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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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Did a fresh install of linux mint recently, because of that a good chunk of my software has been FOSS, however, when it comes to all the gaming related stuff I've installed (drivers, clients, etc.) its been a hit or miss with more proprietary software then i'd like.
Will say, I've struggled for a while to find a good open source music player for local files, I'd love some recommendations (currently trying Rhythmbox but I don't feel I'll love it)
Try Strawberry, Audacious, and Lollypop. There's a lot of options, it just depends on what you're looking for. I could give better suggestions if I knew what features are important to you.
I don't know if I've used Strawberry, but I used Clementine, from which it was forked for several years. Like OP, Rhythmbox wasn't doing it for me. Clementine/Strawberry is definitely worth a look.
Daily computing is mostly FOSS programs and my laptop is sold with Linux preinstalled (though I bought the higher spec Windows version and installed Linux myself. Cloud is FOSS, self-hosted in the public cloud (until I get fiber). Phone is rooted Android w/ FOSS apps wherever they meet my needs. I'm about 50% through degoogling and de-Microsofting. Ereader is KOReader (FOSS) running on old Kindle brand hardware. Keyboard is Ergodox Ez which I think the firmware is FOSS. Smarthome is still Smartthings which is not FOSS.
I'm going to give myself a C- 70% FOSS
You shouldn't use root on Android. It throws the security model out the window. Just run something without google
Going to probably try this after I build my pihole and I can VPN home for ad blocking. Currently I need root to avoid seeing ads.
Can't you just use ublock origin?
The browser ad on doesn't work in apps, and if they have a blocker outside of that, it probably uses a VPN on the loopback interface to strip out the ads. I run a VPN a fair bit, so I would only be adblocking when I'm not on the VPN. Are there any non-root methods that can do full system ad blocking other than the VPN thing?
Don't use apps with ads. They are a privacy and freedom risk anyway. Use apps from F-droid.
Why not set Adguard as private DNS?
Hard to pin a number on it, percentage-wise.
But can't/won't completely replace the OS yet because both google pay and android auto are essential to me and getting them working on most replacements is still a royal pain in the butt.
So let's call it 80%, maybe a bit more?
Mostly FOSS locally, but I rely on some proprietary software where there are gaps in the FOSS ecosystem.
1 FreeBSD server with zfs mirror for storage and various server software
1 FreeBSD laptop for development
1 Linux laptop for software that doesn't support FreeBSD
1 Linux desktop for work.
The rest of the family is 100% windows though :/
Like sub 10% maybe.
Phone 1: iPhone
Phone 2: Android (pixel 4, stock rom)
Desktop 1: Windows
Desktop 2: Mac OS
Laptop 1: Windows
Laptop 2: Mac OS.
Laptop 3: Windows/KDE Neon, no attention paid to whether or not the drivers are foss.
Server: Proxmox with Debian and Truenas VMs.
Router: pfSense.
I just use what works for me, and what license the software uses is not at all a factor in that choice.
Increasingly so over time. Will try to install coreboot on my laptop soon. I avoid proprietary blobs where possible too but for stuff like the kernel, proprietary blobs are kinda unavoidable if you want a fully functional system. Tbf I've not tried linux-libre but I just assume it won't agree with some of my tower PC's hardware.
Aside from low-level stuff, I do still use Steam (and the proprietary games on there) and Discord—Steam cause all my games are there and it's convenient, and Discord cause a few of my friend groups primarily talk over Discord. Been considering setting up a Matrix bridge for Discord but I don't think that meaningfully achieves anything since it'll still all be on Discord's servers which are proprietary. I also occasionally install proprietary software to read proprietary file formats and would usually uninstall once I'm done reading the file.
I run bone stock default Fedora.
Production/Laptop
Framework laptop with x86 Intel CPU, running OpenBSD. All drivers are free, non-free firmware includes intel, inteldrm, iwx (intel wireless device), uvideo (webcam), vmm (virtual machine). BIOS/UEFI is closed.
Hopefully intel, inteldrm, and vmm firmware can be removed after I switch to the RISC-V mainboard that is releasing for the Framework 13 inch soon. iwx firmware can be removed as soon as OpenBSD has better atheros drivers, whenever that patch arrives (or whatever other foss wireless card comes along). uvideo firmware might be unnecessary, but I haven't checked.
FOSS score: Medium-Low, after switching mainboard, Good.
Phone
OG Pinephone running postmarketOS. I don't think there's any non-free firmware (GPU maybe?). ARM64 CPU, only closed firmware I know of is the modem, which I've replaced with a free version here. Don't know about the UEFI/BIOS.
FOSS score: Good, Medium if UEFI/BIOS is closed or there is non-free firmware.
Gaming
Steam Deck, x86 AMD cpu, running proprietary SteamOS. May replace the OS at some point if a good alternative comes along, as SteamOS's immutable design and lack of real package manager besides flatpak annoys me.
FOSS score: Terrible, will always be Terrible because of all the games, even after replacing the OS.
Libre hardware:
The non FOSS systems are:
Mostly
I still have Intel WiFi and a phone which requires firmware to work correctly.
I also recently installed Lego star wars in Bottles for fun. I also use the web a lot which uses non free JavaScript.