this post was submitted on 10 Dec 2023
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Easiest way to switch distros (lemmy.world)
submitted 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) by flakpanzer@lemmy.world to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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I have been using PopOS for a while now (came installed with my S76 Lemp10), but now looking for a new distro (I want to try Linux Mint). I am looking for the easiest way to set up the new distro with most of my current applications installed.

My current plan on how to move my applications and settings:

  • Get dotfiles to external repo (I am using stow)
  • Use ansible-playbook to set up installation of all the apps I need
  • Try the ansible setup on a docker container to ensure it works
  • Then try the ansible setup on a PopOS VM to ensure things work
  • Modify the ansible setup to use Linux Mint package manager (synaptic I believe)
  • Then try the ansible setup on a Linux Mint VM
  • Once everything works, copy the data, install new distro and run ansible script on the new OS

Is above the correct way to go about this, or is there anything better or easier available?

Edit: Thanks everyone for responses. The general consensus seems to be that that above is overkill (although doable and works) and copying home folder & dotfiles and trying out the distro fresh is easier, and install software as needed. Or, try NixOS :)

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[–] bizdelnick@lemmy.ml 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Are you really comfortable with ansible? The only reason to use it for your case is that you want to learn it. Time you spend writing a playbook and testing it will be much longer than installing everything manually on a single machine. And it will be impossible to reuse it if you consider moving to not debian based distro later.

[–] flakpanzer@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

I feel if I'm switching things often, even trying out a distro and going back to PopOS, ansible should save time in the long run. Plus, I can make my ansible yaml configs install software depending on the distro and package manager, right? I'm learning ansible as I go.