My recommendation is LMDE. It's just like normal Linux Mint but it's built on vanilla debian instead of jewbuntu.
My recommendation is LMDE. It's just like normal Linux Mint but it's built on vanilla debian instead of jewbuntu.
There are a lot these days.
I still use Mint as my "lazy" distro. I used to have Fedora on everything but that was partially because work always used a Redhat base. There are a half dozen other spins of everything everywhere. It kind of depends on what you want to use it for.
Do you game at all? Is your hardware old? etc...
There are a lot these days.
I still use Mint as my "lazy" distro. I used to have Fedora on everything but that was partially because work always used a Redhat base.
There are a half dozen other spins of everything everywhere. It kind of depends on what you want to use it for.
Do you game at all?
Is your hardware old?
etc...
Newer hardware. 5800x and a 7700xt. So I need something that can supply a kernel above 6.12. not a huge issue usually. Game a ton, primary use for the rig.
Would PREFER to avoid an arch base because of the AUR hacks and issues they've had as of late. Grown not to trust it. I don't really want to leave Mint, but if I can't fix the UI issue...well, I'm tired of Mint breaking every time I upgrade the fucking thing.
Was thinking Fedora or a testing based Debian. Was also thinking of looking into Budgie for DE, because I'm not a fan of gnome or KDE
Newer hardware. 5800x and a 7700xt. So I need something that can supply a kernel above 6.12. not a huge issue usually. Game a ton, primary use for the rig.
Would PREFER to avoid an arch base because of the AUR hacks and issues they've had as of late. Grown not to trust it. I don't really want to leave Mint, but if I can't fix the UI issue...well, I'm tired of Mint breaking every time I upgrade the fucking thing.
Was thinking Fedora or a testing based Debian. Was also thinking of looking into Budgie for DE, because I'm not a fan of gnome or KDE
In that case, check out Bazzite but make sure to select the one that offers a full proper desktop. Its a pretty go-to distro for many gamers (I am going to be installing it on one of those mining rigs when I get the bios re-flashed). It is a fedora base but people seem to like it and it has good AMD support.
I will note that I have never ran this distro before so it will be "new to me" but its still just fedora under the hood so it's not really new.
In that case, check out Bazzite but make sure to select the one that offers a full proper desktop. Its a pretty go-to distro for many gamers (I am going to be installing it on one of those mining rigs when I get the bios re-flashed). It is a fedora base but people seem to like it and it has good AMD support.
I will note that I have never ran this distro before so it will be "new to me" but its still just fedora under the hood so it's not really new.
Haven't you said you've had issues with Fedora, historically?
Haven't you said you've had issues with Fedora, historically?
Currently running endeavour (arch base) , over a year now. its an "easy arch" variant. as a desktop system. I wouldnt recommend it for server backend infra. The rolling release is a problem in that space. I'd 100% recommend it if you are ok with a systemd init and a rolling release. All of the major desktops are available to you during install.
I personally recommend XFCE over KDE. Modern KDE Plasma can be made very slick and pretty. KDE Plasma sleep mode has some weird fuckery with nvidia cards and newer multi monitor setups. The KDE thing has been in every distro with a KDE dektop I've tried... Wayland makes pretty... feels buggy in daily use. How pretty do you need the boxes on the desktop itself? Maybe a non nvidia card makes a difference here. I don't have one to test with.
I use jewbuntu and Red Hat Enterprise at work. I can't pinpoint the exact single reason behind it, but we can start with networking. Debian based distros just fuck with me in ways that fail over RH...
For long term static single systems, I do use a debain base though, and the approved is Ubuntu at my work. They cost very very little and can realistically do all the same shit as a RH distro after config.
The RH base (Not CENTOS since 8) is also excellent for long term stable servers, and it is honestly what I start with from a openstack or other virtualization front. Maybe because the networking "feels" better there.
Both RH base and Debian base can be made into exceptional long term service servers. I'd lean to a debian base if I ddint want to deal with the RH licensing.
Currently running endeavour (arch base) , over a year now. its an "easy arch" variant. as a desktop system. I wouldnt recommend it for server backend infra. The rolling release is a problem in that space. I'd 100% recommend it if you are ok with a systemd init and a rolling release. All of the major desktops are available to you during install.
