this post was submitted on 10 Apr 2025
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Linux
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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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I am personally certain you are open to learn and I will try to explain why it is like that.
Because the openness of Linux makes it prone to a model of iterations if someone desires and has the need for it. Instead of Windows and Microsoft only offering a standardized path for users to take.
Plus, it is not a waste of time either if you are passionate about it. Many people working on Linux are often doing it on their spare time. It is an unpaid job done because that one person thought it would be nice to do it.
On your second point, I also disagree. Many languages exist and some people might not like a certain implementation of a software in a certain language, for many reasons. Thus, desire to port it to another arises and they do it. Again, Linux and open source software is by essence an invitation to take something and modify it as you wish.
We often think that someone writing a piece of software in a language did it because it was the best language to do it. It is quite untrue. For many years Linux was mostly written in C language. Rust arrived and some people saw its perks as it was more secure in some aspects. Then they started to write modules for Linux in Rust. It brought up some discussions across the community because views diverged between its members. Some didn't want to see Rust take a larger part into the kernel and some wanted it to be more present.
Also, programming languages and softwares are written by humans and humans have bias. We often have preferences or personal experiences shaping our lives. So points of view are divergent. Like right now, you have some arguments and I have mine. All that helps us evolve and change our views on the world around us.