How to (actually) choose a Linux distro (www.youtube.com)
from original_reader@lemm.ee to linux@lemmy.ml on 28 May 2025 22:57
https://lemm.ee/post/65267954

I just enjoyed the presentation and the amount of work that went into it. 🙂

#linux

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nanook@friendica.eskimo.com on 28 May 2025 23:35 next collapse

@original_reader Install on USB thumb drive and give a test drive, when you like, install on main media.

[deleted] on 29 May 2025 00:00 next collapse

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nanook@friendica.eskimo.com on 29 May 2025 00:13 collapse

@LandedGentry You can partition a thumb drive and install just as if it was a hard drive. I create thumb drives this way mainly for restoration of a system is something gets broken to where it can't boot, kernel corrupted, initramfs, etc.

[deleted] on 29 May 2025 00:18 collapse

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original_reader@lemm.ee on 29 May 2025 01:35 collapse

I’m good. But thank you for the tip.

Just posted the video, because I like that she’s quite balanced in her views. The subject matter will always trigger a level of controversy, esp. on lemmy. But the advice is pretty solid.

And if Mint isn’t the answer, go with Ubuntu. Or Zorin OS. Or PopOS. All of them are “right” and provide excellent beginner experiences for many people.

buckykat@hexbear.net on 29 May 2025 00:23 next collapse

Recommending Manjaro for stability seems backwards to me, I have never had a distro break itself with updates as much as Manjaro

nanook@friendica.eskimo.com on 29 May 2025 01:52 next collapse

@original_reader Here I've got a mix of Ubuntu, Debian, Zorin, PopOS, Fedora, Alma, Rocky8, MxLinux, Mint,and Kali, but the primary work horse is Ubuntu.

WereCat@lemmy.world on 29 May 2025 04:05 next collapse

Doesn’t matter which distro you’ll pick. You’ll always pick the wrong one when you’re just starting

apprehensively_human@lemmy.ca on 29 May 2025 12:18 next collapse

All roads lead to Debian

WereCat@lemmy.world on 29 May 2025 15:41 next collapse

Nah

LeFantome@programming.dev on 29 May 2025 15:42 next collapse

The road continues on to Arch from there.

Debian is becoming more and more viable as a desktop OS in the era of Flatpak and Distrobox. Trixie looks like a really nice release.

spv@lemmy.spv.sh on 29 May 2025 18:37 next collapse

arch is for edgelords – debian sid is where it’s at :P

LeFantome@programming.dev on 30 May 2025 19:56 collapse

Nah. Arch sits at the table with Ubuntu at this point. It is the domain of gamers and YouTubers. The Edgelords have fled to Void (or even Chimera Linux).

vandsjov@feddit.dk on 29 May 2025 22:05 collapse

Bookworm was, for me, the first one that installed fine for me. I love the philosophy of Debian but I might also like Arch - the bleeding edge is very attractive and I think I like AUR, however I need to understand how that works some more, before daring to do the jump.

LeFantome@programming.dev on 30 May 2025 20:13 next collapse

I had the same impression of Bookworm. Debian including non-free firmware made a big difference. Trixie may be a game changer for Debian on the desktop.

You might consider installing Arch in a Distrobox and adding yay to it to get access to the AUR on your current system. I use a MUSL based distro these days but use Distrobox to bring the AUR with me. This would be a way to give you a feel for the AUR without having to quit your current distro of choice cold turkey.

I have considered trying LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition) with a an Arch/Distrobox. That would be a base system of Debian Stable (stable), a reasonably up-to-date but not “bleeding edge” desktop (Mint), and the AUR for up-to-the minute versions of every package I can think of if I want them. Maybe I will try it when LMDE 7 launches. Could be good.

vandsjov@feddit.dk on 02 Jun 2025 04:43 collapse

Thank you for opening my eyes to a mixed possibility of distributions. I have dabbed your comment for when I got some more time to fiddle with my machine

GenkiFeral@lemmy.ml on 01 Jun 2025 01:15 collapse

I keep seeing videos of Youtubers quitting Arch. I love Debian and will probably mostly stay with it, but after using a few distros in a VM or flashdrive without systemd, I wish there was a really stable no-systemd distro.

BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world on 30 May 2025 05:53 next collapse

I like Debian. There are very few distros I don’t like. But it’s not the right choice for everything.

bitwolf@sh.itjust.works on 30 May 2025 14:38 next collapse

Idk, if I were to ever leave Fedora, it surely would be to NixOS

swagmoney@lemmy.ca on 30 May 2025 14:48 collapse

debian is bestian

[deleted] on 30 May 2025 14:38 collapse

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[deleted] on 30 May 2025 00:04 next collapse

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Archr@lemmy.world on 30 May 2025 04:00 collapse

Strange that kali is listed, since it is such a specialized distro.

[deleted] on 30 May 2025 13:56 next collapse

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LeFantome@programming.dev on 31 May 2025 01:36 collapse

Both BlackArch and Kali are pen testing distros. I guess they see the natural evolution as one from newb to hacker (ethical or otherwise).

Outside of the default packages, there is not much difference between Kali / BlackArch and their base distros (Debian / Arch).

NotAnArdvark@lemmy.ca on 30 May 2025 13:57 next collapse

I used to pick based on the package manager, leading me to apt-based distros. With flatpak now, I don’t feel as bothered by non-apt distros.

(And here’s my shoutout to openSUSE tumbleweed!)

applemao@lemmy.world on 30 May 2025 14:34 next collapse

I find flatpaks really annoying. Even using flatseal to allow perms, I have constant issues. But I’m a noob.

original_reader@lemm.ee on 30 May 2025 16:41 collapse

Zypper could use some love, though it isn’t bad by any means. But Flatpak does make a huge difference for sure.

nomade420@lemm.ee on 30 May 2025 22:54 next collapse

imho, there are many guides about picking Linux distros, but not enough guides on using distros. I think people are distro hopping because they don’t know how to actually solve issues on their distro.

Goretantath@lemm.ee on 31 May 2025 01:30 next collapse

It’s called trial and error, not enough people nowadays are taught how to fend for themselves against their daily problems. All my computer problems ranging from “how do i get this program to do what i want” to “how do i get my computer to POST again” was solved via trial and error.

smiletolerantly@awful.systems on 02 Jun 2025 04:52 collapse

From NixOS? Nothing, unless it’s compatible with my nix config in a way that I can simply replace nixpkgs’ flake input URL