this post was submitted on 29 Sep 2023
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Linux

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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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Hey, so my friend asked me which distro i can recommend for him. He basically used Windows his whole life. The recent developments of Microsoft though seems to worry him, so he want to give Linux a try.

I myself use Linux since around one year, so i'm definitely far from being an expert and i don't really feel i have enough expertise to give him an appropriate answer. I use OpenSUSE Tumbleweed and love it, but i suppose it's not a good distro for him since he is not that tech affine and i suppose getting used to the terminal is a bit much too ask and could scare him away from the Linux experience.

So what im looking for is a distro, that is easy to use (for beginners & non techies; also not a rolling release) but is also good for Gaming (NVIDIA) and lightly everyday stuff. He uses his computer only for free time, not for his work.

I hope some people here have some helpful recommendations. I was thinking of maybe recommend Mint or Ubuntu, but i only used Ubuntu for a few days and don't really know much about it.

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

It destroys any incentive for game houses to develop native Linux versions of their games, leaving Linux gaming in an permanent almost as good state, and prevents integrations with chat apps and so on. Why promote a poorer experience for users?

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

Not that they have much incentive in the first place. As history has shown, developers are quite happy NOT to make Linux ports at all. The market just isn't big enough to care.

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

Which is also fine. None is better than tainting your Linux system with Windows software.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Then please don't ask for help from anywhere outside of Steam support, and certainly never blame Linux for any issues you come up against with your non-native game(s). If you face any issues with your Windows game on Linux, that is not Linux's fault or problem.

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

While you're not completely incorrect about it not being Linux's fault, trying to gatekeep "anywhere outside of Steam support" is just as unhelpful as game developers not focusing on Linux.

Does that same logic extend to not-Steam's ProtonDB, a 3rd party website for tracking how well games play on Linux using Proton?

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

@PseudoSpock I don't blame Linux, I blame the game developers for not making linux versions of their games. Valve, Steam, Proton and the Steam deck are improving things for gaming on linux. Yes, I'd rather have native games, but it's still better than nothing. I'm not gonna play HL2 till the end of time or tux racer because nobody wants to make native games for Linux.

If Valve can invent a bandaid solution to get people gaming on linux, it will increase linux market share and developers might see a reason to make games for it.