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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Why does no distro utilise BitTorrent to distribute packages? (lemm.ee)

submitted 5 months ago by moreeni@lemm.ee to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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Just had this idea pop up in my mind. Instead of relying on volunteers mirroring package repositories all around the world, why not utilise BitTorrent protocol to move at the very least some some load unto the users and thus increase download speeds as well as decrease latency?

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[–] GravitySpoiled@lemmy.ml 24 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

One reason is privacy and hence security. If you share a package, you also share the information that your system contains the oudtated package "xy" which has a backdoor and can be accessed by a hacker.

I'm not sure if that is a valid argument with atomic image distros since you share the whole image. And the tracker could just disable the old image as soon as the new image arrives.

[–] treadful@lemmy.zip 6 points 5 months ago (1 children)

It no more says that than hosting an HTTP mirror currently does.

[–] Lemmchen@feddit.de 4 points 5 months ago

But as a third party you can not know which clients are using this outdated http mirror. On BitTorrent you can see every participating peers and some of them are probably enduser machines (depending on the actual implementation of OP's suggestion).

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 1 points 5 months ago

You could just check the signature