this post was submitted on 01 Mar 2024
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Linux

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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.

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[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 27 points 8 months ago (1 children)

There's also more chances of FOSS being developed for Linux if more people use it. FOSS is better the more popular it gets.

[–] const_void@lemmy.ml 2 points 8 months ago (2 children)

This seems like wishful thinking to me. Is there any data that supports that with more users comes more FOSS developers?

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 16 points 8 months ago

I'm not sure you need data to understand that if more people use a product, there's a greater chance someone will develop FOSS for it, as FOSS developers tend to also be users.

[–] jollyrogue@lemmy.ml 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Bigger platforms attract more devs.

The BSDs don’t have the dev resources of Linux simply because Linux has a much larger install base.

[–] scratchandgame@lemmy.ml 1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

The BSDs don’t have the dev resources of Linux simply because Linux has a much larger install base.

Really?

I don't think OpenBSD is as funded as Debian but it could maintain software like OpenSSH (even the portable version for Linux and Windows); LibreSSL (still not much used, but funded because of this), OpenSMTPD.

But OpenBSD can maintain its ports which in my opinion is relatively large (no update for -release, sorry :) ). And base. For so many hardware platform. Even VAX until 6.9

[–] jollyrogue@lemmy.ml 1 points 8 months ago

Yeah, really. OpenBSD punches above its weight. There are many things they would like todo, but don’t have the resources.