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.
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Pretty much the entire internet runs on Linux already.
For personal users I think a stable, well supported, secure and privacy focused version will help. Also, it helps if this is the version your "computer-guy" uses, the guy that you (or your mom) call(s) when your computer is broken.
You don't. It's already happening. Slowly but steady.
Exactly. If critical mass is achieved inorganically, it would result with a reverse in uptake & possibly even a revolt against it.
You can lead a horse to water... (but a pencil must be lead)
Linux isn't competing with Windows or MacOS.
It doesn't follow the capitalist model of a market, and that's a good thing.
I think I don't even want Linux to become too popular. It will attract the wrong kind of attention. First, being more targeted by attackers it may become less safe. Most importantly, I don't even know how but I know that if Linux becomes a huge market for home users, corporations will look at it and go "uh, big market sitting there let's monetize it" and there is absolutely no way Linux won't become shittier in more ways than one when thousands of big corporations out there are trying to get their hands on Linux users and our data in multiple different ways. Again, I don't know how it will happen but I don't like having this kind of attention on Linux.
I don't see how that could happen. You can always choose another distro, or make your own if absolutely necessary. But I understand why you're concerned.
Idk, where there is potential for data mining and money there is a will and a way.
I am worried about stuff that is widespread like systemd, KDE, GNOME, flatpak, a bunch of stuff which is mantained by companies like redhat and canonical, etc. I also worry stuff like what was attempted with the XZ backdoor becomes more common.
We can always hop to other distros but if the high level polished stuff that we've taken a long time to achieve gets compromised these safer distros may end up being a worse experience and set us back years or decades.
I think I am fine with home use Linux growing a little bit, maybe if we get just under 10% or so that can be good in terms of software availability and just more people working on open source projects. Too much popularity idk, I am not onboard with that rn.
Hmm yeah, you do have a point there.
Windows and MacOS are products. Linux is a technology and common human knowleadge.
Hm it's probably "bundle with the hardware, make sure the hardware really works and there's a price incentive vs Windows".
As long as you have to actively migrate (including backing up, losing access to several commercial apps) and could end up in the situation that your hardware isn't 100% working or you're workflow isn't really supported?
make sure the hardware really works
Also make sure the software really works, one of the main issues with Linux adoption by hardware manufacturers is their lack of dedication to it. In Brazil, for example, most brands that ship with a Linux distro (except for DELL, which ships with Ubuntu) ship with basically digital waste (unmantained, poorly developed distros) just to make the hardware cheaper, because they know people will get it to just install a pirated copy of Windows in it.