this post was submitted on 04 Jul 2026
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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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What an absolute shitshow

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[–] pineapple@lemmy.ml 0 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Because it isn't a free software license. Software licensed by the MIT license can be copied and made into proprietary software. Since (I hope) we agree proprietary software should be minimised licensing under a free software license ensures big tech can't make there own corporate software from it without ever giving back.

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 1 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

It IS free software license. It just gives the freedom to turn it into proprietary too, in which case the new proprietary product is no longer licensed under MIT. Which in turn does not violate the MIT being free, as it became a different thing.

[–] pineapple@lemmy.ml 0 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

No. I'm talking about the free software foundations definition of free software. The mit license is an open source licence, not a free software license.

Anyway, I'm interested as to why you don't think the MIT license is worse than the GPL.

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 1 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Its not about being bad or worse or better, its being different that grants different rights. MIT is more permissive, which you may like or may not. Some people don't like GPL in example, because you cannot mix it with proprietary license. Or they want to keep a change secret, which is a right I would want to give. I'm not saying its better or worse, but I want to give the people the right to do what they want. This can lead to better or worse outcome.

Its only worse than GPL, if you want to enforce all modifications to be Open Source too.

[–] pineapple@lemmy.ml 1 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

I argue that using MIT will mostly result in a worse outcome than the GPL since our goal should always be having as much FOSS software as possible. Allowing people to make proprietry software from open source software results in less open source software.

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 1 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

No, it doesn't result in less open source. It results in more proprietary. You have the same amount of open source as before and didn't LOSE anything. The MIT License allows for stuff that wouldn't be possible otherwise and it is easier to understand and teach too. I argue that using MIT does not automatically or mostly result in worse outcomes than if they used GPL. Mostly it works fine.

That does not mean MIT is perfect. Like every license, it has its own strengths and weakness and should be considered like any other license. Also you can still go from MIT to GPL, in case you change your mind later and want to enforce GPL on any project based on it, but not other way round.

[–] pineapple@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 hour ago

Not nessesarily think about comparing macos with aosp.

Since android used linux which is licensed under the GLP they had to make it open source and they contributed back to the open source community.

Macos on the other hand used a lot of software from freebsd and other bsd projects. Since freebsd isn't free software macos never contributed back to the community since they didn't have to.

Not using the GPL can result in less open source.