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Since I bought a new laptop, I'll need to install linux on it. (I may not bother installing windows on it at all.)

I have used Linux Mint and Pop!_OS (The dumbest OS moniker ever, IMO). Pop has been wearing thin. Mint was stable but not exactly . . . cool? Inspiring? And also just another debian fork.

If you were to recommend to me a flavor of linux, what would it be? I am NOT a dev, I don't game, and I mostly just complain on nostr, surf, and use freecad on occasion. I would like to eventually be able to run more local nostr stuff. I do not need to do anything too heavy with graphics of compute as I will never run an LLM on the laptop directly. If my T420 wasn't literally falling apart and costing more to fix than a new used laptop, I would be totally fine with it forever.

So . . . Whatcha got?

#asknostr #linux #recommendations

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Discussion

Mark Murphy 5mo ago

Just go with Debian. Rick solid. Have been using it for years without any problems. Works well on the Lenovos.

The Beave 5mo ago

It sure seems to be a very solid choice in this case. Thanks!

Kayne 5mo ago 💬 1

I was a windows user, no computer at the moment.

When I do end up building a new PC or buy a laptop I want to use Linux.

I'll check back later to read the replies.

The most intense game I'd be interested in playing is Minecraft afterwise my requirements are pretty much the same, user friendliness or ease of learning has always been my issue with Linux, never really had enough exposure.

But I'd like to start learning now.

🇵🇸 whoever loves Digit 5mo ago

You might be interested in luanti, the nostr of Minecrafts. Nobody can be banned from multiplayer because it's an open source self hostable protocol

The Beave 5mo ago

Very cool. I don't even play Minecraft . . . LOL!

Richi 5mo ago

I have been daily driving Linux for 9 months on my laptop. And I would argue that the user friendliness and ease of learning is on par or even better on Linux than on Windows.

I use Fedora with GNOME.

bd93c5a6... 5mo ago

Ubuntu seems a good fit. Quite all round and not too specific. Very common and unsurprising, I know...

The Beave 5mo ago

Nothing wrong with using or recommending it! Thanks!

Enki 5mo ago

Debain + the KDE desktop.

Enki 5mo ago 💬 1

I kind of went balls to the wall with my installation and started with just the core Linux files and then installed a light version of the desktop to avoid a lot of the KDE pre-installed stuff that comes with it. (You'll face those same problems with gnome and other desktops, I just wanted less preinstalled stuff and took more time to set up.)

The Beave 5mo ago

That might be something I would do. I find that I want a more lightweight OS since I don't need a heck of a lot other than multi-monitor support (I tend to run three screens in a docked config). Thanks for the recommendation. I will poke around some more and see what other people have to say.

Richi 5mo ago

Is this also possible with GNOME instead of KDE?

And if you use the core Linux files. Which package manager do you end up using?

Bill Cypher 5mo ago

Yes.

You still use pacman.

Core Linux based Arch isn't Linux from scratch. It is just a minimal install, which in Arch world means something a bit more extremely minimal than most other distros version of extreme.

Richi 5mo ago

Thanks for the explanation!

The Beave 5mo ago

Your lightning address isn't working.

🇵🇸 whoever loves Digit 5mo ago 💬 2

I'm pretty sure you have me muted and I kinda fucking hate you, but for others reading this thread:

If you've never (successfully) used linux without systemd before, consider it for your next distro

www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/21616608

without-systemd.org/wiki/index_php/Arguments_against_systemd/

Richi 5mo ago

I don't understand why the 1st part is relevant for your comment. But I digress.

Which distro do you recommend? Cause the linked posts are "very" old and seem to be outdated?.

🇵🇸 whoever loves Digit 5mo ago

MX Linux has been working for me

Richi 5mo ago

Anyone, who is maybe interested:

Here is a good video explaining what systemd is and its problems: https://youtu.be/Fv3tQbOkz-E

The Beave 5mo ago

I do have you muted. You are a nutter.

But that is a solid recommendation, so thank you. I appreciate that.

🇵🇸 whoever loves Digit 5mo ago

Maybe you're not so bad. Idk.

daum3ns 5mo ago

Maybe give arch linux a try? With endeavourOS this is really easy

https://endeavouros.com/

Ubuntu is also very solid...

popOS is good for gaming on linux...

💟

The Beave 5mo ago

I might give Arch a go. Endeavour is something I will have to look up. Thank you!

HODLudek 5mo ago

Manjaro XFCE is a good option.

The Beave 5mo ago

What makes you recommend it over others?

HODLudek 5mo ago

Have been using it on my good old Thinkpad for years. Archlinux based with support for everything you may like to use, superb documentation, lightweight, stable, simple ui with great default themes. Could not recommend it more.

Terry Yiu 5mo ago

Ubuntu Mate. This is basically GNOME 2 UI from like ~10 years ago, before Ubuntu decided to make their distributions shinier. But I love it. Not sure if it meets your cool criteria.

https://ubuntu-mate.org

The Beave 5mo ago

It might not be cool, but I still don't know exactly what I consider cool in linux yet. LOL! Thanks!

cloud fodder 5mo ago

archlinux, the install may take you a little bit longer but it will be worth it because you will be on a rolling release that will keep working and be up to date forever after that.

