this post was submitted on 06 May 2026
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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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I know I'm not the only one that said this but I really can't stand how systemd is becoming "the norm" init system for every major distro, this is bad.

it is especially bad when certain apps are built specifically for systemd, locking users behind a specific init system and compatibility issues spark because you don't use a mainstream one , this doesn't go with the idea of Linux, which is having "freedom" with your os, picking and choosing what goes on and off while still being usable.

I switched to artix Linux with openRC a while ago the moment systemd added code for potential age verification, they called it malicious compliance but I really didn't like the smell of that, now I'm fighting tooth and nail with some applications because they're systemd dependent, resulting in me creating custom scripts to mitigate their issues.

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[–] hobata@lemmy.ml 6 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Did not known what Linux had a philosophy or ideology.

[–] StrawberryPigtails@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

There have been many over the years. When I first discovered linux (shortly before linux 2.6 was released) it was RTFM (read the f*ing manual " and "each tool should do only one thing".

[–] hobata@lemmy.ml 6 points 3 weeks ago

That's UNIX stuff.

[–] atzanteol@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 weeks ago

"each tool should do only one thing"

Funny thing about that - systemd follows this philosophy even though nobody gives them credit for it. ps -ef |grep logind will show a half dozen or so separate services running.

[–] beyond@linkage.ds8.zone 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

There are some things that can be described as philosophy of Linux (e.g. "don't break userspace", "I only care about the code"), but the idea that "Linux is about [freedom|choice|privacy|openness]" is entirely mythological. It's just a neat free software operating system kernel that has been used to build operating systems, many of which are free software.

Of course, Linux is "too fragmented" because there isn't a standard "linux desktop environment" (or package manager, or shell, etc) unless it's systemd in which case it's "about choice" and we need "init freedom."