• SpatchyIsOnline@lemmy.world
              3·
              7 days ago

              The long and short of it is this:

              • Linux is the kernal, the bit of the OS responsible for interacting with hardware and organising processes that run
              • GNU packages are a collection of small software programs that are present in virtually every Linux distro (things like bash, grep, and libc) that are needed to make the OS do useful things.
              • together they make up “GNU/Linux”, which is often shortened to simply Linux. Which is fine, people will understand what you’re talking about from context, and only pedantic asshats will correct you in general conversation. This is the internet though and you’re bound to run into a pedantic asshat from time to time.
              • Resonosity@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
                1·
                7 days ago

                Thanks for this explanation. This was my understanding as well, except for the GNU part.

                I asked because the parent commenter directly above my first comment made the distinction between the operating system and the kernel. I wasn’t actually sure what the overall umbrella “OS” was for Linux, since as you say the kernel is Linux while there are GNU packages. I can’t really recall someone on Lemmy saying what exactly the operating system is for any given computer that happens to run Linux as the kernel.

                I guess this scratches at what the definition of an operating system is: Windows, macOS, or GNU/Linux. In reality, doesn’t Windows run on the Unix kernel? Why don’t we call it Windows/Unix then? Is Unix used with other “operating systems” that layer on top of the Unix kernel itself?

                I went to school for electrical engineering btw and had to take many classes about digital logic and all of the entry level stuff about PCs at a hardware level. Didn’t really get taught much about what goes on top of the hardware aside from maybe microcontrollers with Assembly and C.

                Thanks anyways!

            • mexicancartel@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
              7·
              9 days ago

              For most users, kernel js kinda invisible. Whatever program you run interacts with the system via the kernel. Kernel manages hardware and links software with hardware.

              And all the other programs you can launch, built around the kernel which together make it functional is the rest of the OS.

      • FauxLiving@lemmy.world
        4·
        9 days ago

        The Father -> Richard Stallman

        The Son -> Linus Torvalds

        The Holy Ghost -> GNU+Linux

        The Holy Temple -> Arch Linux

  • j4yc33@piefed.socialEnglish
    561·
    9 days ago

    I think if I were to spend the time analyzing my conversations over the last 6 months I would probably find I spend a lot of time having conversations about why people should explicitly never use a Windows OS.

  • robocall@lemmy.world
    44·
    9 days ago

    Linux people are polite enough to not react when I tell them I use Ubuntu.

    Windows people think I am a geeky nerd that knows how to code when I tell them I use Ubuntu.

      • Turret3857@infosec.pubEnglish
        13·
        9 days ago

        I’m here to start a flame war and say Debian is old and gross and Fedora is clearly the way forward. And fuck it while were here, dont use the regular Fedora workstation, use the KDE spin, GNOME bad!

        Tap for spoiler

        /j

        • SleepyPie@lemmy.world
          3·
          8 days ago

          Well, now you don’t.

          Moving to Debian from Ubuntu was like moving from Windows to Linux again for me. It basically removes all the bloat and adware and just left the things I actually like, which I assume Ubuntu inherited from Debian anyway.

          But to be fair I just use my Debian machine for writing projects, research, and flash cards.

          • Zink@programming.dev
            2·
            8 days ago

            I recently had a similar experience. I used Linux Mint for the longest time, which is ubuntu based. And I tried LMDE for a little bit recently.

            But then I decided to try straight Debian 13 w/ KDE Plasma. I absolutely love it, and I’m old enough that seeing

            starting Debian GNU/Linux

            just feels cozy and correct. Plus like you said the speed and stability are somehow even better, but that I had issues before.

          • robocall@lemmy.world
            11·
            8 days ago

            Im comfortable with Ubuntu, and have no curiosity to try another distro. But if I ever have the inclination to try something else, I know Lemmy will have kind people to guide me.

    • Siegfried@lemmy.world
      1·
      8 days ago

      Monkeys, together strong

      Most if not all linux users i know irl use ubuntu and dont know much of other distros.

