Change my mind: Windows Subsystem for Linux should be Linux Subsystem for Windows
I'm serious. Isn't WSL essentially a Linux environment running on top of Windows, rather than a Windows environment running on Linux?
If that’s the case, it feels like the naming is a bit backward. WSL stands for Windows Subsystem for Linux, which makes sense in a very literal sense: it’s a subsystem provided by Windows to support Linux. But when you think about it, the direction of the virtualization is key. Typically, when we talk about virtual machines or subsystems, we name them in the format of what is running inside what. Here, Linux is the thing running on top of Windows, not the other way around. So wouldn’t it be more logical to call it LSW, Linux Subsystem for Windows?
I'm posting here for the first time so sorry if this breaks the rules, I don't know whether we're allowed to discuss Linux VMs
EDIT: Since most of you agree that the naming is shit, should I raise a PR?
https://redd.it/1ndc5hs
@r_linux
I'm serious. Isn't WSL essentially a Linux environment running on top of Windows, rather than a Windows environment running on Linux?
If that’s the case, it feels like the naming is a bit backward. WSL stands for Windows Subsystem for Linux, which makes sense in a very literal sense: it’s a subsystem provided by Windows to support Linux. But when you think about it, the direction of the virtualization is key. Typically, when we talk about virtual machines or subsystems, we name them in the format of what is running inside what. Here, Linux is the thing running on top of Windows, not the other way around. So wouldn’t it be more logical to call it LSW, Linux Subsystem for Windows?
I'm posting here for the first time so sorry if this breaks the rules, I don't know whether we're allowed to discuss Linux VMs
EDIT: Since most of you agree that the naming is shit, should I raise a PR?
https://redd.it/1ndc5hs
@r_linux
Reddit
From the linux community on Reddit
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Switching from W11 to Linux.
Hello i have a few questions about switching to linux (i am thinking about using nobara)
Here are my specs:
I am using a lenovo laptop (Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8)
GPU: Geforce RTX 4060
CPU:13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-13620H
RAM: 16GB of Ram
SSD: 1TB
So. I need alternative apps for the following things and other options for:
I use Lenovo Vantage for limiting my battery charge to 80%, changeing my GPU working mode to dGPU because on windows at least ive had a few instances where it would change to hybrid mode on its own.
I also need to know if the nvidia app is on Nobara same with the control panel.
Alternative for clipping with Medal.
I also need to know if things like Epic games Launcher works. And i dont play many games with anticheat.
And Ubisoft games also.
Taskmanager alternative cause i use it alot.
Also definetely gonna use Wine.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I Mainly wanna switch from W11 to Nobara because of the KB5063878 update not wanting to risk my drive.
I wanna know anything i should know before factory resetting and swapping to Linux (Nobara)
I am completely New to Linux btw.
https://redd.it/1nddxwl
@r_linux
Hello i have a few questions about switching to linux (i am thinking about using nobara)
Here are my specs:
I am using a lenovo laptop (Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8)
GPU: Geforce RTX 4060
CPU:13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-13620H
RAM: 16GB of Ram
SSD: 1TB
So. I need alternative apps for the following things and other options for:
I use Lenovo Vantage for limiting my battery charge to 80%, changeing my GPU working mode to dGPU because on windows at least ive had a few instances where it would change to hybrid mode on its own.
I also need to know if the nvidia app is on Nobara same with the control panel.
Alternative for clipping with Medal.
I also need to know if things like Epic games Launcher works. And i dont play many games with anticheat.
And Ubisoft games also.
Taskmanager alternative cause i use it alot.
Also definetely gonna use Wine.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I Mainly wanna switch from W11 to Nobara because of the KB5063878 update not wanting to risk my drive.
