We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.

How Do I Choose the Best Open Source Operating System?

By G. Wiesen
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

In looking for an open source operating system, you should consider what types of programs you need to run with the operating system (OS) you choose. The software you want to use is one of the primary issues you should keep in mind as you look for an OS, since many programs can only work with certain systems. You should also look at the community that supports or uses any open source operating system you are interested in, to ensure as many additional features as possible. If you are interested in working on such a program, you should consider the code behind the program and choose one that you can effectively work on.

An open source operating system is an OS that is developed under an open source or public license. Such programs are developed and released without copyright protection, allowing any other users to utilize and alter such programs as they see fit. This means that an open source operating system can be changed and improved upon by numerous developers, often resulting in multiple releases, patches, and updates that occur much faster than commercial software.

As you look for the best open source operating system for your needs, however, you should keep in mind any other software you need to use on the system. Most programs are developed to function with a specific OS or sometimes with multiple systems. This means that any program you want to use on your computer needs to be compatible with the OS you are using.

You may be able to find tools or utilities that allow an open source operating system to emulate a commercial OS, allowing you to run compatible software on that system. This all depends on the OS you choose, however, and the types of tools that have been developed for it. Some of the more common open source systems have such a large and devoted community that people may create patches that allow some programs to work on the OS.

An open source operating system that you want to use with business computers should also provide you with any additional tools or utilities you may need. There are a number of open source programs that often work with open source operating systems, which can be used for a variety of business tasks. Such software includes word processing programs, software for making spreadsheets and presentations, and even financing and accounting programs.

If you are interested in changing an open source operating system you use, then you should consider the code behind any program you are interested in. Though you can effectively change any open source OS you choose, some may be easier to work with or already have some features you want. You should also consider the size of the community that supports any OS you are interested in, as this can have a tremendous impact on updates for the program and other users who can help you begin using and altering such software.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Discussion Comments

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.