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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[–] floo@retrolemmy.com 108 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (13 children)

Honestly, it sucked. Like most computing at the time. Everything came on a ton of floppy disks, it was impossible to update online unless you had a good connection (which nobody did), and you had to do everything by hand, including compiling a lot of stuff which took forever. I mean, I’m glad I got the experience, but I would never wanna go back to that. It sucked.

[–] tfowinder@lemmy.ml 40 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (7 children)

Remember the slow internet had to wait overnight for 40 megabyte game and finally finding out it didn't work.

[–] floo@retrolemmy.com 23 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Up all night, and all you got to see was a boob

[–] kurcatovium@lemm.ee 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Half of it because random disconnect happened in the middle and download did not resume.

[–] VieuxQueb@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 week ago

In glorious 256 colors !

[–] MonkeMischief@lemmy.today 7 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Up all night, and all you got to see was a boob

Sometimes a boob who spent the previous night compiling a custom webcam driver. :(

[–] AtariDump@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago

Remember the Internet at these speeds, Moss? Up all night and you’d see three women.

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