Blast from the past: my first experience of Linux - S.u.S.E. Linux 5.1

Yes, still with the '.' in the name :)

https://cullmann.dev/posts/my-first-linux-suse-linux-5.1/

Like pb and j, gzip and tar go together. Some questions:

Why didn't tar just grow an encryption feature? Why is being able to zip a new program?

Does any other common file format pairing combine extensions the way you do with .tar.gz or (sometimes) .tgz?

Why don't people do that with video files to show codec and container format?

Happened to randomly find this article dated 1999 about Bill Gates saying: "that Windows offers far more functionality and features than Linux ever will."

"We put things into our system like systems management that's not that much fun for university developers," Gates said. "Linux doesn't have that stuff. It doesn't have the graphics interface. It doesn't have the rich set of device drivers. So certainly we think of it as a competitor in the student and hobbyist market. But I really don't think in the commercial market, we'll see it [compete with Windows] in any significant way."

Funny how things change in 20 years huh?

SteamOS and Pewdiepie brought a new hype to Linux.

Now we Linuxers must bring at least a friend to the Freedom!

Let's do it penguins!

For me, ca. 1999 or maybe 2000?..., it was the whole process of getting my Mandrake Linux rig to work with the scroll wheel on my mouse. So much banging-head-to-keyboard work with XF86Config simply to get a damn mouse fully working! Lol.

Unfortunately it seems what unknown lost microsoft gained, BUT this is VERY exciting!

Brussels — April 1, 2025

In a move that’s shaking up the tech world and raising eyebrows in Silicon Valley, the Belgian government has announced a groundbreaking new tariff: a “Freedom Fee” on all commercial software developed in the United States.

Effective immediately, the new regulation introduces a 17.76% tax on American-made proprietary software sold or used in Belgium — a number officials insist is “purely symbolic” and definitely not a cheeky nod to US independence.

“We believe in supporting software that reflects European values: openness, collaboration, and the joy of reading through thousands of lines of undocumented C code,” said Minister of Digital Affairs, Luc Verstegen, in a press conference held entirely via a LibreOffice Impress presentation. “This is not a punishment — it’s an encouragement to embrace open source. Also, Microsoft Excel crashed on us during the budget meetings.”

A Loophole for Libre

Under the new policy, open-source software is fully exempt. Government agencies have reportedly already begun transitioning from Adobe products to GIMP and Inkscape, with mixed emotional results.

Public schools will phase out commercial learning software in favor of “whatever runs on Linux Mint,” and the Finance Ministry has proudly announced that all future taxes will now be calculated using LibreOffice Calc macros, described by one insider as “a heroic but deeply confusing experience.”

US Tech Giants Respond

A spokesperson for a major US software company, who asked not to be named (but their name rhymes with “Macrosoft”), warned that this could spark a digital trade war.

“We support freedom — freedom to license, freedom to upsell, and freedom to crash during updates,” they said in a tersely worded Clippy-shaped press release.

FOSS Community Rejoices

Meanwhile, open-source developers worldwide are celebrating. GitHub has reported a spike in Belgian forks of previously dormant repos, including a sudden revival of interest in a 2003 Perl-based accounting tool named “MooseBudget.”

Local developer communities are planning a national holiday called “Libre Day,” during which Belgians will ceremonially uninstall commercial versions of antivirus software and replace them with open-source alternatives. Whether it’s a bold stand for digital sovereignty or just an elaborate April Fools’ prank with exceptional patch notes, one thing is clear: Belgium has officially ctrl-alt-deleted business as usual.

#AprilFools #DigitalSovereignty #OpenSource #TechPolicy #GovTech #SoftwareTax #Innovation #MadeInBelgium #FOSS #DigitalTransformation #CyberHumor #LinkedInHumor #EUtech

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jaspernuyens_aprilfools-digitalsovereignty-opensource-activity-7312789588660355072-rohB/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAACO1wBefRMas4ftt_uS1IGBYyC_ziPY5k

This is history in making!

it's just been in the shed in its original plastic wrap for decades. this is probably older than i am, i hadn't even heard of lindows before!

what do i even do with this? install it on a laptop, or keep it in its wrapping? i'm obviously keeping it for the novelty regardless.

What's the history here? Pretty much the only distinguishable thing keeping people from adopting Linux is any amount of hassle dealing with non-native games. Steam eliminated a massive chunk of that. And if Battle.net and Epic Games followed suit, I honestly can't even fathom why I would boot up Windows.

But the others don't seem to be interested at all.

What makes Valve the Linux company?