Linux

48397 readers

1013 users here now

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.

Rules

Posts must be relevant to operating systems running the Linux kernel. GNU/Linux or otherwise.
No misinformation
No NSFW content
No hate speech, bigotry, etc

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

founded 5 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

899

The year of Linux on the desktop is closer. Linux reaches 3% of desktops (web.archive.org)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

187 comments fedilink hide all child comments

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[+] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (4 children)

[deleted]

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (3 children)

True, but Apple has already pivoted to being the "privacy-friendly" OS/devices. Whether or not that's true--I don't know for certain (I have a hunch, though)--they have much more visibility and influence and marketing, and therefore will cement themselves in people's minds that way.

Besides, I like the idea of Linux existing outside the capitalist paradigm; instead of competing with the big names in the market, it's on the outskirts playing its own game and absolutely crushing it. It has survived decades based almost entirely on word of mouth between computer nerds instead of vying for attention in the mainstream. As a technology it has achieved the platonic ideal: it is so good at what it does that it doesn't need marketing, it survives solely on reputation and quality and user upkeep.