are going into DevOps or Cloud, Linux is not optional. It is the foundation everything else is built on.

The Terminal: Your New Best Friend

On Windows you point and click. On Linux, you type commands into a terminal — a text based interface that lets you control the system directly.

This feels scary at first. But think of it like learning keyboard shortcuts. Once you know them, you never want to go back to clicking through menus.

Here are the Linux commands every beginner must know. These are the ones I use almost every single day in Cloud and Infrastructure work:

Moving around the file system 

pwd          # Shows where you currently are (Print Working Directory)
ls           # Lists files and folders in your current location
ls -la       # Lists everything including hidden files with details
cd /etc      # Change directory — navigate into a folder
cd ..        # Go back one level up
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Working with files 

touch notes.txt        # Create an empty file
mkdir my-project       # Create a new folder
cp notes.txt backup/   # Copy a file
mv notes.txt docs/     # Move a file (also used to rename)
rm notes.txt           # Delete a file (careful — no recycle bin!)
cat notes.txt          # Read the contents of a file
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System information 

whoami                        # Shows which user you are logged in as
df -h                         # Shows disk space usage
top                           # Live view of processes (like Task Manager)
ssh user@your-server-ip       # Connect to a remote cloud server
grep "error" logs.txt         # Search for specific text inside a file
tail -f /var/log/syslog       # Watch a log file update in real time
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The Mistakes I See Beginners Make (And I Made Too)

Mistake 1: Using rm -rf without thinking

This command deletes files and folders instantly and permanently. There is no undo. I once watched a colleague accidentally delete an entire project directory because they ran it in the wrong folder. The command is useful but treat it like a chainsaw — powerful, and dangerous if you are not paying attention.

Mistake 2: Ignoring file permissions

Linux has a strict permissions system that controls who can read, write, or run a file. When something is not working and you can not figure out why, nine times out of ten in Cloud environments it is a permissions issue. Learn the chmod and chown commands early.

Mistake 3: Thinking the terminal is only for experts

The terminal looks intimidating but it is just a different way of talking to your computer. Every command you run is simply an instruction in plain English abbreviated. ls = list. cd = change directory. pwd = print working directory. Once you see the pattern, it clicks.

How Linux Connects to DevOps and Cloud

Everything in the DevOps world sits on top of Linux:

Docker containers run on a Linux kernel. When you spin up a container — whether on your laptop or in the cloud — it is using Linux underneath even if your laptop runs Windows or Mac.

Cloud servers on AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud are almost always Linux by default. When you launch a virtual machine in AWS, the most common choice is Amazon Linux or Ubuntu — both Linux distributions.

CI/CD pipelines — the automated systems that test and deploy your code — run their jobs inside Linux environments. The scripts you write, the tools you install, the paths you reference — all Linux.

Kubernetes — the container orchestration platform we will cover later in this series — is built entirely around Linux concepts. Understanding how Linux handles processes, networking, and file systems makes Kubernetes far less mysterious.

In short, Linux is not just one skill. It is the lens through which all of DevOps and Cloud makes more sense.

Try It Right Now — No Installation Needed

You do not need to install anything to start practising Linux today. Use one of these free browser based tools:

  • Play with Docker — gives you a free Linux terminal in your browser
  • JSLinux — a Linux environment running entirely in your browser
  • Replit — create a free account and open a bash terminal

Open one of these, try the commands from this article, and see what happens. The best way to learn Linux is simply to use it.

Quick Recap

Here is what we covered today:

  • Linux is the operating system that powers 96% of web servers and virtually all cloud infrastructure
  • The terminal is how you control Linux — it feels scary but becomes second nature quickly
  • The essential commands are ls, cd, pwd, mkdir, cp, mv, rm, and cat
  • Common beginner mistakes include using rm -rf carelessly and ignoring file permissions
  • Linux is the foundation of Docker, Cloud, CI/CD, and Kubernetes — everything we will cover in this series

What's Next?

← Previous: What is DevOps? A Plain English Guide

Next up: Git — The Tool That Saves Your Code and Your Career — the tool that tracks every change ever made to your code and lets teams collaborate without stepping on each other's work.

I'll also share the story of how I accidentally committed directly to the main branch early in my Cloud career and nearly triggered a production deployment. It's a mistake almost everyone makes once — and after reading Article 3, you'll never make it.

Found this useful? Share it with someone just getting started in tech and follow along for a new article every week.

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