Running Linux

There exist multiple possibilities to run Linux and Linux tools (like OpenRefine, Pywikibot).

Platforms

• ChromeOS Linux container (on Chromebook)
• Linux distributions: Debian, Linux Mint, Red Hat, Ubuntu, possibly on virtual platforms
• Raspberry Pi OS (native)
• Oracle VirtualBox (on Windows, or Linux)
• Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is part of Windows
• Wikimedia solutions:
  • Via a browser: PAWS
  • SSH shell: Toolforge

Overview

Advantages and Disadvantages

Parameter	DIY	Hosted options
Complexity	Complex	Easy
Control	Total control	Instant availability, less options
Flexibility	Great flexibility	Only get what is available
Hardware	Physical hardware required	Virtual or shared infrastructure
Knowledge	Technical knowledge required	Simple to use, readily available
Security	At your own risk	Platform responsibility