I wanna know anything i should know before factory resetting and swapping to Linux (Nobara)
I am completely New to Linux btw.
https://redd.it/1nddxwl
@r_linux
Reddit
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BCacheFS is being disabled in the openSUSE kernels 6.17+
https://lists.opensuse.org/archives/list/factory@lists.opensuse.org/thread/TOXF7FZXDRFPR356WO37DXZLMVVPMVHW/
https://redd.it/1ndhsow
@r_linux
https://lists.opensuse.org/archives/list/factory@lists.opensuse.org/thread/TOXF7FZXDRFPR356WO37DXZLMVVPMVHW/
https://redd.it/1ndhsow
@r_linux
Reddit
From the linux community on Reddit: BCacheFS is being disabled in the openSUSE kernels 6.17+
Posted by ehempel - 13 votes and 2 comments
Desktop Linux has come a long way..and is easier than windows for new users
Back in the day (2000s) installing Linux on typical laptops or desktops was a pita (CUPS, ALSA drivers etc). I dabbled in Ubuntu when it was new (they used to mail you actual DVDs if you requested it) and it didnt go well. Before that I had tried Mandriva and Suse, which again didn't go well.
Back to 2024, I assembled my own PC and just realized how long drawn Windows installs are - it forces you to go online, you have to hunt for drivers and in my case it seems the basic ethernet drivers werent present in Windows. So I had to download all of them from my mac onto a USB disk (four - five reboots to install everything).
I got tired of Windows 11 with constant ads and random shit on the start menu and decided I genuinely dont need Windows for anything. Even gaming part is mostly solved as per Reddit posts. Anyways, I just got popos and it works out of the box. Nothing needed from me apart from specifying to delete Windows and take over the SSD. Thats it, no extra steps, no downloads, no incompatibility. ITs actually easier to use for a newbie than Windows.
https://redd.it/1ndimuw
@r_linux
Back in the day (2000s) installing Linux on typical laptops or desktops was a pita (CUPS, ALSA drivers etc). I dabbled in Ubuntu when it was new (they used to mail you actual DVDs if you requested it) and it didnt go well. Before that I had tried Mandriva and Suse, which again didn't go well.
Back to 2024, I assembled my own PC and just realized how long drawn Windows installs are - it forces you to go online, you have to hunt for drivers and in my case it seems the basic ethernet drivers werent present in Windows. So I had to download all of them from my mac onto a USB disk (four - five reboots to install everything).
I got tired of Windows 11 with constant ads and random shit on the start menu and decided I genuinely dont need Windows for anything. Even gaming part is mostly solved as per Reddit posts. Anyways, I just got popos and it works out of the box. Nothing needed from me apart from specifying to delete Windows and take over the SSD. Thats it, no extra steps, no downloads, no incompatibility. ITs actually easier to use for a newbie than Windows.
https://redd.it/1ndimuw
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There's no going back from tiling window managers
I've been a Linux user for 20+ years. Most of them in Gnome or Unity. A brief KDE phase. A year ago I switch to a tiling WM (Hyprland). I just used a Gnome machine today and felt like a caveman. Floating windows are just... weird. Hyprland broke me and here is no going back.
That's it. That's the post.
https://redd.it/1ndqanf
@r_linux
I've been a Linux user for 20+ years. Most of them in Gnome or Unity. A brief KDE phase. A year ago I switch to a tiling WM (Hyprland). I just used a Gnome machine today and felt like a caveman. Floating windows are just... weird. Hyprland broke me and here is no going back.
That's it. That's the post.
https://redd.it/1ndqanf
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Trying out new KDE Linux distro. Still in pre-release alpha state but I already like it a lot.
https://redd.it/1nds8kq
@r_linux
https://redd.it/1nds8kq
@r_linux
GitLab Patch Release: 18.3.2, 18.2.6, 18.1.6 (fixes for vulnerabilities)
https://about.gitlab.com/releases/2025/09/10/patch-release-gitlab-18-3-2-released/
https://redd.it/1ne4175
@r_linux
https://about.gitlab.com/releases/2025/09/10/patch-release-gitlab-18-3-2-released/
https://redd.it/1ne4175
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Reddit
From the linux community on Reddit: GitLab Patch Release: 18.3.2, 18.2.6, 18.1.6 (fixes for vulnerabilities)
Explore this post and more from the linux community
I use Linux since exactly 1 year - and I understand now!
