this post was submitted on 26 Feb 2024
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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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[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I wish System76 was focused on foss more.

[–] jjlinux@lemmy.ml 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I'm confused. What part of their software is not FOSS? They use CoreBoot for Bios, PopOS is based on Ubuntu and Cosmic is open source too. Do you mean that they still use Nvidia cards in some of their devices?

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 4 points 8 months ago (2 children)

The CPUs require non-free software to boot and function. That's very hard to get around but it would be interesting if at some point they built a device based on ARM with a chip set that is free.

On top of that they use Intel WiFi which needs non-free software to work. Ubuntu, pop os and Fedora all ship proprietary software in the kernel to make it work. Admittedly the number of free WiFi cards are limited so maybe it was about tradeoffs.

[–] fruitycoder@sh.itjust.works 5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Purism takes that extra effort no?

[–] jjlinux@lemmy.ml 2 points 8 months ago

Thanks for sharing this, I was completely unaware that those drivers were proprietary. Maybe I need to rethink my hardware choices then. Back to the drawing board.