Thought of this the other day. I bet a lot of us are like this, because in today’s world a lot of things we used to tinker with are gone (electronics are made to be single use and unfixable, cars are proprietary and can rarely be modified or worked on without many many thousands of dollars now, etc).
Sure, there are still hardcore electronics projects going on and people doing massive restoration projects and such, but i consider them basically geniuses, not just tinkerers who enjoy messing around and learning in their spare time while working 50 hours a week.
Im glad linux gives us a space to exist!
I mean, this makes no sense, but it’s a window into a particular mindset.
FWIW, computer builds are about as complicated as they’ve been for a decade, there’s a whole new market for at-home object creation ranging from 3D printers to affordable laser cutters (sometimes both in the same machine), retro computers haven’t gone anywhere and are way more popular than ever as a hobby. If the real stuff is too hard to find or expensive there are now ways to build replacements ranging from single board FPGA units to kits where you can buy a PCB and all the components to solder at home.
There are now self-installable solar panel kits, fully open source home automation systems, and a whole subculture of very manageable self-hosting built around recycled old hardware. As a penis wielder of a certain age I feel like my socials are made up of nothing but aggressive hobbies to sink money on while pretending I am more crafty than I am so me and my middle aged friends can brag past each other about our computing habits or gardening habits or building habits or health habits.
BUT this is a thing. This is a thing people feel. They will go check a Linux distro because it feels weird and hands-on and crafty and adventurous, even though it’s…, you know, installing an OS on a computer that mostly works fine.
If it’s any consolation, this has been part of the appeal for three decades, give or take a few years. The “nothing else we can tinker with” angle is relatively novel, though.
Open source hardware is the bigger issue
We have more open source hardware today than has ever existed. Prior to RISC-V boards you can buy right now every single CPU available was closed source. Further, RISC-V is cheap which means it is a good foundation for future growth and scaling.
Is it?
I mean, you can “tinker” just fine on commercial, proprietary hardware. That’s the point of programmable computers in the first place.
Try modifying a tesla and get remotely locked out when it phones home (actual scenario)
Thats the future of all electronics corps want!
Yeah, no, but that’s my point. Cars, and particularly certain cars, have become less accessible and more locked down.
But a bunch of other stuff has popped up that wasn’t there before, too. Try home automation, self-hosting, 3D printing or energy self-generation back when you remember servicing your own car or modifying the exhaust on your motorcycle (teenagers here didn’t have cars in the first place, actually).
That’s why I’m saying you’re mixing up two things. It’s one thing that corpos are closing down mainstream consumer products, it’s a very different thing to claim there is no tinkering left outside of… installing Linux in your old laptop and having to troubleshoot it constantly or whatever that scenario is.
It’s just not true. There’s plenty of tinkering left, new and old, in a bunch of spaces. Which is not connected to whether or not you get to upgrade the RAM in your Mac Mini. Different things.
Today’s equivalent is building your own ebike, and it’s awesome and way easier than rebuilding an engine.
There is a ton you can do now!! But its still quite a bit harder vs in the old days taking a vcr apart to repair and regrease it or replacing a cap in an amplifier. Im just saying the bar is a lot higher now to get into interesting stuff like solar, a high cost (to actually get useable power and not run 1 bulb) plus if youre putting it on your house or garage now you need to know carpentry to attach them safely, electrical standards for how to wire to your panel, voltage regulators etc. Is very hard for the average Joe or kid to do.