What can Linux do as a desktop operating system that Windows cannot?
waste your time
>>51489882
bash
make you feel 1337
update all your software in 1 click
>>51489907
the only real reason
compile c programs without 3rd party software
do things without passing throught useless shit put there just to milk you
>>51489882
First of all, Linux is just a kernel. Second, the GNU/Linux operating systems can protect your Freedoms as described in the Free Software Definition. Can Windows do that? No.
>>51489882
I can reboot from GUI to any other operating system in three clicks. Can I do the same with Windows?
>>51489882
>What can Linux do as a desktop operating system that Windows cannot?
Have proper IOMMU and VT-d support that just works.
>>51490096
this tbqh
Linux itself isn't an operating system at all, much less a desktop one
>>51489882
Let you edit your vm flags so that your memory management is optimized for your workload.
>>51490425
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control \Session Manager\Memory Management
>>51489901
This.
>>51489882
you will never feel what sex with a woman feels like
>>51489882
Turn off.
>Tabs on the file explorer
>Window on top
>Centralized software updates
>Best font rendering
>Best virtualization solutions (pic related)
>Great programming environment
>Native support for SSH/SSHFS
>Better file system
I don't have time to waste trying to get those things working on Windows using shady software and tweaks.
Command line blows windows away. Built in SSH ftw
>>51489882
Protect your virginity
>>51490441
I stand corrected.
I do find it annoying that it is in the registry though, makes it way more annoying to script.
>>51490607
>Not powershell
>BUT POWERSHELL IS FOR NERDS
Extremely powerful terminal due to things like pipes and non-retarded shells, KVM, a python installation that isn't retarded, SSH server, a need to reboot extremely rarely (uptime), rolling release updates that don't take 20 minutes and 2 reboots to install, a VERY good development toolchain for pretty much everything besides .NET, support for several filesystems (all of which better than the atrocity that is NTFS), customizable font rendering with out a hack, tiling WMs like Awesome and i3 (I'm not talking about ricing, tiling WMs are legit great for productivity), the ability to change almost anything about the OS you might not like (including default apps and DE), MUCH lower RAM usage, much lower CPU usage, much faster boot times, a built-in RAMdisk on /tmp/ on most distros.
>>51490661
PowerShell has a registry editing provider?
>>51490693
Powershell is one scripting language.
I can use any language at all and still trivially edit it on linux since it is just a file. It is rather convenient.
It can store files with filenames containing ":".
>>51489882
Not require restart
>>51489882
https://youtu.be/Q0euI8FIXV0?t=468
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=wayland+weston+effects
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=compiz+effects
>>51489882
It will make you grow a neckbeard and protect your virginity so you will never get laid
>>51490722
Lmao this /thread
>>51490713
The Registry can be edited from CMD.
>inb4 idiots associate the console host/command line/command prompt with the CMD shell
Too many kids here.
>>51489882
It can:
Be root. Not be infected by viruses. Not fragment its file systems. Remove unwanted core functionalities and applications. Harden the kernel. Have a real package manager with actual dependency resolving. Not have DDL hell. Be compiled from source due to its open source design, which makes independent research and code audits possible.
>>51490588
Basically this.
>>51489882
rspect ur freedm...
no but seriously, it just fucking works, it just fucking does what you tell it to, and if it doesnt, theres a reason and you can fix it. rather than "application has stopped responding lololol"
>>51490722
That's an intentional limitation of the Win32 namespace. NTFS can use those characters on a POSIX-compatible namespace.
http://dubeyko.com/development/FileSystems/NTFS/ntfsdoc.pdf
>>51490825
Hotpatching has been a thing for 10 years. Still, there's this: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/2008.11.windowsconfidential.aspx
>>51491198
I am well aware of that. But most programs, including file explorer use this namespace.
>>51491179
>Be root.
So can Windows.
>Not be infected by viruses.
False.
>Not fragment its file systems.
False.
>Remove unwanted core functionalities and applications.
Windows can as well to an extent.
>Harden the kernel.
