It’s kind of ironic to me that Linux is all for free and open source, but still uses a proprietary platform, and a horrible one at that. Before the fediverse, I’d understand, but now, there is no excuse whatsoever.
I understand that we can’t just get up and leave everything proprietary behind all at once, since we have iPhones and Android phones. We all use proprietary software of some form, but I am of the mindset of using the least amount of proprietary possible.
I will ALWAYS look for FOSS first. I also want to make it as hard as possible for any corporation to track me. They’ll probably still be able to track me, but I’m not going without a fight.
I could say the same about the Linux kernel using GitHub, but I understand how massive of an undertaking it would be to move the whole kernel to another platform. I’m sure there are other factors, too. Anyway, I just wanted to start a discussion and hear people’s thoughts.
Thank you
Maybe it’s the same normal human inconsistency as those of who support public health care and basic income, but ironically still buy stuff from capitalists.
Well tbf maby things i need i con only get by buying from a capitalist
The kernel on GitHub is just a mirror - the primary source is on kernel.org
Torvalds wrote git for the Linux kernel, and then GitHub popped up because most other projects couldn’t handle the decentralization. Interestingly to OP’s frustration, they were using a proprietary VCS before that, and people were just as frustrated about that: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Git#History
Yeah… would have taken OP 10 seconds to check that. Dumb.
How should we know? Ask them, not us.
But Lemmy users are obviously smarter, so it’s better to ask them.
Linux isnt only for Foss enjoyers. Plus its good to have the linux community on reddit to help people bring attention to linux. If they move it here it will be even harder to join the community.
You are not wrong. But there are things you can do to make a point. Make Reddit as a 2nd class citizen and drive people to lemmy, mastodon and the others. Like add posts with no comments, just relay bot, … Make it clear.
Same with GitHub, it’s mirror to my Gitea instance. You can see stuff but you have to move somewhere else to contribute and report issues. Not a terrible thing to use these proprietary services and yet make them 2nd class citizens.
It could be worse. At least they didn’t move to discord or facebook.
Discord is ok, it hosts many open source projects and can be bridged to matrix https://gitdab.com/cadence/out-of-your-element
Are you aware of any project that maintains a good bridge to Matrix? Because I’m in like 80 discord servers and not one of them has a high quality bridge
You can’t find anything on discord with a web search. You can’t even open it without logging in. Once you’re logged in, good luck finding an answer to a problem that was posted a year or two ago. That’s much worse than reddit.
I came here to say at least it’s not discord then I saw your comment. Yes, there s mattermost, matrix, IRC, … I am not installing Discord, I am not opening an account. I mean what s next? host your community in Skype?
- Not everyone that uses Linux is against proprietary software or only uses FOSS.
- There are people that just heard of Linux, are just trying it out, or have an issue, and already use Reddit, or is what the search engine points them to go for help, or to ask questions.
- Reddit has a lot more reach for the common people than any other platform at the moment, there are still people that prefer to ask on Reddit, than go to a specific forum or another platform to ask (If I remember right, it still happens with some apps like Jellyfin that moved out of Reddit, but people still ask there)
These are just a few of the reasons that come to my mind.
As an example I’m on Linux for a decade now but I also use proprietary services. I use Jellyfin and Netflix, Vim and Jetbrains IDEs, Chess.com instead of Lichess, WhatsApp instead of Matrix.
Sometimes the value proposition does it for me, sometimes it’s the network effect. I’ve ditched reddit because I like Lemmy more but I can see how someone wants to stay in touch with their niche communities that don’t really exist on Lemmy. Probably some people use both.
How comes that Vim is proprietary? Jetbrain offers community versions which are afaik open source too, so you can look at the source code, you do not need to pay or agree to an EULA.
Also institutional inertia is difficult to overcome in general.
This is so weird to me. Maybe it’s about who you are, or who you run with, but when I saw that Discord was about to go that way, I messaged my Pathfinder group and every single person there immediately hit me back with, “so where to next?”
That’s what, five people?
It’s a lot different when it’s thousands and thousands
That’s why I said it might have something to do with who you’re around.
Reddit Linux are just a bunch of gaming chuds. and I say that as a gamer.
They’ll take time to understand the landscape and there’s nothing wrong with that, yes reddit is dogshit but you won’t convince anyone by just telling them. They just have to look around for themselves.
It is the censoring, from the top down. That is like a brick wall on reddit that will hit anyone in no time.
Look at corporate members at https://www.linuxfoundation.org/about/members
There is a difference between Linux, the kernel, as a tool and free software the ideology. A lot of contributors to Linux are there for the money. They contribute resources, including money but also usually staff, without caring for abstract concepts like “freedom”, or they might even actively (arguably) work against it when they are strategically establishing walled gardens and exclusive stores.
So… I’m not saying that’s OK but I believe by confusing the ideology with the tool used for profit by gigantic corporations we are being unrealistic.
I’m having trouble following, you’re suggesting that the Linux subreddit continues to exist because of some corporate conspiracy to keep users on commercial media platforms?
I’m not sure where you get the “corporate conspiracy” part. Is anybody in 2025 still not understanding that platforms do everything they can for their users to consume any content available there constantly in order to sell more advertising because that’s one of the most profitable business model? Isn’t that public knowledge? If it’s not public knowledge are you implying it is “secret” despite those very corporations precisely publicly (at least during shareholders meetings) claiming that their strategy is simultaneously user base growth AND user engagement? If so wouldn’t that be more ignorance that conspiracy?
Anyway, that’s not even my point, rather I was trying to say that it seems OP is interested in Linux for the ethical aspect whereas the corporations listed there are, by definition and by their legal mandate of being for-profit companies, participating in order to improve their bottom line.
Please let me know if I misunderstood your point and/or if I’m still unclear.
op asked about the r/linux community which was not mentioned in either of your comments
Shitpost your heart out and maybe people will stay when they visit to observe the train wreck that is your life.
It helps keep the more caustic linuxers away from lemmy.
The call is coming from inside the house
Correct we only want the sour linuxers here.
My experience has been the opposite. People are nicer here.
You are right, it’s not very often I see fights here.
Regarding migration to Lemmy, I think it will happen originally and in a few years the majority of questions will be asked here.
The mods there were crap back in the day. Keep them on reddit.
Subreddits can’t move, they won’t be subreddits then. There are other Linux forums outside Reddit – like this one!
Because this here is for support. That there is for evangelism.
because Sadly Reddit is bigger then Lemmy and hopefully Lemmy will grow more.
You’re talking as if “The linux community” was one single bunch of people.
Reddit isn’t Linux HQ and nor is Lemmy, nor is Facebook. #linux still active on IRC too, but not there either.
100%. I’m relatively new to Linux and to the western world as a whole. 😅
