Linux

48376 readers

1728 users here now

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.

Rules

Posts must be relevant to operating systems running the Linux kernel. GNU/Linux or otherwise.
No misinformation
No NSFW content
No hate speech, bigotry, etc

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

founded 5 years ago

MODERATORS

AgreeableLandscape@lemmy.ml

nooter692@lemmy.ml

MarcellusDrum@lemmy.ml

cypherpunks@lemmy.ml

cyclohexane@lemmy.ml

d3Xt3r@lemmy.nz

Neat factor (leminal.space)

submitted 9 months ago by juan@leminal.space to c/linux@lemmy.ml

38 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I've messed around with Linux before, mostly in VMs, but I'm looking to switch over from Windows permanently on my laptop because I think Linux is cool. Most people in this community talk about pros and cons of this distro or this other distro, but I'd like to hear your opinions based on entirely subjective factors.
I think Arch is neat, I think Ubuntu isn't as neat, why? Who knows. Tell me about how you chose a specific distro because you thought the name was cool or because it ships with some completely unknown utility no one uses.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] lemmyreader@lemmy.ml 6 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Okay, you asked, we deliver ;-) I tried OS/2 and BSD, but did stick with Linux (Using Debian and Arch currently).

"No. That's it. The cool name, that is. We worked very hard on creating a name that would appeal to the majority of people, and it certainly paid off: thousands of people are using linux just to be able to say "OS/2? Hah. I've got Linux. What a cool name". 386BSD made the mistake of putting a lot of numbers and weird abbreviations into the name, and is scaring away a lot of people just because it sounds too technical." -- Linus Torvalds

[–] Scio@kbin.social 4 points 9 months ago

Probably wouldn't've thought that when it came out, but I kinda really like OS/2 as a name. Had a very Serial Experiments Lain ring to it.

...Certainly a lot cooler than OSX.