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To add to this... I remember buying physical media to get my first distros of Linux. The source was open but the builds/dists were what I was paying for. Open
by mfer 4y ago
To add to this...
I remember buying physical media to get my first distros of Linux. The source was open but the builds/dists were what I was paying for.
Open source doesn't mean free distributions/builds or free support.
If you look at the open source definition[1] it has to do with the source and what you can do with it. The key theme here is the source itself.
I've spent a significant amount of my time around open source and having a healthy functional ecosystem of people around it is important. For that to happen you have to solve for the financial parts.
Note, I'm not endorsing or rejecting this document foundation move. I've not thought about it enough to do so.
[1] https://opensource.org/osd https://opensource.org/osd
- wjnc 4y agoHa yes this is a nice memory. Getting Debian 3 cd’s and then failing to do my first install because obviously with only one PC you can’t look up a guide online. (My dad always bought the big OS manuals, like 30 cm of paper per MS DOS-version, but this was my first time on my own.) Struggle, struggle to get to text only. Go onto IRC for help. All channels block you because “don’t use root for online”. Well another few days and user created and even X works. Hmm, no gaming on Linux. Miss that. Back to XP. Decade later. Proton is a gift. Installation is easy. Did pick up the Linux basics old school. Never looked back. Decades fly by.
- mattl 4y agoWas it IRC channels blocking you or the servers themselves?
- wjnc 4y agoThe channels. They kicked you after a few minutes if you were root. And that made it really hard and probably quite funny to ask for help / pointers. Hey, there’s that stubborn kid again. It’s even (still) in their guidelines [1]! [1] https://wiki.debian.org/DebianIRCChannelGuidelines https://wiki.debian.org/DebianIRCChannelGuidelines