this post was submitted on 25 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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It's kind of ironic to me that Linux is all for free and open source, but still uses a proprietary platform, and a horrible one at that. Before the fediverse, I'd understand, but now, there is no excuse whatsoever.

I understand that we can't just get up and leave everything proprietary behind all at once, since we have iPhones and Android phones. We all use proprietary software of some form, but I am of the mindset of using the least amount of proprietary possible.

I will ALWAYS look for FOSS first. I also want to make it as hard as possible for any corporation to track me. They'll probably still be able to track me, but I'm not going without a fight.

I could say the same about the Linux kernel using GitHub, but I understand how massive of an undertaking it would be to move the whole kernel to another platform. I'm sure there are other factors, too. Anyway, I just wanted to start a discussion and hear people's thoughts.
Thank you

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[–] ilinamorato@lemmy.world 3 points 47 minutes ago

Because this here is for support. That there is for evangelism.

[–] Mwa@lemm.ee 2 points 1 hour ago

because Sadly Reddit is bigger then Lemmy and hopefully Lemmy will grow more.

[–] pineapplelover@lemm.ee 12 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Honestly man, of all the communities we have here on lemmy, linux community getting bigger is not what we need. We need all the rest, stuff like tf2, csgo, gaming specific stuff, all the other niche communities.

[–] MonkeMischief@lemmy.today 3 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Granted, we're gonna end up with /r/sinkpissers. Lol

All seriousness, there's a lot of neat communities I wish would find their way here. Heck, I wish there was a way to just export the history over so old archived data wasn't lost forever.

[–] Tangentism@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

we're gonna end up with /r/sinkpissers. Lol

In all seriousness, you really don't want a mass exodus from Reddit to Lemmy instances. It's better that it's slowly so growth is managed but even more important, user quality is maintained!

When the Digg exodus happened, Reddit literally overnight went from a considered discussion board to fill of ascii art, 1 line shit witty or pun comments, lyric threads and the football to noise ratio went to shit.

On top of that there were constant stability issues that were compounded by all the thickos constantly hammering F5.

[–] TrivialBetaState@sopuli.xyz 7 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

I am with you 100% on the reddit aspect but have to acknowledge that any person can make their own choices. Eventually, a platform with much longer history will continue being successful, if only due to inertia alone. However, one more big mistake from reddit may be enough for the FOSS subs to migrate to this platform. As for the Linux kernel, are you sure it is hosted on github? Or is it only a backup?

[–] Euphoma@lemmy.ml 7 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago)

It's hosted on kernel.org and the one on github is a mirror. Github didnt exist when the kernel was made initially. Or git

[–] half@lemy.lol 8 points 8 hours ago

I think it's a uniquely good topic to have in both places. I first learned about Linux on reddit in Chrome on a Windows machine. It really helped lower my barrier to entry to chat with people on a platform that was accessible to my skill level at that time. But now I'm really glad there are nice foss places to talk about it as well.

[–] gitgud@lemmy.ml 8 points 13 hours ago

Better to live in utopia and have ambassadors to shitholes to liberate others than just live in utopia alone.

[–] mintiefresh@lemmy.ca 31 points 22 hours ago (2 children)

It would definitely be nicer to see the Linux community grow here.

But hey. I'm on Linux and I'm here with y'all. :)

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[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 5 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago) (1 children)

Maybe it's the same normal human inconsistency as those of who support public health care and basic income, but ironically still buy stuff from capitalists.

[–] joel_feila@lemmy.world 1 points 8 hours ago

Well tbf maby things i need i con only get by buying from a capitalist

[–] ItsaDippedQuill@lemmy.world 14 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

As someone who needed to use the jellyfin discord for assistance setting it up, moving from a larger, community readable platform to a platform that is non searchable externally, and more importantly. If someone wants to learn how to linux. Making them learn how to Lemmy ADDITIONALLY is gonna HURT. this is ofc ignoring the reality of the fact that communities can exist in multiple places, and assuming they'd just go read only or smth like that. Jellyfin support was ONLY able to be provided because they're matrix interconnects with discord, a software i can use! (I've since made a element account while watching media on my jellyfin server XD)

[–] phantomwise@lemmy.ml 3 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

You mean Lemmy threads aren't indexed by search engines ? So if we move everything to lemmy there goes the only way to find good info online which is adding "reddit" to the search bar ?

[–] ItsaDippedQuill@lemmy.world 5 points 17 hours ago

That is incorrect on my part, I've since learned that lemmy IS searchable, but because of much lower density just doesn't show up hence the initial poster I referred tos confusion. Search link for reference

It's a link to a Google search!

[–] digdilem@lemmy.ml 44 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You're talking as if "The linux community" was one single bunch of people.

Reddit isn't Linux HQ and nor is Lemmy, nor is Facebook. #linux still active on IRC too, but not there either.

