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Doesn't Linux desktop (say Ubuntu) generally have strong backwards compatibility? There are issues occasionally, but no worse than trying to run Windows 9x apps

by jadbox 4y ago

Doesn't Linux desktop (say Ubuntu) generally have strong backwards compatibility? There are issues occasionally, but no worse than trying to run Windows 9x apps on Win10+.

jdsully 4y ago
back compat is awful on Linux with the exception of the kernel. Unfortunately you need more than a stable kernel ABI to get proper back compatibility and the userland libs don't want to play ball.
- anthk 4y ago
  LD_LIBRARY_PATH can do magic.
  - fbdab103 4y ago
    While it may be technically possible to run old applications on Linux, it likely requires significant pain. In Windows land, if you had a random installer from 2000, there is a reasonable chance it would still work today.
- NekkoDroid 4y ago
  The 2 most stable API/ABI on linux are the kernel itself and Wine, which I find kinda funny
fbdab103 4y ago
Win32 Is The Only Stable ABI on Linux: https://blog.hiler.eu/win32-the-only-stable-abi/ https://blog.hiler.eu/win32-the-only-stable-abi/
- doodlesdev 4y ago
  That's a glibc problem, not a kernel problem. Linux backwards compatibility is awesome, GNU on the other hand...