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Linux
Linux is a FOSS unix-like operating system kernel, probably the most successful and famous non-proprietary kernel. Linux is NOT a whole operating system, only its basic part -- for a whole operating system more things need to be added, such as some kind of user interface and actual user programs, and this is what Linux distributions do (there are dozens, maybe hundreds of these) -- Linux distributions, such as Debian, Arch or Ubuntu are complete operating systems (but beware, most of them are not fully FOSS).
Linux is typically combined with a lot of GNU software and the GNU project (whose goal is to create a free OS) uses Linux as its official kernel, so in the wild we usually encounter the term GNU/Linux. Some people just can't be bothered to acknowledge the work of GNU and just call GNU/Linux systems "Linux" (without GNU/). Fuck them.
Linux is sometimes called free as in freedom, however it is hardly deserving the label, it is more of an open-source or FOSS project because:
- It actually includes proprietary software in the form of binary blobs (drivers). The Linux-libre project tries to fix this.
- It's development practices are sus, it is involved with many unethical corporations (through the linux foundation) including Microsoft (one of the greatest enemies of free software) who is trying to take control over it, Google, Intel, IBM and others. It includes a fascist code of conduct (
linux/Documentation/process/code-of-conduct.rst). - It doesn't really enforce it's license (GPL) legally -- we're not advocating legal battles, but the fact that they entertain a license and then don't use it indicates it may be there just for good image.
- It is bloat and in some ways capitalist software (just try to fork Linux, maintain it and add/modify actual features).
Nevertheless, despite its mistakes, Linux offers a relatively comfy, powerful and (still) safe unix/POSIX environment which means it can be drop-in replaced for another unix-like system without this causing you many trouble, so using Linux is at this point considered OK (until Microsoft completely seizes it at which point we migrate probably to BSD). It can be made fairly minimal and LRS/suckless friendly.
Linux is so called monolithic kernel and is more or less bloat. However it "just works" and has a great hardware support so it wins many users over alternatives such as BSD.
Some alternatives to Linux are:
- GNU Hurd, an unfinished (but somewhat usable) kernel developed by GNU itself.
- BSD operating systems such as FreeBSD, NetBSD and OpenBSD (best from the LRS point of view)
- bare metal UwU
- TODO: MOAR
History
TODOOOOOOOOOOO