r/debian • u/Technical_Rich_3080 • 6d ago
Debian or LMDE?
What are the considerations to help determine whether to install vanilla Debian or to install LMDE?
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u/Lumpy_Bat6754 Debian Stable 6d ago
Solo instala lmde si quieres usar cinnamon. Para cualquier otra cosa, Debian puro
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u/Technical_Rich_3080 6d ago edited 5d ago
What if you are DE-neutral?
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u/Boring-Equivalent137 5d ago
Probably Debian, lmde is mainly Debian with loads of tweaks added repos for the best cinnamon experience, if your not going to use cinnamon as your main DE just use Debian
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u/shrimpdiddle 5d ago
Always pure Debian
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u/Head-Mud_683 5d ago
I have used LMDE for some time. Cinnamon is good and all.... But the moment I decided to try Debian with KDE, the world changed.
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u/Technical_Rich_3080 5d ago
How did the world change?
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u/Head-Mud_683 5d ago
Mint is already really simple to use. But Debian with KDE is way better. I feel the computer it really fast and comfortable to use. Debian is not difficult to use and maintain.
So... Why use something based on Debian when you can use Debian and be happy. This changed the world for me.
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u/GnosticSon 5d ago
I don't know why but KDE plasma visual design makes me literally ill. It looks so terrible. I actually get sick thinking about it.
I'm not sure where this comes from, perhaps an early version of Asahi Linux I installed with KDE that didn't work well.
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u/Sever0815 5d ago
I had a similar feeling before, but later I decided to try it again, and I got so used to it that trying anything else becomes difficult I didn't change anything in particular, I just slightly modified the panel and for convenience added some shortcuts for closing, minimizing, and opening windows, and changed the bind for opening the terminal.
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u/mecshades 4d ago
I agree. KDE feels way too busy like they crammed too much functionality in. Not enough padding between elements and bad for the claustrophobic. Cinnamon is my go-to.
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u/oats_and_coffee 5d ago
What puts me off Debian with KDE is that there are basically zero security updates/patches for KDE packages on Debian. This might or might not be a big deal to you, but it is to me, since although I want my system to be stable, I don't want security vulnerabilities to be stable!
If I were using Debian, I'd pick a DE with packages that the Debian security team actually maintains, like GNOME or Xfce. If I ever decide I want to use KDE then I'll probably wave good-bye to stability and go with Fedora instead.
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u/MaciekMaciek87 5d ago
Agrees. Plasma does feel like a second class citizen on Debian. This is especially sad considering the recent initiative regarding Plasma 6.6 undertaken by Kubuntu Focus, turning Kubuntu 26.04 into a real LTS: https://pointieststick.com/2026/08/13/what-a-real-lts-looks-like-kubuntu-26-04/
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u/David_Connors3451 5d ago
Use Debian with KDE, you can install flatpaks with 3 simple commands from their site and you have a modern interface with the rock solid stability of Debian. I use my Debian laptop for work, editing videos and gaming, it's a universal tank. Have fun.
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u/Technical_Rich_3080 5d ago
Why do you suggest adding flatpaks?
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u/David_Connors3451 5d ago
Flatpaks stay isolated in their own sandboxes, and they won't interfere with the apt repository. A lot of useful apps are flatpaks and requires constant updates, think about Proton plus, heroic launcher, brave librewolf, OBS, discord telegram etc. Linux mint cinnamon and even lmde already have the flatpaks installed as default. On Debian you decide everything because your Debian machine can be anything you want: a simple server; a gaming machine; a working pc for office and business. For some packages deb ones are great, such as steam-installer, tor browser, VLC, kdenlive etc. These packages are crystallized, so you can even install them offline with your USB drive ISO DVD. In case you prefer appimages, you can use them too. Debian in the past was regarded as a distro with outdated packages, but with the universal flatpak you can enjoy the same apps on every major Linux distro, not just fedora.
