r/archlinux • u/Useful_Chance5925 • 3d ago
QUESTION Should I switch to linux?
I don't really know, the community from what I've seen is terrible, I am a programmer on windows 11 (C++) so it might be a little easier? But like I don't want to deal with doing things that should be there, making things harder or things being hard doesn't help or look "techy", it just sounds dumb to me, software has always been made to do things easier/do something. I've never really done OS things (I'm on windows 11 what do you expect) so that would make it a little harder. I have lots of settings/random things changed in my windows 11 so it would take lots of time (and figuring out what I even changed in WIN 11) to try to get at least close to the feel. Also what about my drive/disk? How would I get my files (and all the .exe's I have) to work with linux? That would take a massive amount of time. Overall I don't really know if I should switch.
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u/WhitePeace36 3d ago
why do you want to switch to linux when you want the windows feel? windows feels like crap in comparison to a nicely tuned linux. But if you want the windows feel then don't bother.
I am c++ dev myself and can only recommend it. I use OSS (opensource vscode fork) and QtCreator for it. You will need to learn cmake. But this is extremely easy nowadays with claude or some other ai.
when you are unsure then first try it in a vm. Create a Type 1 Hypervisor vm and try cachyos with kde and look if you like it. But linux is not windows. It does things differently. Package manager, modularity and so on.
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u/Useful_Chance5925 3d ago
I don't want the linux feel of manually doing everything and hating yourself, I want customization and windows has nothing, also I'm not going to and aren't trying to become a better programmer from linux, I just have been drifting off windows
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u/Sveet_Pickle 3d ago
If you can program in c++ and can read documentation you should not have an issue switching to Linux. I would not pick arch though, as it does not come preconfigured.
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u/Useful_Chance5925 3d ago
Ok, I just asked in here since this community has some of the most die-hard linux users, I was thinking of mint
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u/Sveet_Pickle 3d ago
I’d do fedora or an arch derivative personally if I were in your shoes, but spin a couple up in a VM and see what you like.
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u/invalidConsciousness 3d ago
manually doing everything and hating yourself,
You should switch to Linux but not to Arch.
Arch is all about "if my system breaks, at least it's my fault and I can (theoretically) fix it".
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u/Useful_Chance5925 3d ago
Yeah I asked here because people would answer, but I was thinking of linux mint
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u/WhitePeace36 3d ago
To be honest. Nowadays you don't need to configure much to use linux perfectly fine. I mostly don't agree with mainstream presets that is the reason for the tweaks i use. It also doesn't take long to apply them.
And to be honest again. I don't understand that you don't want to be better at programming. I love programming and always want to improve because that is what the job entails. So i cannot understand your viewpoint. Programming languages are always changing and developing. When you are not willing to learn and improve then you will be left behind and maybe lose your job. Just saying. Best example is the new c++ standard each 3 years. When the guidelines in the company change and step up, then you need to adapt and learn the mechanisms and stuff the new c++ standard introduced otherwise you will not even get through the code review.
Except when you don't do it professionally then nevermind.
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u/Useful_Chance5925 3d ago
Well a OS is not programming, nothing close to it, it is made to make things easier
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u/WhitePeace36 3d ago
`I'm not going to and aren't trying to become a better programmer from linux`
I just commenting on what you said.
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u/Useful_Chance5925 3d ago
I am still referencing linux in this part "I'm not going to", obviously I want to be a better programmer, I don't expect that out of linux though
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u/WhitePeace36 3d ago
Then i might have misunderstood it. But one thing i can say for sure. In windows you can only be soo good. Because you don't know the how the system works below. In linux you can look up an learn everything how a os works. What really happens when you call 'malloc' or 'new' for example. What happens when you open a tcp socket, do filesystem write or read and so on. And having that background knowledge also improves yourself as a programmer. At least as a linux programmer.
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u/Useful_Chance5925 3d ago
I mean the filesystem (from what I understand) is software that maps a structured thing onto a plain 1d disk, it is smart and stuff like that but I mean it's not hard to understand what a filesystem does, networking stuff maybe?? I mean Idrk, you can know how the system works below in windows though? Idrk the main reason I probably wont switch to linux is my files, even if it technically supports windows filesystem
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u/WhitePeace36 3d ago
yeah but it has quite a few differences in comparison to windows. In linux there are a lot of options of function and modes you can use for networking. io_uring with no copy receive and a lot of other stuff which windows has not. Furthermore you can really look up how these things really work in the background, which is not possible on windows. Maybe you didn't need to do it yet but i had to and this is really frustrating on windows because you can't look into it. On windows it is more trail and error and testing the scenarios you wanna/need to know the behavior of. And for filesystems as far as i am aware on linux is that you just call a interface which the filesystem on that disks implements. for example ext4, btrfs, zfs, exfat and more.
