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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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Will operating systems still be relevant? (self.linux)

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

38 comments fedilink hide all child comments

With lots of things being developed through web technologies, and many things being web-based so that it is cross-platform, will operating systems still be relevant?

We can differ philosophically by using Debian or Arch or Windows or Mac, but if nowadays applications are web-based or developed through something like Electron such that it can run on practically all modern operating systems. what is the relevance of operating systems galore?

Don't get me wrong I love FOSS and Linux and stuff, but it seems that the paradigm right now is creating web applications, with many things being web-based.

Am I off, or is this something you also think about?

P.S. I'm a total noob when it comes to IT, so the question might be weirdly phrased.

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[–] over_clox 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Still requires some sort of background software to render the pixels of the text, decode the video and audio, etc.

Web apps don't come with all that, they call on the operating system to do those things.

[–] mafbar 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Of course, but my thinking is sort of that for example, when it comes to Linux distros, there's no longer any meaningful difference even between Ubuntu or Fedora or Arch for casual users; since applications now tend to be containerised or be web-based. Distro choice may not relevant afterwards.

[–] kevinbacon 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Distro choice doesn't actually matter in any regard other than convenience, you can make any distro into any other distro by simply changing packages and modifying configs, the kernel is what matters.

Obligatory: containerisation is bloat, electron is bloat.

[–] mafbar 2 points 1 year ago

the kernel is what matters

Fundamentally, that's true. Of course the average user isn't going to think or probably even know what a kernel is, nor I'm unsure if they even have to.

containerisation is bloat, electron is bloat

I'm not a technical expert, but while containerisation is bloat, it's modularity is a plus, I think. Conceptually I like it.