Head to https://squarespace.com/thelinuxexperiment to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code thelinuxexperiment Grab a brand new laptop or desktop running Linux: https:/...
  • Magiilaro@feddit.org
    2·
    9 months ago

    And at the same time we have the Jugendmedienstaatsvertrag in Germany (and with Germany as a strong force in the EU most likely everywhere in the EU soon) that will make all operating systems without fully integrated age restrictions illegal https://www.heise.de/en/news/Minors-protection-State-leaders-mandate-filters-for-operating-systems-10199455.html

    Manufacturers of operating systems must then ensure that “only apps that correspond to the age specification or that have been individually and securely activated can be used”. The installation of programs should only be possible via distribution platforms such as app stores that take the age rating into account and have an automated rating system recognized by the Commission for the Protection of Minors in the Media (KJM).

    This part of the law alone is impossible to implement on a open platform like Linux.

    • jim3692@discuss.online
      1·
      9 months ago

      Since it is impossible to implement on Linux, it may just be flagged as adult-only software.

      But, there is still hope. What if Snaps and Flatpaks get properly flagged, allowing Ubuntu and/or Fedora to be legal?

      • Magiilaro@feddit.org
        2·
        9 months ago

        Since it is impossible to implement on Linux, it may just be flagged as adult-only software.

        This would render Linux unfit for use in Schools, Public Libraries, Youth Centers and other places where Children and Teenagers have access to PCs.

        It is, in addition to that, possible that internal regulation of government offices prohibit the use of adult software. Not sure about it, but it would IMHO fit the mindset of bureaucrats

      • Jankatarch@lemmy.world
        1·
        9 months ago

        I mean it’s impossible on all computers.

        Windows should ensure you can only use app-store and make it impossible to install an exe from online as example

        MacOS even funnier. If I save a bash script I found online mac is supposed to refuse, unless I am using a vpn that is!

      • Magiilaro@feddit.org
        0·
        9 months ago

        Ok, but how to prevent programs installed as Appimage, by source compilation or just downloaded binaries from running? You need a way to prevent this methods of installation to be legal

        • jim3692@discuss.online
          0·
          9 months ago

          This also applies to Windows. What prevents a user from downloading a Firefox fork that does not properly implement age verification?

      • Magiilaro@feddit.org
        1·
        9 months ago

        To make something illegal by law it is needed to have a valid reason for that law to exist. This is the case at least in every jurisdiction that has a somewhat functional separation of powers.

        Due to this can’t just make it illegal to use Linux, but with a Law like the Jugendmedienstaatsvertrag it comes as a free bonus.

  • commander@lemmy.world
    1·
    9 months ago

    Any bit of user base growth helps get the ball rolling for future MS/USA missteps. Linux has just been getting better and easier year after year. It’s been a 30 year marathon ready for another 30+ years of development

  • Kalcifer@sh.itjust.works
    0·
    9 months ago

    I can’t wait until Lemmy’s Peertube integration is released [1]. Then, iiuc, this comment section should be able to happen directly on The Linux Experiment’s videos within Lemmy.

    References
    1. Type: Comment. Author: “Nutomic”. Publisher: [Type: Post. Title: “Better federation for Peertube content”. Author: “Kalcifer” (“K4LCIFER”). Publisher: [“GitHub”. “LemmyNet/lemmy”.]. Published: 2023-08-06T21:41:29.000Z. URI: https://github.com/LemmyNet/lemmy/issues/3837.]. Published: 2025-03-27T08:28:52.000Z. Accessed: 2025-07-11T00:59Z. URI: https://github.com/LemmyNet/lemmy/issues/3837#issuecomment-2757172791.
      • Kalcifer@sh.itjust.works
        1·
        9 months ago

        […] I hope it’s really coming🤞

        A change regarding Peertube federation with Lemmy certainly does appear to be coming in Lemmy 1.0 [1], but it’s currently unknown to me if it does actually fix the issue.

        References
        1. Type: Comment. Author: “Nutomic”. Publisher: [Type: Post. Title: “Better federation for Peertube content”. Author: “Kalcifer” (“K4LCIFER”). Publisher: [“GitHub”. “LemmyNet/lemmy”.]. Published: 2023-08-06T21:41:29.000Z. URI: https://github.com/LemmyNet/lemmy/issues/3837.]. Published: 2025-03-27T08:28:52.000Z. Accessed: 2025-07-14T06:03Z. URI: https://github.com/LemmyNet/lemmy/issues/3837#issuecomment-2757172791.

