this post was submitted on 17 Jun 2026
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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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Honestly, I hope that doesn't happen. I think if everyone started using Linux it would end up being diluted with commercial entities. You'd have Linux companies like Canonical scooping up more and more market share until they are essentially just the Linux Microsoft corporation. At that point, any decision they make becomes the defacto law of the land despite smaller independent distros/groups trying to do things differently. Other choices would exist, but basically it would be like how most linux users have to live with systemd changes because it's a nightmare to replace that without distro hopping.
You'd still see off-shoots for the desktop space, but if you want to use <INSERT_X> then you have go through this company.
At least in Linux you remain in control of the OS. If commercial players want to enter that arena, I welcome them, not as new Overlords, but as players on a level playing field.
I'll also throw in: the more commercial Canonical takes Ubuntu, the fewer machines I have with it installed. Ubuntu's value-add over Debian has been dwindling through the years - coupled with Canonical's rent seeking behavior, I'll rate Ubuntu 26.04 as a net-value subtract as compared with "rolling your own" Debian solution.
Literally what's the downside? I always been in favor of even Microsoft getting into Linux. I want Microsoft to make a Linux desktop just like they have made a dos desktop. I want Microsoft to work on inter-compatibility like they already have done a bit with WSL. Add ext support to Windows, add proper NTFS support to Linux. Make something like Wine that is actually good.
This won't kill community distros unless the corporations are doing a very good job.
What's the problem with one commercial entity being the final say on all decisions in what would otherwise be an open source community? Well, that.
On one distro. 🤷
Hes saying theyd have so much sway that all other distros would have to follow whatever standards they come up with
Why? You can always do things differently than other distros
Systemd is used on ~70-90% of all distros. You don't have to use systemd, but you're probably going to be stuck using it. But you don't have to. You could also install... Gentoo?
It's widely used because it's good.
Nobody is forcing all these distros to adopt systemd. Nobody is forcing distros to stick to systemd.
Systemd being good or bad is irrelevant. We're talking about a corporate entity being the sole decision maker in an open source setting. Quality != Consensus.
Redhat doesn't control debian or arch
Yes, that is correct. At ~8% of desktop Linux market share and ~20-30% server, they are not the defacto leader in the open source community.