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I've been working on Linux since '96. As time goes by I keep drifting more and more towards boring and stable distributions. I just don't want to be bothered with a system that needs me ro groom it constantly.
I use arch because it is the boring but stable system. Rolling release means you just keep updating it and it works forever rather than having to do big bang upgrades between LTS versions that always break something
Nah. It just means that the breaking updates could surprise you at any time.
With a LTS version upgrade, I can plan for the potentially breaking updates. I can set aside time when my schedule is free to do the big update and work through any potential bullshit. It won't interrupt my work.
But in a rolling release, you're still going to get that same breaking update ... but with no warning this time. It might come at a crucial time when you're trying to get other work done, forcing you to stop your more important work and fix your computer first.
And that's not even counting the number of breaking updates. A relatively 'bleeding edge' rolling release distro like Arch is going to include much newer software versions that haven't gone through as much real-world testing and bug reporting as the stale old packages in a LTS release. The price you pay for more updated software is that it's less thoroughly tested software and more likely to include undiscovered, unfixed bugs.
By the time the same package update finally makes it to some stable LTS distro, more of the bugs have been discovered, reported, and hopefully fixed ... before you ever even see it.
(Not to say that nobody should run cutting-edge rolling release distros. I'm glad you guys are out there. You're the ones reporting those bugs that end up getting fixed before it makes it into the LTS version. If everybody was running LTS stuff, it would lose that advantage because nobody would be testing things before they make it to the LTS.)
Overall, I think cutting-edge rolling release is fine for a computer that doesn't really matter, like a gaming PC. (And you'll probably get a gaming performance boost from having the latest and greatest versions of things.)
But for an essential computer that you need for doing important things, a LTS stable release is the way to go 100%.
this
you can just choose to use software that isn't dev/nightly versions, and you're fine
unless you want to see stuff break... then you install all of the nightly versions and have stuff break sometimes!
Same for me. I clearly separate my "experiemental" machines from my "just works" machines now.
My laptop runs LMDE, my servers are mostly Debian 13, a handful of Ubuntu Server in there. My gaming rig is Nobara Linux, which is just Glorious Egg roll's gaming-optimized Fedora build. When I first set it up a few years ago, I had everything all customized, themes, fonts, icons, fancy desktop/window effects, etc.
I actually considered just going with something vanilla recently, not because I have had any major issues with my current set up, but just because I don't feel like tinkering with it anymore.
My tinkering desire has shifted more and more towards server/enterprise infrastructure and DevOps automation.
I'm older now, my career has taken off, and with that comes more responsibilities and mental energy required during the workday, then family obligations through the week/month, etc. I find myself with less time and mental energy to just tinker and play with tech. So when I do find myself with a bit of free time, I want to maximize it and work on stuff that both helps with my actual career, and helps me get more stuff self-hosted for myself and my family.
Way back in college, I used to spend more time tweaking my PC's overclock than actually gaming xD
100%, I already gave a job and hobbies thanks.
Polishing dotfiles is a valid hobby, and can be fun now and then, but when I need to do actual work I reach for my debian laptop.
Fixed:
Appreciated! Iβve always hated that nonsensical format
Arch taught me how to fuck my computer and now its my main squeeze.
'Cause no other computer will let you touch it, let alone sudo it.
That hole was made for me!
Unironically the average Linux experience
I like to ask Linux people "Would you recommend Arch for a newbie?" Not because I have any intention of using Arch, but their answer to that question helps me judge the quality of their advice going forward.
It really depends on whether they're an enthusiast excited about it or they're just trying to ditch windows...
9/10 times, no.
I don't recommend things based on if people are new to it or not. I recommend things based on if they read and are willing to learn or not.
If you don't read, arch is not a good distro for you.
Eh, rolling release distros are great for gaming. I recommend it enthusiasts (noob or not) and gamers. If you just need a rock solid platform for a server or browsing the web / word processing then sure slap some Debian or Fedora on there and call it a day.
Since architectural is a thing, arch really isn't that hard to install or use, but these days I favor nixos for the reproducibility.
Whatβs architectural? I tried looking it up but didnβt find anything.
Yup! Running 4 machines off a single nix config. I'll loving it!
Going to an Indian restaurant and asking for a lot of spice can workβ¦ if youβre a veteran of Thai or Mexican spice first
Archwiki and archinstall are amazing
Archwiki is an invaluable resource even when I'm not working in arch based systems. I think it's a testament to the community that the ArchWiki has been maintained at the level it has (which is quite high) for as long as it has (a long while).
One time I was eating at an Indian restaurant that had a 5-star heat scale, and then "Indian hot" which was just another level beyond the scale. I ordered 3 star heat and my buddy ordered "Indian hot." The waitress confirmed 3 times that was what he wanted (we're white).
