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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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Have new distro releases become meaningless? (lemdro.id)

submitted 2 months ago by mfat@lemdro.id to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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When I read through the release announcements of most Linux distributions, the updates seem repetitive and uninspired—typically featuring little more than a newer kernel, a desktop environment upgrade, and the latest versions of popular applications (which have nothing to do with the distro itself). It feels like there’s a shortage of meaningful innovation, to the point that they tout updates to Firefox or LibreOffice as if they were significant contributions from the distribution itself.

It raises the question: are these distributions doing anything beyond repackaging the latest software? Are they adding any genuinely useful features or applications that differentiate them from one another? And more importantly, should they be?

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[–] nanook@friendica.eskimo.com 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

@ @mfat The reason I gave up on Nvidia is they never keep their drivers up to date with the latest kernel.

[–] zelifcam@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

I gave up on Nvidia is they never keep their drivers up to date with the latest kernel.

I honestly have no idea what you mean. I’ve been using NVIDIA cards on Linux for well over a decade. Recently the last 5 years on bleeding edge everything to get the latest benefits to gaming and the desktop. I’ve rarely run into issues with the driver. Lack of features, sure. Installing the driver, no. One of my systems has been updating year after year without a problem. Did you not use dkms? If you use dkms, it just rebuilds the driver everytime a new kernel is installed. You don’t have to do anything.

[–] nanook@friendica.eskimo.com 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

@ Download and compile the most recent kernel from kernel.org, sooner or later you'll run into a situation where the nvidia drivers don't support it.

[–] zelifcam@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Fair point. So having issues running latest mainline and RC kernels? I guess I stay away from those. The compatibility problems seem to never outweigh the benefits.