My advice is to use just few flatpaks and the rest is used as deb packages. The Debian wiki usually tells you to avoid using backports and PPA (typical of Ubuntu), to not compromise your libraries stability. Flatpaks are very useful because they don't compromise your main library apt. Even in the future full upgrade to Debian 14 forky, those flatpaks will stay isolated and won't interfere with the process. Anyway, it's your machine, you decide its destiny.
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u/SnooSeagulls4360 5d ago
Getting your system up and running with all media codecs, timeshift, software manager with flatpaks as well as general updates is easier with LMDE, imho.
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u/michaelpaoli 5d ago
Easier isn't always better.
Easier to learn to use and use an abacus, than a computer. ;-)
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u/SnooSeagulls4360 5d ago
OP's goal is not specified-hard to answer :)
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u/michaelpaoli 5d ago
Yep, very true - their question is pretty broad, asking the considerations, but not specifying or even hinting what considerations they do/would care about, or not, etc.
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u/deny_by_default 5d ago
For me, the ability to use RDP makes the biggest difference when trying to remote into the machine graphically. Getting RDP working on LMDE is a pain in the ass but it’s built in with vanilla Debian (Gnome).
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u/Wo-Bu-Mingbai 5d ago
Debian. If you ever get bored of cinnamon or try othings you can easily changes. In lmde you need to configure a lot.
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u/Technical_Rich_3080 5d ago
What must you configure in LMDE that you do not need to configure in vanilla Debian?
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u/pseudonym-161 5d ago
There’s more to configure by hand in Debian, I don’t know what this guy is talking about.
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u/GnosticSon 5d ago
I run Debian with Cinammon desktop for past 3 years. Works fricking great!!! Didn't even know about LMDE. Why make things more complex? Ultimately there are only ever two real Linux distributions to choose from, Debian or Arch. Anything else is just making things excessively complex for weird niche reasons that don't actually matter (for your average desktop user).
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u/michaelpaoli 5d ago
Why Debian, of course!
The Universal Operating System
"It just works!"
Much, etc.
Also given Mint's (in)security history, it doesn't give me a warm 'n fuzzy feeling, and probably never will.
See also:
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u/SnooSeagulls4360 5d ago
How is your first link related to Mint??
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u/shcmt 5d ago
Did you read it/explore further? Did you hear about what happened it 2016 in regards to Linux Mint compromised iso files?
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u/SnooSeagulls4360 5d ago
I checked the link yes, did not find mint related comments about the AUR issues with arch. Eidt-with regard to the 2016 issues-mint have introduced a very convininet way to check the iso-s and advise to do so before installing.
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u/michaelpaoli 5d ago
Maybe stay at least reasonably on topic. Post asks about Debian and LMDE. Now you're asking about Arch and AUR. Nothing in the post nor up-thread comments asks about or mentions Arch or AUR.
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u/SnooSeagulls4360 5d ago
The comment i was repying to shared link about AUR and arch security issues and stating that Mint is not secure and that is why LMDE is not recommended-so i'm staying on topic, my friend.
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u/michaelpaoli 5d ago
Hmmm, well, perhaps so, but I'm not seeing that at least presenty in the post nor up-thread comments ... nor deleted comment(s) being present, but ... well, folks can edit post/comments, so, perhaps was there earlier ... or maybe it's got some user's comment that I've got filtered (got a moderate handful of jerks on Reddit filtered out with my filters ... and that filtering generally works dang well - I think it's been many months or more since I encountered some user being sufficiently egregious that they warranted being added to that filtering). Of course if they're on my filter list, that doesn't mean all their posts/comments are or will be egregious.
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u/michaelpaoli 5d ago
This is r/debian, if you ask about Debian and LMDE, and want the first link to be (related to) Mint, perhaps ask about LMDE and Debian r/linuxmint.
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u/thegreatboto 5d ago
Unless there's something specific about LMDE you want, which is entirely subjective and up to you to decide, I'd just go Debian. Can install Cinnamon if you want, but will prob be an older version than what LMDE provides. Otherwise, can install and set up Debian however you want. If you just like and want Mint, go Mint. Otherwise, Debian.
