this post was submitted on 26 Nov 2023
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Linux

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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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I'm between distros and looking for a new daily driver for my laptop. What are people daily driving these days? Are there any new cool things to try?

I have been using linux mint recently. I have used nixos and arch in the past. Personally, linux mint uses flatpacks too much for my liking. Although, I might have a warped perspective after using arch. (the aur is crazy big)

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

Threads like this are exactly what keeps a good few of us from ever getting started. Lol. Good fun to read through though. One day I'll pick a distro and give it a whirl. Till then, thanks for the entertainment.

[–] blotz 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not sure why people are downvoting this person. They aren't wrong that Linux enthusiast threads can make it scary for new users to try Linux out. Unfortunately, I did want to see what Linux enthusiasts are running and why they picked it, which is why I made this thread.

If you are a new user trying to get into Linux, I wouldn't recommend some suggestions in this thread as advice for picking a distro. When I was getting into Linux, I attempted to go straight into DWM/arch because another Linux enthusiast thread said it was great. Needless to say, I had a terrible time.

It doesn't actually matter distro what you pick, so long as you have fun with it and it is useable! :)

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

I hurt them in their safe space. I don't know why. My comment was made lightly. I read all the threads. This one read just like the last "where do I start" thread, and that was all I was saying at the time. It got me in a fight with one guy. Whatever. I'm just trying not to have a rough time when I finally pull the trigger so I read. My mistake was chiming in. Lesson learned. I'll come back when I blow up my machine i guess and let everyone tell me how stupid I was to try whatever it is I finally try. All I want is something that works and software that does what I want. I'm afraid I may be asking too much.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Aren't people just responding to the question being asked though?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They are. They didn't do anything wrong. I'm just frustrated.

[–] xohshoo 4 points 1 year ago

what's the problem? Happy to help if I can

these days it's pretty easy to just pick one and go, but you can still run into issues, and for people new to linux it can be frustruating for sure. When I started using linux, I didn't even really know what a terminal was, so a lot of the stuff I would read on forums etc (it was a long time ago) I couldn't even put into practice. I once got insulted for asking a dumb question with both RTFM and PEBCAC but didn't even know I had been insulted. Just kept plugging away and eventually got it going. I think PCLinuxOS was the first distro I ran seriously as a "daily driver" and I think that stuck because the community on the forums was the friendliest

[–] homesweethomeMrL 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Some of us really just want the computer to work. It's mostly just a fancy tape recorder to me.

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

You sound like those people that "can't use Mastodon" because they have to choose a server first and that's too complicated.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You sound like those people who bitch about Microsoft having a monopoly on home computer operating systems while gatekeeping the fuck out of Linux. Get fucked, man.

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

Where am I gatekeeping Linux?? Also I don't care what other people use that's entirely their problem.

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

I would just move on. Some people have a bee in their bonnet and can't look past their own problems and see why other folks might find certain discussions useful.

Personally, when I was first looking at switching to Linux (and then through distro hopping) I found discussion like these great as I could see other people's reasons for choosing the distro they did.