this post was submitted on 19 Apr 2025
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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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All my homies who were into it were like “everything is free you just have to compile it yourself”
And I was like “sounds good but I cannot”
Then all the cool distros got mature and feature laden.
If you were a competent computer scientist it was rad.
If you were a dummy like me who just wanted to play star craft and doom you wasted a lot of time and ended up reinstalling windows.
I learned how to make a dual boot machine first.
My friend wanted to get me to install it, but he had a 2nd machine to run Windows on. So we figured out how to dual boot.
And then we learned how to fix windows boot issues 😮💨
We mostly did it for the challenge. Those Linux Magazine CDs with new distros and software were a monthly challenge of "How can I install this and also not destroy my ability to play Diablo?"
I definitely have lost at least one install to getting stuck in vim, flailing the keyboard and writing garbage data into a critical config file before rebooting.
Modern Linux is amazing in comparison, you can use it for essentially any task and it still has a capacity for customization that is astonishing.
The early days were interesting if you like getting lost in the terminal and figuring things out without a search engine. Lots of trial and error, finding documentation, reading documentation, etc.
It was interesting, but be glad you have access to modern Linux. There's more to explore, better documentation, and the capabilities that you can pull in are still astonishing.
I love modern cli Linux distros.
I am about to plunge into desktop Linux this year.
Linux phone, pc and tablets only for me from now on
Death to oligarch business!
What do you use? Daily driver?
I have not chosen yet.
I am between purism Librem 5 (expensive) and pinephone (cheap)
I am leaning to pinephone since it’s so cheap if I hate it it won’t ruin me
Let me know if you get your Pinephone working well enough to daily-drive, 'cause I've got one sitting around collecting dust.
Have you considered SailfishOS?
Personally I recommend getting a Sony Xperia and installing it yourself.
SFOS has been my daily driver for 5 years now.
I paid €49 for the license, so it's a bargain right now at 24.90, and my latest device, an xperia x10ii, cost just €60.
Which linux phone is practical?
Almost all of them lack good hardware and feel overpriced.
I use SailfishOS on a Sony Xperia. 50€ for the SFOS license, 60€ for the phone.
Which iPhone isn’t overpriced lol
I like librem 5 for the features but it is expensive.
I like pinephone for the price.