this post was submitted on 17 Feb 2025
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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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Arch is aimed at people who know their shit so they can build their own distro based on how they imagine their distro to be. It is not a good distro for beginners and non power users, no matter how often you try to make your own repository, and how many GUI installers you make for it. There's a good reason why there is no GUI installer in arch (aside from being able to load it into ram). That being that to use Arch, you need to have a basic understanding of the terminal. It is in no way hard to boot arch and type in archinstall. However, if you don't even know how to do that, your experience in whatever distro, no matter how arch based it is or not, will only last until you have a dependency error or some utter and total Arch bullshit® happens on your system and you have to run to the forums because you don't understand how a wiki works.

You want a bleeding edge distro? Use goddamn Opensuse Tumbleweed for all I care, it is on par with arch, and it has none of the arch stuff.

You have this one package that is only available on arch repos? Use goddamn flatpak and stop crying about flatpak being bloated, you probably don't even know what bloat means if you can't set up arch. And no, it dosent run worse. Those 0,0001 seconds don't matter.

You really want arch so you can be cool? Read the goddamn 50 page install guide and set it up, then we'll talk about those arch forks.

(Also, most arch forks that don't use arch repos break the aur, so you don't even have the one thing you want from arch)

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 5 days ago (1 children)
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[–] [email protected] 28 points 5 days ago (10 children)

Veterans will always go back to Debian. It is inevitable.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

Very bad post. And Tumbleweed has OBS (Open Build Systems), although I dont even know if that is the right name for its AUR equivalent.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 days ago

As a (currently) CachyOS user, I would like to point out that their custom mirrors don't always reflect the newest version of packages, too. So if your package has a bug you may have to wait an extra day or two for it to reflect the fixed version after it drops. That or manually install the git.

Just make love with Timeshift and for the love of god don't use topgrade if you don't know what you're doing. Thankfully, because of rule number one, Timeshift told me the topgrade nightmare was over and tucked me back into bed with a glass of warm milk and a bedtime story.

[–] [email protected] 39 points 5 days ago (2 children)

I would, however, recommend Arch if you're a Linux novice looking to learn about Linux in a more accelerated pace.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 5 days ago (5 children)
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[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I would argue Gentoo is better suited for that. It is just compilation that can take a long time.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Linux From Scratch or Slackware too.

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[–] [email protected] -4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

The package manager way of delivering distro management, updates and upgrades is an archaic and dumb idea. Doomed to fail since inception and the reason Linux never broke the 1% of users in forever. It's a bad model.

Atomic and immutable distribution of an OS is the preferred and successful model for the average user who wants a PC to be a tool and not a hobby on itself. I don't think the traditional package manager will ever go away. But there are alternatives now.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Wait, immutable distribution don't have a packet manager? But you can still install flatpaks?

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 5 days ago

people who unironically recommend anything arch-based (haha yes steamos is based on arch, yes you're very very clever, i'm sure you can even figure out why it's an obvious exception if you think about it for a minute) are just detached from reality and simply want to be part of a group.

The only time arch is suitable for beginners is installing it in a VM to learn linux via brute force, after you've gotten used to going through that process you'll have a very solid base of knowledge for using a more suitable distro.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

idk I'm kind of a fucking idiot and I started with Manjaro.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

I didn't start with manjaro, but it was the only one that seemed to play nice with my system and programs out of the five or so I tried. I've never had an issue with it after 2 years, so... eh?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

What the fuck are you on about? Jesus christ, we get ragebait in here too now?

Know your usecases. Thats it. Linux isn't hard if you do.

But no, let me recommend the jet engine service manual to my 6 year old that is learning to read. You're going to have a bad time.

For the record, since this post and most comments irked me, arch is fine. I'm using arch on my workstation/personal rig for years. Fedora on the laptop because I need a stable work thing. Alpine VMs on the homelab because it needs light and stable.

USECASES!

[–] [email protected] -4 points 5 days ago

Exercise is fascism

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