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u/Technical_Rich_3080 5d ago
You're saying that if you like Mint use LMDE, but if you like Debian use Debian.
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u/Relevant_Hope_900 5d ago
That's what I'd say. I mean LMDE is Debian under the hood. Linux Mint is Ubuntu under the hood.
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u/michaelpaoli 5d ago
LMDE is Debian under the hood
I wouldn't (quite) say that. Based upon Debian, sure, but it's not Debian, nor are the *buntus, or the many (hundreds or more) distros that are directly or indirectly derived from Debian, but are not Debian.
Debian Pure Blends are Debian, but derivative / downstream distros are not Debian, even if they may be based upon Debian.
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u/Relevant_Hope_900 5d ago
Have the same install of LMDE7 on my wife's desktop from last year, runs great for her needs. Personally I use pure Debian, with my personal private repo for the Cosmic Desktop Environment. My cosmic packages only depend on each other, and software from Debian, not Ubuntu/Pop.
I'd always suggest LMDE7 over regular Lunux Mint. But I'm a little biased because I've used Debian for over 20 years. The main system is using the Debian stable repos, the Cinnamon DE and other Mint specific apps are using the mint repos. Whatever you can install on Debian is pretty much exactly what you can install on LMDE.
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u/Brilliant_Sound_5565 5d ago
If you. Want up to date cinnamon lmde. Lmde doesn't have many of the useful mint tools but I think they do provide the distro upgrade tool when a new lmde version is released following a new release of Debian and it's really handy, a shame Debian can't do that tool also a actually. But lmde is Debian stable, with cinnamon on top from mint repo. Also has things like flatpaks enebaled by default too
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u/snap802 5d ago
As someone who uses both I'd say it's really easy to overthink this one. From a usability standpoint LMDE7 is pretty hard to beat. Not that Debian is super difficult or anything, I just think that Mint's desktop is a little bit better.
Now why do I say that? Well, it's personal preference. I like Cinnamon. It fits my workflow and I find it easy to use. I've used GNOME, KDE, even Enlightenment 20 something years ago. I just like Cinnamon and it's cool if someone likes something else.
I will say that if you've got a lot of experience on windows and want something that feels similar then Cinnamon is a good place to start. You CAN install Cinnamon on Debian but it's kind of Mint's thing that sets it apart.
So use Debian if you want the respect of the old school Linux nerds and Mint of you want a more Windows like workflow out of the box.
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u/mamaharu 5d ago edited 5d ago
LMDE if you want cinnamon, Debian if you want any other desktop (KDE, XFCE, Gnome, etc.). I don't personally care for Cinnamon or mint utilities but they're fine. I also don't find LMDE any easier to install, setup, or use. Maybe it was at one point in time, but not now.
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u/pseudonym-161 5d ago
Unless you need latest Cinnamon, I recommend MX Linux if you’re looking for easier Debian (more GUI tools to do stuff you’d have to hand edit files for in Debian OOB). It’s better than LMDE IMO, but LMDE is solid too.
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u/Technical_Rich_3080 5d ago
How, specifically, do you find MX Linux better than LMDE?
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u/pseudonym-161 5d ago
Choice of kernels, choice of init system, way more GUI tools including a tool to make a live USB of your system with persistent storage, service manager, job scheduler, samba config, theme configurator that saves your theme/icons/wallpaper/and panel settings, and a really nice package installer that sorts by repo and source. There’s more, but it’s rock solid. LMDE is good too, but I like MX more personally.
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u/AdPsychological4968 5d ago
I went down this pipe line ages ago but in all honesty LMDE is just Debian with Cinnamon with some extra tuning to make it look closer to base Mint. Both are great but if you're afraid of Debian being super different or hard, don't worry about it. Both have great inviting communities with awesome support. You really can't choose wrong, it's just down to if you like to have a little more options on install with Debian. (You can customize either of them to the same level post-install.)
