Re:Rocky Linux: A CentOS replacement by the CentOS founder
by mkl on Wednesday December 16, 2020 @03:18PM
(#25447976)
Text-based config files are one of the best features of Linux. Duplicating and managing Windows software configurations is a nightmare by comparison. Making a reliable modern Linux system is pretty easy; usually you don't need to do anything much beyond installing, but if you do, the solid reliable text config and service management files make it easier than any other OS I've used.
Re:Rocky Linux: A CentOS replacement by the CentOS founder
by IshKebab on Sunday December 20, 2020 @05:33AM
(#25485266)
They're really not. They prevent you from doing things like automatically responding to config changes, or changing settings programmatically, e.g. from a GUI or installer.
Re:Rocky Linux: A CentOS replacement by the CentOS founder
by taxcoder on Wednesday December 16, 2020 @03:10PM
(#25447876)
1. How others prioritize their time and how limited it is is an interesting call to make. Are you familiar enough with any of the contributors to know how much "spare" time they have and how they use it?
2. See above.
3. I am locked to a Windows desktop for work, but support Centos servers for backups and such. What is wrong with text-based config files? Are GUI checkboxes a better option? They may be more discoverable, but seem to me to be less configurable. Have you read the Unix Haters Handbook? Unix's greatest flaw and greatest strength are its flexibility.
4. I can't speak much to this, but aren't some manufacturers testing on Linux?
1. It's a mountain of work and loads of people involved are doing it in their limited spare time.
2. It's even more of a mountain of work because Linux developers have to write all the hardware drivers themselves too. On Windows drivers tend to be written by device manufacturers but that rarely happens on Linux because it's very difficult to write closed source drivers and they have fewer Linux users anyway.
3. A large proportion of Linux users and developers have drunk the Unix kool-aid and think that everything should stay exactly as it was in the 70s. Text based config files, services controlled by Bash scripts, etc. It's pretty much impossible to make a reliable modern system with Bluetooth, WiFi, external displays, hotplugging, etc. with that attitude.
4. Hardware makers only test on Windows so some of the bugs in stuff like suspend are probably hardware bugs that Windows happens not to trigger.