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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Are there any things in Linux that need to be started over from scratch? (lemmy.ca)

submitted 7 months ago by sepulcher@lemmy.ca to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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I'm curious how software can be created and evolve over time. I'm afraid that at some point, we'll realize there are issues with the software we're using that can only be remedied by massive changes or a complete rewrite.

Are there any instances of this happening? Where something is designed with a flaw that doesn't get realized until much later, necessitating scrapping the whole thing and starting from scratch?

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[–] sepulcher@lemmy.ca -1 points 7 months ago (29 children)

It's what happens when you put theory over practicality.

[–] deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz -3 points 7 months ago (28 children)

What we wanted: Wayland.

What we needed: X12, X13...

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 4 points 7 months ago (2 children)

The X standard is a really big mess

[–] deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

That's kind of what I was trying to imply.

We needed a new X with some of the archaic crap removed. I.e. no one needs X primitives anymore, everything is its own raster now (or whatever it's called).

Evolving X would have given us incremental improvements over time... Eventually resulting in something like Wayland.

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 0 points 7 months ago

You can't evolve something that old.

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