As the noscript says, I am "daily driving" Linux now since one year and I am so glad that I did switch. Okay, I am DualBooting for getting the best from both worlds, but I also built my PC (I usually overspecc my rigs so they last for 5+ years) with DualBoot in mind because I thought I will have to. If I'd have known how much I enjoy Linux (Mint) I'd given the Windows installation less storage and the regular SATA (on the other hand, giving that bloat OS the expensive nvme SSD might be the better option...).
Anyways, as one who switched to OSX in 2008 after the Vista debacle and coming back for Win7, I finally decided it's enough of Windows and the exponentially growing issues about Windows. I tried Ubuntu in 2010 and even bought magazines but hardware support was basically non-existant for my computers so I had a very crippled time trying it out. In fact, the last Mint Live system in 2024 had no sound and just when I planned my new PC, my SoundBlaster Z was recognized by the LiveDisk and I could finally order my PC.
Now let's be real: I traded in Windows issues with some Linux issues. I miss a real indexed file search like Everything or Spotlight. I have audio crackling which is a known issue, no matter how many ALSA updates happen. It's sometimes so strong I have eardrum-shattering noise for like 30 seconds straight until the actual audio builds up again. I tried the quantum changes in the config but nothing changes. I also hate the lack of fractional scaling under Mint, the (to me) unusable Wayland alpha state (boots me into a blackscreen), the fact I can't use my Ryzen's iGPU (boots me into blackscreen) and I really miss DirectX where sound and graphics "just work" since the mid-90s. But after diving into the Linux world and thus read more about the whole "movement" surrounding FOSS and Linux, I did not only start to understand - I also can tolerate these issues now knowing more about it.
Using Linux takes months to see its full potential. And the more I boot up Mint, the more I notice how Windows annoys me. I have a Windows laptop (Acer Nitro gaming laptop at my parent's house) which is constantly spinning its fans when plugged in just to see like 5 different Microsoft services using my hardware. (And no, it's not the file indexer ;) If I leave my desktop PC just for the bathroom, I can hear the fans spin up too because MS uses these "idle times" to do something on my PC, and it bugs me. If your control panel consists of ads for Office suites, penetrant Cloud services, unwanted CoPilot AI, no wonder why things require RAM, disk space and CPU power. When I leave Linux alone, it just sits there quietly like a trusty Golden Retriever waiting for commands.
Updates are so transparent with Mint displaying changelogs (except for Flatpaks sadly), the option to ignore updates and so many updates just happen without reboot that I am still amazed by that. I have control of what my PC is "eating" - most of the time low-calorie but high result ones, not being spoonfed Microsoft Updates with intransparent, super slow, high-calorie fake food.
I love Cinnamon very much, as I like how Windows is being used and looks (taskbar, Alt+Tabbing, Cinnamenu upon Windows key push, ...), so have that on top of a clean, fast, safe OS is basically exactly of what I could have dreamed of. So many QoL improvements (e.g. selecting several files bringing up Bulky for mass-rename rules - on Windows I had to install "Bulk Rename Utility" or the ALSAMIXER talking to my SoundBlaster natively to set up EQ settings - on Windows, "Creative Command" had to be installed, a 110 MByte tool in Startup!). Coupled with my favourite theme Mint looks great, works amazing and has the Linux engine (figuratively spoken) underneath. Fantastic.
The biggest straw was of course Recall. My CPU (and GPU?) power used to create screenshots of my bank statements while online banking to be a) send to MS servers in the USA where it can be accessed by the government at any time or b) clogging up my storage? What the
As the noscript says, I am "daily driving" Linux now since one year and I am so glad that I did switch. Okay, I am DualBooting for getting the best from both worlds, but I also built my PC (I usually overspecc my rigs so they last for 5+ years) with DualBoot in mind because I thought I will have to. If I'd have known how much I enjoy Linux (Mint) I'd given the Windows installation less storage and the regular SATA (on the other hand, giving that bloat OS the expensive nvme SSD might be the better option...).
