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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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Opinion: Distributions that only change non-system pre-installed software or desktop environment should instead be packages or scripts (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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The majority of Linux distributions out there seem to be over-engineering their method of distribution. They are not giving us a new distribution of Linux. They are giving us an existing distribution of Linux, but with a different distribution of non-system software (like a different desktop environment or configuration of it)

In many cases, turning an installation of the base distribution used to the one they're shipping is a matter of installing certain packages and setting some configurations. Why should the user be required to reinstall their whole OS for this?

It would be way more practical if those distributions are available as packages, preferably managed by the package manager itself. This is much easier for both the user and the developer.

Some developers may find it less satisfying to do this, and I don't mean to force my opinion on anyone, but only suggesting that there's an easier way to do this. Distributions should be changing things that aren't easily doable without a system reinstall.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Name a single popular distro that follows op's description that isn't a novelty/fad.

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

Kubuntu

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

I disagree. On one laptop I had Ubuntu, and then installed kubuntu-desktop. It became a bit of a mess with the login screen, and it isn't that easy to uninstall the previous Gnome stuff – had to leave it there. On another laptop I installed Kubuntu directly, and the problems above don't appear.

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

kubuntu is already literally just a package.

if you just install kubuntu-desktop (or something similar) from any buntu flavor you get it.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (2 children)

And that's exactly my point. You get the same experience by just installing a package rather than having to "distro-hop"

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

[This comment has been deleted by an automated system]

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

But if you start with Kubuntu then it's not exactly hopping, it's just more convenient.

If people wanted to do it by package installation, they would!

In the end it's just more user choice, which is good.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sure, you're right! But here's a proposition: it would be easier on both the developer and the user (without sacrificing user choice) if it was a package, or better yet, an option to check on the installer. It is still just the same amount of choice.

If people wanted to do it by package installation, they would!

In the current state, they usually can't. Maintainers do not provide these as packages, so you're forced to install a whole distribution just to try out their configuration of KDE

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I'm with you that it would be awesome to have more options to explore big changes like that.

I just don't see maintainers putting the effort into it. I don't think these DE-only distros are going anywhere anytime soon, and I'm glad they're filling a gap for the users that want it.