this post was submitted on 12 Nov 2023
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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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I've been seeing all these posts about Linux lately, and looking at them, I can honestly see the appeal. I'd love having so much autonomy over the OS I use, and customize it however I like, even having so many options to choose from when it comes to distros. The only thing holding me back, however, is incompatibility issues. A lot of programs I work with very often are Windows-exclusive, and alternatives supporting Linux are rare. So I guess I'm stuck with Windows, since I deem those particular programs really important.

Any advice from Linux nerds here? All constructive replies are very appreciated.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

I'm not sure which programs you're using so hopefully something here can help but here's some stuff I've read/done:

  • For MS Office, I believe you can just use it in your web browser or use LibreOffice as an alternative.
  • If you use anything Adobe-based, you'll probably have to keep a Windows partition around or find an alternative. I haven't seen anything for running Adobe in WINE or WINE-based tools and I'm not sure if Adobe functions in a virtual machine or not.
  • Most gaming-related issues can be dealt with via Proton (Steam's compatibility tool). I've successfully gotten just about every game I play to run in Proton, with the only issues being EA's launcher (the game still launches though).

If you have any specific programs that you have questions about, feel free to ask. Hope this helps!