Unix co-creator Ken Thompson dumps Apple for Linux

https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/17/ken_thompson_is_a_maccie/

by LorenDB • 3 years ago

21 8 3 years ago

What's with people going with such odd distros? I mean Raspbian is alright, but why would you use it outside of the Raspberry Pi? I'm sure Ken Thompson knows what he's doing, but I see this sort of mistake all the time with Linux newcomers. They pick some random obscure distro and then wonder why "Linux sucks".

lproven3• 3 years ago

I wrote the above article, and I wrote this, too:

https://www.theregister.com/2022/07/11/raspberry_pi_desktop_...

RasPi Desktop is the x86 version of Raspbian. It's exceptionally lightweight, uses just 200MB of RAM at idle, and yet it's just Debian and will run any Debian tool or app.

It uses about 1/3 to 1/4 of the RAM of any Ubuntu flavour, and I've tested them all and published the results:

https://www.theregister.com/2022/08/18/ubuntu_remixes/

Some Redditor did the same for Debian with comparable results:

https://www.reddit.com/r/debian/comments/qmbizl/real_measure...

Raspbian PC's usage is lighter than stock Debian + LXDE, and it comes nicely preconfigured.

It's easier than Debian, smaller, and uses less resources. What's not to like?

BillyTheMage2• 3 years ago

I don't have any complaints for Raspbian specifically (in fact I really like it on the Pis), it just strikes me as odd for newcomers to go for the niche distros.

lapcat• 3 years ago

It's such a shame, because 15 years ago, Mac OS X made a great version of Unix for the masses. As a former academic, the marriage of Mac and Unix was a big part of what attracted me to the platform. Now Apple is flushing that all down the toilet, instead giving us an oversized overpriced locked down iPhone with a keyboard.

Awelton• 3 years ago

I had never heard the story about google trying to make Ken Thompson take a C proficiency test before, that is hilarious.

Unix co-creator Ken Thompson dumps Apple for Linux

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