this post was submitted on 27 May 2024
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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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[–] onlinepersona@programming.dev 3 points 6 months ago (3 children)

I've said this multiple times in other comments, but what would be amazing is a linux-installer.exe that shows the normal installer wizard with non-techie, beginner, and advanced options that allows installing linux from windows and booting right into it.

The ultimate goal would be for the desktop environment to have a windows theme by default, have all the alternatives installed for previously installed software with desktop icons that look the same, and all files to be where they were previously. That way you could just say "go to https://windowsupgrade.com / https://linux.install and run the installer" to anybody non-technical and have them running linux in under an hour.

It should be so simple and unassuming that people don't even realise they installed linux. If they message back "I ran it, but I'm still on windows", that's a success.

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[–] xyguy@startrek.website 2 points 6 months ago (2 children)

That would lower the barrier to entry significantly. It doesn't address the issues with the bios but someone mildly adventurous would have a much easier time going forward.

I think something like that would have to be sponsored by and maintained by a big distro though. I'm afraid if it was a community effort the amount of bikeshedding would stop it before it even began.

[–] Zeoic@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

It would completely eliminate the bios issue, would it not? It would prevent them from ever needing to enter the bios at all.

[–] xyguy@startrek.website 1 points 6 months ago

They would most likely still have to disable secure boot.