this post was submitted on 21 May 2024
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Linux
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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I went for it, kept what I wanted on an external hard drive and nuked the rest. No ragrets
Welcome to freedom and perfect mental health.
The best part will be never having to download an exe or msi file to get stuff to work. Just look for the software you want, install, have at it.
I'm sorry, it just brings me so much joy when I read stories like this one.
Most people just use a package manager the vast vast majority of time. People don’t typically compile from source or figure out different file types.
I did have to compile Wifi dongle driver, since I moved and didn't have cable in my work room. That was annoying as hell.
At first I thought I missed a driver in kernel compilation, but then my SO had the same issue in Mint. Luckily I was prepared.
But yeah, I have more sanity with Gentoo than I ever did with Windows. The other commenter probably hasn't used Linux or something.
Makes me wonder what the heck it is that is not what you want/need 50% of the time. Must be a pretty peculiar set of software.
Well, it all comes down to distro when it comes to package selections and availability.
I can say though that in the last year or so I have found 100% of the software I needed in the repositories and that includes at least a dozen proprietary applications ( including some that require registration and / or licensing such as Burp Suite Pro and JetBrains Rider ).
Everything I have installed came to me in the same package format ( or was automatically converted to it by the package management tooling - all the same to me ). A single command updates everything.
That is without resorting to Flatpak which I am sure provides a pretty good selection to other distros as well ( at the cost of a second package format ).