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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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Who here uses a less popular Linux distribution? What made you choose it? (lemdro.id)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Hey fellow Linux enthusiasts! I'm curious to know if any of you use a less popular, obscure or exotic Linux distribution. What motivated you to choose that distribution over the more mainstream ones? I'd love to hear about your experiences and any unique features or benefits that drew you to your chosen distribution.

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[–] [email protected] 45 points 1 year ago (7 children)

voidlinux on my laptop (from Fedora) - why? I wanted to see what a systemd-less distro was like nowadays. I have used Linux since 1992 and Unix since 1984 so I'm used to SysVinit. What I find with voidlinux is a system I can understand easily - not that I struggle with systemd, but I felt there was just so much happening under the hood, just too clever by half. If I wanted MacOS, I'd have bought an Apple.

The packaging system on voidlinux is sooooo much faster than fedora. The really weird thing is that my battery life almost doubled. I can't explain it except to say that the laptop is much calmer than under fedora, which seems to run the fan constantly. Same workload, CPU governers, powertop tweaks etc etc - but battery life almost doubled.

The one downside is a smaller array of packages in the repositories. But since I'm happy installing from source for those few corner cases, it's no biggie.

I've left fedora on my media/file server for now as I still do some fedora packaging (mainly for sway related packages).

[–] onelikeandidie 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I used Void with xfce for a year and I feel like it was the best "new" distro I've ever had my hands on. It was clean, efficient and I loved initd and xbps.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago

Void is just soo good.

Runit is super simple and makes sense to me. - I get to build the distro the way I want it.
I've learned a ton about the inner workings of Linux using Void for the last 3 years.
You're right about packages, but I've not had issues as I've found flatpacks or appimages for anything not offered.
Xbps has spoiled me. I HATE using almost every other package manager. They're all so slow and cumbersome.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago

i distrohopped a lot until i landed on Void, then i just stayed because it does everything i need, it's fast, understandable, easily tweakable, and rock solid

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Very well written. Makes me wanna try out void again (although I am very fine with debian)

[–] kshade 5 points 1 year ago

Void and Alpine are great for their simplicity and speed, I'm using those two exclusively outside of work.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Sounds like some sort of weird bug under Fedora, given the huge difference.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I consider it too from Artix. I heard it has lots of (often broken) AUR packages in the repo?