this post was submitted on 12 May 2026
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Linux

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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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[–] MousePotatoDoesStuff@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] FishFace@piefed.social 3 points 2 days ago

I believe that, but... why should that be the case? It's a convention without a reference or motivation. I remember when they were new and I really had nothing to refer to and just having no idea whether they were on or off. The fact that I've got used to them now isn't really that forgivable. In contrast, checkboxes not only have convention behind them, but mimicked filling in paper forms which many people were and are familiar with anyway. The idea that "filled" is on and "empty" is off seems inherently more intuitive even if you've never filled in a form if you just know that the concept of forms that you fill in exists.