AMA: I spent 3 years creating a new bash-compatible shell called Oil

Here are a couple posts that may spawn some further questions.

[FAQ, 2019 Edition](http://www.oilshell.org/blog/2019/06/17.html) - I wrote this yesterday for the AMA

[Why Create a New Unix Shell?](http://www.oilshell.org/blog/2018/01/28.html) (2018)

Questions could be about: technical issues when writing a shell, why I'm creating a new shell, surprising things I learned about shells, related Unix tools, programming style, etc.

I'm looking for people to try the shell and give feedback! It takes about 30 seconds to install.

https://redd.it/c1pigw
@r_linux

Bits of Wisdom from The Art of UNIX Programming

from Basics of the Unix Philosophy :

1. Rule of Modularity: Write simple parts connected by clean interfaces.
2. Rule of Clarity: Clarity is better than cleverness.
3. Rule of Composition: Design programs to be connected to other programs.
4. Rule of Separation: Separate policy from mechanism; separate interfaces
from engines.
5. Rule of Simplicity: Design for simplicity; add complexity only where you must.
6. Rule of Parsimony: Write a big program only when it is clear by demonstration that nothing else will do.
7. Rule of Transparency: Design for visibility to make inspection and debug-
ging easier.
8. Rule of Robustness: Robustness is the child of transparency and simplicity.
9. Rule of Representation: Fold knowledge into data so program logic can be stupid and robust.
10. Rule of Least Surprise: In interface design, always do the least surprising thing.
11. Rule of Silence: When a program has nothing surprising to say, it should
say nothing.
12. Rule of Repair: When you must fail, fail noisily and as soon as possible.
13. Rule of Economy: Programmer time is expensive; conserve it in preference to machine time.
14. Rule of Generation: Avoid hand-hacking; write programs to write programs when you can.
15. Rule of Optimization: Prototype before polishing. Get it working before you optimize it.
16. Rule of Diversity: Distrust all claims for “one true way”.
17. Rule of Extensibility: Design for the future, because it will be here sooner than you think.


I am a big fan of Nntaleb's Antigrafile.
But this is some serious principles too !

https://redd.it/c1mjrp
@r_linux

If systemd has so many flaws, why do most distros use it?



https://redd.it/c1nqo8
@r_linux

Linux and FreeBSD Kernel: Multiple TCP-based remote denial of service vulnerabilities
https://github.com/Netflix/security-bulletins/blob/master/advisories/third-party/2019-001.md

https://redd.it/c1rfmo
@r_linux

Ideal linux distribution

To me, the ideal Linux distribution would be one which would have an installation procedure similar to that of Gentoo (where you compile the kernel yourself - having a default preset kernel config and having the option to do your own), the repository have some form of curation of packages like in Manjaro (where the packages are released to the public after \~2 weeks of testing), have a large number of packages submitted by the users(like the AUR) which would perhaps not be as curated (it is not really possible to curate that many things, plus too much curation would probably bring forth some packages not going through for minor reasons) and the package manager have options for both compiling it with USE flags as well as opting for binaries (similar to Gentoo, but portage has binaries for very few packages).

​

What would be your ideal linux distribution?

https://redd.it/c1sksa
@r_linux

Shred external HD inside Ubuntu (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

I have installed Ubuntu inside Windows 10 (Windows Subsystem for Linux), so I have the Linux terminal in Windows.

I have an external HD in my computer and, in Linux terminal, I can find it under `/mnt/d`, it's not in `/dev/sdaX`.

I read that `shred` can wipe partitions using `shred -vfz -n 2 /dev/sda`, but once my external HD is mounted, `shred` does not work in `/mnt`.

**Question:** is there a way to secure wipe my external HD using Linux terminal inside Windows, or do I really have to boot a live Ubuntu and execute it?

https://redd.it/c1tbcs
@r_linux

What made you come over to linux?



https://redd.it/c1bicy
@r_linux

Is there a way to create an initrd that doesn't have a rescue/interactive initramfs prompt?

I've been playing around with tpm-tools. I've been able to secure a drive encryption password in the nvram area of the tpm and have them recalled to auto-unlock drives (btw... not luks). There is even a method to prevent ANYONE from accessing that nvram location until next boot. This means there is a window prior to initrd mounting the drive (then locking the memory) that a knowledgeable person COULD "break=premount" and use the tpm-tools to hunt for the password.

Is there a way to create an initrd image that CANT drop to a prompt, and assign it a PCR value so it must be used for the auto-unlock. If I wanted a rescue prompt, I'd use another initrd that would then fail the PCR check and require a manual password entry.

Currently this is TPM 1.2, but TPM 2.0 will be tackled next, if that makes any difference in the answer.

https://redd.it/c1udap
@r_linux

i can't get away from dark themes and white text that don't match?

i've used dark themes on several DE so far, XFCE, mate, gnome, kde, and with all of them whenever I activate a dark theme there are always circumstances on the web when white text is overlayed on a white background. i remember this problem since like 2010 when i started using linux. has anyone ever found a workaround?

https://redd.it/c1v0pn
@r_linux

Clear Linux as a Gaming / Daily Driver?

Does anybody have any opinions they'd like to share?