The Windows NT kernel is also hardened.
>Have a real package manager with actual dependency resolving.
OneGet
>Not have DLL hell.
Hasn't been an issue in over 10 years.
>Be compiled from source due to its open source design, which makes independent research and code audits possible.
Irrelevant to most people.
Next.
>>51491231
>False
True.
ZFS doesn't fragment.
Not be an NSA earpiece
>>51491254
>ZFS is the main filesystem used by GNU/Linux distros, especially the most popular ones.
No.
>>51491231
>Have a real package manager with actual dependency resolving.
>OneGet
lol
>Not have DLL hell.
>Hasn't been an issue in over 10 years.
it is currently
>>51491254
wow, thats a neat trick,,,
>>51491258
>2015
>etc
Teach you how computers work.
>>51489901
Windows is way better with wasting your time by forced updates and countless needed reboots after a fresh install
>>51491271
Nice strawman.
Make you a NEET
Waste your time.
>>51490825
Ubuntu asked me to reboot plenty of times after I installed updates
>>51491169
>CMD is every programming language ever.
You missed my point.
>>51491231
>False.
True.
Viruses != malware
Malware = {viruses, trojans, worms, rootkits, spyware, ransomware, etc}
Linux is vulnerable to (some) malware.
>Windows can as well to an extent.
To an extent is not nearly as advanced and modular as Linux.
>The Windows NT kernel is also hardened.
The Linux kernel can be hardened further. Think PaX/grsecurity.
>OneGet
OneGet is a piss poor excuse for a package manager. Like I said, it has no dependency resolving. It's simply a dumb install/remove tool.
>Hasn't been an issue in over 10 years.
Still is an issue as Windows still does not keep track of its libraries.
>Irrelevant to most people.
Relevant to everyone. Most just don't care. That's on them.
>>51491477
OneGet is a package manager interface, not a package manager itself.
>debian
>transmission
>sickbeard
>couchpotato
>headphones
>plex
>owncloud
>mumble host
leave it alone for 2 whole fucking years, forget its even something that i set up and im hosting in my own house... yeah, linux sure sucks
>>51489882
Force you to use the command line for fucking menial garbage.
>>51491443
Wasn't it probably X that needed rebooting?
I mean, pretty much the only thing you need true rebooting for is kernel, and even that can be worked around. X, on the other hand, does require reboots pretty often. Rebooting everything isn't technically required, but like you're gonna tell people "do Ctrl-Alt-Backspace, and then don't be scared, just input your login, password and 'startx', oh, by the way, if you have any programs you need to load, also edit your .xinitrc real quick, OK?".
Fix me if I'm mistaken somewhere.
>>51491320
This for me, desu. Installing Gentoo was the best advice /g/ ever gave me.
>choice of window managers and desktop environments
>minimal system
>same system across devices
>package managers
moreover, things that do not apply to the dekstop but the average user might be interested in.
>reliable home server, including media system, torrent server, music server, and more
>use multiple computers like they were multi monitors with ssh & x2x
just off the top of my head
use whatever you like though
>>51491521
I personally think it's easier and more handy to input one command (even if long one) compared to crawling around "Control Panel" for something that might not even exist.
It also helps that 95% most common problems are googlable and fixable on the spot, and give you the command you need/config you have to edit outright.
>>51489882
>>51490293
yes
>>51491772
>minimal system
Absolutely possible, Microsoft's done the whole minimal Windows system shit so many times.
See: MinWin, Embedded, WinPE and they're doing it again with Nano Server.
>>51492113
That's minimal server, not desktop.
>>51492133
Anon, there's no difference.
>>51490613
Ricing my desktop while gf is playing with my balls. Your argument is invalid.
>>51492144
Why do threads like these feel the need to make the distinction?
>>51490588
>Centralized software updates
What is Windows update
>Best font rendering
You can install other font rendering software
>Great programming environment
Haha
>Native support for SSH/SSHFS
Oh boy, can't install a < 1MB file
>Better file system
NTFS works perfect
MPI distributed memory parallel applications. Your ~12 old desktops become your own supercomputer. Also, WiFi monitor mode.
