DEV Community: Annapoorani Kadhiravan

Why Developers go behind Linux ?

Annapoorani Kadhiravan — Sun, 24 May 2026 07:34:47 +0000

What is Linux?

Linux is a free and open-source operating system created by Linus Torvalds in 1991.
An operating system (OS) is the software that manages computer hardware like CPU, memory, and storage.
Linux acts as a bridge between the user, software applications, and computer hardware.
Linux is widely used in:

servers,
supercomputers,
smartphones,
cloud systems,
and programming environments.

The core part of Linux is called the Kernel, which controls hardware, memory, files, and running processes.
Linux supports both:

GUI (Graphical User Interface) 🖱️
CLI (Command Line Interface) 💻

GUI allows users to click icons and windows, while CLI allows users to type commands directly.
Linux is famous for:

speed 🚀
security 🔐
stability 💪
customization 🎨

Different versions of Linux are called Distributions (Distros) like:

Ubuntu
Fedora
Linux Mint

Developers and companies prefer Linux because it is powerful, reliable, community-supported, and excellent for programming and servers 😄

Developers love Linux because it gives them more control, speed, flexibility, and power compared to many other operating systems 😄

Here are the main reasons why developers “go behind Linux”:

1. Open Source = Free Freedom 🔓

Linux is open source.

Meaning:

anyone can use it,
modify it,
customize it.

Developers enjoy controlling their environment instead of being restricted.

2. Terminal is Super Powerful 💻⚡

Linux terminals are extremely developer-friendly.

Commands work smoothly and efficiently.

Most programming tools are built with Linux support first. Even Android OS is build on top of Linux.

3. Faster and Lightweight 🚀

Linux usually:

uses less RAM,
runs faster,
performs well even on older systems.

So developers can focus more on coding instead of system lag 😄

4. Best for Programming & Servers 🌐

Most servers on the internet run Linux.

Examples:

websites,
cloud servers,
databases,
DevOps systems.

So learning Linux helps developers work in real-world environments.

5. Better for Web Development 🔥

Technologies like:

Node.js
Docker
Kubernetes
Python
Git

work very naturally on Linux. Installation also very easy.

6. Highly Customizable 🎨

Developers can customize:

themes,
shortcuts,
desktops,
workflows,
terminal appearance.

Linux feels like:

"Build your own operating system experience"

7. Great for Cybersecurity & Networking 🔐

Many cybersecurity tools are designed mainly for Linux.

Popular among:

ethical hackers,
DevOps engineers,
cloud engineers,
backend developers.

8. Stability 💪

Linux systems can run for months without restarting.

That’s why companies trust Linux servers heavily.

Developers prefer Linux because it is:

fast,
powerful,
customizable,
programming-friendly,
and widely used in real-world software development environments

Almost every developer who moved from Microsoft Windows to Linux had some doubts initially.

But here’s the interesting part:

Most Linux users were once scared Windows users too 😄

Let’s clear every fear one by one.

1. “Windows performance is better than Linux”

Actually, in many cases Linux performs better.

Linux usually:

uses less RAM,
consumes fewer background resources,
boots faster,
stays smooth for longer periods.

Example:

Windows → many background services
Linux → lightweight and optimized

That’s why old laptops often become fast again after installing Linux 🚀

2. “Linux is not user friendly, command based”

Old Linux? Maybe 😄
Modern Linux distributions are very user-friendly.

Examples:

Ubuntu
Linux Mint
Zorin OS

look and feel similar to Windows.

You can:

click apps,
use settings,
browse files,
install software graphically.

Terminal is optional at the beginning.

Think of it like:

Terminal is a superpower, not a compulsory punishment 😄

3. “Storage for 2 OS”

You do NOT need two operating systems immediately.

You can start with:

Virtual Machine (safest),
Live USB,
or Dual Boot later.

Best beginner approach:

Windows + VirtualBox + Ubuntu

No risk to your laptop.

4. “No idea about installation”

Nobody knew initially 😄

Modern Linux installation is mostly:

Next → Next → Install

especially with Ubuntu.

There are thousands of YouTube tutorials too.

5. “Virus affected”

Linux is generally much safer than Windows.

Reasons:

stronger permissions,
fewer malware targets,
open-source transparency.

