11 ms·

Windows should just become a Linux Distro already.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
jchw 5y ago
It already has the Linux kernel, a Wayland compositor, PTYs, symlinks, POSIX compliant filesystem and now a package manager. Clearly, they are interested in moving the gap. Jokes aside, I don’t really think it’s a possibility in the near or mid future, but if Microsoft ever did show signs of pivoting towards a Linux-based Windows successor, I only pray that the NT kernel source code may be open sourced under a decently liberal license. No matter how late in time that move occurs, it will still be a boon for preserving an entire era of computing.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- Datagenerator 5y ago
  It will never be fully open. They got all of the three letter agencies to cooperate with... that's why they want to stay on the CPU as primary OS next to Unix on the secondary processor Intel provides called Active Management Technology (AMT). This hardware and firmware for remote out-of-band management is running the Intel Management Engine, a separate microprocessor not exposed to the user, in order to monitor, maintain, update, upgrade, and repair them using mesh networks.
  - peakaboo 5y ago
    And with windows 11 requiring certain processors, I'm pretty sure Intel built something even more interesting into those ones which will make AMT look like childsplay.
  - pessimizer 5y ago
    > It will never be fully open. They could just become a BSD, like Apple did. Nothing they're doing with linux wouldn't work with some future Microsoft BSD that kept backwards Windows compatibility as a Wine-type shell. They do that, they can close up whatever they want, just like Apple.
ModernMech 5y ago
Please God no. I say this as someone with a Surface Laptop running Windows 11 and a Dell laptop running Ubuntu 20.4 sitting in front of me. The windows 11 experience has been great, flawless even. Yes there are some advertisements creeping into it, but they can be turned off, and Ubuntu doesn’t exactly have a clean track record here. But in terms of the Dell, it is 2021 and I am still having issues with power management on Ubuntu. I will pick up the laptop and it will often be dead despite hibernating, leaving all my work closed and instant on a dream. I’m sorry but how is this still a problem? You can open up old threads on /. from the OS wars of the 2000s and see these same issues brought up. Linux has trouble with external and multiple displays, trouble with power management, trouble with wireless on and on. And I’m sure someone will comment here about how these things can be fixed with enough elbow grease , but again, it’s 2021 and it’s still an issue. Can these issues really be fixed? Could Microsoft fix it if they take swing at it? Will Linux distros have decent power management by 2040? Honestly can’t say at this point, guessing no. Moreover, is this something we really want? I mean, people were plenty happy when Chrome dethroned IE, but look at where we are now. The king is dead, long live the king. Having multiple competing kernels is a good thing for everyone IMO. We should actually be rooting for the Windows kernel to stay alive, as it is the underdog at this point in terms of usage and deployment -- aint no Windows machines on Mars (I don't know if that's strictly true actually, I just assume). EDIT: I am amused that the first three replies are arguments that would have fit right into those old OS wars: MS has the money; hardware vendors are targeting Windows because it's popular; have you tried upgrading? I'm not picking on you folks, these are not bad arguments. These are perfectly valid points. But what I'm saying is that it's been 20 years since I've seen these arguments first made, and they still need to be made. That's a problem. For instance, yes I've upgraded. It's not fixed. Yes I've tried to troubleshoot it. I can't fix it. Yes MS has a lot of money and power, but it's also been 20 years, so that excuse has worn thin. Yes hardware vendors target Windows, but this is a Dell machine, they targeted Ubuntu. Why can't the Linux community move the needle on these issues, and if they can't why should we want Windows assimilated into that ecosystem? They have their own kernel that is technologically distinct and in many ways superior (other ways inferior). What do we gain by Windows being Linux? Let them be their own thing.
- MisterTea 5y ago
3np 5y ago
I do think that a lot of the recent developments paves the way for that and even if MS is t necessarily having that even on the long-term roadmap, it’s makes strategic sense for them to make that door open and a realistic proposal. Or at least POSIX, even if not specifically Linux.
TeMPOraL 5y ago
It will. But it's not going to get better because of this. Microsoft will just double down on turning it into a service.