I personally recommend XFCE over KDE. Modern KDE Plasma can be made very slick and pretty. KDE Plasma sleep mode has some weird fuckery with nvidia cards and newer multi monitor setups. The KDE thing has been in every distro with a KDE dektop I've tried... Wayland makes pretty... feels buggy in daily use. How pretty do you need the boxes on the desktop itself? Maybe a non nvidia card makes a difference here. I don't have one to test with.
I use jewbuntu and Red Hat Enterprise at work. I can't pinpoint the exact single reason behind it, but we can start with networking. Debian based distros just fuck with me in ways that fail over RH...
For long term static single systems, I do use a debain base though, and the approved is Ubuntu at my work. They cost very very little and can realistically do all the same shit as a RH distro after config.
The RH base (Not CENTOS since 8) is also excellent for long term stable servers, and it is honestly what I start with from a openstack or other virtualization front. Maybe because the networking "feels" better there.
Both RH base and Debian base can be made into exceptional long term service servers. I'd lean to a debian base if I ddint want to deal with the RH licensing.
I want something that can offer...slightly newer packages since gaming is my primary use. Debian can be a pain to use, since using backports requires more effort to install. I AM Interested in Fedora, but the reviews are all over the place on it.
Does Endeavour have a package manager, or do you need to install Pamac?
I want something that can offer...slightly newer packages since gaming is my primary use. Debian can be a pain to use, since using backports requires more effort to install. I AM Interested in Fedora, but the reviews are all over the place on it.
Does Endeavour have a package manager, or do you need to install Pamac?
Also, YAY is available, and it offers both pacman and a clean manager that lets you click a button to run the update stuff if thats your thing ( still opens a command prompt to ask for your password and shows all the update info... command line = EOS-update) Which is essentially calling yay, so not honestly any cleaner... the package lists become the same once you start customizing the os to your personal liking.
Also, YAY is available, and it offers both pacman and a clean manager that lets you click a button to run the update stuff if thats your thing ( still opens a command prompt to ask for your password and shows all the update info... command line = EOS-update) Which is essentially calling yay, so not honestly any cleaner... the package lists become the same once you start customizing the os to your personal liking.
Hmm. Ok. I'll think about it. Still not sold on AUR after the recent fuckry. If you don't like AUR, there literally no reason to use Arch
Hmm. Ok. I'll think about it. Still not sold on AUR after the recent fuckry. If you don't like AUR, there literally no reason to use Arch
with gaming as a primary. Give Endeavour (endeavouros.com) a try. That's my desktops primary use and its a cakewalk there.
The desktop becomes the option of concern, most are really similar in reality of resources (forum.endeavouros.com), it comes down to personal choice really. Some may feel snappier to you or just plan simpler or have whatever specific desktop feature you want another doesnt.
for that goal. I would honestly shy away from any RH base, Sure it can be MADE to do it, potentially, but the work effort is way too high as a desktop for gaming.
with gaming as a primary. Give [Endeavour](https://endeavouros.com/) a try. That's my desktops primary use and its a cakewalk there.
The desktop becomes the option of concern, most are really similar in reality of [resources]( https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/linux-des-resource-usage-compared/70060), it comes down to personal choice really. Some may feel snappier to you or just plan simpler or have whatever specific desktop feature you want another doesnt.
for that goal. I would honestly shy away from any RH base, Sure it can be MADE to do it, potentially, but the work effort is way too high as a desktop for gaming.
I don’t mint or cinnamon. Never cared for it.
If I need a gui I (yes still) do Ubuntu budgie. Install with minimal install then remove the few bloats. Ubuntu will give you 5 machines per email for their staged updates bullshit, and since I have a few boxes running it with the gui I just added them to that free update shit. I do disable all telemetry (ai can help with that). On all of the buddies I use LTS so the arch is longer for support.
For servers I use devaun (no system d), it is as usable as Debian. I don’t honestly see a benefit if Debian over most others (outside of no kiked update cycle). I used to run Debian on some things but if I am going headless I’ll do it without system d.
And then proxmox for virtualization. But that’s just for testing and temp shit. I run all my boxes bare metal because I just can.
All my shit is internal, non public facing, so my threat profile is different.
I have been using Lenovo m73’s in tiny form factor for space and power. I just max them at 16gb and load my services I need up to about 8gb of headroom. They i5 4590t is a 4core/4thread and that’s is good enough for home assistant, piehole, other automation shit, internal word press for personal notes and tech setup journal. Also Wordpress for recipes (yes fucking pies).