>>51489882
>comparing a kernel to a barely working OS
Linux is foolproof.
>>51489882
Linux is great at letting you do the actual shit you want to do with your computer that microsoft puts behind big scary fences that they don't want you to touch for fear of giving you an oweie.
let me program and access servers out of the box without wasting my fucking time on obtaining a horrible DE that's only good for C++ and .NET or setting up some godawful half-broken ports
have "CLI" applications work immediately without fucking with configs or manually moving files (ie: language interpreters, ffmpeg)
run premade scripts for batch jobs without installing additional software (because most are made for UNIX)
double as a server (good for literal desktops because they just sit there) without any registry tweaks or the need to buy and install a special version with limitations removed
actually do virtualization of other operating systems well so if i need to run your shitware i can without wasting a hard disk
read more than two or three filesystems
all in all, it just werks if you're not some skid that just slapped ubanto on his purpose-built brand new gayman computer and expected it to have drivers for hardware REAL industry hasn't even started using for render farms yet
whenever i have to use windows, it's over a day of set up and tweaks. Linux just works, so I can get on with my life instead of calling my gf and saying "sorry honey i have to configure cygwin". Some autists feel the need to rice the shit out of it, but I don't. I use defaults, aside from some basic things like vim/emacs/shell configs cloned from my personal server (aggregated over years of five-minute edits).
OS X is a close second but there's "honey i have to install homebrew"
>>51489882
Respect your freedoms
>>51492257
>What is Windows update
Doesn't update your software. Apart from maybe Windows Store shit.
>You can install other font rendering software
>having to install third party software to avoid eye cancer
Yeah, where is the "just wers" or "easy to use" argument now?
>Haha
I know, right? Who even programs on Windows?
>Oh boy, can't install a < 1MB file
>having to install third party software for basic functionality
>NTFS works perfect
Yeeah, not even remotely. Files can't even have separate privileges.
>>51489882
It can be configured and customised at every level. It can be free of charge without legal complications. Also it can not spy on you and not have built in backdoors.
>>51489882
Provide a development environment that isn't shit (from the shell to the control one has over their system). Windows is a joke compared to any *NIX-like or *NIX based system.
>>51490096
>Can Windows do that?
Yes it can, my cult leader told me so.
>>51492661
>free software is a cult
nice meme
>>51491179
You know that there malware for UNIX like operating systems, right? Idiot.
>>51492653
Clearly you don't write 300k LOC REAL programs that have more than two features, neckbeard. Enjoy your inferior non-programming job.
VS's features and debugger are essential to real professional C++ and C#/.NET programming for people with superior programming jobs.
> update without needing to reboot
>>51492691
Not as easy to catch as it is on Winblows. Basically you have to download it and give it root privileges, which is not how you usually install programs on the GNU operating system.
Which means it's more foolproof than other OSs
Elliot from Mr. Robot runs linux and is a 1337 hax0r so I do it too. Downloading stuff is fast as fuck compared to windows.
>>51492547
>>NTFS works perfect
>Yeeah, not even remotely. Files can't even have separate privileges.
But they can have separate privileges, owners, and groups. So what exactly do you mean, explain it.
>>51489901
Windows vista not a waste of time. Having to wait for 100 updates to install on reboot
>>51492187
>>51492133
>>51492113
Allow me to play devils advocate for a moment: Windows 10 IoT
That being said
>>51489882
>What can Linux do as a desktop operating system that Windows cannot?
Be Unix compliant
Be FOSS
Modifiable by the user
Use a (half decent) package manager
Not sell my data
>>51492793
>Be Unix compliant
Windows was actually Unix compliant
>>51492691
Sure, "there malware" for it, but you need to almost willingly get infected.
If you have no permissions the system will guard you, and if you have all the permissions, you will either willingly run that malicious visual novel executable as root or control your urges and install software through your package manager.
>>51492691
See >>51491477 my explanation, idiot. And UNIX is a registered trademark. You mean Unix-like.