          • #5509 fixes this, it will be released as part of Lemmy 1.0

            • This is referring to code that was pushed to the repository that allegedly fixes the issue with Peertube federation.
  • ssillyssadass@lemmy.world
    0·
    9 months ago

    I think that if Linux is to be more widely adopted a more easily used distro needs to become mainstream. Let’s face it, the average computer user barely knows how to use Windows, just because you find Linux easy doesn’t mean they will.

    Do you think you could teach Linux to your grandmother?

    • Saleh@feddit.org
      1·
      9 months ago

      Do you think you could teach Linux to your grandmother?

      Yes. Set automatic package updates, Install firefox with ublock and put it on the taskbar, and bookmark Facebook and Youtube for her. It is the same thing as under Windows.

      I would argue that for the most “tech illiterate” users the Linux experience can be made even easier than the windows experience, because you have to set up everything for them anyways.

    • LeFantome@programming.dev
      1·
      9 months ago

      My mother, 80 years old, uses Linux Mint.

      It is a myth that Windows is easier to use than Windows. It is just what you know and it came with your computer.

    • Obin@feddit.org
      11·
      9 months ago

      We already have those. Arguably Windows is much more of a hassle to use than your average “works out of the box” distro. And don’t start talking about the terminal, that’s comparing apples and organges. A more apt comparison to the need of using the terminal on Linux is the need to apply registry tweaks or use powershell on Windows. As if “average users” would need to do that. They install software via the “app store”, change settings via the GUI and run updates when prompted, all of which are seamless on most of these distros. If something breaks, they can’t fix it themselves, but then they just go to someone else to help them, just like on Windows, which they also can’t fix by themselves. Maybe they manage to reinstall, which isn’t any harder than on Windows, if not easier these days.

      The group you’re actually talking about (and likely belong to) are the Windows power-users that would need to rethink things, and would be capable of rethinking things, if they wanted, which they don’t. I know some of these people myself, complaining all day about Microsoft and the privacy nightmare that they put in huge effort to mitigate, but sadly they absolutely need to rely on this one “critical” piece of freeware from the 2000s that they are sure won’t run on wine (not that they’ve tried) or a cracked copy of Photoshop they use for cropping and changing the brightness of desktop backgrounds, but it’s the industry leader, so they obviously won’t use “inferior” software for that, face the facts Linux users. They think package managers are much harder than downloading and clicking through Setup.exe for the 100th time in a row, and they’ve had this one bad experience with “rm -rf /” 10 years ago which is why they don’t “trust” the terminal, yet routinely double-click on downloaded .bat files without thought. 🤷

  • atzanteol@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    0·
    9 months ago

    They try this every 5 years or so. Microsoft gives them some short term discounts and they come running back back.

    • ExtremeDullard@lemmy.sdf.org
      1·
      9 months ago

      It’s different this time around.

      The previous attempts were about freeing themselves from an abusive unprincipled data-hungry big data monopoly,

      This attempt is about freeing themselves from an abusive unprincipled data-hungry big data monopoly operating in a fascist country and in cahoots with the regime.

      I reckon it’s serious this time.

      • Spaniard@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        9 months ago

        Other countries like that and Europe deals with are: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Russia and of course, China.

        • LeFantome@programming.dev
          0·
          9 months ago

          The digital dependence on the US is much like the energy dependence on Russia.

          Europe is ditching Russian energy. They may ditch US tech.

          • Spaniard@lemmy.worldEnglish
            0·
            9 months ago

            I don’t know about the whole Europe but Spain is buying more energy from Russia than before the war and sanctions.

            Don’t get me wrong, I hope that would be the case but Europe is also Corporativist.

            • Saleh@feddit.org
              0·
              9 months ago

              Is it more? I know Spain is still buying some LNG from Russia, but i would have thought the amount went down, not up.

              • Spaniard@lemmy.worldEnglish
                0·
                9 months ago

                The European Union regulates the market so much it’s hard to call it capitalism, the biggest european companies are basically EU projects like Airbus (every government funds it) or too big too fail like Siemens and/or they would use: “strategic industry” and be done with it.

                Edit oh and I almost forgot it, or they are like Inditex, basically not European it’s just an European getting rich while exploiting poor people all around the world, but I think this is actually capitalism and that guy isn’t exactly appreciated by ruling dictator, I mean party, in Spain.

    • zingo@sh.itjust.works
      1·
      9 months ago

      I wouldn’t be so sure this time around.

      The world is a big uncertainly and the force in Europe for digital sovereignty is something I never seen before.

      The initiative to protect Europes boarders and data information is justified.

  • CarrotsHaveEars@lemmy.ml
    01·
    9 months ago

    I am all for ditching Microsoft, but why should this post be in this community? There are also Android, Mac OS, and all kinds of BSD.