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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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Why is Linux so frustrating for some people? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Don't get me wrong. I love Linux and FOSS. I have been using and installing distros on my own since I was 12. Now that I'm working in tech-related positions, after the Reddit migration happened, etc. I recovered my interest in all the Linux environment. I use Ubuntu as my main operating system in my Desktop, but I always end up feeling very limited. There's always software I can't use properly (and not just Windows stuff), some stuff badly configured with weird error messages... last time I was not able to even use the apt command. Sometimes I lack time and energy for troubleshooting and sometimes I just fail at it.

I usually end up in need of redoing a fresh install until it breaks up again. Maybe Linux is not good for beginners working full time? Maybe we should do something like that Cisco course that teaches you the basic commands?

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (4 children)

As a linux noob, I can't give some in depth explanation, but I can empathize over troubles troubleshooting 😭

I mean, to first acknowledge the base difficulties of just getting used to a new operating system that doesn't want to hold your hand, all the troubleshooting advice being splintered across multiple distros and updates, and most software just not being designed to be compatible with Linux, it's impressive there are distros that manage to be beginner-friendly-ish in the first place.

For instance, when I was setting up Ubuntu, the following didn't work out of the box:

The general need to reinstall every program you use
The microphone
Switching between Windows and Ubuntu led to a weird time difference on Window's part (it still does)
My fingerprint sensor stopped working (I don't even think this is fixable)
My brightness hotkeys stopped working (they still don't)
touchpad scrolling was really fast (I honestly just got used to this rather than fixing it)
Increased the icon size of a lot of things
Set up night light settings

But more than that, I'd say one of the hardest things about Linux is that it is so customizable it inspires me to find a solution to issues I would've just ignored on Windows. For example:

I moved the time bar from the top of the screen to the bottom
Set up my own searx instance (though I hardly use it, if anyone knows how to run a set of code on computer startup please lmk)
Installed wine, Lutris, and software to support Linux gaming
Set my wallpaper to rotate between a bunch of landscape photos

But ig that's just my 2 cents. Really I wrote this to feel proud of myself for all the troubleshooting I've done 😭

Edit: I frfr love all yall who responded to this with genuine advice, what a great community

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Here's how to fix the time issue. Problem is by default Windows saves the time to the hardware clock in local time, but Linux saves it as UTC. You can make Windows also save it as UTC by changing a registry setting:

For 64-bit Windows, open regedit then browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\TimeZoneInformation. Create a new DWORD entry called RealTimeIsUniversal, then set its value to 1. Reboot the system. The clock should now be in UTC time.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Switching between Windows and Ubuntu led to a weird time difference on Window’s part (it still does)

Google how to set your windows clock to UTC. You can maybe do the reverse and set linux to localtime, but I find it much cleaner that the system clock is in UTC as it's an objective and stable standard, unlike localtime which can change with daylight savings or if your move.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

There are many ways to run code at startup. cronjobs and systemd are common ways to handle this. I have also had things start automatically with my desktop environment which comes later in the boot process.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Fingerprint sensor stopped working

File an issue to libfprint, your fingerprint reader probably isn't supported yet.