this post was submitted on 11 Dec 2023
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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 thought Lunix was invented by the infamous Soviet computer hacker Linyos Torovoltos.
It's an old meme but it checks out. Older than some of the people in this community haha
For anyone that hasn't seen it, it's a reference to this satirical article from 2001: http://web.archive.org/web/20030128011354/http://www.adequacy.org/stories/2001.12.2.42056.2147.html
Wow, that's a blast from the past! Completely forgot that LILO used to be a thing.
I remember dealing with migrating from LILO to GRUB when I was in high school, maybe 2005ish? It's been a while. I remember the migration from ipchains to iptables, too (which is happening again now with the iptables to nftables migration)
I used Ubuntu at the time... It was a great distro back then. I only had dial-up so couldn't download large files easily, and Canonical or one of their local partners would mail you a CD for free regardless of where you lived in the world. I think that helped a LOT of people get into Linux.
Similar experiences here. I remember waiting for the free CDs bundles with monthly magzines, and add then I'd the CD as a mirror in my repos to update my packages lol
Ubuntu was the distribution that had me switch from dual-booting with Windows as default to dual-booting with Linux as default.
I also remember ordering an actual Ubuntu disc, with the extra donation to fund the mailing for free program.
Now years later after lots of distro-hopping I just run Ubuntu LTS, and stay on the very boring LTS branch.
Man I've seen derivatives of this stuff, but this must be the OG post - thanks for that!
I thought the whole Lunix thing came from the elite hacker JEFF.K!!!!!!!!!11 so I'm chuffed there's another level to this!
It's funny because the first time I read it, I thought it was serious and was just written by a tech-illiterate parent. Saying that Comet Cursor and Bonzi Buddy are hacker software kinda gives away that it's just satire though.
oh I guess that's also something that younger people may not know about... In the late 1990s / early 2000s, it wasn't uncommon for people to install spyware to get things like custom mouse cursors, emoticons, and purple gorillas that help you navigate the web.
Another mirror has the original comments. They're exactly what you'd expect from 2001.