this post was submitted on 25 Apr 2025
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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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Why doesn't the Linux subreddit leave Reddit already? (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago by DonutsRMeh@lemmy.world to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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It's kind of ironic to me that Linux is all for free and open source, but still uses a proprietary platform, and a horrible one at that. Before the fediverse, I'd understand, but now, there is no excuse whatsoever.

I understand that we can't just get up and leave everything proprietary behind all at once, since we have iPhones and Android phones. We all use proprietary software of some form, but I am of the mindset of using the least amount of proprietary possible.

I will ALWAYS look for FOSS first. I also want to make it as hard as possible for any corporation to track me. They'll probably still be able to track me, but I'm not going without a fight.

I could say the same about the Linux kernel using GitHub, but I understand how massive of an undertaking it would be to move the whole kernel to another platform. I'm sure there are other factors, too. Anyway, I just wanted to start a discussion and hear people's thoughts.
Thank you

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[–] darkan15@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)
  • Not everyone that uses Linux is against proprietary software or only uses FOSS.
  • There are people that just heard of Linux, are just trying it out, or have an issue, and already use Reddit, or is what the search engine points them to go for help, or to ask questions.
  • Reddit has a lot more reach for the common people than any other platform at the moment, there are still people that prefer to ask on Reddit, than go to a specific forum or another platform to ask (If I remember right, it still happens with some apps like Jellyfin that moved out of Reddit, but people still ask there)

These are just a few of the reasons that come to my mind.

[–] InternetCitizen2@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Also institutional inertia is difficult to overcome in general.

[–] flicker@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is so weird to me. Maybe it's about who you are, or who you run with, but when I saw that Discord was about to go that way, I messaged my Pathfinder group and every single person there immediately hit me back with, "so where to next?"

[–] Takumidesh@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

That's what, five people?

It's a lot different when it's thousands and thousands

[–] stsquad@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

The kernel on GitHub is just a mirror - the primary source is on kernel.org

[–] ninth_plane@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Torvalds wrote git for the Linux kernel, and then GitHub popped up because most other projects couldn't handle the decentralization. Interestingly to OP's frustration, they were using a proprietary VCS before that, and people were just as frustrated about that: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Git#History

[–] digdilem@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You're talking as if "The linux community" was one single bunch of people.

Reddit isn't Linux HQ and nor is Lemmy, nor is Facebook. #linux still active on IRC too, but not there either.

[–] DonutsRMeh@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

100%. I'm relatively new to Linux and to the western world as a whole. 😅

[–] mintiefresh@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It would definitely be nicer to see the Linux community grow here.

But hey. I'm on Linux and I'm here with y'all. :)

[–] loudWaterEnjoyer@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Tell me what distro you are using and I tell you if you have to go back to reddit or not.

[–] trolololol@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Well they're clearly not using Arch. Btw.

[–] dragospirvu75@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

Reddit has a big community. It's about networking effect. That's why so hard to leave big platforms, because you can migrate to FOSS alternatives, but maybe most of things/people you follow don't have accounts there.

[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

How should we know? Ask them, not us.

[–] Zachariah@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

But Lemmy users are obviously smarter, so it’s better to ask them.

[–] Fizz@lemmy.nz 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Linux isnt only for Foss enjoyers. Plus its good to have the linux community on reddit to help people bring attention to linux. If they move it here it will be even harder to join the community.

Think of /r/linux as a gateway to the world of Foss

[–] idriss@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

You are not wrong. But there are things you can do to make a point. Make Reddit as a 2nd class citizen and drive people to lemmy, mastodon and the others. Like add posts with no comments, just relay bot, ... Make it clear.

Same with GitHub, it's mirror to my Gitea instance. You can see stuff but you have to move somewhere else to contribute and report issues. Not a terrible thing to use these proprietary services and yet make them 2nd class citizens.

[–] Quackdoc@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago

because lemmy is bad

[–] vegetvs@kbin.earth 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Because it's fine the way it is. They can ask newbie questions over there, while we try to have more interesting discussions over here. /s

[–] OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Ok but is that happening in reality

[–] vegetvs@kbin.earth 0 points 1 year ago

I meant that as a humorous wish. Apparently it didn't work.

[–] Mwa@lemm.ee 0 points 1 year ago

because Sadly Reddit is bigger then Lemmy and hopefully Lemmy will grow more.

[–] OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml 0 points 1 year ago

Some of us did leave, that's why you see us here

[–] ilinamorato@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago

Because this here is for support. That there is for evangelism.

[–] pineapplelover@lemm.ee 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Honestly man, of all the communities we have here on lemmy, linux community getting bigger is not what we need. We need all the rest, stuff like tf2, csgo, gaming specific stuff, all the other niche communities.

[–] MonkeMischief@lemmy.today 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Granted, we're gonna end up with /r/sinkpissers. Lol

All seriousness, there's a lot of neat communities I wish would find their way here. Heck, I wish there was a way to just export the history over so old archived data wasn't lost forever.

[–] Tangentism@lemmy.ml 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

we're gonna end up with /r/sinkpissers. Lol

In all seriousness, you really don't want a mass exodus from Reddit to Lemmy instances. It's better that it's slowly so growth is managed but even more important, user quality is maintained!

When the Digg exodus happened, Reddit literally overnight went from a considered discussion board to full of ascii art, 1 line shit witty or pun comments, lyric threads and the signal to noise ratio went to shit.

On top of that there were constant stability issues that were compounded by all the thickos constantly hammering F5.

[–] MonkeMischief@lemmy.today 0 points 1 year ago

100% with you on that one.

I really enjoy the discussions here, even if it's a little slower paced sometimes. (And I find that to be a feature!)

I've come to feel that technology is for anyone , but not necessarily for everyone , at least, not all at once.

It seems like a series of Eternal Septembers are usually coaxed along by corporate interests to spur mass-adoption for ~~fun and~~ profit, and the existing communities that get flooded tend to suffer for it, because there's no time to support or acclimate the newbies to the community, and they bring their existing assumptions with them.

[–] bhamlin@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It helps keep the more caustic linuxers away from lemmy.

[–] BeigeAgenda@lemmy.ca 0 points 1 year ago

Correct we only want the sour linuxers here.