Categories: Operating Systems

DRUNKLEEN

28 Dec 2025
#sysadmin#linux

Linux kernels: when the names multiply and the meaning gets lost

This post breaks down the different Linux kernel variants—Mainline, LTS, Zen, Hardened, and WSL2—and explains why they are often misunderstood. Instead of treating them as interchangeable options, it shows how each kernel is designed for a specific environment and use case, and why choosing the right one depends on where and how Linux is actually running.

10 Dec 2025
#linux#programming

Building My Smallest Personal Linux (from Kernel to Lua)

In this project I build a tiny 64-bit Linux system from scratch. First, I use tinyconfig plus a few manual tweaks to build a minimal x86_64 kernel and boot it in QEMU until I hit the classic no working init found error. Then I write a very small init in Rust + assembly (no std, no libc) that talks directly to the kernel via system calls and runs as PID 1. Finally, I statically compile Lua, bundle it together with my init into an initramfs, and use the kernel’s own tooling to create a bootable ISO that can run Lua inside this tiny Linux world. The goal is not a daily-driver distro, but to build the smallest Linux system that I actually understand from the inside out.

04 Dec 2025
#privacy#data-ownership

When the Desktop Becomes a Product: Microsoft, Valve, and the Quiet Battle for User Freedom

In this post, we examine the growing divide between Microsoft’s increasingly restrictive Windows ecosystem and Valve’s open, user-focused approach with Linux and SteamOS. We explain how Windows is turning core tools into monetized, cloud-dependent products, while Valve invests in open technologies that give users freedom and control. We highlight how Linux is rising not just because it’s improving, but because the alternatives are becoming more limiting. Ultimately, the post frames the future of the desktop as a choice between control and freedom.