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this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2026
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Linux
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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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The sad truth is that Linux would be as popular as Hurd if not for corporate money and resources.
The question is that of control. Linux is still mostly controlled by Linus and his officers whom I mostly trust. Omarchy is controlled by a right-winger idiot, so I wouldn't trust it regardless of money.
I'm not sure I follow your point. Why is popularity necessary? Arent windows and macos already popular? If the price to pay for offering a viable alternative to those two is dealing with the likes of Dell and stripe, let alone DHH, is it really such a great option?
In other words, my personal reasons for using linux are significantly weakened by the involvement of american corporations.
if nobody uses an operating systems nobody wi make software for it.
I just think there’s a sizeable gap between “nobody” using something and the mass market appeal encouraged by corporate interests
If, but people have used Linux for 30 years, and there's tons of software for it.
I appreciate Valve's contributions to Linux a million times more than these donations to racism.
Popularity is increasingly necessary to be able to actually use the OS. Hardware is constantly evolving, you need to keep up with everything from the new CPU architectures to the boot environment to drivers. Software is constantly evolving (worsening) too, if you want to interact with the web you need to be able to run a modern browser. Without popularity, there will be neither volunteers nor coprorate donors to do all this monumental work.
If corporate involvement is a bigger issue for you than usability, GNU Guix/Hurd is always there for you. I have it set up on an old laptop, it is kinda fun in a way but not really usable for anything.