>>51489882
Not being bloated, and not having to reinstall within 1-2 year
>>51490080
But mingw just werks
You can update your system using terminal and feel like a hollywood hacker.
>>51493033
It is still a port of a program developed mostly for Linux, but good point, I guess.
>>51490664
>>51490607
>but PowerShell is for corporate drones!
Literally best shell. Combines the very best of UNIX with all of Windows' management features.
>>51490713
The fault of the dev, not the OS. Using the registry in 2015 for application specific settings is frowned upon.
If x dev had made their stuff correctly, they'd have a PowerShell module you installed, ran a cmdlet and have that guide you through whatever you needed to do with a good parameterset.
>>51491277
>it is currently
No, maybe you should brush up on your terminology. DLL Hell hasn't existed since Windows 98.
The current problem is SxS corruption and bloat, which frankly, is caused most of the time by Windows updates. It isn't the bluescreen-inducing nightmare it once was because DLLs are all hardlinks nowadays.
>>51491277
>>51491477
>OneGet is a piss poor excuse for a package manager. Like I said, it has no dependency resolving. It's simply a dumb install/remove tool.
You're meant to plug a package manager into OneGet, fool. It's a packet manager-manager.
>>51493425
>Using the registry in 2015 for application specific settings is frowned upon.
You tell that to the countless old software that still uses the registry.
>>51489882
not freeze the whole system when one program breaks
not develop problems on a system over time
genreal stability after setup
>>51493425
Cleaning up WinSxS is something Windows does every 30 days.
>>51493657
Which, frankly, is the only reason why the registry still exists in its current form.
Oh well, NTVDM and 16-bit Windows compat is pretty cool, but the party needs to end at some point for those poor old pump regulators.
We actually had pump regulators running Windows 3.1, but the hard drives failed not many years ago. Microsoft's craze about backwards compatibility isn't really nessecary as long as the operating systems just werk offline. Our geochemists didn't care about what operating system's on there - it just needs to run their software, and never stop. Install some ancient, supported operating system for their 20 year old pump, unplug that bastard from the internet, good to go.
But the more operating systems they see online, the higher the numbers they can present to the investors.
It'd be cool to live to see the day Microsoft announces no more 16-bit compatibility, and no more 32-bit versions of their operating systems. Clean up the registry a whole lot, return to text-file based configs in third party applications.
Return to former glory.
>>51493868
NTVDM is 32-bit Windows NT-only, Anon.
>>51493885
Read further down.
>It'd be cool to live to see the day Microsoft announces no more 16-bit compatibility, and no more 32-bit versions of their operating systems.
>>51489882
>What can Linux do as a desktop operating system that Windows cannot?
Do what you tell it to.
Not do things behind your back.
Not do things contrary to your own self interest.
Windows 10 is just the latest iteration of "treacherous computing".
https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/can-you-trust.html
>>51489882
It can be pleasant to work in. Daily use doesn't feel like struggling with your own OS, you don't have to click popups and random messages all the time, you don't get infected with viruses (unless you are a reckless idiot who somehow managed to stumble upon a virus for his specific distro and a combination of libraries needed for the virus to work), you update all your shit at once using package manager, you have multiple desktops so basically you never feel like you're juggling 100 applications, you don't have to defragment your drives and you can read file systems of all formats.
It also offers you to learn about computers, not just how to efficiently use some company's interface.
Also, you don't need to install shit you don't want, including corporate spyware (developers and users choose the direction the system will evolve in, not usage statistics from millions of underage gamers, old people and other computer illiterates). You are not forced to be a part of a peer to peer network for the distribution of updates (aka "le botnet").
Not to mention super-useful GNU tools and Bash. Etc etc...
>>51493895
Yes but neither NTVDM or 16-bit compatibility are things on 64-bit Windows.
>>51494011
FUD
>>51494044
But it wasn't an appeal to fear, Anon. I even put botnet in quotes and I didn't speculate about the possible uses of spyware other than telemetry.
I just spoke about coziness of using a freetard OS.
