I’ve seen people talking about it and experienced it myself with a server, but why does Linux run so well on ARM (especially compared to Windows)?

  • h3ndrik@feddit.de
    39·
    3 years ago

    I don’t think it’s just Linux. I’ve been told MacOS also works very well on ARM. Maybe it’s just Microsoft doing a bad job.

    • Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social
      5·
      3 years ago

      Mac OS was running on RISC processors back in the 90s, and Steve Jobs used them in his NeXT computers which used a variation of BSD, which was the basis for OS X which could run on PowerPC.

      Apple’s had a ton of experience with RISC so it makes sense they’d do it well.

      • LeFantome@programming.dev
        51·
        3 years ago

        NeXT computers were based on Motorola 680x0 processors that were actually CISC ( not RISC ). Steve Jobs did run MacOS on RISC in the 90s though as that is what PowerPC was.

        Modern Apple silicon is of course ARM64 so not the same architecture as PowerPC at all.

        • Bene7rddso@feddit.de
          1·
          3 years ago

          NeXTStep ran on multiple architectures, some oft them RISC. They did some work on a PPC build too

      • .:\dGh/:.@lemmy.ml
        2·
        3 years ago

        It’s mainly due to PA Semi acquisition. These guys were the ones responsible of making excellent PowerPC processors, which were similar to what ARM has now.

        These guys are probably happier now that they have more resources, target devices and tightly coupled software.

    • thelastknowngod@lemm.ee
      5·
      3 years ago

      I have an M1 mbp for work and its honestly unbelievable. It’s one of the nicest machines I’ve owned in years. The chip is a huge part of it.

    • Xusontha@ls.buckodr.inkOP
      2·
      3 years ago

      Well MacOS is because of a controlled ecosystem/hardware and a really good emulator, but IDK about Linux

      Also yes Windows on ARM is a steaming pile of garbage

      • h3ndrik@feddit.de
        2·
        3 years ago

        Yeah. Linux is also optimized to run well. Has a capable community and a few good design choices. Many people use it to run it on servers so I wouldn’t be surprised if it performed well well on servers.

        Also there is a well known fork that is used on millions/billions(?) of ARM phones. So it’d better be a good choice for that use case.

      • Free Palestine 🇵🇸@sh.itjust.works
        21·
        3 years ago

        Also yes Windows on ARM is a steaming pile of garbage

        Not just on ARM. Windows is and will always be a proprietary steaming pile of shit, no matter what architecture. That will be the case as long as Microsoft develops it.