this post was submitted on 18 Dec 2024
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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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I recently switched to fedora and I didn't think it would be difficult, but it was even easier than I expected. Every game I've tried to play has worked perfectly.
Fedora was my first distro. But i hat issues with Hardware in my framework laptop, which should have good Linux support. But what was even more annyoing was that Video and audio codec die not work right away because it does not support proprietary which made life horrible difficult for a noob. What are your thoghts on that?
Different person here but I've been using Fedora for many, many years. This discussion comes up all the time and though RPMFusion is a checkbox in the software store GUI people obviously would like to have Nvidia proprietary drivers and proprietary codecs as an easy install like from a button click on install.
The problem is that Fedora has had a FOSS only core value since the beginning and I'm sure a big part of that is to keep Redhat out of legal troubles but it also resonates with a lot of the actual Fedora volunteers (those folks on the SIGs that do all the work).
I don't think it'll change anytime soon. Normally the response to this is "then new users will go elsewhere" or "If Linux wants to (something number of users or something market share)". The thing is the Fedora project doesn't 'care' about that and why should they?
I get that and I would obviously prefer an completely open source linux. But on the other hand I want stuff to work. I like that for example linux mint and ububtu ask during the installation if you would like to install prorietary stuff as well, which i always click. And who would not?
Sure but Red Hat is a US company and Canonical is not, while Mint is basically just a bunch of volinteers. I assume Canonical does not have the same legal vulnerabilities as Red Hat does and certainly doesn't have the same export control and IP restrictions.
At the heart of it though even if Red Hat didn't exist in the Fedora Project anymore, you'd have to convince them to drop one of their top tenants. You could try right now by submitting a proposal to include Nvidia drivers or various codecs or you could just use one of the Fedora Remixes that already do.
Fedora itself doesn't really aim for market share, to sell itself as a commercial product and it's really all about the people that make up the Fedora Project and what they want. Sure Red Hat holds a lot of sway and provide a lot of resources but there hasn't been a fork and major migration either. So in that way some Fedora contributors that and run RPMFusion is a good enough compromise for the Fedora Project as a whole.
Though who is the source of these problems to begin with? I'd say codec/patent owners and Nvidia itself are the source to the problems caused by their unwillingness to support FOSS.
In particular Nvidia has had criticism for years over this and still haven't really changed. Even their drivers aren't great in Linux even if you don't account for the proprietary part. They have the resources and the ability to change everything without hurting their company, yet they do not. You could argue Linux market share is why but Nvidia makes enough profit to barely scratch the bottom line to just support Linux similarly to AMD. They certainly support slicing vGPUs for hypervisors in Linux, provided you pay for the privilege, so it isn't like this is a technical challenge but it is obviously a pure business objective for them. You can and I guess do respect it but that's on you not anyone else.
I'm curious, do you recall what hardware issue you had? I've been using Fedora-based Aurora on my 13 and 16.
I think there was something with the screen, trackpad and fingerprint reader? But its long ago, so idk