this post was submitted on 13 Feb 2025
320 points (97.6% liked)
Linux
50386 readers
828 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
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
That's highly subjective. Remember this is a global resource with environments different from your own.
I fail to see how anyone could interpret what can only refer to holding the line as not a heroic act and a military metaphor. And that's how it's used, and that's what it means, and that's where it comes from.
And Ts'o clearly knows this as well, since it he appropriately uses it as a metaphor for keeping chaos at bay and out of the kernel.
In the same way a swastika is no longer linked to an ancient peace symbol.
A thin line between chaos and order. That line is blue if it's the police.
Tell me you are only familiar with stuff going on with the US and nowhere else without telling me.
How does this comment say anything about that?
Its literally the first thing in the wiki page. "Line" between apposing forces is the "order". ie Mantainers in this case.
The first time I heard the phrase was from a TV show with Mr Bean when I was like 9 or 10.
As another commenter said, I think the article guy is a bit sensitive or took it the wrong way, since "the thin blue line" when talking about maintainers is very much like they are acting as defense to "outside" forces. Whether that is good or bad for Linux, is debated.