That’s why the 500 best computers in the world only have Linux installed

Despite its declining market share, Windows is still clearly the leading operating system, but the best computers in the world all use Linux. Why is that?

The market share of Windows computers is still around 75 percent – ​​remarkable. Compare that to the 1990s, when it was over 95 percent, then that’s a pretty big loss. You might think that Microsoft is gradually losing users.

While some people switch to MacOS, some users also opt for Linux. After all, the various distributions such as Mint have now become very beginner-friendly.

But even the best 500 supercomputers use Linux. Why is that?

Download: Linux Mint

Linux Mint ‘Wilma’ Cinnamon (64 Bit) 22.0

“Linux Mint” is a real entry-level Linux, which is now available in a new version 22 – codename “Wilma” in the “Cinnamon” version.
CHIP rating: Very good for download

Linux Mint ‘Wilma’ MATE (64 bit) 22.0

“Linux Mint” 22 – codename “Wilma” – is a real entry-level Linux that comes with the MATE desktop in this download.
CHIP rating: Very good for download

Top 500 computers all use Linux

The TOP500 list of the world’s most powerful supercomputers has been updated twice a year since 1993. Linux first appeared on this list in June 1998. In the 1990s, commercial versions of Unix dominated the rankings.

At that time, operating systems such as Windows and MacOS were already specialized for end-user devices. However, with the advent of Linux, a remarkable development began in the field of supercomputing.

The growth of Linux in this sector has been impressive, especially between November 2002 and November 2009, when the number of Linux-based supercomputers increased from 71 to 448.

Today Linux is undisputed market leader in the field of supercomputersso that no other operating system has made it into the top 500 since November 2017.

The reasons why Linux is perfect for supercomputers

There are many reasons why most supercomputers use Linux. Here is an excerpt:

• Resource-saving: Because Linux can be customized, performance can be maximized without running only necessary applications.

• Cost: Since Linux is free, there are licensing fees. The only investment is the time needed to customize the system for specific projects.

• Modular design: New features or modules can be added without affecting other parts of the system. This makes it easier to optimize resources and makes the system very flexible.

• Open operating system: As open source software, Linux is completely customizable. Every line of code can be changed to improve performance or fix security holes. This flexibility is a huge advantage over closed systems.

• Adaptability to workloads: Linux can be tailored to all types of workloads, making it ideal for supercomputers. This allows the system’s efficiency, consumption and performance to be precisely tuned to meet requirements.

These factors make Linux the first choice for many supercomputers around the world. However, since these are specialized operating systems, end users cannot do much with them.

This article may contain affiliate links from which Yahoo and/or the publisher may receive a commission if you purchase a product or service through those links.