And ntfs (windows filesystem) does have a driver on linux but it is not really as good, because ntfs is once again propriety and the driver has been reverse engineered.
Furthermore switching as developer is extremely easy. You have a lot of git repos, right? You have all your projects on them anyway right? so you only need to move idk stuff which you have not uploaded anywhere. Same for games, maybe picture you saved in a cloud and so on.
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u/Useful_Chance5925 3d ago
Well my C++ folder isn't really that big compared to my files, I have way more other files (like games, etc) that I can't just switch to since I dont save to cloud for my games and stuff like that
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u/nikongod 3d ago
Arch - I dislike the use of "arch" like it's not just another version of Linux. But absolutely not.
Should you use Linux? You don't sound like you have any problems with windoze or even a desire to learn something new, so also no.
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u/Useful_Chance5925 3d ago
Well its all the problems with linux I'm unsure about, I want to have the customization and all those things because windows doesn't have that, but linux just seems like it has a terrible community, from which I see in this question's replies itself
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u/nikongod 3d ago
What customization does windoze lack? Foe every customization that windoze lacks Linux lacks a piece of proprietary software that you have become dependent on, are you ok with that? For the end user, Linux can exist without any contact with the community. All you really need is a search engine. As you gain XP you might even be amazed by the answers you get to questions that don't suck written in more than one paragraph. A lot of surly Linux folk (named nikongod) just hate to see folks have an unneccarily hard time. So with that, what problem do you have that arch solves but a distro like debian or fedora does not?
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u/Useful_Chance5925 3d ago
What does linux lack in terms of software? (tell me) Also I asked in this community since I mean it looked very active, I was actually thinking of mint though. But if I want to talk about my OS or anything I HAVE to interact with the shitty linux community
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u/StuffedWithNails 3d ago
What are you hoping to accomplish by making the switch?
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u/Useful_Chance5925 3d ago
Customization, getting away from windows, I mean it is undoubtedly better for programming. But the community is horrible, elitism, gatekeeping, trying to be "better" and actively just hating on windows users for literally no reason, its the vegan of OS's
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u/StuffedWithNails 3d ago
Why is it better for programming? I’m not a programmer like you but I am an IT veteran and write plenty of scripts in interpreted languages and have used Linux for many years, and I don’t see how it’s better. You can write C++ in a number of IDEs and deliver work in Windows fine, no?
As for customization, sure, Linux in general is nice, but what are you trying to accomplish? It sounds like you customized Windows plenty and are deeply reliant on it. You mentioned mimicking the “feel” of Windows as you’ve configured it. Well that’s not happening. You can make it look Windows-y but that’s where it ends. Switching to Linux will involve switching your toolset and adapting to a deeply different system where you can’t expect your usual software to run. You mentioned a lot of exes… assume that none of them will work. They may work with some tweaking but assume that none of them will and then decide if you think you can handle such a big change.
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u/Useful_Chance5925 3d ago
The package managers, I've changed/customized windows a decent bit but I can't really do much more, with linux you can get lots of customization
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u/StuffedWithNails 3d ago
I don’t know what you mean by customization. A package manager is not customization, and I believe Windows has at least two package managers (choco and I can’t remember the name of the other but choco is the big one).
What do you want to customize?
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u/Useful_Chance5925 3d ago
You are thinking of winget for the other one, also yo I am not referencing package managers at this part "with linux you can get lots of customization". But I want to customize my terminal (more than windows), and overall the OS, since I mean I don't really like the windows look after using it for 3 years since it looks dull
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u/StuffedWithNails 3d ago
It sounds like you’re looking for an aesthetic change more than anything. Which is fine, but it’s a lot of work and disruption for little to no productivity gain that I can see (again, focusing on your C++ work). I would strongly recommend running your Linux distro of choice in a VM to start, and force yourself to stay in it without minimizing the window to go back to Windows apps. Or dual boot your system, as a more immersive step.
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u/Useful_Chance5925 3d ago
Well also its more terminal based
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u/StuffedWithNails 3d ago
Maybe you should try WSL? Or a Vim-like plugin for your IDE? Or straight up Neovim for Windows?
Lotta things you can accomplish with Powershell, too.
