I’d just like to interject for a moment. What you’re referring to as Linux, is in fact, systemd/Linux, or as I’ve recently taken to calling it, systemd plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning systemd/Linux system made useful by the various daemons and services provided by systemd, which manages system processes and configurations.

Many computer users run a modified version of the systemd ecosystem every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of systemd which is widely used today is often called Linux, and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the systemd framework, developed for streamlining service management on the Linux kernel.

There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine’s resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is usually paired with the systemd framework: the whole system is basically systemd with Linux added, or systemd/Linux. All the so-called Linux distributions are really distributions of systemd/Linux!

Now, let’s talk about systemd itself. systemd is not just an init system but a sprawling suite of software designed to harmonize the management of services, logging, and much more across all those Linux distributions adopting it. While there are plenty of critics who claim that systemd suffers from mission creep, and bloat, they fail to realize that systemd is here to unite the divergent spirits of the Linux universe into a cohesive whole.

It’s often cited that systemd is the first daemon to start during boot and the last to terminate at shutdown, meaning it’s the parent that manages the chaotic brood of processes that stem from it. But of course, the truth remains that Linux is merely the kernel within this greater whole. For many, using systemd without acknowledging its complex ecosystem is like using a bus without realizing it’s the driver coordinating every route.

While some advocate for a leaner alternative, the benefits of systemd are often overlooked, such as its ability to parallelize the boot process to expedite your start-up time, or how it beautifully integrates logging with journald, merging many separate tasks into one efficiently managed service.

In conclusion, while there’s certainly a Linux kernel powering many systems out there, it’s really the systemd suite that brings it all together. So please remember, when you’re running your Linux, you’re not just running Linux; you’re enjoying the splendid orchestration of systemd/Linux, or as I like to call it, systemd plus Linux.

Look at the clowns that don’t get it, replying to me

Ffs

I feel the same about things like irq. Useless but I feel knowing how they worked makes you closer to the hardware.

I had to walk to school in the snow ten miles, both ways uphill!

In DOS time I learned how to type quickle because I had to type in cd games cd keen keen as quickly as possible to minimise non-gaming time.

Reminds me of my senior teaching days 15 years ago. Solitaire, same.exe and saddam.exe and whack.exe soon had those oldies clicking, double clicking and dragging.

Didn’t think then that the situation could reverse.

Same still exists on Android and is still a brain twister.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.kubilayerdogan.samegamel

Even when I was like 4, I would’ve gone for the controller. I knew how to use it from Lego Star Wars. I knew how to use a keyboard, but I didn’t play on pc, so I’d have had to have been told the controls.

if they want a document printed they just go out to some print shop.

In fairness, it can be expensive to stock the holy water necessary to fend off the demons that inhabit all printers.

If he doesn’t solve problems with chmod 777 then he’s already more competent than the ops teams at my fortune 500 company

Cool. I’m old enough that in middle school I begged my Mom to take to the mall to buy Linux. I got a Red Hat Linux CD-ROM pack from a store called Babbage’s. I couldn’t download the ISO on our modem and I don’t remember if we even had a burner at that point.

You should spend some time trying to teach CAD to students in High School. My first couple of days with a new class involved teaching them that, No you can’t use your finger, and then how to use a mouse.

My wife is a teacher. Kids come to school without the ability to use keyboard and mouse which was not the case in the 90s. I also only drive manual :P

I wouldn’t say that data is definitive proof. The table is missing ages from 30-under 65 from the table (at least if you’re not logged in, if there is a more complete table please share). Also not sure how good some of the questions are for determining tech literacy. Knowing that Elon Musk ran both Tesla and Twitter in April 2023 is more if you keep up with the news rather than knowing how to work a computer. Other ones are good like being able to identify 2FA or knowing what LLM/AI is capable of.

Feels like I’m listening to the Boomer complaining about kids today not knowing how to use a manual transmission.

There have been some articles regarding beginning CS classes bring required to include teaching concepts like folder structures because a sizeable part of class was list on this concept.

To use your transmission analogy, it would be like truck driving schools now need to how to drive a manual transmission vehicle, which adds to the length of the class. Or all the company vehicles are manual and now the company has to deal with hiring new drivers who don’t know how to drive stick but will say they know how to drive.

LMFAO, bruh, your categories are 18-29, and 65+.

Your Source literally entirely skips over the age group we’re talking about. You’re not proving strong literacy skills of any kind atm.

And writing skills are literally entirely different from understanding how a computer works and how to trouble shoot it. Can you name what activity Gen z is doing that’s equivalent to texting that is teaching them how to trouble shoot computers that’s different then the way millenials learned?

Because the whole point of that comic is that boomers learned to read and write using letters and books but look down at millenials when they read and write short messages to each other constantly, which is also practicing reading and writing. So what activity is Gen z doing that’s learning how to trouble shoot things that millenials don’t recognize as learning how to trouble shoot things?

(For the record I think the generation difference is wildly overblown in threads like this, but Im also not convinced that it’s completely unreal, and I also think boomers still had somewhat of a point that that comic glosses over, and we’re all now seeing it with our attention spans and vitriol).

And once again, Gen X is completely ignored

Thafuq?

