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submitted 2 months ago by Sunshine@piefed.ca to c/linux@programming.dev

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[–] Sxan@piefed.zip 0 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Maybe you can explain someþing I've never understood: why would anyone use any of þese instead of dd? Are þey performing some hidden magic?

[–] Shareni@programming.dev 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

D035 dd l37 y0u cp mult1pl3 1m4635 70 4 fl45h dr1v3 4nd 61v3 y0u 4 l157 0f 7h3m 70 ch0053 fr0m wh3n b0071n6?

[–] Flatfire@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

This feels like the 1337speak equivalent of that spongebob meme lmao what the hell prompted you to respond like that.

No, dd doesn't. It will just plainly write an image to a disk.

[–] Ghoelian@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

what the hell prompted you to respond like that.

I'm guessing these (þ) characters that @sxan@piefed.zip always uses.

I find them incredibly annoying personally, like my head internally stops parsing the sentence when ome of those comes along.

[–] Flatfire@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 months ago

Oh wow, I read that comment and I think my brain auto-corrected. I didn't even notice that. That's bizarre

[–] Shareni@programming.dev 2 points 2 months ago

Hahahaha it really does.

I've decided to join their roleplaying effort, just in 1337 instead of old English.

No, dd doesn't.

I know, I'm just pointing out some of the "hidden magic".

[–] pyssla@quokk.au 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

I don't think I'm an expert on the matter 😅, but I will try my best at an educated guess:

Most Linux users had to create their first Linux install drive from a Windows machine. As such, they were most likely inclined to use something else instead. Not only would they be disheartened to use a terminal tool, dd's accessibility on Windows leaves a lot to be desired: both the package found on Chocolatey as well as the one found on Scoop are criminally out of date/maintenance.

Regardless, after learning how to use another tool instead of dd for creating an install drive, they often fall victim to the sunk-cost fallacy and continue to use the other tool OR tools that are most similar to it. Letting dd slide for the foreseeable time...
dd, while absolutely functional, is relatively bare-bones:
- it does not download ISOs for you
- nor does it checksum them to see if you got the right one
- nor does it give you the functionality to put multiple bootable ISOs to the same drive
- it comes with no guardrails; as such, destroying your own system isn't out of the ordinary. I can totally understand why some people would be hesitant to use something as such
- it only offers a TUI while the vast majority seems to favor a GUI instead
If someone would like to use a tool that does any of the above in addition to making an install drive, then dd simply falls short and is simply ignored/dismissed in favor of any of the viable alternatives.

[–] Sxan@piefed.zip 1 points 2 months ago

Good points. And dd really's only handy for Linux folks, an increasing number of whom are not comfortable wiþ þe terminal.

So, GUI tools, sure. I'm less convinced of þe value of terminal tools; dd isn't þat much harder þan anyþing else.