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Why is the Linux community not embracing new and powerful tech?
124 sats \ 11 comments \ @tomlaies 12 Jun 2022 bitcoin
I have been a Linux user for a long time. And there are many things I love about Linux.
However, the Linux Community is not one of them. And one of my gripes it the fixation on old hardware. I love new and powerfull hardware - I have so many thing that I compute that need lots of performance: video encoding, personal programming projects, big data processing at work, databases with millions of rows ...
But the Linux community is focused on 10 yo Thinkpad Laptops. Why is that? What do these people even do as pc enthusiasts if not high end games or cutting edge tech projects on their pcs? Don't they go insane when something takes 4 minutes to compile?
And the worst is that it is a self reinforcing cycle. The community doesn't embrace new tech and thus FOSS software support for drivers, new CPUs, new Wifi modules, especially new GPUs...
The corporate world Linux Server developments and especially the Bitcoin community really give me hope and the improvements of this already show.
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17 sats \ 4 replies \ @fiatjaf 12 Jun 2022
Just buy new hardware for all Linux users in the world and you'll see how they change. But you must be the one paying, and it must buy it for everybody.
What the hell is this post, really.
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8 sats \ 1 reply \ @tomlaies OP 12 Jun 2022
But you must be the one paying, and it must buy it for everybody.
Are you saying this is only because of price? So Windows enthusiasts such as e.g. gamers are less price sensitive?
This is weird since in any other hobby the more enthusiast the more willing to pay people become. Not the other way round.
What the hell is this post, really.
Linux users don't buy new high end tech -> FOSS software isn't the best on new and high end -> Linux users don't choose new and high end -> FOSS software isn't the best on new and high end ...
Don't you see how this self reinforcing cycle prevents Linux from coming mainstream?
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @fiatjaf 13 Jun 2022
You can't speak for "Linux users" in general, that's a community of too diverse people. The richest ones probably have better computers than the poorest ones. There is no such thing as "price sensitivity", there is only money and priorities for spending the money.
If you're complaining about Linux programmers worrying about old computers, then you're crazy, not everybody is as rich as you. And this rationale that Linux doesn't work on better computers doesn't make any sense.
Also, why do you care so much that Linux gets more widespread? Does it yield a lot of benefits to you to have your neighbor using Linux instead of Windows? Linux is already much more widespread today than probably ever.
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0 sats \ 1 reply \ @EnormousPony 12 Jun 2022
Stacker news is suffering from "satoshi karma whores"
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21 sats \ 0 replies \ @tomlaies OP 12 Jun 2022
SN is suffering from people shaming users for making actual content for the site who would prefer SN to be a giant RSS feed.
(I'm actually tipping lots, but thanks for the negative vibes m8)
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76 sats \ 1 reply \ @ChrisLAS 12 Jun 2022 freebie
I kind of agree. The Linux community does not have just one outlook or focus. There are many tribes inside the Linux community, and some of those tribes do seem to value low-cost hardware and traditional desktop paradigms. Inside the Linux community, they often get referred to as "Linux Luddites".
But you also have the groups that enjoy the latest and greatest tech. You see that with the effort to port Linux to the Apple M1, or the new HP Dev One laptop just launched last week.
I think where there is a big problem with the Linux community is their attitude towards Bitcoin and the tunnel vision they use to define what is open source they care about, vs open-source software they totally ignore.
You really see this when it comes to Bitcoin. I find it so confusing that a community that pushed back against giants like Microsoft, IBM, Apple, Oracle, and so many others to prove Free Software could do the job of big expensive proprietary software.
The community that created the GPL and said software should be transparent, and open to everyone.
The community that despite all the odds has pushed Linux into becoming a gaming platform now shipping on Valve's Steam Deck.
Most of that community, as a whole, seems to hate Bitcoin.
Not all of us, I've been a Linux user since the late 90s, and a Bitcoiner since 2011.
But I recently enabled Lightning Boosts for my Podcasts and got considerable pushback from my Linux audience. Some just bailed from my podcasts altogether.
Many were furious with me for "shilling crypto" by even talking about Bitcoin.
What I realized a few months ago is most of them live comfortable lives, with well-paying IT wages. The existing system (as far as they understand) has served them well. They worked hard and got paid well. Why would they even look for an alternative? Especially with all their co-workers, their family, and friends are all doing the same thing.
But that does not stop them from thinking they are an expert on anything tech.
Although I am kinda getting the sense the next 10 years or so of the macro-economic situation are going to change their minds.
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5 sats \ 0 replies \ @LaserStack 12 Jun 2022
It wasn't the Linux community, or the open-source community, who created the GPL. Rather, it was the free software community.
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30 sats \ 0 replies \ @0260378aef 12 Jun 2022
However, the Linux Community is not one of them. And one of my gripes it the fixation on old hardware.
Isn't this partially because of how little support Linux gets by new hardware?
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10 sats \ 0 replies \ @based 12 Jun 2022
It just so happens that about 10 years ago desktop CPU and DRAM had just made leaps, was cheap and ever since has been relatively stagnant. As for laptops, only very recently did anything notable happen and that's in Apple land.
What actually is your complaint though, what are you missing and from whom do you expect what? Both Dell and HP are selling new laptops with official Linux support, if that's what you want, has there ever been a better time?
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0 sats \ 1 reply \ @botsforcash 12 Jun 2022 freebie
I've been using Linux since you could only install it using floppy disks and CD-ROMs. Typing this on a MacBookAir4,2 1.0 (2011) running Manjaro. My other notebook is a Thinkpad X240 (2013) running EndeavourOS. Both I bought second-hand. I also live in a shithole latam. country, so I'm biased.
I'm grateful to the Linux community for their life-time dedication an sound focus, it surely changed my life and made computing affordable for me for over 3 decades, which in turn, brought me to Bitcoin over 8 years ago. Life-changing technology indeed.
To complain that it doesn't support your latest GPU is the poster example of first-world problems to me.
Just yesterday I was listening to Saifedean Ammous (author of The Bitcoin Standard) on the Lex Fridman podcast. When commenting on the Bitcoin power consumption issue, he contrasted it to the power consumption of washing machines in the western world and mentioned how he survived living in Lebanon thanks to Bitcoin. Then he was allowed to add:
"So, f*ck your washing machines!"
I feel the same about your GPUs.