Anyways, as one who switched to OSX in 2008 after the Vista debacle and coming back for Win7, I finally decided it's enough of Windows and the exponentially growing issues about Windows. I tried Ubuntu in 2010 and even bought magazines but hardware support was basically non-existant for my computers so I had a very crippled time trying it out. In fact, the last Mint Live system in 2024 had no sound and just when I planned my new PC, my SoundBlaster Z was recognized by the LiveDisk and I could finally order my PC.
Now let's be real: I traded in Windows issues with some Linux issues. I miss a real indexed file search like Everything or Spotlight. I have audio crackling which is a known issue, no matter how many ALSA updates happen. It's sometimes so strong I have eardrum-shattering noise for like 30 seconds straight until the actual audio builds up again. I tried the quantum changes in the config but nothing changes. I also hate the lack of fractional scaling under Mint, the (to me) unusable Wayland alpha state (boots me into a blackscreen), the fact I can't use my Ryzen's iGPU (boots me into blackscreen) and I really miss DirectX where sound and graphics "just work" since the mid-90s. But after diving into the Linux world and thus read more about the whole "movement" surrounding FOSS and Linux, I did not only start to understand - I also can tolerate these issues now knowing more about it.
Using Linux takes months to see its full potential. And the more I boot up Mint, the more I notice how Windows annoys me. I have a Windows laptop (Acer Nitro gaming laptop at my parent's house) which is constantly spinning its fans when plugged in just to see like 5 different Microsoft services using my hardware. (And no, it's not the file indexer ;) If I leave my desktop PC just for the bathroom, I can hear the fans spin up too because MS uses these "idle times" to do something on my PC, and it bugs me. If your control panel consists of ads for Office suites, penetrant Cloud services, unwanted CoPilot AI, no wonder why things require RAM, disk space and CPU power. When I leave Linux alone, it just sits there quietly like a trusty Golden Retriever waiting for commands.
Updates are so transparent with Mint displaying changelogs (except for Flatpaks sadly), the option to ignore updates and so many updates just happen without reboot that I am still amazed by that. I have control of what my PC is "eating" - most of the time low-calorie but high result ones, not being spoonfed Microsoft Updates with intransparent, super slow, high-calorie fake food.
I love Cinnamon very much, as I like how Windows is being used and looks (taskbar, Alt+Tabbing, Cinnamenu upon Windows key push, ...), so have that on top of a clean, fast, safe OS is basically exactly of what I could have dreamed of. So many QoL improvements (e.g. selecting several files bringing up Bulky for mass-rename rules - on Windows I had to install "Bulk Rename Utility" or the ALSAMIXER talking to my SoundBlaster natively to set up EQ settings - on Windows, "Creative Command" had to be installed, a 110 MByte tool in Startup!). Coupled with my favourite theme Mint looks great, works amazing and has the Linux engine (figuratively spoken) underneath. Fantastic.
The biggest straw was of course Recall. My CPU (and GPU?) power used to create screenshots of my bank statements while online banking to be a) send to MS servers in the USA where it can be accessed by the government at any time or b) clogging up my storage? What the
actual f*ck. I buy a new PC so I have to tax GiB of data (on top of other GiB that we were getting used to in that bloat OS) and processing power for unwanted features MS uses to collect Big Data??!
Now since I use Linux, I started to consume news about. It also started up my curiousity for desktop computing again somewhat. And that is the other side of the same coin that makes Linux so great! Basically an OS for and by users. I think that can sum it up.
Once, there was talk about AI maybe coming to Linux and I was like "Nooooo!" and someone else was writing what I felt until people came in and reassured: "If there is AI, it's for you/us users, it will be good AI". I really have to learn that updates and advancing can be a good thing without fearing some megacompany trying to find a new way of screwing us over. I read about Thorvald's attitude towards even the slightest "bad direction change" or contribution to his "baby" which is fantastic! It just feels so "right" to be using this OS in times where Apple, Google, Microsoft, Adobe try more and more to get incredible EULA/ToS changes through. The real cure is what I am using and now being a part of: Linux.
https://redd.it/1ne49bg
@r_linux
Now since I use Linux, I started to consume news about. It also started up my curiousity for desktop computing again somewhat. And that is the other side of the same coin that makes Linux so great! Basically an OS for and by users. I think that can sum it up.
