this post was submitted on 20 Aug 2023
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Linux
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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Have people installed Debian since Debian 12? The installer is very straight forward, and Debian 12 also comes with all the firmware modules to make things "just work" for people.
I would like to know exactly what Debian does wrong other than a blanket statement of "it's hard".
As a supposed technical person, I am ashamed of myself of how long it took me to download the ISO for my VM. Its like 7clicks from homepage into increasingly more information rich site to get their full iso. Originally I browsed through a bunch of pages before realising where it was.
TBF their netinstall iso is available in just two clicks but I was too stuborn to get the full iso.
The netinstall is the recommended installer, why do people want the big iso? It's not going to save you any time. You'll be downloading less overall if you use the net installer.
Might be I am biased from past when i had very slow unreliable internet. Also since it was for a VM I would be installing it a few times so better to have the full iso.
I definitely agree their website needs work, it is very confusing to browse if you need anything other than the net installer! I find everything else by using search engines instead.
I just tried it myself, to get from the homepage to the amd64 installer file download link, it is exactly 7 clicks. This is a flaw in Debian that needs to be resolved, as not everyone has access to internet off the bat due to some wifi chip makers (COUGH realtek COUGH) not having very nice Linux support. A general re-design of the website to modernise it would be a good way for Debian to freshen itself up and attract new installers. Sadly, I am a systems programmer and not a web developer, so I am unable to personally contribute much :(
Realtek works better than Broadcom lol
Same. Imagine how a Linux neophyte is going to fare with a laptop, which requires a physical boot medium.
Mainly what is hard is getting the boot medium set up. It could be so much easier, as other distros prove.
Hmm? I'm sorry, I'm not following because all distributions follow the same format here, which is that you flash an ISO to a USB stick (or other removable media).
This is, in fact, how it also works for Windows.
USB sticks do not make themselves.
Yes but in practice it is not necessary for Windows.
I'm not entirely sure how you expect Linux distributions to start coming pre installed on computers from major retailers.
It would be great to see, but it can't just happen without those retailers having a reason to sell them.
While there are systems that some companies sell with Linux on them, those companies are not where "normal people" are buying computers.
Sure, all true. Which is why Debian needs to make the installation as easy as possible.
Actually, here in Europe I did once buy a laptop with Linux on it from a mainstream retailer. It came with nothing but a Knoppix CD. But sure, that is less common then ever, disappointingly.
Sorry, but your logic doesn't follow. The installation is as easy as it possibly can be... which is incredibly easy, you just keep clicking next, put in your username / password, choose what drive you want to install on, and voilà, it is done!
...just like it is for Windows.