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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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Linux in the military (lemmy.world)

submitted 4 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

58 comments fedilink hide all child comments

So it's no secret that some parts of the army in the USA and my country (UK) sometimes use legacy software like DOS for niche roles as they're robust including older versions of Windows.

But.. where does Linux fit in this? It's a kernel OS that's used in top of the line supercomputers, workstations, medical equipment and weather stations.

I imagine some aspects of this would be military secrets but how do they use it? I know that Linux was used for certain space projects with NASA but I'm talking about army applications.

TLDR : Does the penguin OS power shooty shooty machines and tanks

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[–] [email protected] 19 points 4 months ago (3 children)

There are many reasons Microsoft software is only "good" (and I'm using that word loosely) in business and home settings. Can you imagine a rocket taking off and windows suddenly "rebooting to complete updates" (or whatever it is that it says along those lines)?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Running a full OS on a rocket? Why? It's mostly some embedded stuff, some kind of arduino.

The launching platform though... maybe a minimalist OS with a curses interface.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

That's a real brain fuck. Now I need to go research this.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Rockets probably use a dedicated OS that is safety validated. Getting something validated for critical operations is a massive endeavor.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago

Not only is it hard to get certified for things like rockets but they usually use a realtime os like red hawk (a red hat fork).

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Correct, missiles use something like RTEMS, which is named because it was used for missiles (no really, it originally stood for Real Time Executive for Missile Systems) and the operating demands for missiles have to be real-time given their unique edge cases.

Disclaimer: I worked on RTEMS in College

[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Obligatory https://youtu.be/xDLvUqhwHZc

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

I'll watch it right now and come back. BRB.

Edit: now I have to "arrr" that series and watch it. 🤣🤣