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 was Linux like in the 90s (lemmy.dbzer0.com)

submitted 2 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I really wish that I was born early so I've could witness the early years of Linux. What was it like being there when a kernel was released that would power multiple OSes and, best of all, for free?

I want know about everything: software, hardware, games, early community, etc.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Well, I was an Amiga user. That was already unix-like, preemptive multitasking, etc. It was fading fast in the early nineties, and while i was already working in I.T., I was not interrsted in using Windows 3.11 and 95, so I began playing with Slackware Linux. I figured it was a good way to get comfortable with "real" I.T..

I learned Bash and had to compile most of the software i wanted to try. Since, like all programmers, I'm lazy, I wrote some simple scripts to build the code and make them into packages (tgz) for Slackware. This took tedium out of the work, and i could use the packkage manager to install and remove them.

Those were rough days for desktop users, though. I really had to use windows when i needed to pass output to "normies". I tried several window manager and desktops, and eventually landed on Ubuntu.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Well, I was an Amiga user.

Based. But on a serious note, what machine did you have/use? Could you install Linux on the classic Amiga machines? I've always thought about buying an Amiga 1200.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

A stock Amiga 1200 wouldn't allow you to run Linux, because the CPU doesn't have an MMU (memory management unit). With a turbo card installed with at least a 68030 and enough RAM you could run Linux on a 1200 though.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

https://www.debian.org/ports/m68k/ has a nice little intro and the key requirements.

MMU and HD space were the biggest issues. One of those has pretty much gone away with time.