this post was submitted on 09 Oct 2025
414 points (100.0% liked)

Linux

58903 readers
845 users here now

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.

Rules

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

founded 6 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] OctopusNemeses@lemmy.world -1 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Will there ever be an app ecosystem for Linux phones. I don't see how could happen. I'm talking actual apps like banking or payment systems. Institutional software such as government apps that requires a stable platform. Not a janky Linux system that is prone to breakage every few updates or scatter across different distros. Seems like the year of the linux desktop meme could end up morphing into the year of the linux phone.

[–] Hazematman@lemmy.ca 13 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Why can't we just use banking websites? You don't need an app ecosystem for that. They just need to build a responsive website that will work on a computer or phone. If you have bank to bank transfer (like e-transfer in Canada) that can be done from the mobile website as well.

Payment like NFC payment is a different story. I suspect its unlikely we ever see that.

[–] pmk@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Banks sometimes need a 2FA app, this is what some people need "banking apps" for. The bank website itself is trivial to just use, but you need to be able to log in. In sweden, much of society, from fetching a post package to booking an appointment with a doctor or getting a bus ticket, relies on this 2FA app. You can barely function in society without this app.

[–] Hazematman@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

It's unfortunate that sweden decided to lock 2FA behind proprietary smartphone apps.

For every country its going to be a different story. I think instead of trying to build an app ecosystem for things like bank apps on linux it would be easier for citizens of those countries to convince the government / banks to allow other 2FA methods like OTPs that can work on any a device using an OTP client. That would honestly benefit more people as whole since they wouldn't be lock down to just Android/Apple or even owning a smartphone. They could do all their important government/finance stuff just with a computer.

[–] pmk@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 2 hours ago

I agree on all points.

[–] iopq@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

I wish everyone would just switch to standard OTPs

[–] AndrewZabar@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago

Exactly. And as I said in another comment, you can make a wrapper for it if their website is not the most mobile-friendly. Any browser can handle everything beneath the skin.

[–] AndrewZabar@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago

Well, they all have standard web interfaces, and so many apps are merely wrappers for it or a rebuilt front-end. On a Linux device one would presume you’ll have a standard web browser so all you need really is a wrapper for the website and the browser engine handles all security. Is there any reason not to just go that route?

[–] magguzu@lemmy.ml 4 points 3 days ago

Apps on Linux phones are just Linux apps that scale well.