      I’m persuading some of turning to the right side of history and join Debian

      • embed_me@programming.dev
        2·
        8 days ago

        The real red pill is that distros are only different people in two aspects: convenience and degree of control. Only thing that matters is we’re on the side of freedom

  • M137@lemmy.world
    20·
    9 days ago

    A friend of mine had a party at her place on the most recent new years eve, there were several people who I hadn’t met before there and we quickly realised we were all Linux users and, of course, absolute fucking nerds (I mean that with pride and appreciation).
    She is very much not a nerd in that way and most others there weren’t too. It took about 15 minutes before she threw her hands up in the air and said “guys, this isn’t fun for anyone else, if you really need to only talk about operating systems and shit like that you’ll have to leave. Everyone else wants to hang with you guys too but no one can if you keep this in-group thing going.”
    And, yeah, we all understood her view. Of course we put up a playful fight though, first acting all disappointed and then saying “ok, ok, we’ll leave then. Have fun being all boring and stuff without us cool kids” etc. which it took her a while to realise wasn’t serious, heh.
    For the rest of the night we had to stop ourselves several times from getting back into it, both among ourselves and with other people. All of it was great though, and made some new Linux geek friends!

  • taiyang@lemmy.world
    16·
    9 days ago

    It’s quite simple; we’re trying to find our lost comrades. I had a magical moment when not one, but two people who joined my group on an MMO were using CachyOS. It’s like meeting your triplets separated at birth.

    You only find out if you bring it up, lol.

  • NeilNuggetstrong@lemmy.world
    12·
    9 days ago

    I remember seeing this meme a few years ago before I started using linux, and I showed this to a buddy and we were like “yeah lmao who the fuck goes around recommending OSs to people?”.

    Today I think “who the fuck goes around recommending Windows to people?”

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      9 days ago

      Twelve years ago, when XP released, there was legitimately a decision to be made what with nine distinct versions of the OS available. That still hasn’t stopped even in the modern day. So I could see people discussing exactly which version of Win10/11 they needed and then recommending others based on their experience.

      But it’s sort of like the BMW that comes with a subscription to heated seats and ABS. Like, why would you subject yourselves to this kind of abuse in an OS?

  • Limerance@piefed.socialEnglish
    11·
    9 days ago

    They are using the wrong kind of Linux! My kind of Linux is superior, because it’s broken in a different way and more difficult than yours.

  • starman2112@sh.itjust.works
    9·
    9 days ago

    Maybe if there were a hundred different Windows 10s, and all of them were really good, we would be recommending Windows 10 distros to each other

  • luciferofastora@feddit.org
    7·
    9 days ago

    Even if we assumed Windows was worth using, I’m not sure I would need to explicitly recommend “use the thing that’s everywhere already”. If we’re talking about Linux distros, we’ve already moved on from the standard and into the realm of other options, but the norm generally needs no advertising.

    • jaybone@lemmy.zipEnglish
      5·
      9 days ago

      How likely are you to recommend using computer?

      Hello fellow kids, I highly recommend using computer.

    • ☂️-@lemmy.ml
      4·
      6 days ago

      i always have to look for this answer when this meme is posted.

      people recommend all sorts of niche things over the regular stuff everyone does.

    • dev_null@lemmy.ml
      1·
      9 days ago

      A friend asks you: hey, my Windows 7 laptop is getting old, the new ones are all on Windows 10, would you recommend it? Or should I consider a MacBook instead? I really like that Mac has virtual desktops, which my laptop didn’t have.

      This is the situation they are asking about. Are you answering:

      “Actually Windows 10 has virtual desktops, so if that was the only reason for you to learn a new environment and move to Mac, then it might be simpler to choose Windows 10”.

      or

      “Nah, they put a lot of spyware in Windows 10, pick something else”.

      • luciferofastora@feddit.org
        1·
        9 days ago

        I get what you’re saying. I feel like the more you have to work to conjure up a situation where this would be asked, the less likely I’m to recommend it, but under the premise that I find myself in one of those situations…

        Well, given that the impending switch from Win7 to Win10 is what made me drop Windows entirely and rather try my luck with gaming on Linux, you can guess my answer :D