this post was submitted on 06 Dec 2023
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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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[–] [email protected] 26 points 11 months ago (1 children)

UEFI is flawed for sure, but there's no way that any remaining patents on FAT32 haven't expired by now.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

You may be surprised to learn that they didn't all run out until 2013. UEFI had been around for 7 years by this time, and Microsoft was doing patent enforcement actions against Tom Tom during this time period.

Sure, they're expired now, but not at the time. It was supposed to be an open standard at the time.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Why software patents are a leech on software development: exhibit number 4,294,967,295.