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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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Should I give Arch a shot? (aussie.zone)

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

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I've been using Linux as my main OS for a couple of years now, first on a slightly older Dell Inspiron 15. Last year I upgraded to an Inspiron 15 7510 with i7-11800H and RTX3050. Since purchasing this laptop I've used Manjaro, Debian 11, Pop OS, Void Linux, Fedora Silverblue (37 & 38) and now Debian 12. I need to reinstall soon since I've stuffed up my NVIDIA drivers trying to install CUDA and didn't realise that they changed the default swap size to 1GB.

I use this laptop for everything - development in C/C++, dart/flutter, nodejs and sometimes PHP. I occasionally play games on it through Proton and sometimes need to re-encode videos using Handbrake. I need some amount of reliability since I also use this for University.

I've previously been against trying Arch due to instability issues such as the recent GRUB thing. But I have been reading about BTRFS and snapshots which make me think I can have an up to date system and reliability (by rebooting into a snapshot). What's everyone's perspective on this, is there anything major I should keep an eye on?

Should also note I use GNOME, vscode, Firefox and will need MATLAB to be installed, if there is anything to do with those that is problematic on Arch?

Edit: I went with Arch thanks everyone for the advice

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

Yeah once I’m brave enough to move OS on my server (currently running Ubuntu server) I want to switch it to NixOS.

I’m spinning up a VM first to better understand it.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Installing the Nix package manager on another distribution is also an easy way to get familiar with it without making the full switch.

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

Didn’t even cross my mind. So I can install it on my current Ubuntu server to get familiar with it. Def gonna try.

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

I would try it in a VM first. But maybe you are braver than I.

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

When installed on another distribution in single-user mode it goes into its own directory and only activates when you run a script. It doesn't touch or interact with the main distributions beyond that. In multi-user install it installs a build daemon service, but that's all. It doesn't touch /usr, it's all done via $PATH and friends.

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

nix package manager works on all posix compliant os' and doesn't touch system directories. everything is stored in /nix/store and symlinked to ~/.nix-profile.

personally I run an arch build and then only use nix for my packages.