this post was submitted on 27 Aug 2024
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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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The codenames for every major Debian release are named after characters from Pixar's Toy Story franchise. Debian's unstable release is fittingly named after Sid, an unstable character from the Toy Story movies.

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[–] [email protected] 63 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

Similarly, VLC names their releases after Discworld characters. It's a fun way to make major versions feel like more than just a number increment.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

The Vorbis audio codec was also named after Vorbis from Small Gods, the 13th Discworld book.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

That's contested but still very cool (and the people who disagree are wrong)

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

The Xiph.org foundation themselves say that's where the name came from.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

Right, it's the Ogg part I was thinking of.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago

I love that Theora is called that after the controller in Max Headroom played by Amanda Pays.

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

Does that make Ogg Vorbis some kind of twisted shipping?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

Ogg was apparently not named after Nanny Ogg, no matter how awesome that'd be.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 weeks ago

For anyone else who was wondering, it's major releases only, and so far it's been:

  • The Luggage
  • Twoflower
  • Rincewind
  • Weatherwax
  • Vetinari

Not sure Havelock would look kindly at being left til 5th, but you can't please everyone.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 weeks ago

Huh TIL! That's cool

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

Came to say this, I remember when I first looked at VLC version and saw Rincewind (I think it was), and was like "this has to be a Discworld reference"