I was impressed that my friend was managing his meal pretty well so I asked if I could try it to compare. It wasn't any hotter than mine. I'm sure the chef took one look at him and was like "I'm not remaking this dish when that white boy can't eat what he ordered." Not like my friend would've been a dick about it or demanded another dish, but yeah I doubt he could've handled the heat level he asked for. In the end, the food was great and my buddy didn't feel cheated and didn't destroy his guts.
it's funny because as an asian person i've never really run into this problem; if i ask for spicy i get spicy but i think the difference is we don't really use it as a dick measuring contest like white people do (ours are all small anyway lol). some people like spicy some people don't nobody cares what you order
it's only when either white people are ordering or white people take my order it turns into this weird back and forth and then ultimately the white customer has to be convinced he is a really strong eater and got the "authentic" spice so he can brag about it and feel like a man and then post about it on reddit
it's like vanity sizing on my pants i'm still wearing a 32 inch waist even 20 years after graduating high school now with a sizable dad bod
meanwhile i'm still so confused why there are so many memes about spicy foods changing your poop i mean sure my poop can change when eating corn or other veggies like beets but spicy vs nonspicy food never changed my poop/guts must be another white people thing. fascinating creatures, love you guys, but endlessly confusing
Haha, it's why I added the "we're white" detail near the beginning. I knew that the waitress confirming 3 separate times would probably sound weird to anyone who's not white.
I imagine that, at least for Americans, the reason spice is such a macho thing is because our food isn't very spicy, so it's more of a novelty for "sometimes" meals instead of just a standard part of our cooking. Our palettes aren't used to it, and Americans especially will compete over anything. I definitely don't want to compete with anyone when it comes to spice because I still want to enjoy my food. My ideal spice level is for the dish to be just a bit of a struggle at the end. If I shed a few tears with the last few bites, that was the right amount of spice for me.
As for the poop memes, depending on the meal, my b-hole can detect spice just as accurately as my mouth, and that is.... not fun. If your digestive system doesn't work that way then I envy you. One sufficiently traumatic "ring of fire" experience is enough to get some people to decide that spicy food is not for them. Personally, I'll risk it if the food is amazing. That's a problem for future me.
Indian place I used to live near had a similar system. Each time, I ask for Indian hot. They confirm. What they bring is not Indian hot. They ask about it, I tell them "this is really good, but next time, I'd like hotter"
This goes on for freaking forever before he finally makes a dish that's genuinely hot, and it's great, but I can do more. Lol. The next time I come in, I tell them hotter than last time, and he says he'll make it like he does for his own mom.
Lit me up. It was really good. Not too hot for me, but hot enough that I'm pushing my limits. He asks after the meal, and I tell him it was hot enough. He says "good. I won't make any hotter! That's hot enough!" Haha
Went to a family-run Indian place in Cornwall looking for vindaloo, but the guy talked me down to a madras. Good thing cuz it was right on the edge of my tolerance level. I couldn't have eaten their vindaloo.
I have never touched arch because i heard it was hard and i just wanted a distro that works without too much effort put in
I use nixos btw
As someone that was already in the IT realm professionally, and had previously dabbled with Linux on old hardware I decided that I would take the plunge. Trial by fire if you will.
Every distribution I had tried up to Arch didn't sit well with me. At least not to replace my Windows install. On the same note; I hated that I could only delve so deep into understanding my Windows system. And I absolutely despise the data greed from Microsoft as well.
It was time to take matters into my own hands. What better way for me to learn than to "build it myself."
The Arch Wiki was a huge help. First install I ever did I neglected to use archinstall. Just so that I could grasp some of the concepts of what archinstall was doinig.
The more and more I used Arch, the more and more I learned.
Arch has been the distribution for me. It has offered me everything that I need, and everything that I want. It has become mine to a degree that I am comfortable. It has taught me so much that it makes using other Linux distributions natural. The only real difference is that other distributions I use I just have to learn what underlying services and such are on it, and even then, the Arch Wiki has me covered.
I feel like a crack dealer right now, but, have you heard of Linux from Scratch?
I get what you mean with build it yourself, but Arch is more or less like a lego kit. LFS is the material manifestation of the concept of madness. I did it once, it was fun, it was crazy, I don't want to ever do it again. Afterwards I immediately switched my main machine from Arch to Mint. I have a deeper understanding of how an OS works under the hood now, and a strong appreciation for the work put forth by distro maintainers. All I want now is a system that works straight away. I no longer want to build myself anything. Tinkering is a hobby, I need a working tool. Today I use Bazzite and all my tinkering is devoted to how can I make rare old games run on Linux. It's the difference between buying a chair and taking up carpentry as a hobby.
Man, that Indian restaurant reference is just fucking spot on
One of my biggest mistakes was ordering "spicy" level Thai food. Took me about a week to finish it because I could only handle one bite every few hours.
One local Thai shop had the sense to offer both "$nationality spicy" and "thai spicy"
The thumbnail makes it look like an Amish Raiden from Mortal Kombat really wants me to install Arch.
It's tough for a distro to have both a strong newbie community and a strong old-timers community at the same time. Well done Arch community!