this post was submitted on 10 Jan 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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Quite a few posts about selecting a distro to use. Maybe it's time to make that link a little more prominent?

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[–] beta_tester@lemmy.ml 27 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (3 children)

Distrochooser says following about fedora

  • Not suitable for beginners
  • Requires further knowledge about computers

Without any context. Distrochooser is a fun little game but you shouldn't rely on it or quote it.

Moreover, it would be nice if there was any hint about the choices.

Most distributions are free. Some distributions offer additional support for a one-time fee.

  • I prefer a free-to-use distribution
  • I would be fine to pay a fee

Show which distros are free as in beer and which are not.

And more importantly, you pay a fee for support. If you are a home user you most likely do not need paid support.

That avoiding systemd is even a choise is nuts

I want to avoid systemd

Yes, there are people who avoid systemd but thhere's nothing to fear about systemd and this topic shouldn't be brought up.

Linux can use a lot of different User Interfaces ("Desktops"). Many distributions ship one desktop as default. It is important to know if you have any preferences for a desktop concept. You can switch and install new desktops at any time!

And the answers are windows or mac. Please go away from that mantra. Many would say GNOME is macish but GNOME's workflow is different from macos. It is not macos and it doesn't want to be macos, afaik. GNOME's workflow is revolutionary and saying it's like mac isn't nice. Neither is KDE windows, it breaks with microsoft design choices.

Asking 32 or 64 bit is outdated. Which computer even ships 32 now

Where does following question lead me?

How would you rate your knowledge of Linux itself? I have little or no knowledge about Linux I have already used Linux for some purposes I have a good understanding about the Linux operating system

Fedora is for everyone. Linux mint is used by everyone. Opensuse is used by everyone. Arch is used if you want to go deeper. Nixos is maybe not plug and play. Even if you are a linux pro, you may use ubuntu. It just doesn't feel right.

[–] shikitohno@kbin.social 12 points 10 months ago (1 children)

That avoiding systemd is even a choise is nuts

I really want to know what the crossover is on people who know what systemd is, much less have any actual reason to decide they wish to actively avoid it, and those who would find this the best way of determining their next distro. That has to be a vanishingly small group of people.

[–] beta_tester@lemmy.ml 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)
[–] nyan@lemmy.cafe 5 points 10 months ago

Deceptive list that appears to include only distros that don't package systemd at all. A distro can offer more than one init system. For instance, Gentoo defaults to OpenRC but offers systemd as an option for users who want it for whatever reason. It isn't on that list.

(But I agree that if you know what systemd is and that you don't want it, you're not using Distrochooser. You're not looking up your next distro in Wikipedia, either.)

[–] AnonTwo@kbin.social 6 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Keep in mind that you are an experienced user of linux.

This site is probably about people who are both inexperienced, and also may not have time to adequately learn the system the way you have.

And no, as someone who has gone through Fedora, Mint, and Arch, saying they're for "everyone" just assumes everyone is going to use linux the same way you do. Which is a huge mistake. Arch didn't even have a normal installer up until a year ago, the process even with the arch wiki guide is completely unwieldy for most users to do. Many distros disable popular codecs by default, which a lot of users wouldn't have the patience for. Some will have Nvidia drivers for up to date for gaming, and some won't.

And most of all, you're also running new users into the choice dilemma, where there's so many options they just won't know what to pick.

[–] beta_tester@lemmy.ml 6 points 10 months ago

Good points.

Sry for not being clear enough. Arch is for someone who wants to go deeper into linux. I'd never recommend arch for new users,

If someone was able to add a printer to windows, she's able to add codecs to linux.

I understand your point, yet (e.g.) fedora doesn't hide codecs, they are just not preinstalled. Could it be better? Yes. But it's not like it was unsuitable.

Imo the choice dilemma isn't really a dilemma. If you choose any of the 5 or 10 big distros, you are good to go. Neither is a really bad choice. Oftentimes it's just the default that's not perfect. But as soon as you're on one distro, a default value is no reason to switch distros.

Btrfs, snapper, immutability, etc. those are reasons to switch, not the default values.