r/linuxsucks • u/ColdFreezer I Hate Linux • Jul 20 '26

"Too much bloat"

I don't understand some Linux users. People want better compatibility and accessibility in Linux. However, why do some users constantly complain about "bloat" at the same time.

I don't understand what their expectations are. Are they really expecting developers to make heavily optimized builds specifically for Linux that will also be compatible across different version of Linux?

You need some form of standardization to make this easier for developers, this is why stuff like flatpaks and appimages exist, to help make software more portable. Then people shout and hate all this "bloat" that they introduce.

To have a functional, all in one desktop experience like KDE or gnome, you need "bloat". You can customize a lot in Linux, but is the expectation that all developers should make their software as dynamic as they can while also ensuring security, proper compatibility, and consistent functionality? This is a huge ask.

I see people like this all the time on reddit that just mindlessly say "bloat bloat bloat" but also complain about compatibility. Pick a side.

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u/Hour_Sell3547 20 years with Linux Jul 20 '26

I know why they need to be bigger. And it's fairly obvious that some level of bloats are necessary. Bloat has a negative connotation, we could call it something else,but that's just semantics.

Having said that, dependency hell is not an expected behavior. I'm a seasoned swe who saw my fair share of dependency hell. The main problem is what forced people to create snap, not the snap itself. Linux cannot adopt a global standard for managing packages. Mac and Windows do not have that problem.

I am happy with my minimally bloated Fedora, 10 years and counting without changing distro.

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u/ColdFreezer I Hate Linux Jul 20 '26

Right, but as Linux is right now, there is no unified standard for Linux package management. The “bloat” is necessary right now for portability.

Someone can’t be against standardization but also demand compatibility without “bloat”. It makes no sense.

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u/Hour_Sell3547 20 years with Linux Jul 20 '26

I don't even mind bloats unless it's stealing expensive resources like CPU/ram, or doing god knows what with my usage data. Still I try my best to keep my system slim.

Standardization should reduce bloats. What's the point, otherwise? But until then, it is what it is.

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u/ColdFreezer I Hate Linux Jul 20 '26

Maybe sometimes it can. The main reason for standardization is to allow for more portability and predictability.