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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Linux for a Windows & Android person (Advice needed) (feddit.org)

submitted 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I need to install an OS for someone whose first impulse upon seeing a screen is to touch it, because they are young and their first assumption is a touchscreen.

They know their way around Windows and Windows is probably tought to them at school, so Windows might actually be the smart move… but I fucking hate it.

Is ZorinOS or similar polished enough that I can leave it to someone whose tech literacy is centered around Roblox, TikTok and evading parental locks? I don't want to normalize the Windows-bullshit. But I don't want their first Linux-experience to be frustrating.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Using toolbox to force out of tree software to function is not nearly as simple going to the discover app and clicking “download”

Remember we’re talking about a kid. Not a power user. We’re talking about people that don’t know and don’t want to know what a kernel module is. Are those extra steps fine for you? Great, knock yourself out. They aren’t feasible for a child or grandmother who wants to just click shit and see it launch.

I use EndeavourOS without a desktop environment and install and configure Hyprland for myself. I enjoy those extra steps. Someone unfamiliar with my system wouldn’t even be able to open the web browser. That’s fine for me. I’m not going to suggest it for my 74 year old father in law. He uses Ubuntu.

Is it making sense yet?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 13 hours ago

Aight, gotcha. That whole business with "out of tree kernel modules" and having to "use toolbox to force out of tree software to function" definitely sounds like a pain, especially for the kind of user OP was talking about. I can see why those would be headaches in that specific context.

It's just, when I first read that original line about atomic distros making "...many things a person may eventually want to do with their machine a lot more complicated," my brain kinda went, 'Whoa, many things? Like, for anybody who might want to dig in a bit more eventually, beyond OP's initial scenario?'

So, hearing about the driver stuff and the app install workarounds... yeah, those are definitely a couple of solid examples that start to flesh out what 'many things' could mean, even in that wider sense. Helping me connect some dots, for sure. Still kinda leaves you wondering what else is on the 'many things' menu, eh? :P