this post was submitted on 16 Oct 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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Basically the title

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[–] UnfortunateShort@lemmy.world 17 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

I think you're forgetting where Linux was the most successful by far: Servers and Android. Server guys do what they want, if you tell them they can only use software you allow them to, they will laugh at you and buy their data center elsewhere. Android has had locked bootloaders forever (I actually think even my very first phone had one).

So maybe development would have been harder? I mean, we don't have looked bootloaders on desktop even today, not really locked at least, so it's hard to tell. Linux's main audience would not have cared I think.

[–] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 19 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Early Android (circa 2009) didn't have locked bootloaders.

Google wanted people to experiment, which was basically free research for them. Pixel's today are unlocked when purchased from Google.

Even my earliest Verizon phones weren't bootloader locked - they didn't start doing that for a few years (my last Verizon phone in 2012 wasn't bootloader locked). And Verizon is arguably the worst vendor when it comes to bootloader locked phones.

[–] 0x0@programming.dev 9 points 1 month ago

Google wanted people to experiment, which was basically free research for them.

Embrace, ... you know the rest.

[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

locked bootloaders are still a thing mostly on the US.

over here having them locked is the exception, not the norm.

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

What? At least two years ago, all had locked bootloaders and half of the vendors wouldn't let you unlock it. "Here" being central europe.

[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

here in south america they don't seem to be locking most of them.

granted, not all phones have an active developer porting an os to it.

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Mean, so it's a regional thing. But why do they lock in US and Europe?

[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 month ago

i know us carriers dont like bootloader unlocking. not sure about europe.