this post was submitted on 16 Jul 2023
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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 dunno, why would anyone be frustrated by having everything labeled with an incomprehensible acronym and an entirely unique and often vague directory structure with a stringent yet useless file level security?
Linux is amazing for it's ability to be customized. That comes with a cost in on ramping new users. Hell, I'm an old user, and what I know is half useless because it's so old. The end result is that I use linux to run a raspberry pi that shares out instrument data. And that's all it does. It's not a desktop, it's a tool that does a thing. It does that one thing reasonably well, and I don't have to screw with it. Because I never update it, never connect it to the internet, never install new things. Until I make a new one to do a new thing.
Honestly I have no idea why anyone would want a linux desktop for daily use. It's nice to have an environment to set up the device for what it's going to be doing. But beyond that, it's usually not even going to have a monitor attached to it.
"Honestly I have no idea why anyone would want a linux desktop for daily use." I like to own my computer.
I'm looking forward to owning my computer, especially as Microsoft claws away more of my rights season by season. But WTF am I getting myself into when I make the jump? Is it possible to own my computer and have an easy to understand OS?
I hope I'm not fucking myself when I try to make the switch, but when the first response to it's got problems is don't look a gift horse in the mouth then yeah, it makes me a bit worried I'm going to be left out in the elements on my own by a community with the attitude of COD gamers.
I believe it is possible to have an easy-to-understand OS, it all really depends on your choice of distro and desktop environment. I would recommend downloading a distro that comes pre-installed with the desktop environment you prefer (you can install other desktops after the fact, but a preloaded "spin" of a distro will make things easy to understand at first.)
I think the 'toxicity' of the linux community is, in my experience anyways, totally overblown. Yes, if you post a question you might get a few snarky, entitled responses, but thats the same for any community. For every troll there are many more people willing to help you out.
For an easy start on Linux, I would recommend a "beginner" distro such as:
Example: ()
I think new users are often intimidated by how much there is to learn about Linux, but I assure you all of that will come with time. Some people also fear using the terminal, but I would strongly suggest learning how to at least:
from the terminal.
I hope that answers some questions, if not or I just confused you more, ask as many questions of me as you need.