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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Neat factor (leminal.space)

submitted 9 months ago by juan@leminal.space to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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I've messed around with Linux before, mostly in VMs, but I'm looking to switch over from Windows permanently on my laptop because I think Linux is cool. Most people in this community talk about pros and cons of this distro or this other distro, but I'd like to hear your opinions based on entirely subjective factors.
I think Arch is neat, I think Ubuntu isn't as neat, why? Who knows. Tell me about how you chose a specific distro because you thought the name was cool or because it ships with some completely unknown utility no one uses.

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[–] sorrybookbroke@sh.itjust.works 6 points 9 months ago

I wouldn't suggest arch unless you know it's issues. I love the distro, but I understand many might not.

It's the quickest rolling release for most things. When you update, things sometimes break, and break bad. Like the grub issue we all had where you restarted to get a "grub rescue" screen with no way to boot. Like the linux 5.17(I think?) Kernel that had some intel laptops backlights go flash from max to zero, possibly destroying the machine.

You'll also have some software or drivers with major bugs like the nvidia driver a while ago that stuck brightness at 100% (or 50, in my case) requiring a downgrade of both the kernal, and nvidia driver.

Arch is the first place where new software gets to meet a large userbase and their hardware. The first place it might interact with other new software.

Sometimes you need to manually intervene and change stuff, and this means keeping up with current arch events via their mailing list, lemmy, or reddit (reddit sadly is the safer bet)

If you're ok with this I'd highly reccomend arch if not only for the AUR. If not, PopOS and Fedora are also pretty sick and, there's also tumbleweed.