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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I still don't understand why one would install this shitty adware infested distribution when Debian exists (and has basically become just as user-friendly)
They even put ads in the fucking terminal - look at this shit
It has the brand recognition of being "the" Linux distro, even though it doesn't deserve that title these days (if it ever did at all).
Oh it did.
When Ubuntu first came out Debian was so far behind it was a joke. Debian.. woody? Was old as fuck still running a 2.2 kernel and even sid was behind.
Ubuntu basically lit a fire under their ass and got em to stay more up to date and has become an excellent distro, even stable isn't that far behind anymore.
Also I had "so called normies" asking me about Ubuntu or talking about it in regular conversation whereas a year prior I'd have to explain what Linux was if I mentioned it. It was an exciting time where Linux was about to become mainstream it seems.
Either way I'm fine with Ubuntu (and steam deck) being the gateway drug to Linux. But I do agree they've fallen off since the mid 2010s. Debian is pretty easy to install and is just a better experience if you still wanna use APT and it seems everyone else does Ubuntu better like Mint or Pop.
Back in '07 it was an easy entry into Linux and was praised constantly.
I'm not completely sure if they were the distro that started the trend, but the 'Ubunufication' of distros since then has made Linux easier to access.
It's a shame that they began sharing telemetry and displaying ads to their users. As more distros break ranks for profit, like Red Hat and Suse, we will slowly see more techs accepting this behavior.
SUSE going private isn't going against their users. It's breaking away from the dependence on market investors, which only seek short term profit, so it is in SUSE that I currently place my trust for the Enterprise Linux space.
I think there are a few compelling QOL aspects to Ubuntu still compared to Debian. The installer, the default fonts, the easy upgrader between releases, and the customized gnome desktop. Obviously the gap has narrowed between the two with each new release of Debian.
I used it forever because it was pretty lazy, but them overriding user choices to force snap is it for me.
The absolute horror of advertising your own tools
This is the best summary I could come up with:
His post notes though how the desktop is evolving with a greater focus on security, a rapid transition of user data and enterprise management to the cloud, cloud desktops, more experimental technologies like embedded AI, and augmented or virtual reality productivity environments coming about.
The expressed values of the Ubuntu Desktop are choice, quality, support, enjoyment, performance, privacy by design, security by default, seamless integration, and looking towards the future.
As for security by default, Oliver notes that Ubuntu 23.10 is working on a "highly experimental" implementation of hardware-backed full disk encryption as an option in the Ubuntu installer.
Or on the performance front, their example is how they partnered with Intel to provide hardware accelerated video encoding/decoding within the Chromium browser Snap package... That hardware-accelerated video support in the Chromium Snap is working its way to stable.
Let's not forget though how browser video acceleration on other platforms has just been pretty much assumed for years and it's due to Snaps that enabling this VA-API support has been more of a challenge.
More planning details around the Ubuntu Desktop 24.04 LTS release, which is due out in April, should be shared before the end of the year.
The original article contains 373 words, the summary contains 198 words. Saved 47%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!
I've looked into the hardware disk encryption before. The problem that it has with Linux is it isn't compatible with secure boot OOTB and could cause sleep issues. That's just the nature of OPAL 2 disks. I'm curious to see what they will do, but then the security is up to the TPM chip and the BIOS.