Viruses can exist anywhere, but Linux is far less commonly infected.

6. “Familiar with Windows”

This is the biggest reason — comfort zone 😄

Imagine:

First day riding bicycle → scary
After one week → normal

Linux feels strange only initially.

After some practice:

navigation becomes easy,
commands become natural,
you start loving the speed and control.

7. “No idea about Linux”

That’s exactly why you should try it 😄

Nobody learns Linux by “already knowing Linux.”

Start small:

learn folders,
basic commands,
install apps,
use terminal slowly.

Within 2–3 weeks:

You stop fearing Linux.

8. “Installation issues — Partition”

This fear is valid 👍

Partition mistakes can affect data.

So beginners should:

backup important files,
avoid direct dual boot initially,
start with Virtual Machine first.

Safest learning order:

Virtual Machine → Live USB → Dual Boot

This avoids stress completely.

9. “What about my laptop process management?”

Linux usually handles processes very efficiently.

In fact many developers feel:

Linux makes laptop fans calmer 😄

You also get better control over:

CPU usage,
background apps,
memory management.

Tools like:

top
htop

show exactly what’s running.

The Biggest Truth 😄

Most developers don’t switch to Linux because:

"Linux is cool"

They switch because:

development tools work better,
servers use Linux,
programming feels smoother,
automation becomes easier.

Beginner Advice 🚀

Do NOT immediately delete Windows.

Start safely:

Install VirtualBox
Run Ubuntu inside it
Explore slowly
Break things safely 😄
Learn without fear

References :
https://www.redhat.com/en/topics/linux/what-is-linux
https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/linux

Does Front End need HTML, CSS? - Part - 2

Annapoorani Kadhiravan — Sun, 24 May 2026 07:33:50 +0000

Hope, you are here to know more about the structure of HTML and CSS ! 🤞
How does a webpage look like?

Even this blog is a webpage, you can view the title on the top, heading and body content here. Let me show you how to view as developer!

How simple it is? Yes, we are going to structure the same but in browser understandable language! Here we go...
This is the HTML code, which is used to communicate with browser

Important Points to Remember:

Don't need to install any additional Software to use HTML/CSS
Text Editor is enough to run HTML
HTML files runs directly in browser, as they are built with the required feature to run HTML documents.

Now, we have seen the structure of HTML, let's have a look into why we structure it as above program :

The above picture, clearly explains the purpose of each and every tag or keywords used.

Wait...what is keyword here? I caught youuuu....

Yes, Keywords are reserved words, as we reserve tables in hotel and no one else can access it or use it for some other purpose, similarly, keywords are reserved words and cannot be used to any other purpose.

Detailed description :

Why Do We Use Them?

Comparing with my example 😁😄

HTML → Skeleton
HEAD → Brain/settings
BODY → Visible human body
TITLE → Name tag
META → Identity/details

Now, we have coded with basic structure but how to view the output?
As I said earlier, simple text editor is enough to run HTML files but we do have few drawbacks in using it. Let's discuss in detail along with the steps to overcome it.

Step 1 : Open a text editor, write the basic HTML code (you can use the above given code) or click here
Step 2 : Save the file as index.html by click on ctrl + S
Step 3 : go to the file location where index.html is saved, right click on it and open in browser.
Step 4 : Whatever given in the program will be displayed in the browser as output. As Shown below :

Drawback : You need to refresh browser each and everytime you make some changes in the HTML file. How to overcome it ?
Introducing our IDE here to overcome the drawback...isn't it cool?

Step 1 : Download Visual Studio Code - click here to download
Step 2 : Choose the respective OS to download the VS Code
Step 3 : Once after downloading, install it in your device and complete the setup configuration.
Step 4 : Create or Open folder, as per your requirement.
Step 5 : Go to extensions -> search "Live Server " -> choose and install
Step 6 : From now, once you write the code and save it, changes will reflect automatically in the browser.

Ufffff..... just done with basic setup and structure 😎 Lot more to gooo!

Let's take some CSS break 😜

Introduction to CSS
CSS is the language we use to style a Web page.

CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets
CSS describes how HTML elements are to be displayed on screen, paper, or in other media
CSS saves a lot of work. It can control the layout of multiple web pages all at once
External stylesheets are stored in CSS files

Why Use CSS?
CSS is used to define styles for your web pages, including the design, layout and variations in display for different devices and screen sizes.

