Linux is used for everything. Since any Linux distribution is assembled from different bricks, you can find distributions:
- for home everyday use (e.g. Ubuntu);
- for reanimating old hardware (e.g. put Calculate for weak computers in school classrooms);
- for enterprise servers;
- for supercomputers;
- for fault-tolerant stations for uninterrupted operation;
- for security and encryption systems;
- for creating a network of computers for parallel computing;
- for maintaining alarms, smart homes and neighborhoods;
- for routers and other computer hardware;
- for robots and robotics.
If what you need isn’t on the list, you can make your own distribution or base it on something and put the software you need on it. This is what makes Linux a universal operating system for everything.
Can you play games on Linux
Generally speaking, yes, but with restrictions. Here are the options:
- You can play retro games using any of the dozens of console emulators.
- You can play some PC games with a Windows emulator (e.g. Wine). The game may be sluggish depending on what hardware you have and what hardware the game was designed for.
- You can play games ported to SteamOS, which is Steam’s own Linux-based environment. Valve is trying to make as many games as possible for this platform because their future SteamDeck console depends on it, so it’s still possible to play some top-end games.
- It is possible to play games developed directly for Linux.
What about specialized hardware and software?
Linux has a lot of professional software for working with graphics, video and sound. It is not as much as Adobe or Apple, but it can do its job.
Gradually software manufacturers realize the importance of Linux and make full-fledged versions of their software for it. For example, Blackmagic made a full version of the Davinci Resolve video editing program for Linux.
The compatibility with specialized hardware is questionable: there is a hardware which works only on Linux. And there is some hardware which has no drivers for Linux at all.