this post was submitted on 26 Jul 2023
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Linux
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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It’s just a general purpose distro…
What is the “real” purpose of Debian or Arch?
And it’s really not that niche - many Docker images are based on it, postmarketOS is based on it.
Also OpenBSD is not a distro, it’s a completely different OS.
I should have been more clear -- Debian/Arch "just works" and (both low/mid/high users) do not need of anything beyond that. And both Alpine/OpenBSD do not provide an extra "need" to anything of what both Debian/Arch already does. Unless if Alpine and/or OpenBSD provides a feature that makes Arch/Debian obsolete in any way.... then yep, both will become more relevant.
Judging by various posts I’ve seen Arch and Debian both don’t “just work” for many users.
Also I really don’t get your point about providing a feature to make others “obsolete”… what do popular distros like Manjaro or Mint provide that make Arch/Ubuntu obsolete? And at least Manjaro has managed to be in the news quite a few times unfortunately.
The point of the article is that Alpine works, both on a technical level and as a project, without unnecessary drama.
I’d (mostly) say the same about OpenBSD too, btw.
...Windows users (migrating from Windows to Linux or just "posers") do not count. :^)