this post was submitted on 02 May 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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[–] DannyBoy@sh.itjust.works 199 points 6 months ago (2 children)

What would it look like? I'd guess Amazon ads in the search bar, proprietary package managers overriding the old open package manager, and popup ads for distribution Pro?

Wait...

[–] barbara@lemmy.ml 64 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (3 children)

Ubuntu was my first distro because ubuntu was linux for outsiders many years ago. Any other distro was only for hardcore people. I don't regret hopping around the linux world.

[–] jkrtn@lemmy.ml 57 points 6 months ago (2 children)

I also started on Ubuntu. They used to be pretty great, good device support and basically no hassle. But I am done af and not going back.

[–] DannyBoy@sh.itjust.works 11 points 6 months ago (1 children)

That's me as well, they did a lot to get newcomers in. It's just easy to poke fun at them these days.

[–] AbidanYre@lemmy.world 10 points 6 months ago

It was the only one that didn't freeze when I plugged something into the USB port on my laptop when I started 20 years ago.

I've since moved to plain Debian because of canonical's decisions.

[–] spicytuna62@lemmy.world 8 points 6 months ago (2 children)

I used Ubuntu for over 10 years. I loved it. But Canonical does have a lot of baggage. Plus, I wanted to go to the source. So that's why I use Debian. I'd still advise a new user to go for Mint if they loved the Windows UI or Ubuntu if they hated it. If you use and love Mint, I don't think anyone would criticize you for continuing to use it. If you use and love Ubuntu, I'd say Debian is a very easy next step.

[–] phx@lemmy.ca 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I used to be "Debian on the server, Ubuntu on the desktop" but recently I've spun up a few Debian boxes for desktop and I'm pleasantly surprised.

Kinda wish Valve would go for a full-out supported distro that stays in step with the Deck for Linux gamers (the old desktop SteamOS is kinda abandoned from what I can see), among with making the deck frontend a supported desktop manager. It would make sense for them to do so and rake in the game sales whilst providing a well-supported platform without the shit others are doing.

[–] zaphodb2002@sh.itjust.works 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Check out Bazzite, it's basically that. I've been using it on my desktop for gaming and development for a month or so now and it's been great.

[–] phx@lemmy.ca 1 points 6 months ago

Thanks. I'll check into it but TBH I do really prefer .DEB based distros and that one seems to be Fedora based

[–] Elkenders@feddit.uk 2 points 6 months ago

Yeah I've got Debian on the server and on my laptop and I don't know why I'd want anything more user experience focussed. It just works for me.

[–] CalcProgrammer1@lemmy.ml 17 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Same. I started really using Linux with Ubuntu 6.06 and was drawn in by its "Linux for human beings" goals - the Ubuntu homepage of the era really pushed the ideals of community and openness. Canonical sat in the background paying to send you free CDs in the mail. It was such an idealistic thing back then.

And then it all changed around 2010. The color scheme shifted to a shitty MacOS lookalike, the human elements were dropped, the logo was reworked, it got bundled with a paid music store, then Amazon ads in the search, and it's been a roller coaster on a downward spiral ever since. I switched to Debian not long after the initial enshittification in the early 2010s and have not looked back, though I moved most of my systems to Arch a few years back because I like life in the fast rolling release lane and Debian wouldn't support my new GPUs.

[–] warmaster@lemmy.world 5 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

Hey! Sorry for the offtopic comment but... Glad you made it to Lemmy, and from the bottom of my heart: thank you so much for OpenRGB.

Awesome collab with KDE, Tuxedo, looking forward to the kernel implementation !

[–] phx@lemmy.ca 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Huh? Is the previous poster an OpenRGB developer? That's cool!

[–] warmaster@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

He's the lead dev, his profile pic is the OpenRGB logo and his nickname is the same across social networks.

[–] bigmclargehuge@lemmy.world 5 points 6 months ago

I got into linux right before all the snap drama really blew up (it did exist but didn't seem to be quite as hot of a topic). I really liked my experience with Ubuntu, but seeing where Canonical has taken it, I'd never recommend it to anyone. I'd honestly advise newbies to use Debian. It's incredibly stable, has a fantastic and well established community, and has everything an average user would want without adding layers of confusion with things like snap.

[–] jjlinux@lemmy.ml 21 points 6 months ago (2 children)
[–] DannyBoy@sh.itjust.works 50 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (2 children)

Ubuntu has had all three of those things. Amazon ads in the search bar was awhile back. Not sure but I assume they still hijack installing Firefox using apt and instead install it using snap. And Ubuntu Pro popups are a new thing.

[–] jjlinux@lemmy.ml 34 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (2 children)

It's ridiculous how Ubuntu went from the easiest entry to Linux to one of the most hated distros in the community. Seriously, I'll never understand how the broken brains of their leadership even work.

[–] DannyBoy@sh.itjust.works 13 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Not so much broken as change of focus. Their focus now is money, and it's hard to turn down hundreds of millions of dollars.

[–] jjlinux@lemmy.ml 1 points 6 months ago

There are ways to not having to turn them down while still providing a good product.

[–] youngGoku@lemmy.world 9 points 6 months ago (1 children)
[–] jjlinux@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago

Ah, now it's clear. The Apple of the Linux world.

[–] Shareni@programming.dev 18 points 6 months ago (1 children)

You forgot selling user searches to amazon

[–] jjlinux@lemmy.ml 6 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Now that I was not aware of. WTF?

[–] Shareni@programming.dev 4 points 6 months ago (2 children)
[–] jjlinux@lemmy.ml 4 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

That's insane.

Does anyone know if this is still the case? This video is 11 years old, but logic and common sense tell me that, if anything, it should be even worse now.

[–] Shareni@programming.dev 7 points 6 months ago

No clue, but they did their "whoopsie, didn't know you wouldn't like it, now it's opt in" pretty quickly.

A while back I've read about some allegations that they're illegally collecting data from Azure Ubuntu instances and sending Ubuntu pro marketing material.

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