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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Something to ruffle some penguin feathers: The Unix Hater's Handbook (web.mit.edu)

submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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This is a 1994 book about the many woes that Unix derived systems brought to sysadmins that were used to other solutions. Considering the number of commands that Linux still uses, it's definitely worth a read.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

My first Linux installation was done using Red Hat CDs that I purchased for around $20. Probably around 1996. Patching was difficult. Drivers for many pieces of hardware didn't exist. Remember Plug and Play was pretty new at that time frame. Lots of manual resolution of things like driver interrupt conflicts (boards had physical jumpers that you could move to change which IRQ they asserted). Looking back on it, I can't believe any of us were doing it. But the eventual payout was wonderful. I can't imagine what 1996 me would think about how easy something like the latest Ubuntu is. I would probably be pretty awed because I have a decent understanding of the massive amount of work that has been poured into the ecosystem now to make it what it is today.

All that said, I will always have a soft spot for Solaris on an Ultraspark. That shit worked great.