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Linux rant. why all desktop distros are flawed?

8 points by faazi ↗ HN
1. Debian: packages are old. Cares too much about free software. 2. Ubuntu: Snap. Way too opinionated. Can't trust 3. Arch: not opinionated enough. I just want to get my work done. 4. EndeavourOS: going to die soon like antegros 5. Manjaro: weird. Delaying packages hasn't done anything about stability. 6. Gentoo: way too much work. Not opinionated at all. 7. Fedora: dnf is really slow. You need to google software you want and it leads you to some random blog to add some random repo. 8. SUSE: terrible documentation. Most useful threads are either in German or french. 9. Any other distro: not mainstream enough to find solutions for softwares that I need. What should I do? Seriously. I just need something that take care of me, so I can do my work. Is macOS the only option here?

27 comments

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hffftz
> Is macOS the only option here?

It depends on the reason why you want to use Linux?

For me, Arch Linux with Xfce ain't bad at all... But I would get involved with the distribution that you like most if

gjvc
These are interesting points, and it seems to be that being up-to-date with packages would make your life better. try debian/sid for up-to-date stuff. I use it with KDE and the proprietary NVidia driver. Works great for me!
PaulHoule
Using the Mac in 1994 was a revelation I could work all day and never need the command line. The UI had to be good because there was no plan B.

With Linux is is the other way around except the desktop is Plan Z.

So many Linux enthusiasts practice cult thought-stopping, ‘Linux is free software, thus good. Windows is not free, thus bad.’

People with that mentality are going to be blind to the many big and small wrong things with the Linux desktop. If they can’t see them, if they just make excuses, they won’t fix them.

Thus Windows gets a little better each year and Linux stagnates, even slides backwards. The Linux command line is great so many of us use Linux that way and are satisfied, and we can live with a broken desktop so we don’t need to confront the brokenness.

For me the Linux desktop is beneath contempt, if I want to install software I type

  apt-get install whatever
Which is orders of magnitude easier than installing software on Linux or MacOS (really! Get over any fixed ideas of cli vs gui and count muscle motions and the number of thoughts, decisions and waiting it takes.). Try to do what it trivial with the CLI with the GUI and it is a battle at best. Nobody sees it as essential, for instance, that there is enough space for labels to fit. It’s quite likely the GUI package manager is busted and even if it does work it will probably hang up for a while and give no feedback about why it is hanging up.
mathgladiator
What is crazier is with Windows Linux Subsystem, I have the best of both worlds. I can't imagine suffering a Mac or Linux desktop now.
rbreaves
I think flipping it is better tbh. Making Linux my primary and putting Windows in the VM on a desktop. I love this setup so much more than WSL lol. I get to keep Windows and Linux more secure and separate from each other - but still can access Linux just fine via ssh and the Windows Terminal. Several modifications later to the UI I have it where I honestly forget that I am even accessing a Windows machine at all.

Feels like I am just using macOS for the most part & w/ no compromises.

faazi
I couldn't agree more. There was a youtube series by Linus Tech Tips on linux. basically on perspective of someone new to linux, using it as a daily driver. he points out some big issues in linux. and instead of people acknowledging it, everyone went batshit crazy and just got offended over it. It's insane. it's really a cult
jaharios
No mention of Linux Mint, which has the pros of Ubuntu but not the cons.
treebog
Agreed. It sounds like OP would like Linux Mint.

- Multimedia works out of the box.

- No snap.

- Since it’s based on Ubuntu, any problems are easily googleable.

Iolaum
For people who came here.

If you are ok with Windows/Mac stay there.

If you are linux curious just use something.

- If you have a friend use something that they say will work for you and they 'll support.

- If you have no-one just go with Ubuntu because searching (the error on) the internet works better with ubuntu (IMO).

- If you care what I 'd suggest, and use myself: Go with Fedora (Silverblue) and use flatpaks to install software.