With the previous example of HTML and the CSS, If I am not wrong, you can feel some difference in the output screen.. Which one looks more colorful and attractive ? (not made a good output but still 😅)

The One with CSS, give complete look and here you go on the purpose of using CSS in webpages.

Three types of CSS : (Listed in the order of precedence)

Inline CSS
- Styles given within the line/tag
Internal CSS
- Styles given within the file using style tag
External CSS
- separate document is created and linked to the html file

References :
https://www.w3schools.com/html/default.asp
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML
https://www.w3schools.com/css/css_intro.asp
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS

Does Front End need HTML, CSS? - Part - 1

Annapoorani Kadhiravan — Sun, 24 May 2026 07:32:48 +0000

Oops! Does Frontend Need HTML and CSS?

The answer is: Of course, yes! 😄

But why do we need them?

What is the purpose of learning HTML and CSS?

Let me explain with an example.

Imagine a world where humans roam around with only skeletons 💀

How scary would that be?

Now imagine covering those skeletons with skin.

They still cannot move, but they definitely look much better than plain skeletons 😄

Now let’s connect this idea to web pages.

A web page is nothing without its structure and design. 🤷‍♀️

Here:

HTML acts like the skeleton of a webpage.
CSS acts like the skin, clothes, and cosmetics that make it attractive and beautiful.
JavaScript gives life and movement to the webpage! ⚡

So, HTML gives structure, CSS gives style, and JavaScript adds interactivity.

Let me introduce the two — actually three — most important pillars of web pages!

Here comes our HTML — HyperText Markup Language.

Mr. Hyper communicates with the browser through a standard markup language used to create and structure the content of a webpage. Just like a skeleton gives structure to the human body!

To understand it more clearly, let’s split the abbreviation:

HYPERTEXT
HyperText refers to the links that connect web pages to one another — simple and straight! To know more, Click here

MARKUP LANGUAGE
A markup language is a system of special “tags” used to organize content and tell the browser how to display it.

I need a language to communicate with you — in this case, English.

Similarly, to communicate with browsers, we use HTML along with CSS styles.

To learn any language, we must understand its purpose and rules. Likewise, in frontend development, we follow certain rules and structures to communicate properly with browsers.

“Frontend without HTML and CSS is like trying to open a lock with a spoon 🍴🔒😄”

Haha… all the best!

Now, let’s discuss those “spoons” — sorry — the actual keys to unlock the world of Frontend Development 🔑

HTML Quick Introduction

Name: HTML — HyperText Markup Language

Version: HTML5

Invented By: Sir Tim Berners-Lee

Before jumping into structure and rules, you should be familiar with a few important terms like Metadata, Extensions, Elements, IDE, and more. We’ll catch up with the others later!

METADATA

Metadata means “data about data.”

I know that sounds confusing 😹

Let me simplify it.

Imagine an employee details form containing:

Employee ID
Employee Name
Employee Department

This structure or format used to collect information is called metadata.

The actual employee information is the data, while the format describing that data is metadata.

Hope that makes sense now 😄 Still confused ? click me

EXTENSION

When saving a file, the last 3–4 characters added after the file name represent the file type. This is called an extension.

It’s basically like introducing yourself with your family name 😄

Examples:

.html
.css
.js
.jpeg
.pdf
.doc

IDE — Integrated Development Environment

Before understanding IDEs, answer this honestly 😄

When you are extremely hungry, would you:

Eat food that is already prepared and ready to serve?
Or collect ingredients, cook everything yourself, and then eat?

Most of us would choose the ready-made meal 😹

Similarly, an IDE is a ready-to-use environment where developers can:

write code,
test applications,
debug errors,
and manage projects easily —

all in one place!

Popular IDEs include:

Visual Studio Code
IntelliJ IDEA
PyCharm
Eclipse

HTML Elements

The HTML element is everything from the start tag to the end tag:

Syntax : Content goes here...

Examples of some HTML elements:

Click here to know more - HTML ELEMENTS

The HTML structure and CSS magic will continue in the next blog 😄
For now, I’m logging out before JavaScript gains consciousness ⚡🤖

References :

w3schools.com

developer.mozilla.org