this post was submitted on 23 Oct 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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[–] [email protected] 51 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

As a finn, I understand that there are probably legal reasons for doing this.

I just wish they would be transparent and share those reasons with us. The Linux kernel is certainly not the only free software project that is impacted, if this comes straight from EU/US sanctions. Maintainers of other projects have a lot of interest in what is happening.

Transparency is also important because if EU/US policy/sanctions are causing issues for free software projects, then that discussion needs to be public, so that there is a chance to amend the policies if necessary.

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

The legal reasons was because the Linux Foundation is based in the USA and the targeted devs worked for companies explicitly sanctioned by the USA. Linus said he knew and trusted the devs he was forced to delist.

The Linux Foundation needs to relocate to some stable neutral country like Switzerland.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 55 minutes ago

Switzerland is controlled by the US

[–] [email protected] 12 points 19 hours ago (4 children)

Politics should not be on FOSS development.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 hours ago

The F in FOSS stands for politics

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

It has to be there, because politics is connected with lawmaking, and open source software is dependent on laws.

A lot of people like to say that politics isn't in their life or that they keep politics out of their life, but the reality is that's just not true. The rules that govern society affect you, always, either with or without your input, either with or without your acknowledgment.

You're probably trying to say that we should keep pointless politicking out of open source software, and I agree, but that's going to come down to personal definitions of pointlessness.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 16 hours ago

FOSS is inherently political though, but I guess you mean country vs country politics moreso than ideological politics.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

That is hardcore wishful thinking, the nature by which critical digital infrastructure is developed and maintained is of keen importance to political systems everywhere. This situation was inevitable with the ongoing escalation of war

[–] [email protected] 5 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago)

That's why the "should be" I guess, though that's not to say there aren't idiots (right in this thread too) actually shilling for this.

If current open source licenses still have flaws like this, we're gonna need new ones.