Once, there was talk about AI maybe coming to Linux and I was like "Nooooo!" and someone else was writing what I felt until people came in and reassured: "If there is AI, it's for you/us users, it will be good AI". I really have to learn that updates and advancing can be a good thing without fearing some megacompany trying to find a new way of screwing us over. I read about Thorvald's attitude towards even the slightest "bad direction change" or contribution to his "baby" which is fantastic! It just feels so "right" to be using this OS in times where Apple, Google, Microsoft, Adobe try more and more to get incredible EULA/ToS changes through. The real cure is what I am using and now being a part of: Linux.
https://redd.it/1ne49bg
@r_linux
Reddit
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USB drives and ext4 these days?
I have a couple of USB3.1 Integral Courier USB sticks. 1x 256GB and 1x 64GB.
I have wondered why trying to install a Linux OS on them was taking do darned long so I have been doing a bit of testing on the 64GB stick.
The transfer speed of rsync when the stick is formatted EXT4 drops to around 1MB/s after the initial caching and writing some of the data to the stick, and rsync tells me I am going to wait hours for the 13GB file to be copied over.#
Example:
root@RTS3050Mint:/home/mikx4# nocache rsync -v --progress /media/mikx4/NobaraHome/mikx4/Downloads/kali-linux-2025.2-installer-everything-amd64.iso /home/mikx4/USBstick1/kali-linux-2025.2-installer-everything-amd64.iso
kali-linux-2025.2-installer-everything-amd64.iso
3,922,034,688 29% 37.00kB/s 71:30:34
I formatted the stick to Exfat with gparted and 13GB took only 4 minutes.
Are there certain USB manufacturer sticks that we have to use when we format them as EXT4?
Thank you.
https://redd.it/1ne6068
@r_linux
I have a couple of USB3.1 Integral Courier USB sticks. 1x 256GB and 1x 64GB.
I have wondered why trying to install a Linux OS on them was taking do darned long so I have been doing a bit of testing on the 64GB stick.
The transfer speed of rsync when the stick is formatted EXT4 drops to around 1MB/s after the initial caching and writing some of the data to the stick, and rsync tells me I am going to wait hours for the 13GB file to be copied over.#
Example:
root@RTS3050Mint:/home/mikx4# nocache rsync -v --progress /media/mikx4/NobaraHome/mikx4/Downloads/kali-linux-2025.2-installer-everything-amd64.iso /home/mikx4/USBstick1/kali-linux-2025.2-installer-everything-amd64.iso
kali-linux-2025.2-installer-everything-amd64.iso
3,922,034,688 29% 37.00kB/s 71:30:34
I formatted the stick to Exfat with gparted and 13GB took only 4 minutes.
Are there certain USB manufacturer sticks that we have to use when we format them as EXT4?
Thank you.
https://redd.it/1ne6068
@r_linux
Reddit
From the linux community on Reddit: USB drives and ext4 these days?
Posted by mikx4 - 16 votes and 38 comments
Intel Fixes Panther Lake Xe3 Graphics Performance Issues For Linux Ahead Of Launch
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Intel-Fixes-Xe3-Perf-Problems
https://redd.it/1ne7ux8
@r_linux
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Intel-Fixes-Xe3-Perf-Problems
https://redd.it/1ne7ux8
@r_linux
Phoronix
Intel Fixes Panther Lake Xe3 Graphics Performance Issues For Linux Ahead Of Launch
A set of 14 patches were merged today to the Mesa 3D graphics driver codebase for fixing some wide-reaching performance issues that would have negatively affected the upcoming Xe3 integrated graphics with Core Ultra Series 3 'Panther Lake' hardware
I thought I understood Linux until now...
For the longest time, I thought Linux was the back-end, and the distro was the front-end, but now I hear of several different desktop environments.
I also noticed that Arch boots into the tty instead of a user interface, and you have to install a desktop environment to have that interface.
So my question is, what's the difference?
EDIT:
Thanks a lot for the help!