The Beave 5mo ago

But do I need that?

cloud fodder 5mo ago

mm, probably not, you can have ubuntu up and running in 10 minutes. but you will be wipeing it every few years

The Beave 5mo ago

That's what I'm running into now...

That's an interesting point.

Bill Cypher 5mo ago

Arkane is an immutable arch derivative.

Breakage from rolling updates is why I'm on Ubuntu now so immutable arch really has my interest.

The Beave 5mo ago

Interesting. Arch and immutable.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴏꜰ ᴍʟᴇᴋᴜ 5mo ago

i use Zorin OS, it's nice, like Pop but has a better theme system and supports AMD hardware well

The Beave 5mo ago

I don't have any amd stuff, so that makes it simpler on my end.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴏꜰ ᴍʟᴇᴋᴜ 5mo ago

yeah, i'm probably gonna go green for my next video card, i want to have local LLM

kidwarp 5mo ago

Windows xp

Valravn Crafts 5mo ago

Running Ubuntu on two machines, also using FreeCAD. Not great not terrible. Snaps from canonical are a pain (prepare to have first run loading times 5+sec and cluttered ram afterwards) you can get rid of them but at that point it's probably better to just go with Debian if you're not after bleeding edge stuff.

The Beave 5mo ago

I'm definitely not after bleeding edge, and load times are annoying, but . . . I grew up waiting for floppies to load, so pretty much anything from the last 20 years is fast enough for me. LOL!

Bill Cypher 5mo ago

Wanna experiment? Vanilla OS is an immutable Ubuntu fork.

Not vouching for it, been on my todo list to try and figured why not use you as a guinea pig instead.

Cyphernomad 5mo ago 💬 1

Ubuntu is widely supported. If you run into any issues, you'll probably find a solution quite fast, Debian + xfce for rock solid, boring workhorse, arch if you like tinkering.

Richi 5mo ago

Is Debian + XFCE with a custom, modern theme also rock solid?

Cyphernomad 5mo ago

I don't think the theme has a big influence, but I only use default.

Richi 5mo ago

I think it depends on the extent to which you rice it. You cannot tell me that all the custom ricing themes with Hyprland are stable.

Cyphernomad 5mo ago

You probably can tweak everything into oblivion and break it, but xfce within the usual configuration options should not affect stability IMO. Everything else 🤷‍♂️

Richi 5mo ago

Alright 👍

The Beave 5mo ago

This really does seem to be the most widely held consensus.

reverendtiger 5mo ago

I’d say start with one and use a virtual machine to try different flavors out. Something like Ubuntu or Fedora will come with the basics (I like the Fedora Budgie spin by nostr:npub1d2p602nlu278uyy3h6svzk5sthfky5mpvqfw7wekm9mx9z3sxefspd5fu5 ). I also think rolling releases are better.

Lot of good takes in this thread though.

I’ve used Arch as well, and what’s nice about that is once you figure out the installation process it gives you only what you want and nothing more. Love the idea of Nix, but the learning curve/politics stop me from trying it out.

The Beave 5mo ago

I haven't looked at Nix yet. It is on the list to poke at before deciding.

Thanks!

Daniel Wigton 5mo ago

I pretty much just use vanilla Ubuntu. It is hard to get friendlier than that.

The Beave 5mo ago

I've only used vanilla ubuntu for servers. Never my daily driver OS. heh

Daniel Wigton 5mo ago

I'd try more things because I kinda like mucking about, but I don't really have time for that, so I just Ubuntu everything. laptops, Desktop, servers.

kgothatso@8333.mobi 5mo ago

Once upon a time I was exploring different linux distros on a monthly basis. It was magical to me that you could even switch between compatible desktop environments on the same installation.

Eventually I found a desktop environment that worked wonders for me and my workflow. But since I wanted to keep exploring I wondered if I could install a desktop environment that was "incompatible" with the flavours I was using. I think KDE installations aren't compatible with GTK distros or something like that. I was throughly within the woods of desktop environments, where the tutorials on how to do the installation required imagination, and I was loving it. Only to discover that I wasn't skilled enough to not completely rekt my laptop with yet another attempt to fly too close to the sun.

Wrecking the laptop is not an issue... It actually taught me more about how computers work then anything else. The first computer I recked was originally running windows 98 and I deleted files in the system32 folder to make space for a few more Kanye and Common albums on the hard drive, don't delete system32. I managed to get a copy of Windows XP SP3 installed to fix it and eventually got a bigger hard drive because Kanye was in his prime and I had to dissect the releases.

