this post was submitted on 21 Mar 2026
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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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[–] quips@slrpnk.net 1 points 7 minutes ago

Fuck Dylan Taylor

[–] trackball_fetish@lemmy.wtf 6 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Lots of disingenuous comments in this thread regarding the change being "just json" considering they're already on a warpath of implementing id verification. They are testing the water to see what they can get away with. Furthermore, the Linux community has always been against shit like this (see: systemd outrage, open bios, gnu etc).

[–] luciferofastora@feddit.org 1 points 19 minutes ago

I'll believe that if and when they actually force me to upload identification to prove that my birthday really is 1970-01-01 and my name really is Nunya Bissnis. Otherwise, it's really no different from Steam asking my birthday when opening store pages or porn sites asking "click here jf you're 18" and take my word for it.

So long as it's being enforced just as well as the realName field, I maintain that it is indeed harmless. If the point is to have a hilariously ineffective solution as a fig leaf against a stupid law, I'll prefer that to efforts to actually implement verification.

[–] gasull@lemmy.ml 6 points 3 hours ago

He didn't just try. He succeeded in doing so. His pull request was merged into systemd and will land into your distro eventually (if it is systemd-based).

There are distros free of systemd, like Devuan, based on Debian.

[–] beyond@linkage.ds8.zone 1 points 2 hours ago

s/Linux/systemd/g

[–] ScoffingLizard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 6 hours ago (2 children)

Can someone explain why there is a separate merge for systemd and Arch? If Arch just uses the systemd init which was already modified, then what was the separate request for?

I'm using vanilla Arch and will be pissed if I have to switch, but I will based on this. I'm not willing to give an inch.

[–] Anaeijon@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 hours ago

The systemd change 'just' adds a birthday field to the user data, where you could store (or don't) the users birthday, that then could be used by other applications to request an age bracket.

The Arch-change doesn't effect real arch Linux. It modifies the archinstall script (so, irrelevant, if you install according to Wiki) to ask the user for their birthday during installation and stores it for systemd.

[–] kieron115@startrek.website 2 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

disclaimer: linux noob here.

the separate pull request appears to be for archinstall, "a helper library which automates the installation of Arch Linux." it would collect user age during installation.... somehow?

[–] pglpm@lemmy.ca 26 points 8 hours ago

Nobody paid him to do this. He's a cloud engineer who read the law and decided someone needed to implement it.

Well, how do you know that?

[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 36 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (5 children)

I disagree with age verification as well, but attacking a person like this is gross.

This article is all but brigading people into harassing this guy.

[–] quips@slrpnk.net 1 points 5 minutes ago

Yeah no how about fuck that. Politics is personal.

[–] shirro@aussie.zone 3 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

Yeah, Its is sickening and goes against the spirit of open source. We work around restrictions in creative way to give people the freedom to control their software and have access to the source. We don't deny people trapped in shitholes with bad laws access to open computing. Force them onto Windows and Apple. I don't get what is wrong with people these days. They have lost all reason.

Yes, many people can work around the laws in various ways. And some of them can't. Its not for us to judge. We offer possibilities. Everyone knows many distros will patch this field out. Many will just ignore it like we do the GECOS fields. And where it is unfortunately required it is still going to be better than running Windows. Its completely orthogonal to political participation and fighting these laws.

[–] tangonov@lemmy.ca 12 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

A spade's a spade. This is malicious compliance. The law might be the problem here but it's on us to resist and try to make a change. Every last one of us. After all, the surveillance state workers in China and Russia are all just doing their jobs right?

Why the heck would we ever want a DoB field in systemd, optional or otherwise?

[–] luciferofastora@feddit.org 1 points 18 minutes ago

The systemd PR also referred to a flatpak PR who said they had wanted that to allow for parental controls even before the law came. That's a somewhat reasonable use case, in my opinion.

[–] idriss@lemmy.ml 22 points 11 hours ago

Dylan is a lowlife fucking looser

[–] Sharkticon@lemmy.zip 18 points 11 hours ago

Ah the great betrayer. The snake in the garden. The enemy within the gates. That fucking cunt.

[–] mvirts@lemmy.world 6 points 9 hours ago

What is this, open source software for ants!?!

This whole story is ridiculous. Put it behind a compile flag and merge it, we all know first across the finish line gets bonus 5 years of standardization.

It's the law that's a problem, not the software.

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