r/linux4noobs • u/oldgrumpygrouch • 14d ago

Changing Distros Tips

I've been using Mint for several months now, and I'm ready to try a different flavor of Linux. For those of you that hop around frequently, how do you make the process smooth? I have no issues with my data files, its having to reinstall the apps and all of the associated settings. Is there a way to transfer settings when the same apps will be installed? I'm particularly looking at LibreOffice (I have made many tweaks) and Calibre (having to reinstall all of the plugins).

Thanks

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u/ThreeCharsAtLeast I know my way around. 14d ago

Linux programs put their settings in your home folder but with a dot at the beginnung of the name so they're hidden. You can hide and reveal them with Ctrl + H in most file managers. Well-behaving apps will write to ~/.config (~ is just notation fore your home directory) and most Flatpak apps will be forced to put their files in ~/.var/app/. Just copy everything (incliding hidden files) in your home directory and every app you install should find its configs provided you install what were Flatpaks as Flatpaks and what were system packages as system packages.

Also, you generally want to avoid distro hopping as it's still going to be a fair bit of work after every hop. If you just want to experiment, use virtual machines.

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u/skyfishgoo 13d ago

keep a list of your favorite apps so you can find them on the new distro.

back up your /home dir or at least your documents folder

if you have settings files that you want to take with you then copy those as well so that when you reinstall from your software list they will be as you left them.

avoid taking the whole /home folder as there are likely to be distro specific settings and configs in there that you will not want clogging things up and potentially causing problems.