this post was submitted on 25 Oct 2023
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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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For me it's PeppermintOS.

I started my Linux adventure a few years ago, and haven't owned a Windows PC since.

I currently use Arch on my main rig, and I wanted to install Linux on two old laptops that I found laying around in my house

I then remembered the first distro I ever used, which is PeppermintOS, and I was amazed at the latest updates they released.

They even have a mini ISO now to do a net-install with no bloat, with a Debian or Devuan base.

Sadly, I believe the founder passed away a few years ago, which is why I was really happy to see the continuation of this amazing project.

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[–] aleq 19 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I generally don't understand why people go for the smaller ones at all. I guess it's good that someone does to prevent the whole scene being dominated by a single distro, but with some exceptions (e.g. you hate systemd for some reason and really want systemd-less arch, or you have a super niche preferences). For 99% of distros it makes very little difference which one you use, except that you'll have fewer resources at your disposal (fewer packages, fewer stack overflow threads, fewer everything).

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

ubuntu pushing snap is what pushed me away. i had used it since warty and was a regular contributor in the official forums. i went back to pure debian, and have since added mint and manjaro (yes i know about its history) desktops, and a few dietpi on x64 (no sbc here), two of which run my piholes.

[–] Caboose12000 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't know about it's history, can you enlighten me?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Doing changes right is a bit hard. With immutable Distros, some changes are easier like adding or removing packages, bur core OS adaptions are harder.

But for example how would you convert regular Ubuntu to

  • unsnap
  • KDE Desktop, no GNOME at all
  • rolling mesa and more
  • ...

This all gets messy, so people choose small distros

[–] aleq 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm on arch, which I consider one of the larger distros, where most such configuration is very simple. Not sure what rolling mesa is. I probably wouldn't recommend Ubuntu to anyone who is against using Snap, but there are many distros to choose from if you want KDE as well? It's more a question of why people would go for Hannah Montana Linux (figuratively speaking, some very niche distro).

But to respond to your core point, sure. If you do have a lot of customization needs for whatever reason, then by all means. (I still don't get it)

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

I meant that its not easy to customize deep system changes and keep them working well, on your own.

There are Forks of Ubuntu like TuxedoOS, PopOS (?) and more that do rather big changes that could break things. So its best to have a community support them.

But I agree on your point. Currently I am on Fedora Kinoite but still dont switch to ublue, as I can do the changes on my own, on the official base.

If I had an NVIDIA card though, I think ublue is the only Distro thats reliable enough (if an update would break, you simply dont get it)