this post was submitted on 05 Jan 2026
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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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Just in case you end up with reinstallation, I'd suggest using stable release for installation. Then, if you want, you can upgrade that to testing (and have all the fun that comes with it) pretty easily. But if you want something more like rolling release, Debian testing isn't really it as it updates in cycles just like the stable releases, it just has a bit newer (and potentially broken) versions until the current testing is frozen and eventually released as new stable and the cycle starts again. Sid (unstable) version is more like a rolling release, but that comes even more fun quirks than testing.
I've used all (stable/testing/unstable) as a daily driver at some point but today I don't care about rolling releases nor bleeding edge versions of packages, I don't have time nor interest anymore to tinker with my computers just for the sake of it. Things just need to work and stay out of my way and thus I'm running either Debian stable or Mint Debian edition. My gaming rig has Bazzite on it and it's been fine so far but it's pretty fresh installation so I can't really tell how it works in the long run.
I'm on track for that, I admit.
As I read this, I'm trying a freshly installed live image.
I have to try... I'm already too invested in this stupidity to just quit at this point.
Why am I interested in a somewhat rolling release of Debian? Because I'm a dreamer with not enough technical capabilities. I like the stability Debian offers and the years I've used it as my default distro is a fond memory.
The bare bones mentality, the basic, clean approach to the UI/desktop distro customization and the minimal starting software package was a big plus, especially when using very underpowered machines, like I had then.
What is not a fond memory is having an OS remain static for such a long time span to the extent it feels like jumping into a completely new OS when migrating to the next release and lacking on having newer versions of software. Yes, I do know Backports are a thing but nonetheless.
But the more user friendly distros overcompensate on this, by overloading the starting software package and bloating the distro. Polishing can be too much.
No, I am not about to go and try LFS, Gentoo, or whatever distro that puts me in charge of everything. I have a life. Kind of. But still.
Like you say, I want things to work, I don't mind doing some work but I really don't care about nor need the extra bells and whistles the (excessive) polishing carries.
End of rant.
I'm going to torture myself trying to figure whatever might have gone wrong for a bit more.