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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what if linux or ubuntu took the android route??? (lemmy.today)

submitted 1 week ago by adrianhooves@lemmy.today to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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like what if linux still was open source but had a lot of proprietary dependencies and packages and became more popular and therefore proprietary software came to it?? but it still would let you use any desktop environment and there would be a new proprietary desktop environment which was like gnome but easier

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[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 13 points 1 week ago

like what if linux still was open source but had a lot of proprietary dependencies and packages...

At that point, it's not really open source anymore. Once it has proprietary dependencies, it's no longer open.

but it still would let you use any desktop environment and there would be a new proprietary desktop environment which was like gnome but easier

What you're describing is a closed-source version of Pop!_OS with a closed source version of Cosmic, their latest DE still in Alpha.

Businesses and software companies don't make software for operating systems based on their openness or proprietary-ness. They make it based on market share. Your idea would still have to compete with Linux, MacOS, and Windows, and it would have to get a better share of the market than at least Linux before businesses would even bother making software for your closed system.

The reason Linux is as successful as it is, is because it's open, and hobbyists can and do contribute to it for free. When you close that off, you then have to pay for development, and you'll have to overcome the gigantic barrier to entry set up by the likes of Microsoft and Apple.