All that’s not running on one box. I have 7 or 8 of these and all are light loaded, so if one shits the bed I can just spawn another on bare metal. I even run my proxmox on one, but that’s a hacked together thing with an additional ssd in the WiFi slot with a converter, and splitter on the onboard ssd power. Then I just mirror those drives. It’s still fast enough for testing on proxmox.
The redundancy of multiple hardware boxes is nice, and when ssd’s were cheap for 2 tb I’d just use those.
Run a nas for music and one for installation apps/iso storage/archive is shit installers I’ll never use again.
I mostly use Deja dupe which uses time shift to backup the local instances and that restoration is easy if needed.
I don’t cloud anything even backups (used to encrypt and send to backblaze) but I’ve moved on.
A static backup (on ssd) of the important stuff, docs, family photos, goes into the fire save and off site.
It’s not the most automated setup nor the most bleeding edge, but it works. Data is physically in a protected location.
Just some shit to consider.
I don’t mint or cinnamon. Never cared for it.
If I need a gui I (yes still) do Ubuntu budgie. Install with minimal install then remove the few bloats. Ubuntu will give you 5 machines per email for their staged updates bullshit, and since I have a few boxes running it with the gui I just added them to that free update shit. I do disable all telemetry (ai can help with that). On all of the buddies I use LTS so the arch is longer for support.
For servers I use devaun (no system d), it is as usable as Debian.
I don’t honestly see a benefit if Debian over most others (outside of no kiked update cycle). I used to run Debian on some things but if I am going headless I’ll do it without system d.
And then proxmox for virtualization. But that’s just for testing and temp shit. I run all my boxes bare metal because I just can.
All my shit is internal, non public facing, so my threat profile is different.
I have been using Lenovo m73’s in tiny form factor for space and power. I just max them at 16gb and load my services I need up to about 8gb of headroom.
They i5 4590t is a 4core/4thread and that’s is good enough for home assistant, piehole, other automation shit, internal word press for personal notes and tech setup journal. Also Wordpress for recipes (yes fucking pies).
All that’s not running on one box. I have 7 or 8 of these and all are light loaded, so if one shits the bed I can just spawn another on bare metal. I even run my proxmox on one, but that’s a hacked together thing with an additional ssd in the WiFi slot with a converter, and splitter on the onboard ssd power. Then I just mirror those drives. It’s still fast enough for testing on proxmox.
The redundancy of multiple hardware boxes is nice, and when ssd’s were cheap for 2 tb I’d just use those.
Run a nas for music and one for installation apps/iso storage/archive is shit installers I’ll never use again.
I mostly use Deja dupe which uses time shift to backup the local instances and that restoration is easy if needed.
I don’t cloud anything even backups (used to encrypt and send to backblaze) but I’ve moved on.
A static backup (on ssd) of the important stuff, docs, family photos, goes into the fire save and off site.
It’s not the most automated setup nor the most bleeding edge, but it works. Data is physically in a protected location.
Just some shit to consider.
INteresting: You don't like cinnamon, but like Budgie? Can you expand on that?
INteresting: You don't like cinnamon, but like Budgie? Can you expand on that?
Daily driver is Mac. Budgie is more like it, rounder not as squared off I guess. When I tested a few years ago. So I stayed there. The dock center bottom I like, status bar up top, Mac ish.
Side note I don’t usually use any gui app for installs. Only APT. Corn it to update. Use snap for like one app (guess I lied but here is like one) update snap with same corn script.
Budgie out of the box like 4 versions back just has everything setup like I liked. I dconfig to backup settings then deploy to every box so they are standard how I have them.
I also run webmin as a habit and for a backup access point to do things if say breaks or the gui does. Then I can edit files there if need.
Booted Firefox, built a script to “debloat” even budgie minimal, run that first, disable telemetry, photo home, et al, remove firefuck then install the basics. Standardized on librewolf, and there is t much other gui shit. Outside of a gui to move files drag drop (yes I’m lazy) or to spawn ai to work through issues, install testing, so I can copy paste commands.
I used to spend hours writing scripts to do shit, now I spend minutes on ai get a script about 98% done then fine tune it. Ai saves me hours reading forum posts on shit like disabling telemetry and the fucking minutia of shit.
