What is OpenKylin?

About OpenKylin:

• It is China’s first open-source desktop operating system (OS).
• It is a Linux-based operating system built by a community of about 4,000 developers.
• OpenKylin users have access to the software’s lines of code and can modify them as they wish, unlike Microsoft and Apple, which keep the workings of Windows and MacOS systems secret.

What is an open-source operating system (OS)?

• An Open-source OS is the OS in which source code is visible publically and editable.  
• The generally known Operating Systems like Microsoft’s Windows, Apple’s iOS and Mac OS, are closed OS.
• Closed Operating Systems are built with numerous codes and complex programming and that is called source code. This source code is kept secret by the respective companies (owners) and inaccessible to third parties. In the case of an Open Source Operating system, everyone can access and edit the source code.

Pros and Cons of Open-Source Operating Systems:

• Pros:
• Cost-efficient – Most of the Open-Source OS is free. And some of them are available at a very cheap rate than the commercial closed products.
• Reliable and efficient – Most of them are monitored by thousands of eyes since the source code is public. So, if there is any vulnerability or bugs, they are fixed by the best developers around the world.
• Flexibility– The greatest advantage is you can customize it as per your need and there is creative freedom.
• Cons:
• Security risk – Though the bugs are identified, there is a risk of attacks as the source code is available to the attackers.
• Complicated – It is not user-friendly as the closed ones. You need to have the minimum technical knowledge to use this software.
• Lack of support – If you meet with the problem, then there is no customer support to help you out.

Q1) What is Source Code?

Source code is the set of instructions and statements written by a programmer using a computer programming language. This code is later translated into machine language by a compiler. The translated code is referred to as object cod.

Source: China introduces indigenous computer operating system: All the details

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