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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That stupid Newsom age-gating OS bill is pure political theatre. It won't affect Linux -- too many capitalists would be inconvenienced, and inconveniencing capitalists is the last thing capitalist darling Newsom would do; he couldn't even be bothered to support a modest 5% tax on billionaires.
Linux is here to stay -- it runs the internet. And it will always be customizable, because that's part of what gives it so much value.
Here's one way that liberal fascism maintains control:
It's how they got TikTok, etc. It's how they'll try to get Lemmy, Linux, VPNs, etc. The wild part is how many lib "allies" will fully support this.
Yes, it's a trap like everything else. It's another front in the struggle.
TikTok was a data harvesting surveillance tool from day one. It didn't need to be 'got'
you are absolutely correct in what you are getting at, i just find it funny that you are like "here's how they maintain control: they maintain control"
Even if what you claim is true(its not), isnt that a much better way of maintaining control than other systems. Because without the spin you're basically saying the "government tries to push its population in a desired direction via light influence".
The problem lies in direction and methods.
Direction: toward greater wealth consolidation.
Methods: fear, lies, fostering ignorance, fostering political disinterest, truth embargo, surveillance, overclassification, embezzlement and other white collar crimes unpunished, eliminating the commons, paywalling all things, etc.
Both of those are huge problems that create unlivable societies.
The only proper direction is toward a legally mandated wealth ceiling plus a wealth floor plus enforced and publicly measured and publicly tested market competition to regulate maximum allowed wealth consolidation.
And of course truth has to be the informational currency. And rights. And privacy for the small players, with heavy oversight for the large players because large is dangerous.
We can't lose the big picture here. Of course the governments must govern, but toward what ends and with what methods matters hugely.
Just to underscore what you said, this is achieved in FOSS via control of non-profit orgs & a monopoly on consumer chip architecture (for the time being)
The fascists' weakness is their extreme overconfidence in everything they do.
Ive been running Linux for close to a decade now and one thing that I've noticed is rarely brought up in Linux circles is that Linux Kernel Development is heavily funded by major big tech corpos. Examples include Microsoft, Google, Oracle, and IBM.
There is a vested corporate interest in keeping Linux well maintained as it is the OS that underpins the vast majority of corporate server architecture and infrastructure.
I'm not saying Linux development wouldn't exist without them, but imho, Linux certainly wouldn't be as ubiquitous as it is today without this corporate backing. Thusly, it is worth noting that in many ways, we Linux users have not escaped corporate influence simply from switching from Windows or MacOS to Linux.
We've maybe lessened it to some degree, but to think we are somehow immune to the misguided mandates from state governments, like the latest recent age verification laws, is misguided.
i think linux emphasizes the advantage of being able to fork code without the bad parts in this case.
the problem is they will probably target the infrastructure our linux machines connect through, or the services themselves as we've already started seeing.
you probably won't need your id to download and compile it but rather when you use that kernel to log in to google where your photos are or something, or for the isps to lease you an ip.
i've been interested in those decentralized long range radio networks lately, for no particular reason.
Their building a Prison System ™️ regardless, open source (e.g. Linux) just offers SOME protections.
We have to do more regardless, but it's still all part of the good fight in my book
How the fuck is Linux a trap compared to the shenanigans of Microsoft?
Microsoft and other proprietary vendors are the trap, and Linux is the way to avoid it.
I agree with you, that's exactly what my post says.
Microsoft is the trap. My point is that "Sanitised Linux" is just Microsoft-style shenanigans being forced onto our ecosystem via regulation. I literally started the post by saying Linux is the only sanctuary left.
OK I read it as Linux won't cut it if we are forced to use Microsoft.
Microsoft will of course do everything possible to create that situation, as they've been doing very successfully since the 80's.
Linux is the only sanctuary left
Acktually there is still some Free and Open Source BSD variants. And for the lols we also have GNU Hurd. So even a world without Linux, does not mean we have to use Windows. (I don't even count MacOS.)
But here’s the thing, nobody knows what operating system you choose to install. This regulation will be equally as effective as anti-pirating legislation has been, which is to say, essentially nil.
I agree with you. The only thing I could see "Linux being a trap" would be, for people who expect Windows replacement without the Microsoft bullshit. So in one way this "could" be interpreted as a trap for those. But that is if I try to stretch it to justify calling it a trap.
