Linux

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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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ELI5: What causes a Steam game not to run on an operating system like a Linux distro? (lemmy.world)

submitted 21 hours ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I primarily use my pc for gaming, and want to avoid upgrading to Windows 11. Beginning the journey of looking into alternatives.

I am ignorant, trying to be less so. I have a hard time understanding what exactly makes a game not work just because of OS.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 20 hours ago

To expand on the translation metaphor:

Trying to run a window program on Linux (without proton) is like trying to read a completely alien text. Your have basically 0 in common and no way to understand it

Proton is doing the translator job of helping. And it's doing a great job for a lot of the alien language. Which is why so many programs and games work on Linux with proton

But even it can't always be perfect, and if the language is using some weird dialect, it might not understand or misinterpret things, which causes games to be buggy or unplayable on Linux