The key role of Linux in finding the Higgs boson

find / -t boson -n higgs

The representative of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) spoke at the Reddit forum with a thank-you speech to Linux (specifically, the Scientific Linux and Ubuntu distributions), which played a key role in the discovery of the new boson. "We used Linux daily to conduct our analyzes, along with many Open Source programs, such as ROOT , and a grid based on Linux, in which experimental data processing was carried out."

“Theoretically, we could use Windows or a device to process characters written on a tape, but Linux was chosen precisely because it is best suited for this work,” explains the scientist. - This is a standard platform for parallel computing, and the Large Hadron Collider generates a huge amount of information for processing, so our choice is dictated by the same logic that operates when choosing Linux for parallel computing. Naturally, it is important that the operating system is free, open and reliable (Scientific Linux is mainly Red Hat Linux). ” A CERN representative noted the support of Alpine and OpenAFS in the Scientific Linux distribution.



Another goal was to enable each research laboratory to create its own distribution, without touching the main base. They used Anaconda's scripts and installer to easily create their own distribution based on Scientific Linux.
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Linux @ CERN