Linux
/ˈlɪnʊks/
n. “An operating system that refuses to be owned.”
Linux is a family of open-source operating systems built around the Linux kernel, first released by Linus Torvalds in 1991. It forms the foundation of everything from servers and supercomputers to smartphones, routers, embedded devices, and developer laptops quietly running under desks worldwide.
MacOS
/ˌmæk-ō-ˈɛs/
n. “A polished surface over a deeply UNIX mind.”
macOS is Apple’s desktop operating system, designed to sit at the intersection of consumer friendliness and serious computing. It presents itself as smooth, quiet, and visually restrained — but beneath that calm exterior lives a full UNIX-based operating system capable of doing real work, real damage, and real engineering.
Windows
/ˈwɪn.doʊz/
n. “A pane of glass between humans and machines.”
Windows is a family of graphical operating systems developed by Microsoft, designed to manage computer hardware, run applications, and provide a visual interface that humans can actually tolerate. At its core, it is the mediator between silicon logic and human intention — translating clicks, keystrokes, and gestures into system calls and electrical state changes.