The big issue I had with wrecking my linux laptop was that I don't remember the name of my preferred flavour of linux desktop environment because I was in the very fringe distros at that point. One day when I'm not too lazy I'll probably search for it again.

nostr:nevent1qqsfs7078x9h4tw3zkjd8z2pkyhvv94uun4rhj249p6x4ykgafs7rwcpr458garswvaz7tm5dpjkvmmjv4ehgtnwdaehgu339e3k7mf0qgsqdzwltpr635ehdzfd52tz947qlhq77x2c7j7yguwep9n258k2nusrqsqqqqqp4mjt8u

purrs_for_Her 5mo ago

sorry, mint fankitty here ^.^

The Beave 5mo ago

Mint is a really solid choice, but . . . I want to try something different this time.

purrs_for_Her 5mo ago

that's understandable

mint is just my favorite out of the handful that i've tried. but i'm no connoisseur lol

mobiusmoe 5mo ago

Skip to the end of your distro journey & look at nixos+kde-plasma.

There is a learning curve to set up your config, but its a day tops and AI can help trouble shoot it.

You only need to learn it once, then you have an immutable os which can roll back and a small text file you can use to replicate your set-up on any new machine almost instantly.

Hakan 5mo ago

As time went on, I always switched to a more durable flavor. I was tinkering and breaking it when it wasn't really necessary, or updates over time would break it. I recently switched from Opensuse Tumbleweed to Fedora Silverblue. Fedora Silverblue (Gnome) is worth a try if Appimags and Flatpaks are enough (they are enough for me). For KDE, Fedora Kinoite.

The Beave 5mo ago

I still barely understand flatpaks. I've used them, but have had issues with them.

Hakan 5mo ago

Yes, I've had problems with some apps and distros too, but I still like to install apps without touching the rest of the OS. The fact that the number of apps I use is very small is also an important factor in this situation.

Petulant 5mo ago

Mint

OpenSuse

Umbrel (If you plan running a node, has some native Nostr stuff but is a server, inadequate to use as a desktop)

Petulant 5mo ago

I myself use Mint and have an Umbrel server running in other machine. I like easy, plug and play, visually appealing stuff

Boog 5mo ago

Pop meets all my needs

beejay 5mo ago

Fedora 42 with KDE Plasma

It's NICE.

The Beave 5mo ago

What sets Fedora apart? I haven't messed with it since I installed it via 💿... 🤣🤣🤣

beejay 5mo ago

It's just the most stable with the KDE Plasma (IMO) than it is with Linux Mint (I've done both...with Mint, the KDE is more clunky)

The Beave 5mo ago 💬 1

Thank you.

beejay 5mo ago

👍

Tico 🇨🇷 5mo ago

https://omarchy.org/ gfy

47 5mo ago

debian maxi

Disturbia 5mo ago

have you considered fydeOS ?

The Beave 5mo ago 💬 1

They're actually never even heard of it before. I'll have to look it up. Thank you.

Disturbia 5mo ago

Sure. It is a unique kind of Linux. It is basically a read only Linux base with debian and android on top

The Beave 5mo ago 💬 1

That... Simply does not compute. LOL

Disturbia 5mo ago 💬 1

Seriously it does. I am using ChromeOS, the commercial version of fydeoS. It is different than running vm

Disturbia 5mo ago

How it work is that it has a base OS, which is heavily optimized and securely sandboxed. Once install, it is very hard to hack this base layer. Like my device is an official Chromebook. To hack the BIOS you actually need to fry the secure key soldered to the motherboard.

Still, the fydeOS (open source) give a degree of security.

Then you have two very integrated layer. A debian layer and an Android layer. They only hadle softwares. The kernel, hardwares, the Desktop Environment (DE) are all handled by the base OS. It doesnt work like running a VM. The debian layer and android layer runs from the kernel itself so they are part of the OS

The Beave 5mo ago

That's... Interesting and I think I understand.

BaleNorge 5mo ago

go with nixos such a great os with reproducibility easy to rollback if something goes wrong and use gitea server for backing up configuration files. remember to use different midules and flakes is better. but ubuntu at beginner level nix is steep learning curve.

The Beave 5mo ago

I think the learning curve of this is not what I'm looking for right now, but it is on my radar to experiment with later.

Michael ⚡️S⚡️ 5mo ago

https://cachyos.org/

The Beave 5mo ago

This seems to get compared to endeavouros very often. 🤔

The Beave 5mo ago 💬 1

I think I've zapped everyone I could with a suggestion.

Anyone else want to weigh in?

nostr:nevent1qqsfs7078x9h4tw3zkjd8z2pkyhvv94uun4rhj249p6x4ykgafs7rwcpz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduhsygqx3804s3ag6vmk3yk6993z6lq0ms00r9v0f0zyw8vsje42rm9f7gpsgqqqqqqsuhcszu

Matt 5mo ago

Probably Fedora. And then wait to upgrade for a month or two between versions. Fedora KDE has been good for several months, but I ran the Gnome version for years.

Matt 5mo ago

Also, the standard Mint is Ubuntu based. They do have a Debian one if that's what you actually downloaded. Either way, I don't see the point of it anymore. They should just be developing Cinnamon and letting the rest go, in my opinion. All they seemed to do last I checked was screw around making Ubuntu something it doesn't want to be. I'm rambling.

Fedora is worth trying. Or vanilla Debian, but honestly it makes some things more complicated for noobs. Last I looked even getting ISOs was a pain. Then lots of driver stuff.

I'm also on a ThinkPad though. Fedora is known to work well with them.