this post was submitted on 09 Apr 2024
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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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What could your distro learn from another distro? (lemmy.sdf.org)
submitted 7 months ago by pmk@lemmy.sdf.org to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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For example, I'm using Debian, and I think we could learn a thing or two from Mint about how to make it "friendlier" for new users. I often see Mint recommended to new users, but rarely Debian, which has a goal to be "the universal operating system".
I also think we could learn website design from.. looks at notes ..everyone else.

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[–] baseless_discourse@mander.xyz 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Yeah, this is the old philosophy of the "run anywhere" philosophy of linux (or computers in general) that got us here. Another problem with stripping down kernel drivers is that swapping hardware component will require rebuilding the kernel, which regular user will definitely not be happy about.

[–] rollingflower@lemmy.kde.social 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

It would be a problem because of how it is currently done.

I imagine an install ISO to have a monokernel, build the kernel-building-system and detect the needed drivers. Save the config and build the matching kernel from that.

Now if you want to swap hardware, there is a transition tool within the OS that allows to state the wanted hardware component and remove the old driver from the config.

Or you switch to a monokernel and run the hardware detection and config change again.

Or you use the install USB stick (which you already have) which already uses a monokernel and has a feature to detect hardware, change the config on the OS, build and install the kernel to the OS.

This is a bit more complex than for example what fedora plans with their new WebUI installer. Poorly such a system also doesnt work that well with so many kernel updates.

[–] baseless_discourse@mander.xyz 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

I am not an expert, but I feel like rebuilding the kernel is probably too slow for most user.

And kernel already dynamically load the kernel module, then disabling them would practically make sure they will not be loaded.

I feel like we don't need to go down to micro-kernel to solve the problem of loading too many drivers.

[–] rollingflower@lemmy.kde.social 2 points 7 months ago

What I really like about stuff like RedoxOS, COSMIC, typst, simpleX, Wayland and others is having stuff built from a modern perspective with modern practices.

Linux is ancient now, and its a miracle that it is thriving like this.

If dynamic loading really is that robust, it probably doesnt matter. But I dont know how big the performance increases are and I really need to do benchmarks before and after.

There are btw also some experiments on making tbe CentOS-Stream LTS kernel run on Fedora. Which would be another great way of getting a more stable system.