Yea, young STEM university students are obviously going to be more technologically literate than their counter parts. That isn’t a new thing and was true for the older generations too.

What questionable decisions are you talking about that the US made that you’re insinuating set them back compared to the rest of the world? The US does have more tech classes now than when I was in school in the early 2000’s. The problem is a vast majority of these kids coming up don’t know how to use computers effectively. It’s not just “using a mouse” that makes someone tech literate. Knowing how to navigate a mobile device, which is designed for ease of use to accommodate even the dumbest people, does not make someone tech literate. Some are power users, but most have nothing more than a surface level knowledge of how to use it. There’s little to no troubleshooting skills.

All of those mobile devices are programmed by actual tech literate people that understand coding, the network stack, security, and the general inner workings of how computers work. This generation coming out now doesn’t know any of that because they never use computers.

And lastly, holy fuck what’s wrong with you? Jesus fucking Christ you just came out shooting in that second half. The person you replied to made a valid, factual point, and you apparently took that as a personal attack. What the fuck do trans people have to do with this? What a fucked up transition to make and shit to take. You need help, dude.

One time I said “Hey this TUI program works perfect on every single distribution and even BSDs, takes no performance issues ever, and just overall good program. I wanna check contributors on github.”

It was all either anime or trans flag pfps.

I work with a lot of gen z engineers that are very competent

Back to what, exactly? At what point in the past was it easier to use a computer than it was in the late 90s? Unless you’re talking about before computers, which doesn’t really have any bearing on what’s being discussed.

They exist. They are capable of being smart and curious, but they’re less inherently familiar with the “bleep bloops” as we are.

There’s still a second natural entry, it is being critical and annoyed by corporate greed in apps, streaming services, ads, accounts for everything etc. The privacy/piracy entry.

I have worked with a few gen z interns/fresh grads, and some younger millennials (I am a 1990 kid) and its interesting… Some of them have been very successful at passing the tests but have no mechanical aptitude at all. Some have been technically literate on first glance, then proven to be just confidently incorrect. In general though, it seems they just didn’t grow up being interested in how things worked like I did. It could be isolated to my small sample size or it could be a general trend. They also don’t seem to make connections across disciplines as easily either but again, that could just be a time in service thing at this point and not a generational trait.

I have not been super impressed with the new ones we get when we get them, some of them have been quick learners though and have impressed me with their adaptability. I am a huge proponent of proper mentorships or rotational programs and that is something that seems to get overlooked with younger grads in my experience.

One thing that really annoys me though, is that when prompted with something they don’t know, they will spit out some randome bullshit rather than say they don’t know. Saying I don’t know is a completly acceptable answer as long as it is followed up with “but I will find out” or “can you help/explain it”. Falling back to a first principle approach and talking through it is also valid but just making up some shit doesnt fly with me.

I think the issue is, a Linux veteran is going to be used to all the choices you have, and also know there’s not really one correct answer to most of them. There’s also the effect that when you’ve been doing something long enough to be quite good at it, you overestimate other people’s abilities in the area. Of course there’s an xkcd for that https://xkcd.com/2501/.

So it’s true actually someone that is a windows veteran and has recently worked out the basics of Linux could likely give better advice to another new user.

I put Mint on my mother’s computer because the constant pop-ups from Windows were confusing her constantly. No issues, I just put a big icon that says INTERNET on the desktop and she’s fine now. If anything goes wrong, I’m not savvy enough to easily fix it but I know that at least I can just do a reinstall if something breaks beyond my ability to handle.

I use Arch by the way.

That accounts for some users I guess, there’s probably also some who stumble upon some instance directly and don’t learn about federation until some time after they register

So no harder than email then

In my opinon its because there is an approval gap. When create a reddit account you open reddit > enter email and password > you’re dropped into reddit on an unverified account.

For lemmy: you get linked to lemmy (could be any instance) then you press the sign up button and submit an application > then you wait for hours to days for that to be approved and you cant login during that period.

I just did. The age verification is the only thing that looks slightly confusing, and anyone keen enough would deal with that fine. It’s not a technical skills/knowledge barrier, it’s just reading comprehension.

I had a few - not a lot, but some - user notes, but recently switched phones (and to GrapheneOS) and lost them. I used and use Connect, which does have an export/import process, but when I start it I can’t find a way to actually begin the export, i.e. generate the file.

As such, I’m stuck recreating notes by hand. Still, I enjoy creating new ones, as I just did for you, and I love the aspect of Lemmy that you described.

You’re now tagged as “user tag advocate”. See you around!

TIL, user tags, cool

then it just became an aggregate forum where you can discuss many niches without being censured like with alot forums from a single mod/owner.

Can anyone recommend a good Lemmy client for Linux? Bonus points if it works well in portrait mode.

I am on Pop!_OS 22.04 and the only apps in the COSMIC Store are Interstellar and Lemonade.

Interstellar seems fine but if there is a way to tag users in it I can’t seem to figure it out, it also seems designed for Landscape mode and it’s a little cramped on my second monitor.

Lemonade hasn’t been updated since October of 2023, so I’m a little wary of trying that one out. I can’t even tell if they are still developing it or something called Ouch Browser, if its the same project with a new name, or just abandoned alltogether.

I know there are other Lemmy Apps but I am a little lost tbh.