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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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The last time I looked at this, it did not really add up. The “lack of supoort” was more for BIOS boot than anything. When they say “Linux”, they mean their ancient implementation of it.
It would be a real shame if Linux lost foothold in its own country out of ignorance and bias.
Reading the FAQs, the whole situation smacks of changing for the sake of change. It seems like some important functionality of the old system isn't available in the new system, but they're pushing it through regardless. Combined with this downplaying of Linux support, perhaps some political representatives with low technical skills have been talking to some lobbyists. And unless the Finnish school system has bought into Chromebooks in a big way, they seem unusually eager to support ChromeOS.
I wonder if the whole Secure Boot/Microsoft shim key issue is a part of this.
unless the Finnish school system has bought into Chromebooks in a big way
Yeah goverment is now giving laptops students at that level, on a loan basis. Just so that everybody has access to free study materials that are now partly of fully digital. The computers are usually, but not always chromebooks because they are cheap and chromebooks are the "student laptop" anyways.
I wonder if the whole Secure Boot/Microsoft shim key issue is a part of this.
Yeah that's part of it. The boot issues with usb. It's apparently a total lottery of whose computer decides not to boot when the exam starts with the new windows limitations.
Having worked as an admin for both systems, this absolutely sucks... The cost of running these servers is going to at least quadruple due to the new system requirements, and tens of thousands of USB sticks are going to become e-waste.
We used to run these servers on old laptops, but now with the new system requirements (which I won't disclose here, as I am not sure if they have been publically stated yet) the cost of running these servers is going to quadruple for most institutions, moreso for ones buying it as SaaS from OpinSys.
Not a fan AT ALL, but hey, at least I have 200 stickers advertising the new version 🙄
Kids are getting extremely dumb with computers.
This doesn’t make any sense. Web apps are by their nature universal, but even if you needed to target individual OSes for some reason the app engines that one would use like Edge Webview or Electron run on all the OSes mentioned…
The only way this really makes sense is if they are going with something stupid like Lockdown Browser which, while based on chromium as far as I know, has no official Linux support.
The Finnish Marticulation Examination
It's 'matriculation', right? Both times? Is that part of the test?
Yeah, sounds right.
I mean if the current system is truly ancient and doesn't support UEFI I could imagine it ceasing to work, or something like that. But that should be easy enough to fix.
It would be disappointing if the county where Linux was born moved away from it out of ignorance.
It may be that when they say newer hardware “cannot run Linux” they actually mean that their system, that requires a BIOS, will not run.
UEFI support would be such a trivial feature to add
It could also be that some students have ARM laptops, and they've got an x86 version of Debian.
ARM laptops, and they’ve got an x86 version of Debian.
I feel like Raspberry Pi OS (formerly Raspbian) a lot of that is already addressed, including package availability. Few years ago it was tricky but now, a LOT is available due to the success of ARM on phones, tablets, etc.
Oh I'm aware, I just wanted to add to the trivial list of issues. But I think there might still be issues with some Snapdragon CPUs.
You can't spend and earn millions by doing simple bug fixes and simply Debian version bump so they needed to make something.
Easy fix, forbid the sales of computers in Finland that do not let user boot on the OS of choice, including of course Abitti.
Sure a small percentage of Fins might not buy their computers in the country via a national online shop but I bet it's a minority.
For the few who still do, make a RPi5 or equivalent available instead of a USB stick. It's a bit more expensive but not so much.
That would require banning like 70% of comouter market (yes phones etc. are computers and I'm tired of pretending they're not)
I agree that computers are phone but in this specific context I don't believe that would fit. Do people take an exam on a phone? Actual people I mean, not few hackers who (rightfully) believe it's an interesting technical feat. Also IMHO for phones to be considered computers then isn't a locked bootloader ALSO precisely a problem?
So... sure get it fixed for phones too!
If Apple managed to switch it's own hardware port to USB-C this seems relatively simple in comparison.
I would think any webapp based system is going to leave more room for cheating.
Unless they mean something like the Respondus rootkit
https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/best-way-to-use-respondus-lockdown-browser-for-school/26098
IMO some exams should just be proctored in person
And on paper.
Is this because it's getting difficult for students to mess with the boot options?
Yes, it is listed as one of the disadvantages of the current approach in page 5 of this report. But I think the main reason is that the students can't boot at all with newer computers.
They claim that to be, but in my experience I have had maybe two students ask me for help with boot options, out of around 2-4 thousand? This was at a college with no computer science program, and most people being not very savvy with technology.
The ones asking for hekp usually had some old Macbook with weird boot menus
News like this gives me intrusive thoughts that Linux might be dying..
if anything, linux is now the youngest it has ever been (in terms of younger people using it, earlier it was almost all neckbeards, and i only have a tiny beard)
I think the Debian Fedora and Arch groups are the most diverse they’ve ever been.