I run an Intel CPU and an AMD GPU and I'm interested in Clear Linux for the performance but I mainly game or watch videos, so I'm wondering how well it would perform as just a daily gaming / media / casual browsing machine

https://redd.it/c1w2n3
@r_linux

Help with dual-booting Windows 10 and Pop OS

When dual-booting, I used Rufus to create a bootable usb flash drive for Pop OS 19.04. When trying to install onto a partition that I created on my 512gb ssd for my laptop, Pop OS couldn't detect it no matter what I did. If you need more details please ask me and I'll try my best.

https://redd.it/c1ykku
@r_linux

LibreOffice Impress doesn't impress Students

I love LibreOffice and what it stands for, but I have to say that it doesn't do a good job of replacing PowerPoint. It's no secret that PowerPoint is the superior product, but there are a couple shortcomings of Impress that really stop it from doing its job *well*.

As a student who has to take notes from professors all day long, the speaker notes interface is atrocious. Instead of showing a giant sheet of paper, it should have a nice pull up panel like in PowerPoint. This is by far the most irksome thing that keeps it from being my daily PowerPoint solution. I opened up Impress, not Writer.

I tried using Impress for project presentations as well and I really have to say that the fact that its default toolbar is missing text formatting is a huge turn off for me. I can't believe that something this basic doesn't come by default. Instead, you have to take the time to add all the options and tools yourself.

I would rather avoid depending on Microsoft Online or running a VM just to get basic PowerPoint functionality, but it can't be avoided until Microsoft Office ports to Linux (Hah!) or LibreOffice becomes more user friendly.

Thanks for coming out to my rant.

TL;DR Impress isn't a substitute for Microsoft PowerPoint until it keeps the everyday user in mind

https://redd.it/c1zkoq
@r_linux

Finally did it

I finally did it. it might seem like nothing to some, but i managed to setup kali linux with live usb persistence! I mean its amazing not gonna lie

https://redd.it/c1zpm1
@r_linux

Capture GLava

`<iframe width="560" height="315" src="`[`https://www.youtube.com/embed/r5gKanbeNh4`](https://www.youtube.com/embed/r5gKanbeNh4)`" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>`

https://redd.it/c20z7d
@r_linux

Eric S. Raymonds Loadsharers Page

Eric S. Raymond has set up [Loadsharers Page](http://www.catb.org/esr/loadsharers/) to help Load-Bearing Internet People (LBIP), individuals who do critical work developing and maintaining key infrastructures used on the Internet.

* Blog Post : [Load-Bearing Internet People | Armed and Dangerous](http://esr.ibiblio.org/?p=8383 "Load-Bearing Internet People | Armed and Dangerous")
* Follow-up : [Sharing the load effectively | Armed and Dangerous](http://esr.ibiblio.org/?p=8387 "Sharing the load effectively | Armed and Dangerous")
* FAQ : [Loadsharers FAQ](http://www.catb.org/esr/loadsharers/faq.html "Loadsharers FAQ")


Personal opinon : I've made random donations to different websites I've used and Open Source Software I use in the past (not going to list them here) and will continue to do so but will now be including some LBIPs.

https://redd.it/c21yyr
@r_linux

Debian GNU/Linux riscv64 port in mid 2019
https://people.debian.org/~mafm/posts/2019/20190617_debian-gnulinux-riscv64-port-in-mid-2019/

https://redd.it/c228bc
@r_linux

Would Linux users actually pay for Adobe or Affinity software?

There is a [loonngggg topic](https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/626-affinity-for-linux/) on the Serif forums about Affinity products for Linux (since 2014).

There is some fierce resistance against a Linux version by community members, and some more calm responses by Serif staff. But the gist is that no one believes there are enough Linux users willing to pay for quality software for it to be profitable.

&#x200B;

**2014:**

> we would at least consider any platform where we can make our investment back. So, for Linux - that'll be $100,000 a copy for each of the five users for us to break even. ;) :P

**2019:**

> This thread is popular, but ultimately we've only had a fraction of a percent of people request a Linux version so far. Now, if this post had 20,000 people in it, we'd be clamouring to build for Linux...

&#x200B;

There was also a [petition on Adobe](https://adobe-video.uservoice.com/forums/911233-premiere-pro/suggestions/36257581-yes-please-support-linux-this-would-be-a-huge-m) about making Linux versions. It was signed 10.000 times. Surely \[make up a number here\] of people signed out of frustration for a lack of Linux support but wouldn't actually pay the hefty Adobe fees. Is there anything, anything in the world, that we can look at, that might give a rough analogy for the amount of people that would actually pay for commercial graphic software on Linux? Is there any commercial software that got a Linux version after being convinced by Linux users, or by a crowdfund? Any success story?

https://redd.it/c22zqy
@r_linux

I386 architecture will be dropped starting with Ubuntu 19.10
https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/i386-architecture-will-be-dropped-starting-with-eoan-ubuntu-19-10/11263

https://redd.it/c23t7o
@r_linux

CentOS 8 Status 17-June-2019
https://blog.centos.org/2019/06/centos-8-status-17-june-2019/

https://redd.it/c24n8l
@r_linux

Building Debian images for Le Potato and OrangePi with debos
https://www.collabora.com/news-and-blog/blog/2019/06/18/building-debian-images-lepotato-orangepi-with-debos/

https://redd.it/c25f1r
@r_linux

Searching a new option.

Hi guys, I have a problem. For a few months I have Linux Lite in a 3.5 / 10 gamma netbook. It has worked quite well in terms of performance but it brings more problems and discomforts than anything else. So, what distribution do you recommend? Thanks, I'll be reading.

https://redd.it/c26lm6
@r_linux