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

jchw 5y ago

It already has the Linux kernel, a Wayland compositor, PTYs, symlinks, POSIX compliant filesystem and now a package manager. Clearly, they are interested in moving the gap. Jokes aside, I don’t really think it’s a possibility in the near or mid future, but if Microsoft ever did show signs of pivoting towards a Linux-based Windows successor, I only pray that the NT kernel source code may be open sourced under a decently liberal license. No matter how late in time that move occurs, it will still be a boon for preserving an entire era of computing.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
Datagenerator 5y ago
It will never be fully open. They got all of the three letter agencies to cooperate with... that's why they want to stay on the CPU as primary OS next to Unix on the secondary processor Intel provides called Active Management Technology (AMT). This hardware and firmware for remote out-of-band management is running the Intel Management Engine, a separate microprocessor not exposed to the user, in order to monitor, maintain, update, upgrade, and repair them using mesh networks.
- peakaboo 5y ago
  And with windows 11 requiring certain processors, I'm pretty sure Intel built something even more interesting into those ones which will make AMT look like childsplay.
- pessimizer 5y ago
  > It will never be fully open. They could just become a BSD, like Apple did. Nothing they're doing with linux wouldn't work with some future Microsoft BSD that kept backwards Windows compatibility as a Wine-type shell. They do that, they can close up whatever they want, just like Apple.

ModernMech 5y ago

Please God no. I say this as someone with a Surface Laptop running Windows 11 and a Dell laptop running Ubuntu 20.4 sitting in front of me. The windows 11 experience has been great, flawless even. Yes there are some advertisements creeping into it, but they can be turned off, and Ubuntu doesn’t exactly have a clean track record here. But in terms of the Dell, it is 2021 and I am still having issues with power management on Ubuntu. I will pick up the laptop and it will often be dead despite hibernating, leaving all my work closed and instant on a dream. I’m sorry but how is this still a problem? You can open up old threads on /. from the OS wars of the 2000s and see these same issues brought up. Linux has trouble with external and multiple displays, trouble with power management, trouble with wireless on and on. And I’m sure someone will comment here about how these things can be fixed with enough elbow grease , but again, it’s 2021 and it’s still an issue. Can these issues really be fixed? Could Microsoft fix it if they take swing at it? Will Linux distros have decent power management by 2040? Honestly can’t say at this point, guessing no. Moreover, is this something we really want? I mean, people were plenty happy when Chrome dethroned IE, but look at where we are now. The king is dead, long live the king. Having multiple competing kernels is a good thing for everyone IMO. We should actually be rooting for the Windows kernel to stay alive, as it is the underdog at this point in terms of usage and deployment -- aint no Windows machines on Mars (I don't know if that's strictly true actually, I just assume). EDIT: I am amused that the first three replies are arguments that would have fit right into those old OS wars: MS has the money; hardware vendors are targeting Windows because it's popular; have you tried upgrading? I'm not picking on you folks, these are not bad arguments. These are perfectly valid points. But what I'm saying is that it's been 20 years since I've seen these arguments first made, and they still need to be made. That's a problem. For instance, yes I've upgraded. It's not fixed. Yes I've tried to troubleshoot it. I can't fix it. Yes MS has a lot of money and power, but it's also been 20 years, so that excuse has worn thin. Yes hardware vendors target Windows, but this is a Dell machine, they targeted Ubuntu. Why can't the Linux community move the needle on these issues, and if they can't why should we want Windows assimilated into that ecosystem? They have their own kernel that is technologically distinct and in many ways superior (other ways inferior). What do we gain by Windows being Linux? Let them be their own thing.

MisterTea 5y ago

3np 5y ago

I do think that a lot of the recent developments paves the way for that and even if MS is t necessarily having that even on the long-term roadmap, it’s makes strategic sense for them to make that door open and a realistic proposal. Or at least POSIX, even if not specifically Linux.

TeMPOraL 5y ago

It will. But it's not going to get better because of this. Microsoft will just double down on turning it into a service.