[–] DonutsRMeh@lemmy.world 6 points 22 hours ago

100%. I'm relatively new to Linux and to the western world as a whole. 😅

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 20 points 23 hours ago (2 children)

Linux is ubiquitous, it's everywhere, even on Reddit, even under your bed

[–] coolmojo@lemmy.world 2 points 1 hour ago

Also it was on the Mars with the Ingenuity.

[–] Decker108@lemmy.ml 6 points 20 hours ago

If you have a Smart Bed^TM^, Linux might even be in your bed.

[–] monovergent@lemmy.ml 10 points 21 hours ago

Many of them are single-issue Linux users and don't concern themselves with FOSS philosophy

[–] blinx615@lemmy.ml 43 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Even if they did... Reddit would just find new mods and reopen it. They wouldn't let it remain abandoned.

[–] DonutsRMeh@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 22 hours ago) (1 children)

This kind of answers my question. lol. I didn't think about it that way. I thought they can just bring it all here and that one gets ~~closer~~ closed or something. I forgot how reddit works.

[–] wizardbeard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 day ago

It's how they kept everything from dying when they killed third party apps. They openly banned and replaced mods that were keeping their subreddits locked. It was a shitshow, but unfortunately reddit still exists.

[–] OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml 52 points 1 day ago

Some of us did leave, that's why you see us here

[–] stsquad@lemmy.ml 143 points 1 day ago (2 children)

The kernel on GitHub is just a mirror - the primary source is on kernel.org

[–] ninth_plane@lemmy.world 2 points 8 hours ago

Torvalds wrote git for the Linux kernel, and then GitHub popped up because most other projects couldn't handle the decentralization. Interestingly to OP's frustration, they were using a proprietary VCS before that, and people were just as frustrated about that: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Git#History

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[–] Chewy7324@discuss.tchncs.de 57 points 1 day ago

There's two reasons why r/linux is popular on Reddit:

  1. Reddit is popular
  2. r/linux is popular
[–] psycho_driver@lemmy.world 17 points 1 day ago

The mods there were crap back in the day. Keep them on reddit.

[–] el_puercoespin@lemm.ee 5 points 21 hours ago

Why should it leave? It's good to be omnipresent! You have another linux community here and in many other places.

[–] darkan15@lemmy.world 77 points 1 day ago (2 children)
  • Not everyone that uses Linux is against proprietary software or only uses FOSS.
  • There are people that just heard of Linux, are just trying it out, or have an issue, and already use Reddit, or is what the search engine points them to go for help, or to ask questions.
  • Reddit has a lot more reach for the common people than any other platform at the moment, there are still people that prefer to ask on Reddit, than go to a specific forum or another platform to ask (If I remember right, it still happens with some apps like Jellyfin that moved out of Reddit, but people still ask there)

These are just a few of the reasons that come to my mind.

[–] olafurp@lemmy.world 4 points 18 hours ago

As an example I'm on Linux for a decade now but I also use proprietary services. I use Jellyfin and Netflix, Vim and Jetbrains IDEs, Chess.com instead of Lichess, WhatsApp instead of Matrix.

Sometimes the value proposition does it for me, sometimes it's the network effect. I've ditched reddit because I like Lemmy more but I can see how someone wants to stay in touch with their niche communities that don't really exist on Lemmy. Probably some people use both.

[–] InternetCitizen2@lemmy.world 30 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Also institutional inertia is difficult to overcome in general.

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[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 18 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Bet the Facebook Linux community is bigger than ours.

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[–] Fizz@lemmy.nz 64 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Linux isnt only for Foss enjoyers. Plus its good to have the linux community on reddit to help people bring attention to linux. If they move it here it will be even harder to join the community.

Think of /r/linux as a gateway to the world of Foss

[–] idriss@lemm.ee 5 points 18 hours ago

You are not wrong. But there are things you can do to make a point. Make Reddit as a 2nd class citizen and drive people to lemmy, mastodon and the others. Like add posts with no comments, just relay bot, ... Make it clear.

Same with GitHub, it's mirror to my Gitea instance. You can see stuff but you have to move somewhere else to contribute and report issues. Not a terrible thing to use these proprietary services and yet make them 2nd class citizens.

[–] DrunkAnRoot@sh.itjust.works 4 points 23 hours ago

side note but you dont need to use proprietary android phones you can flash custom roms to most like GrapheneOS LiniageOS or CalyxOS or you can find a linux phone os like ubuntu touch

[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 31 points 1 day ago (1 children)

How should we know? Ask them, not us.

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[–] sunbeam60@lemmy.one 3 points 22 hours ago

Linux is mailing lists, if anything. It’s definitely not Reddit.

[–] orcrist@lemm.ee 8 points 1 day ago

Um, subreddits remain because they still have subscribers. That's all.

Subreddits can't move, they won't be subreddits then. There are other Linux forums outside Reddit -- like this one!

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