Trisquel is a fully ‘Free as in freedom’ distro.

Zero telemetry now or in the future.

Ubuntu based, so large FLOSS package repository.

Mate UI, simple user friendly layout.

* You will need hardware that works with fully free hardware drivers (for printer, WiFi, GPU etc). Drivers with binary-blobs are not included, due to potential security risks or spyware.

Test your hardware with a bootable USB.

Fully free distro list

If you know how to source hardware that uses fully-free drivers, they are worth a look.

Guix and Parabola also look interesting.

You probably didn’t even know it’s pronounced Jimp too!!

/s

MATE (prn: MAH-Tay)

because it comes with standard Trisquel and is a smooth DE experience.

Re- Lol 💀 D e d

My guy, circuit-bending is usually only for music.

TempleOS is a fever-dream.

The entire OS is released into the Public Domain, so it’s technically more free than Linux, which is quite a feat.

Kind of like the Watts Towers, it’s a one-man curiosity or folly.

Reject pixel-graphics, install aalib

;^)

I remember when Ubuntu was released, and I still have one of the first or second release Ubuntu shipit CDs.

Ubuntu was good at marketing and they were good at making things ‘just work’.

It was often the recommended choice of starter-distro due to hardware compatibility.

I’ve installed and admin’ed Ubuntu on 20 PCs in a small office setting, and it provides a decent user experience.

I would not personally use Ubuntu.

My daily driver now is Trisquel GNU/Linux, which is Ubuntu with all non-free packages(and binary blobs) removed.

If you are at the stage where you know how to source hardware that works with FLOSS-drivers, try out a fully-free FSF approved distro.

https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.en.html

Clean, with zero corporate fluff.

Well, that’s Halloween sorted.

Revolution OS(2001) was maybe the earliest documentary about Free Software.

This was great to view at LinuxConf2001, seeing many of the names you’d only read about previously.

Warning: It interviews various people discussed in this thread, but also contains plenty of Stallman being right.

One of the best quotes about Free Software, was how it is essentially using the same principles as Judo, use the opponents momentum against them.

The way Free Software uses full, restrictive copyright to create a permissive, free sharing-based copyright is an excellent example of the technique within many Judo throws.

I can’t remember where this quote was from, and a quick search found nothing. Maybe someone else can pinpoint it.

Trisquel GNU/Linux, is Ubuntu with all the non-free packages removed. Don’t see any of that stuff.

I used it in a university course in '95, not sure what distro, but customising your shell prompt, and setting automatic timed updates for the wallpaper in tvwm certainly felt like the future. Different and electric.

We would play the linux shareware first release of quake in 12-16 player. Hiding the executable by renaming it ekauq… didn’t work, still got removed from our directories.

There were installfests at the local LUG, which were a fun way to share tips and help others.

One Linux support business existed in our town in the 90s, installing and fixing Linux boxen for businesses. Mostly home/hobby use though.

Slashdot.org was covering the majority of Linux news. Either MS FUD or the nonsense SCO lawsuit, amongst all the positive advances.

Linux conferences were a fun way to make it more real and see many of the big names behind the movement and technologies.

Installed RedHat 4 or 5.1 around 98 and then found the power of Debian. Currently running Trisquel GNU/Linux because it is a fully libre distro with no proprietary blobs or other obfuscated parts.

Many thanks to RMS and all FLOSS contributors, there is such an incredible spectrum of tools available for free use. It has been great to see the progression and expansion over the decades.