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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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Alpine as a desktop OS (lemm.ee)

submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

41 comments fedilink hide all child comments

This might be the dumbest stuff anyone has asked here, but has anyone tried running Alpine as a desktop base OS? Seems pretty well stocked when it comes to the repo, and it's light asf.

Thoughts?

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I have been using Alpine as my main desktop system

If you need gaming, or you have a Nvidia GPU, your idea is dead on the water, not having glibc makes nvidia drivers impossible to use.

But that aside, the desktop feels snappy, the system is extremely small so knowing exactly how everything is running/working, and OpenRC is a breath of fresh air compared to the 'do everything' SystemD. All pieces of Alpine just does one thing, which makes things really predictable.

Albeit, my path isn't without hiccups, for example X11 made suspend when the lid closes outright crash X11, so was forced into Wayland And Pipewire, I have to restart it whenever I switch from the computer speakers to headphones or vice-versa

You'll find some small bugs and small issues, but if you really want a more spartan and simplistic way to handle your linux box, it is amazing

Also, APK is the best package manager, I felt in love with it

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

Oh interesting, didn't think of Graphics drivers getting in the way. It'll go on a Framework laptop, most if not everything should work ootb... ~famous last words~

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Its possible to install glibc on Alpine. https://hatchjs.com/alpine-linux-install-full-glibc/

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

That is fake https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org/packages?name=glibc*&branch=edge&repo=&arch=&maintainer= I have felt for it too, but glibc-full doesn't exist I have found a package on github though, that claims to add glibc, but whenever I tried to use it to, for example, run the nvidia installer, the entire thing just segfaults

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Sorry for the bad link, I will be more careful for the next time.

In the official website, the glibc page was updated with a new glibc layer. You can also check if you have "nouveau" drivers for Nvidia.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

Nouveau sadly doesn't work for me, it's abysmally bad performance even on X11

And the new compat layer is new for me, might give it a try