this post was submitted on 27 Aug 2024
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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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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/27756512

(Apologies if the link doesn't work; Google are dicks)

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[–] [email protected] 155 points 2 months ago (5 children)

Damn who imagined that gaming would be the topic that made the FOSS OSes relevant. I don't agree on all that steam does but, they really nail it with the Steam deck and Steam Os.

A lot of people have steam deck and it helps realize that GNU/Linux is an amazing OS.

On the other hand Microsoft and Apple are doing their best to try to give more reasons to switch.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago

It actually feels like in a few years, the year of the linux desktop will become real. Not even joking.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

always has been. the one complaint ive always heard for linux is that it didnt run games and photoshop.

most games run now, and photoshop is workable on wine if you are not a professional.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Adobe's licensing model is also a paper sack of hot liquid shit. If you're gonna switch to an alternative it might as well work on Linux.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

ive never paid for photoshop though

[–] [email protected] 60 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Gaming has been the only pathway to mainstream desktop since forever. I've been around for a hot minute and I remember that consistently, the "real Linux users" for years repeated "we don't need gaming this is an adult OS go back to Windows and play with your toys" and then turned around and whined that no one wanted to use desktop Linux. Valve stepped in and casually created the year of the Linux desktop as a side-effect of just wanting an escape hatch for their business model. Now the casuals and elitists alike will have a better experience via the magic of Marketshare, and all it really took is not listening to people that don't know what's good for them.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago (2 children)

What do you mean by an escape hatch. Valve have been messing with hardware and Linux for way longer than the Steam Deck.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Sometime around Windows 8 Microsoft started making noises about closing the Windows ecosystem and making people buy software through their store. This would have shut things like Steam out, so Valve said "Okay, we're going to make a Linux-based gaming platform, because we think gamers will follow us and not you. Also we're going to create console-like gaming PCs called Steam Machines and make our own controller, because we think we can win against Xbox, too." Microsoft didn't lock down the platform, Steam Machines didn't really go anywhere, but it laid a lot of the groundwork for the Steam Deck.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

Thank you for the history, I appreciate it. Hopefully Valve releases SteamOS properly soon, it could be the resurgence of the Steam Machine!

[–] [email protected] 44 points 2 months ago (1 children)

"Escape hatch" specifically refers to the speculation that Valve is positioning themselves in a way that they can't be forced into paying fees for existing on the Windows platform, and that if push comes to shove they can say they only support Linux now. This hasn't happened yet, but it's a strategic stance which will likely prevent it from even beginning to happen. This doesn't have to do with the Steam Deck specifically; it was also part of their intentions with the Steam Machine and etc.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Huh. That's actually a pretty good take.

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

It's not a take, that was their actual reasoning behind it. Gabe knew Microsoft well, as a former employee.

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

I would also wager that Valve was worried about Microsoft attempting to use "creative" methods to compete with Steam and chipping away at them, like hidden API. Its not like Valve knew that Microsoft's attempt would continue to flop so hard for decades that they couldn't even try that.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

Yeah no, it makes heaps of sense. It just initially sounded to me like the person was implying the Steam Deck is Valve's escape hatch from running the Steam store. Which would be ridiculous, the two business sectors aren't even close to the same order of magnitude.

[–] [email protected] 75 points 2 months ago

Damn who imagined that gaming would be the topic that made the FOSS OSes relevant.

Frankly, that's been obvious for a pretty long time now. I've been hearing "but I need Windows for gaming" as people's primary excuse for not switching since literally two decades ago.

[–] [email protected] 29 points 2 months ago

it's a very successful rebrand. people Ive talked to hate linux as a concept but will use a deck