It’s all to the point now on my setups 1) install minimal budgie or devaun 2) say to box and run specific script for flavor of #1 That does everything, names the machine via prompt, patches initially, removes any bloat, adds the apps I use. Only thing I haven’t done is automate connecting to Ubuntu for the patches. I have scripts for every resource I would need installed. Wordpress, home assistant, cups, etc etc. Script mounts nas, goes and gets what config shit I need and bounces. I was gonna setup network boot but with only 4-5 machines in operation and 4 avaliable for hardware failures it’s not needed. And I could run everything on a single box in reality, then have the proxmox for testing. But coming from redundant world of past, I have the metal running for stuff as needed.
Every service has a host name (different than the host name of the box) so I can move services and repoint Cname as needed (again internally)
It was all fun to setup but now it’s all just working so it’s more of a utility than fun to tinker anymore.
I use Wordpress as a journal for many things. Dream journal, tech journal, document the Linux scripts, location of shit in the shop, nuggets of info for all things like tractor fuel filter, weed eater carb model, and such so I can have a single search point for shit. Search for “air filter” get back on for the truck the suv, the house hvac. Search for inspect spray, get back a list of shit for house, what I carry in Rv, where and how I use.
I’ll document “spray wide around house, 4-6 feet from slab outward, and 2-3 feet up” “use only pemethium sp? Inside) “mix rarios”
As we get older we can’t remember everything, so this is my internal wiki. 1000’s of notes on everything.
“Socket wrench sizes for (suv type) front end” “torque specs for pickup”
Then I use categories to group all of entries for say the well house and water delivery, the pickup, the suv, saw board sizes, all kinds of shit.
Then I am like I need to use the radial arm saw, so I have a new blade? Search saw balde: returns 10” radial arm saw, 3 new, 2 finish and course blades bought in 2023, amazon link. In tub labeled saw blades.
It keeps me from having to dig for shit or remember useless details which would take 20-30 min to re-discover.
I ain’t forgetting shit yet, but it’s gonna happen.
And with the dead internet, when they don’t list how many ft lbs to torque a strut tower bolt, and I don’t have a full manual I’ll just be stripping it and backing off a half.
Do I have a list of everything I’ve ever owned from radio shack. Fuck yes. With photos. Of course.
Part of it was just fun shit to do.
Other stuff is just good to have “how many oz of bleach to 2500 gal tank to kill iron bacteria?” Or gallons needed per sq ft for bird poop soup/first flush for rain water collection.
That also doesn’t include the 120 GB of survival pdf’s that I have.
I keep wanting to print the most important ones….
Anyway I’m rbing but that’s some of the shit I do to make life easy.
Daily driver is Mac. Budgie is more like it, rounder not as squared off I guess. When I tested a few years ago. So I stayed there. The dock center bottom I like, status bar up top, Mac ish.
Side note I don’t usually use any gui app for installs. Only APT.
Corn it to update. Use snap for like one app (guess I lied but here is like one) update snap with same corn script.
Budgie out of the box like 4 versions back just has everything setup like I liked.
I dconfig to backup settings then deploy to every box so they are standard how I have them.
I also run webmin as a habit and for a backup access point to do things if say breaks or the gui does. Then I can edit files there if need.
Booted Firefox, built a script to “debloat” even budgie minimal, run that first, disable telemetry, photo home, et al, remove firefuck then install the basics. Standardized on librewolf, and there is t much other gui shit. Outside of a gui to move files drag drop (yes I’m lazy) or to spawn ai to work through issues, install testing, so I can copy paste commands.
I used to spend hours writing scripts to do shit, now I spend minutes on ai get a script about 98% done then fine tune it. Ai saves me hours reading forum posts on shit like disabling telemetry and the fucking minutia of shit.
It’s all to the point now on my setups
1) install minimal budgie or devaun
2) say to box and run specific script for flavor of #1
That does everything, names the machine via prompt, patches initially, removes any bloat, adds the apps I use. Only thing I haven’t done is automate connecting to Ubuntu for the patches.
I have scripts for every resource I would need installed.
Wordpress, home assistant, cups, etc etc.
Script mounts nas, goes and gets what config shit I need and bounces.
I was gonna setup network boot but with only 4-5 machines in operation and 4 avaliable for hardware failures it’s not needed.