That legislation is pushed by big tech lobbies, mainly Meta. The more people use open source the less power those big companies have to push shit like this.
Also we've had attempts to microslopify Linux before, by the hands of Canonical and Red Hat.
Also we’ve had attempts to microslopify Linux before, by the hands of Canonical and Red Hat.
the most recent example was done by the american gov't instead of corporations when the kernel maintainers group kicked out russian developers.
This is why shaming the idiots who say things like "what's the big deal, it's just a field in a text file" is so important. They need to be made to understand that solidarity is required to resist the tyrants.
shaming the idiots
solidarity is required
Your team building tactics could use some work.
-An idiot
tbf shaming can be a good tactic, in some specific situations.
What people don't realize is, that every year is the Year of Linux Desktop. We just beat the previous year. It's like having a new world record every year.
Year of linux?
Dude, please. I'm on my third decade of the thing already.
How would anyone place a 100% community driven distribution like Debian in such a cage? There's no monetary leverage, the community is truly international, so local laws don't apply .....
Please note that it's also one of the most prolific distributions, and the foundation p.e. for *buntu.
If you're living in an oppressive jurisdiction, your employer might obviously not allow you to use a truly free operating system, but that's hardly Linux's fault.
So if your favorite distribution is starting bullshit, just switch to the next one, there are literally thousands of them. That's why "Year of the Linux desktop" is confusing: it's "year of steamOs" or "year of *buntu", probably even "year of Debian", but most certainly never "year of the nixos desktop".
You have choice. Use it.
My real worry isn't that Debian will cave, but that the services we use every day—banks, government sites, DRM-heavy media—will start checking for a "compliant" kernel. If those "invisible borders" get built, you might have a truly free OS that's effectively useless for 90% of the modern web.
It's not about the distro failing; it's about the "compliant" versions becoming the only key to the door. We have the choice now, but the gap between "free" and "functional" is definitely getting wider.
will start checking for a “compliant” kernel.
Reminds me of all the banking apps that rely on Google's "secure" crap to run.
How will they check for a compliant kernel, at a technical level? I haven’t seen any proposed way to do that that can’t be easily circumvented.
It’s less about a "scan" and more about the "handshake." Look at things like Windows 11 requiring a TPM and Secure Boot, or the Microsoft Pluton chip being baked into newer CPUs.
They don't need to inspect your code. They just need a cryptographic "attestation" that says your hardware and kernel are in a "known good" state. If your DIY kernel doesn't have the right digital signature from the manufacturer, the service whether it's a bank or a Netflix stream, simply says "computer says no" and denies the connection.
Sure, we'll find workarounds, but for 99% of people, that "invisible border" is a brick wall.
How would anyone place a 100% community driven distribution like Debian in such a cage?
By getting the Debian deciding body to approve systemd a while back, for starters.
It's apparently very easy.
I think if Linux becomes something for the masses it will no longer be for me. So I'm hoping that won't happen.
End users just want their hand to be held by some kind of corporation. Happy to give up their information and privacy. To have no choices in interface etc.
Basically, Linux for the masses will look exactly like ChromeOS. Completely unusable for a power user with a need for privacy and control.
The issue with Linux is going to be if there will be a single distro that dominates or if it will be more distributed. Right now, it looks like Google and Valve are the closest to making dominant distros, but I can see at least one EU government one being created as well. If there are few distros, then I can see development getting locked to those distros rather than across all Linux.
The same thing happened with Android, Google ended up controlling Android so the open source side got hollowed out and the closed source side controlled by Google became necessary to running Android.
Meh it's not like Linux is one static block of immutable code.
It's modular.
So it's not like all linux distros will evolve the same way. And OP points it out that some distros are affected by age verification laws while others are not at all.
So I think it makes no sense to panic and thinking all linux will converge to some Windows ersatz...
I think the fact there is so many distros out there is our strength but also what prevents people from discovering the right linux for them.
So this will be the year of linux discovery imo and all linux user should help out new users finding their way to a linux that fit them for their journey to freedom.
Not really but you do see already that Linux is becoming more opinionated. For example recently kde introduced a new display manager (to replace sddm) that requires systemd.
It's becoming harder to get off the beaten track.
I had similar thoughts, but at the same time i honestly think that wouldn't be an issue because of the nature of linux and it being free and open source. There's bound to be distros out there that won't conform to whatever bs the corpos come up with.