this post was submitted on 25 Aug 2024
175 points (96.3% liked)

Linux

48316 readers
818 users here now

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.

Rules

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Basically title. Do you know of any companies that use desktop Linux?

I can think of two in my area in Brisbane - Adfinis and Red Hat. Both have a pretty small presence here from what I last heard (several employees each).

My employer allows the Linux team to use Linux but it's discouraged and our lives are made somewhat difficult.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] delirious_owl@discuss.online 0 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Is there a law that prevents employers from docking someone's salary by the expensive proprietary software you opt-in for, instead of using a free option?

[–] todd_bonzalez@lemm.ee 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

What an awful take. "Free as in freedom" includes not being docked pay for your software choices.

[–] delirious_owl@discuss.online 0 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Right, well, free means free. Free software users wouldn't get docked. Non-free software users would.

[–] todd_bonzalez@lemm.ee 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

I said free as in freedom, not free as in gratis.

But since you want to double down on this bad idea, let me explain why it's shit:

If your employer expects you to use tools to do your job, they should pay for those tools if they cost something. Passing off operational expenses to the employees that use more expensive tools is hideously anti-worker, and it's not even funny as a joke.

Employers should pay for the tools used to run their businesses, and you should learn what the "free" in "free open source software" means, because it's not about money.

[–] delirious_owl@discuss.online 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

There are no tools that you need to pay for that are not free as gratis or libre.

But I would be OK with only charging for software that's not libre. So software thats gratis but not libre doesn't dock you, since you're contributing to something good that helps the world

[–] todd_bonzalez@lemm.ee 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

You have never had a job before, huh?

[–] delirious_owl@discuss.online 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Lol I'm in my 30s and hold a senior position. I've had a lot of jobs..

[–] todd_bonzalez@lemm.ee 1 points 2 months ago

Oh, you failed up. Checks out.

[–] princessnorah@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 2 months ago

Yes, the word free in English both means free as in gratis, without cost, as well as free as in freedom.

[–] kittenzrulz123@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

What? No genuinely which company is docking employees for using unfree software. If anything it's the opposite.

[–] delirious_owl@discuss.online 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I don't know of any, but I'd like to see it.

"Want to use Windows and Office? Here's the bill."

[–] kittenzrulz123@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 months ago (2 children)

That would genuinely make sense though, proprietary software (especially paid proprietary software) costs more money for any company then open source software. Windows needs more maintenance then an ultra stable Linux distro like Debian or even an LTS release of Ubuntu or Fedora. Meanwhile Microshaft ensures that any document made with office doesn't look the same unless it's viewed with office.

[–] princessnorah@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 months ago

No, it doesn't, because the cost of that software is on the business because it makes them money. This person is literally smoking crack if they think it should ever be on the employee. There is never, ever, ever a situation where an employee paying an employer is a good thing.

[–] delirious_owl@discuss.online 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yes, it makes sense. I just wonder if there's any laws that would prevent employers from doing this.

[–] kittenzrulz123@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Why should there be? If someone wants more expensive software then they should pay for it.

[–] delirious_owl@discuss.online 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I could seeseome countries passing laws to prevent people like graphic artists from being "discriminated against" due to their software needs.

I'm not saying it makes sense, but such laws might exist. And I want to know if they do

[–] kittenzrulz123@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 months ago

Graphic designers makes sense, also a PNG made in a proprietary program can be viewed with any photo viewer. Documents editors are completely different.