this post was submitted on 19 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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I really wish that I was born early so I've could witness the early years of Linux. What was it like being there when a kernel was released that would power multiple OSes and, best of all, for free?

I want know about everything: software, hardware, games, early community, etc.

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[–] d00phy@lemmy.world 16 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

Remember when packages like RPM were first introduced, and it was like, “cool, I don’t have to compile everything!” Then you were introduced to Red Hat’s version of DLL-Hell when the RPM couldn’t find some obsure library! Before YUM, rpmfind.net was sooo useful!

[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 7 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I still use pkgs.org pretty frequently when I need to find versions of packages and their dependencies across different distros and versions of distros. I had to use that to sneakernet something to fix a system just this past week.

[–] d00phy@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Oh sites like that are absolutely still useful! Especially for older distros or when you need a specific version that you can’t find for whatever reason.

[–] floo@retrolemmy.com 3 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

Shit like that was the last straw for me and I ended up bailing on Linux for, like, 10 years until I got back into it around 2006.

[–] scott@lem.free.as 0 points 4 days ago