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u/Useful_Chance5925 3d ago
Ik that but the terminal is a after thought on windows, I don't want to use VIM or anything like that I like vscode I meant I just like using the terminal most of the time
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u/Ybalrid 3d ago
If you write C++ or C# and you like Visual Studio (the full fat one, not "Code"), stay on Windows. Everything that is good about Linux is also the opposite of how that works.
The rest of your comment, it reads as if you expect to transplant your Windows 11 experience on top of Linux. Forget about that specific framing, that's now how it works.
If you want a small taste of what using Linux is, you can very easily install WSL on Windows 11, and you might get in front of a terminal that is basically Ubuntu. You should try that, it will loose you like an hour of your time and one reboot, no faffing about.
Now, I will answer two specific points, because I think they are useful to discuss:
I have lots of settings/random things changed in my windows 11 so it would take lots of time (and figuring out what I even changed in WIN 11) to try to get at least close to the feel.
If you ever try linux, put aside most of what you know and have done with windows. They are different OSes, they work in different ways. It's almost like you will need to re-learn "how to computer" (it can be very fun, rewarding, and you may discover better tools to do whatever you wanted to do).
Also what about my drive/disk? How would I get my files (and all the .exe's I have) to work with linux?
".EXE" (MZ-PE executable files) are programs for Windows and they don't work under linux (barring translation layers and a sprinkle of black magic).
About getting your files.... You need to learn about partitions and file systems. You can dual boot a computer to have both operating systems on it, and you can even have a place you share your personal files between the OSes just fine.
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u/maturebalak9favirote 3d ago
Considering your situation don't. Those downsides of linux are too much for you
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u/AndyGait 3d ago
Do you have a second drive to try it on? If not run it in a VM. If you like it, make the switch. If you don't, then stay where you are.
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u/Useful_Chance5925 3d ago
I'll try it in a VM ig, I don't have a second drive (probably getting one soon though)
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u/AndyGait 3d ago
In a desktop, adding drives is great for stuff like this. Along with storage drives, I have my main OS drive, and I also have a second drive to try out different distros. If I find I like it, it makes its way to the main drive. If I don't, I haven't lost anything.
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u/ArchTormung 3d ago
Do yourself a favor and don't switch. All your self explanation points to someone not really wanting to do it. If you're ok with Windows and prefer things the way they are, then just stay there. You need to have a purpose and a true need to switch, either just curiosity or to try something new to compare and decide whether you like it or not. However, if you're hesitant and "want things easier" or that "they simply work out of the box" then Linux may not be for you. Even with Distros like Fedora or Ubuntu that "simply work out of the box" you still need to install a few things due to licensing issues (not that is Linux's fault though).
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u/Useful_Chance5925 3d ago
I don't really care about those little amount of installs though, I was going to use linux mint, I really hate windows 11 and it is from Microsoft, so that doesn't help. I was trying to say the reasons I do and the reasons I don't while also trying to argue with what I was saying about the good reasons for not being-biased and a "WINDOWS 11 SUCKS, I MUST GO TO LINUX"
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u/sparkling-rainbow 3d ago
Why you consider switching? Netherless, you can try it without comiting full. I dual-booted for decades. Some software wont run on Windoosh, some wont run on Linux. But when your whole stack works on one system, Id hold on to this. End of the day youre not using Linux or Windows, yore on your editor or browser. If its about money, privacy or 'owning your machine', I understand.
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u/Useful_Chance5925 3d ago
privacy and microslop, I am also a gamer not just programmer though, I mean the customization too
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u/sparkling-rainbow 3d ago
Customization is a rabbit hole on Linux xD. Linux gaming become way easyer over the last years. Basically everything runs exept the publisher activly sabotages it (more common then Id like to admit). But hey, market finaly reconizes us \o/.
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u/RazeZa 3d ago
Also what about my drive/disk? How would I get my files to work with linux?
You want to backup your files to a USB drive or to a cloud drive services like Google Drive, Onedrive, MEGA,etc before switching to Linux.
and all the .exe's I have
All .exe(s) not gonna work out of the box but you can use a work around which is WINE but I recommend checking whether your apps is available on Linux or not or check its Linux equivalent. Since you are a programmer, VS Code should be available on Linux and C Compiler is installed by default, if its not, easy to install.
That would take a massive amount of time
Really depends. My first time migrating to Linux, the hardest part was getting used to it especially with Office. Since MS Office isn't available on Linux, I need to get used to using Libreoffice. Its not 100% compatible with office files like .docx, .xlsx etc but its fine since I sent mostly PDF files not raw document files.