I think I understand now:
Linux Kernel = The foundation (memory management, file system management, etc.)
Distro = Package of a bunch of stuff (some don't come pre-installed with a desktop environment, e.g., Arch)
and among the things the distro comes with are:
Desktop Environment
Software
Drivers
etc.
https://redd.it/1nebyhv
@r_linux
For the longest time, I thought Linux was the back-end, and the distro was the front-end, but now I hear of several different desktop environments.
I also noticed that Arch boots into the tty instead of a user interface, and you have to install a desktop environment to have that interface.
So my question is, what's the difference?
EDIT:
Thanks a lot for the help!
I think I understand now:
Linux Kernel = The foundation (memory management, file system management, etc.)
Distro = Package of a bunch of stuff (some don't come pre-installed with a desktop environment, e.g., Arch)
and among the things the distro comes with are:
Desktop Environment
Software
Drivers
etc.
https://redd.it/1nebyhv
@r_linux
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First time using anything linux, its super fun
https://preview.redd.it/sz68fn4oekof1.png?width=1366&format=png&auto=webp&s=c69c86d2f39b950f39304d9327d3a0bb8a3e0677
I was messing around with the Linux environment on my Chromebook (I was using adb to do some stuff), and I've always wanted to switch to Linux, but today I decided to do some stuff, and I really like this. Any tips or tricks and stuffs? :3
https://redd.it/1nedxrq
@r_linux
https://preview.redd.it/sz68fn4oekof1.png?width=1366&format=png&auto=webp&s=c69c86d2f39b950f39304d9327d3a0bb8a3e0677
I was messing around with the Linux environment on my Chromebook (I was using adb to do some stuff), and I've always wanted to switch to Linux, but today I decided to do some stuff, and I really like this. Any tips or tricks and stuffs? :3
https://redd.it/1nedxrq
@r_linux
Linux 6.18 Will Further Complicate Non-GPL Out-Of-Tree File-Systems
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-6.18-write-cache-pages
https://redd.it/1nek4y5
@r_linux
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-6.18-write-cache-pages
https://redd.it/1nek4y5
@r_linux
Phoronix
Linux 6.18 Will Further Complicate Non-GPL Out-Of-Tree File-Systems
Out-of-tree file-system drivers not licensed/compatible with the GPL will have a new obstacle to deal with come time for Linux 6.18 later this year.
An Ubuntu commercial from over a decade ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtSi26X9AYk
https://redd.it/1nekgcf
@r_linux
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtSi26X9AYk
https://redd.it/1nekgcf
@r_linux
YouTube
Ubuntu Commercial 2012
Please Check out Offy284 channel.
This is where the orignal video is done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDCNTxy0RFk
Published on May 19, 2012 by Offy284
A commercial for Ubuntu showing all of the reasons to switch.
(This is all original work and I am…
This is where the orignal video is done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDCNTxy0RFk
Published on May 19, 2012 by Offy284
A commercial for Ubuntu showing all of the reasons to switch.
(This is all original work and I am…
Looking for people who have configured really fast booting Linux images.
Hello Linux enthusiasts!
I'm looking for someone with experience in configuring an image that can boot in <2 seconds on an RK3566-based ARM board. This is, of course, paid work :)
The work:
Build a minimal Linux image (likely Yocto or Buildroot) targeting RK3566.
Optimise boot chain (u-boot, kernel, init, rootfs) for fast startup.
Strip down drivers and services to the absolute minimum needed.
Tweak
If you have relevant experience, please send me a DM.
https://redd.it/1newg3w
@r_linux
Hello Linux enthusiasts!
I'm looking for someone with experience in configuring an image that can boot in <2 seconds on an RK3566-based ARM board. This is, of course, paid work :)
The work:
Build a minimal Linux image (likely Yocto or Buildroot) targeting RK3566.
Optimise boot chain (u-boot, kernel, init, rootfs) for fast startup.
Strip down drivers and services to the absolute minimum needed.
Tweak
If you have relevant experience, please send me a DM.
https://redd.it/1newg3w
@r_linux
Reddit
From the linux community on Reddit
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