this post was submitted on 23 Sep 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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[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 year ago

Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a looong time…

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago

We do what we must, because we can!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

Lotus was so intent on protecting their revenue stream from software piracy that they built copy protection into the program. If the program was copied from one drive to another, it would not run. So if one bought a new computer or if the hard drive failed, the program could not be transferred to a new drive. The first versions of the software were pretty buggy too. I always visualized a Lotus company with a few programmers and many lawyers. They finally included a floppy disk that would allow a very limited number of copies, but still a PITA.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Boomer spreadsheet program.

Not literally, it came out in 83 - it was the original 'killer app', and was behind the widespread adoption of microcomputers into business in the pre-network and internet days.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Sorry but it's a blatant gen x spreadsheet program!

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (3 children)

The last release was in 2002. It's not limited to Gen X. As an older millennial, I leaned Lotus 1-2-3 and Lotus Word Pro before I was introduced to Microsoft's Suite.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I miss Wordperfect, although I don't miss the templates everyone had on their keyboards.

I mostly wish Word had "show codes."

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

Opera Soft’s games ftw

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

As a younger Gen-Xer, we were still using Lotus Notes for logging calls when I worked at Dell Tech support in 98-99. It sucked.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Hahahahaha.

I was still using Notes in 2013. Most functions had moved on, but for the government department that I was working for at the time it was essential for IM, group mailboxes, and... a specific type of diplomatic communication.

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

Right but we don't age things from it's last release do we!

First released in 83 when I was 9 and I played with my ZX81.

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

Huh. I played with my penis. And an Atari 1040ST (a few years later).

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

Well then, Thanks for sharing! I moved on from a ZX81 to a BBC Master (128k+dbl sided 40/80T dual disk drive) and then to a Falcon 030 in late '92. Games sounded sooo much better on the Falcon 030

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

That hardware is so fascinating (in hindsight): I love that it had a hardware jpeg decoder. Fun times.

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

For sure man, mine came with a copy of cubase which blew my mind then and now lol

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I'm an Xennial and my grandmother taught me how to use Lotus when I was in junior high lol

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

it was the original ‘killer app’

That'd be VisiCalc from all the way back in 1979. The slam-dunk argument against Steve Jobs wanting the Apple II to be a glorified appliance with only built-in applications. A lesson he still hadn't fucking learned by the time the iPhone came out.

Lotus 1-2-3 was the IBM PC answer to that 8-bit microcomputer program. VisiCalc had a DOS version, but it was a deliberately identical port. Bugs and all. Lotus bought the company within two years of launching its properly modern competitor.

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

That's an interesting factoid. Thanks

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

A popular spreadsheeting program that was displaced by Microsoft Excel in the '90s.

There's also this infamous quote:

DOS ain't done until Lotus can't run

More information investigating the source of this quote: https://www.proudlyserving.com/archives/2005/08/dos_aint_done_t.html

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

Huh cool thanks

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

For a sec I thought this was [email protected]. They'd love this over there.