Linux

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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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Nostalgic Distros? (lemmy.world)

submitted 5 months ago by OpossumOnKeyboard@lemmy.world to c/linux@lemmy.ml

72 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I tired Linux a few times in the past, but didn’t really start using seriously until 2019. I love poking around old OSs and distros, and I want to spin a few up in some VMs my next free evening.

Any suggestions? Open to any distro (or let’s be honest, DE). Any versions that holds a special place in your heart or that’s exceptionally novel? Really interested to see what’s out there!

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[–] AlexanderESmith@social.alexanderesmith.com 9 points 5 months ago (2 children)

My first distribution was Slackware 7.1 when I was in high school. It took a week to download the .iso on dialup, and I had to use a download manager (GetRight) so that I could resume the partial download any time the connection dropped (usually because someone had to use the phone).

I'm old o_o

I still vividly remember not being able to figure out how to install new packages, or knowing how to compile from source.

[–] UpperBroccoli@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Slackware 2.x, on two floppies. A boot and a root disk, downloaded from a BBS using a dial-up connection (I think it was a 57.6 modem). No X, but I still loved it, so much better than DOS.

[–] AlexanderESmith@social.alexanderesmith.com 2 points 5 months ago

Oh I remember those disks :D I think I had to either pull them off the ISO, or download them separately so that I could boot the system to the point where A: the install could occur at all and B: it had enough drivers to use the CD-ROM drive XD

[–] LeFantome@programming.dev 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I still fondly remember sitting in the Sun Lab at University downloading SLS disk by disk.

SLS 1.0.x still had Linux kernel 0.9x on it.

Just getting X at all on your own PC was like a magic trick.

[–] AlexanderESmith@social.alexanderesmith.com 2 points 5 months ago

The number of hours I put into figuring out what X was, the difference between XFree86 and X.ORG , fixing resolution and DPI issues, installing video card drivers (mostly nVidia)... I think all that tinkering prepared me for my career as a systems admin.

I think Slackware came with KDE, which is probably why I leaned toward it for so long. I've been using XFCE for many years, now.