this post was submitted on 23 Jul 2023
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Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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[–] [email protected] 65 points 1 year ago (4 children)

This is certainly positive news. We need more competition in the processor field. Having essentially a choice between Intel and AMD got us malware like the Intel Management Engine and its AMD equivalent. With a monopoly comes enshitification.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not that I disagree with you but what's stopping any ARM or RISC-V CPU manufacturer from putting their own version of IME in their chips?

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago

ARM TrustZone is already common on A-series. Device manufacturers want secure storage & computation, so chipmakers provide it.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (3 children)

There's ARM, with Snapdragon, Mediathek, Broadcom, Nvidia, Apple and Ampere. Contrary to RISC-V it's already used in many computers.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago

All of which also have plenty of proprietary components and aren't created with FOSS in mind.

I hope that as RISC-V progresses, companies will pick it up and develop on top of it, giving users full access to their hardware alongside FOSS software

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Sure, but they're all using ARM IP; RISCV isn't just one entrant into the processor IP market like ARM is, it allows any company to become an entrant with its own IP.

Sure it's not currently the ISA for man main processors, but it is already used by companies like NVIDIA and WD in their products.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Duopolys might be worse. The illusion of choice and opponent security.