this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2024
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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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The Linux ecosystem is vast and diverse, offering a multitude of distributions to suit every need and preference. With hundreds of distros to choose from, it's a pity that most are rarely mentioned while the popular ones are constantly being regurgitated.

This thread aims to celebrate this diversity and shine a light on smaller projects with passionate developers. I invite you to pitch your favorite underappreciated distro and share your experiences with those lesser-known Linux distributions that deserve more attention.

While there are no strict rules or banlists, I encourage you to focus on truly niche or exotic distributions rather than the more commonly discussed ones. Consider touching upon what makes your chosen distro unique:

  • What features or philosophies set it apart?
  • Why do you favor it over other distros, including the popular ones? (Beyond "It just works.")
  • In what situations would you recommend it to others?

Whether it's a specialized distro for a particular use case or a general-purpose OS with a unique twist, let's explore the road less traveled in the Linux landscape. Your insights could introduce fellow enthusiasts to their next favorite distribution!

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[–] dotslashme@infosec.pub 12 points 4 months ago (8 children)

Not so much a niche distribution, but I would like to recommend Chimera Linux, because it combines musl with BSD userland.

[–] JustineSmithies@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago (6 children)

Same as a Chimera Linux user I'd definitely recommend trying it. I was a Void user beforee and was Swithering whether to go full BSD when I stumbled across Chimera which gives me the best of both worlds.

[–] Uli@sopuli.xyz 1 points 4 months ago (5 children)

I finally got fed up with my Windows machine and upon seeing symptoms of motherboard failure, I've ordered all the parts for a new rig and intend on installing Linux as my primary OS.

Haven't decided on a distro yet. I'm a DevOps engineer with a few passion projects, so I plan on setting up a couple of kubernetes clusters where I can play. I do all the usual things (word processing, gaming, web browsing, multimedia, etc), plus some AI stuff (stable diffusion, local LLMs, OpenCV). Ideally don't want to have to fuss with drivers too much, but I don't mind getting my hands dirty every now and then.

Is Chimera the kind of distro I should be looking at, or should I pick something else for my first go at full-time Linux?

[–] dotslashme@infosec.pub 1 points 4 months ago (2 children)

My reason for not using Chimera as a daily driver is because I am a developer and there are still packages I need, that require libc still. My only advice would be to look through their packages and make sure you can find the things you need in there. If not, you need to research if the package you want is available through some other source and can run with musl instead of libc.

[–] LeFantome@programming.dev 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Sound reasoning. That said…

Have you considered using Distrobox?

You can use Distrobox to crate a dev environment on Chimera based on a glibc distro ( like Arch for example with its 80,000 up-to-date packages ).

This has the added bonus of keeping your dev environment somewhat apart from your main install. If you ever want a clean slate ( too many junk packages accumulated or you mess something up ), you can refresh your dev environment without impacting your main desktop. You can also have multiple dev environments for different projects.

Small nit-pick: MUSL is libc too. I think you meant to say Glibc ( the GNU libc implementation ).

[–] dotslashme@infosec.pub 2 points 4 months ago

That is a case I had not considered, thank you for the suggestion, and thank you for the correction concerning glibc.

[–] Uli@sopuli.xyz 2 points 4 months ago

Makes sense. Thanks for the info!

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