*or distribution

Having been a (GNU-)Linux user since 2006 (desktop only), I have done what many Linux users have also done: hop around from one thing to another.

That all stopped a few years ago when I decided that I would just stick with Debian. I was happy and comfortable. It worked. I used Stable, Testing, Unstable… no issues.

That is until about 4 months ago I was cleaning and found an older laptop and decided to try something different on it: Alpine Linux.

I even wrote about it on my blog. It was such a nice installation and process that I decided to put it on my main personal laptop.

Since April I have been using Alpine and I must say I am pleased. Differences from one Linux to the next aren’t much to write about. With Alpine however, I finally experienced another part of Linux that I hadn’t had the opportunity to enjoy: the community.

Package requesting? Easy. Asking for help? No shame. Patience and help provided? Excellent.

None of those comments are to disparage other OS communities. It is simply that I had only ever used popular distros (Debian- and Arch-based) so I never needed to ask for help. Either way, I am still using Alpine.

So, just to repeat the titular question: what have you tried out this year? What are your impressions?

  • Storksforlegs@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    I tried PopOS finally after many glowing reviews… and it was beautiful, snappy and had lots of unique features. But while it was very friendly, I had trouble finding my way around. I think still aimed at linux users who are a little more knowledgable. (Not me.)

    Ultimately I am too basic and went back to Mint.

    • bbbhltz@beehaw.orgOP
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      1 year ago

      Interesting. I haven’t used Pop, but I had always been under the impression that it was meant to be as easy as Mint.

      • Storksforlegs@beehaw.org
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        1 year ago

        Oh I think it is! You should definitely give it a try, I think it’s just me. I tend to do pretty poorly with OS that aren’t extremely windows-like.

        • Nicbudd@beehaw.org
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          1 year ago

          That’s a very valid opinion. I started out with Kubuntu, and after a bit of distro hopping I’m on Pop!_OS now for my laptop and desktop. I love it, but I doubt I would’ve at the start of my journey