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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submitted 3 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] -2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

/etc is a standard, defined in the filesystem hierarchy standard. This is not:

freedesktop.org produces specifications for interoperability, but we are not an official standards body. There is no requirement for projects to implement all of these specifications, nor certification.

Below are some of the specifications we have produced, many under the banner of 'XDG', which stands for the Cross-Desktop Group.

Its nit-picking, but this is a specification, i.e a preference, not an official standard. It would be great if everyone would agree on just one of these to use, but that isn't a foregone conclusion. Even the actual standard, the FHS, isn't followed by popular OS's like NixOS.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Specification, WHATEVER 🙄

The point is it exists for a reason, and clear purpose.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

All specifications exist for a reason, and they all have a clear purpose.

What happens when you have 15 that are different and all overlap? When any of 15 is "right?"

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

I've only ever heard of FHS or XDG. Due to the free nature of linux distros, there is no central authority on how they are to be set up, and so there is no difference between those two options in terms of authority. Standards (which XDG is, colloquially) are followed based on popularity.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, I fully get that. The post and comments were very specific about how if you dont follow XDG, you're fucking up, while only generally saying that "everything would be better if everyone followed the same standard."

I pointed out that there are several standards and asked for a unique reason why XDG was the best to use.

I still haven't heard one, which is fine, but it undermines the "If youre not using, XDG youre a idiot" tone of the post and comments.

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

I think the logic is that it's the most used, so to avoid seriously competing standards, it's better to stick with it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

So far, thats the most specific reason someone has given to use XDG, but I dont think it accurate.

FHS is the most used, as it's been the primary linux filesystem standard for decades. Isn't it better to stick with it if the only metric is popularity?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

I thought XDG-aware apps fell back to FHS if no XDG vars were set? Or do they not do that