AnIdiotOnTheNet
So far, I hate Silverblue the least; although I wish Kinoite were as good so I could have a KDE desktop instead[0]. The combination of immutable base with Flatpak and Toolbox allow me to do pretty much everything I want to do, even if the GUI management tools could still be miles better (where the exist at all).

[0] I mean without adding KDE on top of the GNOME-centric base image.

simonblack
ALL Desktops are flawed. That includes Linux, Windows, MacOS and UNIX desktops.

Pick one. Any one. Of the four above. Stay with it till you learn how to use it.

I picked Linux Mint MATE ten or so years ago. It works for me. And that is the most important factor.

All you other bastards can choose your own lives.

ss108
Aren't they all free? I think that's why they are all below the usability threshold for most us.

I used to use Ubuntu, but got tried of having to configure basic shit (e.g. dual monitors), always look up how to install stuff and getting the answer "just copy this code into your terminal to get this package and install" (as you say, "go add some random repo"). Updates to software didn't happen all that smoothly.

It was just really rough around the edges. I would have been happy to pay a company 5-10 USD per month to smooth out those edges for me.

rbreaves
Look at http://ubuntubudgie.org and my http://sorun.me script. I am working on smoothing out those "edges".

I am also working on betterScale to yea.. fix the difficult hidpi monitor and multi-monitor w/ mixed lo & hidpi monitor situation. (at least on x11) https://github.com/rbreaves/betterScale

I am pretty impressed with what all is out there to create a really bang up OS on Linux these days - also impressed with how little development time has been spent on actually polishing up all the amazing things they have actually built.

All of the ingredients are there, but there's been no real chef in the kitchen to put it all together imo.

mkhnews
Maybe try Pop!_OS ?
vlod
Yeah.. PopOS = Ubunutu - snap (the objection)

It's what I use coming off MacOS. Good keyboard shortcuts, lots of people here use it. Just something I don't have to think too much about.

josephcsible
> Cares too much about free software.

What does this mean? Debian has an easily usable nonfree repo.

> SUSE: terrible documentation. Most useful threads are either in German or french.

Most Linux documentation isn't specific to a single distro. Consider how useful the Arch Wiki is to users of other distros.

johnklos
What about FreeBSD? They're not based on profit, they're trustworthy, they're decently up to date, they're not going to die, and they're wonderfully documented.
treebog
I love FreeBSD but to me it doesn’t sound like a great fit for OP. It sounds like OP wants something that will work out of the box, and in my experience FreeBSD on the desktop is harder to setup and usually requires some fussing, especially if you need WiFi or have other exotic devices. The docs are fantastic, but because it’s less popular as a desktop operating system, it’s harder to google for solutions to problems.
thesuperbigfrog
>> Is macOS the only option here?

If it works for you, use it.

If you prefer something else, use that.

I know what works for me, so I will use it.

Having plenty of choices is a good thing.

cbeley
I've been using ChromeOS as my primary OS for a couple years now (though, not sure I'd be willing to use it for work just yet). The officially supported Linux container integration is extremely well-done. I get all the benefits of a stable OS, but with (almost) all the flexibility of a real Linux environment. Linux and Android apps seamlessly integrate into the ChromeOS desktop environment.
clemens3
So nine distros.. I thought there is some fundamental flaw common about all Linux distros.. Distrowatch has what, 160 distros? So way to go.. Either finish that list or report back if you found something that suits your needs.. lazy bastard..
emilsedgh
How about Debian Testing? They should've called in Debian Desktop or something and would've enjoyed much better market share. It's pretty damn stable.
rbreaves
Have you tried Ubuntu Budgie from http://ubuntubudgie.org? (Could also use my sorun.me & kinto.sh script/apps if you want something sorta mac like too).
navjack27
I dunno why you're decisively choosing. I have a Windows 11 PC with WSL2 (Pengwin) and an M1 Mac Mini running the latest macOS beta and I have one Sandy Bridge era laptop that I rotate otherOSes on at random. Just use whatever dude