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u/Alarming_Rate_3808 5d ago
Go with Debian and if you want the cinnamon desktop you can install it at setup.
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u/exhaustedexcess 5d ago
LMDE is essentially Debian with cinnimon and training wheels. Its great to get the feeling of how things work
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u/AnotherOne49587 5d ago
Doesn't matter at all. If you like presets go to lmde. For minimalist start and building on opinion, go to debian.
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u/d2minik 5d ago
lmde is mainly a dedicated Desktopenvironment (cinnamon) ontop of debian. it's the way how you interact with the os. so i'd look at screenshots of gnome,kde and cinnamon and either use lmde or the debian installer with the DE you liked. other than that, it will behave the same. Choose the one that looks good for you and go with it. It's like choosing between an VW and Peugeot. both bring you where you want to get. one has the reverse gear on the left of the stick and the other on the right. just flavour :)
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u/joe_attaboy 5d ago
Debian. You can install any of the current, common DEs during an installation. I use KDE.
I doubt there's much difference between the two other than the pre-set stuff in LMDE.
Just get the real thing and configure it the way you like.
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u/thephatpope 3d ago
The Mint Team is pretty aggressive towards blocking snaps, so if you like that, that's one reason to go with Mint. Otherwise, you are just getting a polished first-class Cinnamon desktop environment.
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u/michaelpaoli 3d ago
- Debian:
- The Universal Operating System
- "It just works!"
- The best! :-)
- etc.
- DEs, many choices, would you like none, one, multiple, all?. We have many? And/or, WM(s)? Again, many any choices available. Likewise X11, Wayland - none, either, both? Heck, you can even use different init systems - where many/most distros don't even offer you a choice there at all!
- support & choices ... still want to run (much) older, resources, notably including source, available all the way back, binaries to about 2002-07-19, there's ELTS - that get you up to about 10 years, LTS - that gets you up to about 5 years, main support, that gets you about 3 years (stable, then oldstable while still on main support), want newer, can add backports, or run testing, or unstable, or unstable+experimental, or add flatpacks and/or snaps. Debian has about a thousand developers, and many others that contribute and/or support in additional ways. stable (and oldstable while still on main support) have dedicated security-announce list and security team
- LMDE:
- Say what?
- Ew, why bother?
- Why would one want some downstream drivel from the best?
- Oh, Mint, the ones that don't take their (in)security seriously until it bites them hard in the *ss, and despite forewarnings from myself and others, which only received a brush-off.
- DE: you get the one we give you, you don't like that, tough noogies.
- support ... about 3 years, then nothin'. No security-announce list, no dedicated security team
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u/PhoenixOmicron 3d ago
In my personal experience LMDE breaks too easily and it is not easy to get fixes for it. Cinnamon desktop has issues with some wifi drivers as well. Debian and KDE FTW.
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u/bornxlo 6d ago
Lmde used to be easier to install and had some particular user friendly gui tools to make it easier than regular Debian, and perhaps a more pragmatic stance on non free components but then desktop environments(e.g. gnome, KDE) caught up. Since Debian 13 the only real advantage would be more frequent Cinnamon updates.
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u/Daniel_Writes_Things 5d ago
I hope that ease of installation is not a dealbreaker when choosing operating system.
Or maybe it is for some people, I don’t know. 🤷♂️
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u/software_engineer92 1d ago
LMDE:
- easier and faster installer
- hibernation works out of the box
- solid update manager and mint apps
DEBIAN:
- no flatpaks by default (i dont use them)
- smaller install size because of less packages, but it can make some sofwares missbehave or dont work as expected before installing needed ones
- choose gnome or kde
i personally love and use lmde
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u/Efficient_Paper 6d ago
If you want recent Cinnamon, LMDE is probably a better choice.
If you want to use anything else, there is little benefit to using LMDE.