Linux also has its bugs, that is: there is no perfect operating system

The perfect operating system doesn't exist. What seems almost a banality actually hides a reality often underestimated by users of operating systems, that is, behind each software there are different design and implementation approaches, with different assumptions and purposes. The provocative title stems from the writer's personal experience leads to all-round reasoning about the world of operating systems.

Operating systems: which is the best?

Often one wonders: what is the best operating system? Some say Windows, some macOS, some Linux, some FreeBSD, Android, iOS, QNX, Plan9 or Syllable, or maybe SkyOS or Haiku. The offer of operating systems is extremely varied, even in the purely consumer sector; in business and embedded it is even more varied. But what makes one operating system better than another?

The answer is that … there is no answer. At least not a single one. The writer prefers to use Linux on his computers because of its lightness, modularity and possibility of customization. But these elements may not be shared by others, who prefer instead to have the boundless Windows software park or the macOS user experience. All these positions are equally valid and meritorious, because they start from different assumptions and respond to different needs. To answer the previous question more correctly, you should therefore ask for a return: what should be done with the computer (be it desktop, server or smartphone) on which the operating system is used?

If you have to pilot a robotic arm with poor computing power, Linux is probably preferable, while for a music workstation, macOS is preferable and to manage a large number of computers with clear and centrally defined policies, Windows is better. These are then general indications, which do not necessarily correspond to what is actually used.

Each platform has its strengths, but also its flaws. The personal experience I referred to at the outset is that of a bug in a Linux kernel module that causes the touchpads of some laptops to stop working when you insert a USB device into any port. In my specific case it is an HP EliteBook 745 G5 equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 2500U processor, which is connected with the touchpad via i2c protocol. A malfunction in the i2c controller driver causes a conflict with the USB ports, which causes the kernel to disable both the touchpad and the USB ports. A situation far from ideal if you do not have the skills to analyze the cause of the problem and understand how to solve it (in this case the only solution is still the restart).

However, problems like this are widespread on all systems and lead to malfunctions whose cause is not always easily identifiable. There are countless cases of software or hardware not working even on Windows or macOS for the most disparate causes.

An evaluation of the operating system to choose from therefore it cannot disregard an all-round analysis of the situation, especially in the business environment: we must take into account the skills present in the company, the needs of users, the software that must be performed, compatibility with the hardware, the required level of security, possible integration between various platforms, compatibility with software already purchased , the control that is necessary on the various machines, the license costs. The variables to consider don't stop there, but this short list gives an idea of ​​the main ones.

Anyhow compromises will have to be made, whether of cost, functionality or ease of management. It is therefore always good to keep in mind that there is no operating system – or software, more generally – better than any other, but only a better operating system to perform a certain task in a given situation.