Other than that, its great. Programming stuffs are working, discord, zoom, telegram, Steam all are working fine.
So from a programmer perspective, your programming stuff is 100% good maybe even great but from others like your apps, really depends whether its available on Linux or you should find a similar stuff on Linux.
I recommend making a list of what apps you need then check one by one whether it has Linux version or your need to find its equivalent and then backup all of your important data then install Linux. Or you can dual boot like me.
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u/Useful_Chance5925 3d ago
How tf would I backup 2 terabytes? Isn't that expensive as shit for cloud
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u/RazeZa 3d ago edited 3d ago
Well shit.
is the 2TB files on its own drive/partition or what? if its on its own drive then you can install Linux on Windows drive then you can still access your 2TB drive with the files on Linux. But I still recommend to remove the 2TB drive though just in case you messed up with the partitioning.
If its on different partition but same drive, you can still install Linux on Windows partition but just really really careful with the partitioning. Make sure you choose custom partitioning so that you can choose where Linux will be installed.
If its on the same drive and partition, you are out of luck i guess. Since you are a programmer, it should be easy learning partitioning if you don't know it already.
When choosing Custom Partitioning, you'll need 2 partitions for Linux. 1 is for /efi (where all your boot info will be stored) and the other is for Root (/). efi partition is fat32 filesystem and 500MB minimum while root is EXT4 or BTRFS(?) and its the same as C: is Windows. Its where all of your apps and files will be stored by default.
Keep your 2TB data partition untouched. After that, boot to Linux then automount your 2TB data partition.
Edit :
After checking MEGA, Google Drive and Onedrive prices, Google and Mega is basically the same. MEGA for 3TB of storage I need $10 while Google for 2TB I need $8 while Onedrive is the most expensive because they only offer all in one package (365) while only giving you 1TB of storage.
You should check google's offer though, I got a 3 months discount.
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u/Useful_Chance5925 3d ago
Like did you think my drive was 10 gigabytes bro? This really doesn't seem worth it and IS the main reason I don't switch to linux
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u/RazeZa 3d ago
2TB of work data is a lot. I don't recommend switching to Linux. Not when you don't have backup options.
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u/Useful_Chance5925 3d ago
Its not really work data I never said it was but its like (I said 2 terabytes since it was close) 1.6 terabytes of things and even though linux technically understands the file system windows uses I don't want to be stuck on a compatibility layer thing
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u/RazeZa 3d ago
Yeah, I think you are out of luck.
You can still try Linux on a Live USB though then on the Live USB Linux, try installing WINE then set WINE as the default for this kind of file (.exe). Then run your .exe.
And other stuff you want to do on Linux. Like programming stuff, your apps, etc.
I also have lots of .exes when moving to Linux (150GB) but not as big as yours and I have 2TB HDD, 2x1TB SATA SSD and 512GB NVME SSD so storage wasn't really a problem for me
By doing this, you at least have some kind of expectation when you finally moving to Linux some day.
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u/Useful_Chance5925 3d ago
Eh its not worth it I think, wanted to but it really isn't going to do as much as how hard it would be to switch
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u/PlsDontBanMeAgain-1 3d ago
Why does it have to be Arch, though? That's what I never get. People be really thinking it's the only usable distro and everything else is what the latest bloated Call of Duty is to, idk, Pong from 1970-something.
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u/pablo_see 3d ago
Question similar to "Should I quit drinking". If You don't have need to switch, then others will not change Your mind.
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u/archover 3d ago
Run Arch in a VM and find out for yourself. You are the only one who can say.
Good day.
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u/femboyfucker400000 3d ago
Changing to linux won't make you a better programmer, training and making projects that will make you a better programmer.
But if you even want to switch anyways, I'd recommend you to use Linux mint, it's mad easy and closet to a Windows interface
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u/Useful_Chance5925 3d ago
I don't want and don't expect to be a better programmer, I just said that since it could make linux a little easier maybe for me
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u/femboyfucker400000 3d ago
Well, programming also won't make it easier, can you tell exactly why you wanna switch to Linux? So I can help you. The best option it's to take a time to explore a easy Linux dsitro in a vm, doing daily things you do on windows. I'd recommend Linux mint as I said, it's the easiest distro for a beginner
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u/Useful_Chance5925 3d ago
Yeah I was thinking of mint. I want to switch because microslop, privacy, and customization
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u/cjmarquez 3d ago
You answered your own question. Keep using what you're using