this post was submitted on 04 Apr 2024
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Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

who else should be a significant backer for an open source project? google? microsoft?

[–] [email protected] -4 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Things get weird as corporations increasingly have power comparable to nation states.

But, generally, I would rather a megacorporation than a government. Because megacorps are at least "smart enough" to pretend they aren't trying to take over the world. Whereas governments have a tendency to justify a lot of horrible shit for righteous reasons.

But, in a perfect world? I would rather a wide range of different donors and backers but mostly clustering around maybe fortune 500 companies instead of fortune 10?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago

Because megacorps are at least “smart enough” to pretend they aren’t trying to take over the world.

there are enough examples for corps doing evil things. You hear about them less often, because they cover their tracks and the outcry is generally smaller than when governments do similar things.

Whereas governments have a tendency to justify a lot of horrible shit for righteous reasons.

corps justify a lot of horribble shit for financial reasons. Is that better?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago

Corporations can also act on behalf, or on the orders of nation states. So you don't solve anything, if a state wants to get involved, it will. You have the additional cons that corporations tend to cater to their financial interests anyway, while a public institution might not always have ulterior motives.