And I could run everything on a single box in reality, then have the proxmox for testing. But coming from redundant world of past, I have the metal running for stuff as needed.
Every service has a host name (different than the host name of the box) so I can move services and repoint Cname as needed (again internally)
It was all fun to setup but now it’s all just working so it’s more of a utility than fun to tinker anymore.
I use Wordpress as a journal for many things. Dream journal, tech journal, document the Linux scripts, location of shit in the shop, nuggets of info for all things like tractor fuel filter, weed eater carb model, and such so I can have a single search point for shit. Search for “air filter” get back on for the truck the suv, the house hvac.
Search for inspect spray, get back a list of shit for house, what I carry in Rv, where and how I use.
I’ll document “spray wide around house, 4-6 feet from slab outward, and 2-3 feet up” “use only pemethium sp? Inside) “mix rarios”
As we get older we can’t remember everything, so this is my internal wiki.
1000’s of notes on everything.
“Socket wrench sizes for (suv type) front end” “torque specs for pickup”
Then I use categories to group all of entries for say the well house and water delivery, the pickup, the suv, saw board sizes, all kinds of shit.
Then I am like I need to use the radial arm saw, so I have a new blade? Search saw balde: returns 10” radial arm saw, 3 new, 2 finish and course blades bought in 2023, amazon link. In tub labeled saw blades.
It keeps me from having to dig for shit or remember useless details which would take 20-30 min to re-discover.
I ain’t forgetting shit yet, but it’s gonna happen.
And with the dead internet, when they don’t list how many ft lbs to torque a strut tower bolt, and I don’t have a full manual I’ll just be stripping it and backing off a half.
Do I have a list of everything I’ve ever owned from radio shack. Fuck yes. With photos. Of course.
Part of it was just fun shit to do.
Other stuff is just good to have “how many oz of bleach to 2500 gal tank to kill iron bacteria?” Or gallons needed per sq ft for bird poop soup/first flush for rain water collection.
That also doesn’t include the 120 GB of survival pdf’s that I have.
I keep wanting to print the most important ones….
Anyway I’m rbing but that’s some of the shit I do to make life easy.
Should have marked that nsfw but don’t see how on mobile.
Now fuck off im going to sleep.
Should have marked that nsfw but don’t see how on mobile.
Now fuck off im going to sleep.
I'm running debian and having a good go with it for years. The down side is that each release gets long in the tooth because they do not upgrade packages except for security and bug fix. On the other hand, once you have it running you won't have to deal with major changes until the next release upgrade in 2-3 years. I stick with it for now.
Contains systemd which does suck.
Now is the time to try Debian because the new release will have most recent hardware support. The longer you wait the more new hardware is unsupported until the next release.
Downsides can be mitigated by running backports or testing release. I run stable with backports.
I'm running debian and having a good go with it for years. The down side is that each release gets long in the tooth because they do not upgrade packages except for security and bug fix. On the other hand, once you have it running you won't have to deal with major changes until the next release upgrade in 2-3 years. I stick with it for now.
Contains systemd which does suck.
Now is the time to try Debian because the new release will have most recent hardware support. The longer you wait the more new hardware is unsupported until the next release.
Downsides can be mitigated by running backports or testing release. I run stable with backports.
Do you game?
Do you game?
Steam, but I don't do the windows games through steam. I understand that steam has good support for Windows games on Linux and steam does stay current because that package comes directly from valve.
Wine would probably have upgrade lag that I describe if you use the Debian packaged wine. You can always go outside of the package manager to keep wine more current, or you can get wine through Ubuntu ppm which would also get updates faster that from Debian.
There are enough caveats here to say if you are skilled or willing to learn it may be okay. If you want it to work with minimal effort and you don't limit your gaming to steam then maybe not.
Steam, but I don't do the windows games through steam. I understand that steam has good support for Windows games on Linux and steam does stay current because that package comes directly from valve.
Wine would probably have upgrade lag that I describe if you use the Debian packaged wine. You can always go outside of the package manager to keep wine more current, or you can get wine through Ubuntu ppm which would also get updates faster that from Debian.
There are enough caveats here to say if you are skilled or willing to learn it may be okay. If you want it to work with minimal effort and you don't limit your gaming to steam then maybe not.
If I was gonna go Debian, I'd go down the testing route regardless.
If I was gonna go Debian, I'd go down the testing route regardless.