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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Why more PC gaming handhelds should ditch Windows for SteamOS (arstechnica.com)

submitted 10 months ago by canpolat to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 67 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Consumer Windows is an afterthought most of the time.

Always has been

Windows is an enterprise OS with consumer features and macOS is a consumer OS with enterprise features.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago (4 children)

What about Linux then? A 1337 OS with some noob features sprinkled in for color? Or maybe a server OS with desktop features stapled on the front?

[–] [email protected] 15 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Linux is an everything OS with whatever features you want/need. Do you need a hardened enterprise server? Linux got you. Do you need a user friendly OS for even non-technical people? Linux got you. Do you need something that can do a little of everything? Believe it or not, Linux got you.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Straight to jail.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago

You underclock your laptop? Linux got you.

You overclock your gaming rig? Believe it or not, Linux got you.

Underclock, overclock.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Or maybe a server OS with desktop features stapled on the front?

That is a very accurate description of Linux considering even X11 and Wayland are display servers. Pipewire and Pulseaudio are also servers.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Don't misunderstand what a server means, however. Just because something is called a server doesn't mean it's not made for the desktop. It's a technical term that doesn't necessarily relate to networking, it might just relate to stuff like inter-process communication.

However, Wayland is designed for the desktop environment. It's like the main reason why it replaces X11, which was designed for terminals.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago

My comment was mostly meant as a joke. I'm aware most of them use their networking capabilities for IPC and being able to use them remotely is just a cool feature resulting from that (except X11).

[–] LeFantome 5 points 10 months ago

I know this is a joke comment but Linux is for sure an enterprise kernel first and foremost. It did not start that way but that is how it has been developed and managed for many years now. Maybe the most incorrect thing anybody has ever said on record in the computer industry is when Linus said Linux was “not going to be anything big and professional”.

Linux distributions, which are conceived and managed totally independently from the kernel are available for every niche. Many of them are desktop and “consumer” oriented. With many Linux distributions, I would say that it is more accurate that they are hobbiest oriented more than what Microsoft would mean be “consumer”.