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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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Official vs FOSS software? (lemmy.ca)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

24 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Sorry if this isn't the right place to ask this, I couldn't find a linux-no-stupid-questions community lol.

I'm migrating again to linux, and working on Linux Mint for now to avoid a huge change due to my upcoming program for school soon where I won't have extra time to fiddle with things. So I'm trying to get everything set up, and download my most used applications, but I'm trying to figure out - should I be downloading the official software if it's available, or is it better to find a FOSS alternative instead? I plan to go with the apps that come with it like the libre office instead of Microsoft, obviously, but I was looking at Discord and there is what appears to be an official looking option in the software manager app, and below it a FOSS WebCord option. Or, if this one isn't the official, I could always go to the discord site and get it from them if they have it available.

Does it matter which option I go with? Is it better to go with official software if possible? Or is it better to go with FOSS for more control/privacy?

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (2 children)

As someone who's been in the workforce for more than a decade, the one thing I wouldn't bother with FOSS is Office.

I know it's probably MS's fault, but at the end of the day I'm just trying to send this boring document to this boring colleague and get on with my day. Last thing I want is for them to come back with boring complaints cause something went a bit wrong with conversion.

[–] Synthead 9 points 1 year ago (2 children)

You know what's funny? Microsoft adopted the OpenDocument format. A .docx file is simply zip-compressed XML. So it's not that open office software like LibreOffice doesn't get "the spacing right," it's that MS never really got it quite right to begin with. Think how IE made compliant websites render incorrectly; this is the same thing in a sneakier package.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Yep, I had a feeling it was some kind of bs like that.

But at the end of the day, I'm not gonna let my personal feelings get in the way of getting work done. I'll fight for many other things, but not this one.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

@platysalty @Synthead
Don't forget about that awesome MSCRLFBS feature. 😆

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Apparently freeoffice (not Foss) has better compatibility with MS office.