Even if you’re a newcomer to Linux, you’ve probably figured out that it is not a single, monolithic operating system, but a constellation of projects. The different “stars” in this constellation take the form of “distributions,” or “distros.” Each offers its own take on the Linux model. To gain an appreciation of the plethora of options offered by the range of distributions, it helps to understand how Linux started out and subsequently proliferated. With that in mind, here’s a brief introduction to Linux’s history.
FAR FAR TOO MANY DISTROS. This is THE BIGGEST downfall of Linux on the desktop. In the early 90s, I really hoped that some large company like IBM would adapt Linux for their desktop OS and put all their weight behind it just as Google has done with their mobile distro - Android (instead of wasting $Billons on IBM OS2).
Even now, I'd like Linus Torvalds to encourage the Linux community to gravitate towards just one 'Official' Linux desktop distro. This would allow us to break free of Microsoft flaky Windows and Apple's greedy market practices and create a huge ecosystem for a single desktop Linux.
I agree with Diwanh above. A unified desktop distro would be the first step. Then there would be a need for some marketing genius behind the push to let people know, that a desktop/laptop Linux OS is just like a Mac (many of the concepts and graphical elements are similar, and now even the physical form factor is nearly identical). The functionally very much alike. Except for the fact, Linux is Free! I remember being afraid of the transition to my first MBP from Windows. We need to get people over that transitional fear.
Thanks for the info on Linux Live. I will definitely be checking that out this weekend!
Only one kernel = YES; One kernel and one distro = NO! This is what leads to one ruling-party like Apple and Microsoft and if one is to say "that won't happen" is a fool and it continue to being the same free and open source as it is right now, this will eventually cause the multiplicity of distros we already have today to separate themselves from the singularity imposed on them from tinkering. So the supposed solution comes full circle in what we have Linux right now, many distros and one kernel. Again, the only way to prevent many distros is to be closed-source which in essence kills the tinker (AKA Linux Geek) and I am for one will never subject myself to only closed environments. FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) can only survive when there is excitement and continued love for the random development by all individuals in the world.
Linux’s Big Bang: One Kernel, Countless Distros
Posted by: Jonathan Terrasi April 27, 2017 03:24 PMEven if you’re a newcomer to Linux, you’ve probably figured out that it is not a single, monolithic operating system, but a constellation of projects. The different “stars” in this constellation take the form of “distributions,” or “distros.” Each offers its own take on the Linux model. To gain an appreciation of the plethora of options offered by the range of distributions, it helps to understand how Linux started out and subsequently proliferated. With that in mind, here’s a brief introduction to Linux’s history.
Even now, I'd like Linus Torvalds to encourage the Linux community to gravitate towards just one 'Official' Linux desktop distro. This would allow us to break free of Microsoft flaky Windows and Apple's greedy market practices and create a huge ecosystem for a single desktop Linux.
Thanks for the info on Linux Live. I will definitely be checking that out this weekend!