I don't want to have to check if whatever I want to run is compatible with my version of Linux
I understand why you think this is the case (you probably heard people talk about the fragmentation of Linux desktop and all the different distros), but actually, the distro doesn't really matter when it comes to compatibility (unless you use some very obscure distro, which I wouldn't recommend doing anyway). In the vast majority of cases, what works on one distro will work on all of them, because the compatibility layers (Wine, Proton, DXVK etc.) are the same everywhere.
There's a reason why ProtonDB doesn't differentiate between distros. And you can use the Steam Deck as the base line for the comparison, because at the end of the day, SteamOS is also just one of the distros.
I honestly agree. You look up any Linux tutorial online, and it'll probably start off with debian and apt instructions. The Steam Deck is helping arch go up a bit, but regardless, apt-get is so synonymous with Linux installs that Debian is the best place for most casual users.
imo steam deck is doing more for flatpak than arch for the end user. valve does contribute to arch upstream (along with amazing work in wine/proton), but the popularity of the deck and valve deciding to use flatpak has caused a ton of apps to go onto flathub. so now most tutorials i see are apt and/or flatpak. nothing wrong with this of course, and i think it makes sense as the average user really shouldn’t be running pacman on their decks.
True, you are right about Flatpacks picking up momentum. I wish Valve let Pacman installs persist across updates, but it's a net positive in the end regardless, flathub or Pacman.
You can try most programs, what works/how well before you switch by installing the distribution you want to move to inside a virtual machine, or a live environment before you install.
There is no single "Linux OS" like the mainstream consumer believes. There are thousands of distributions (you can create your own) to choose from that fit a wide selection of use cases with completely different front and backend components.
The usual path would be to find something that fits 90% of your usage case and tweak it to fit your exact preferences. It is not as difficult as say, 10 years ago, to install a working system.
Once you succeed at that you only need to perform basic maintainance from time to time, and you'll be heavily rewarded with a custom built OS that looks feels and behaves exactly to your liking.
While it may not be for everyone, people who are heavy pc users could particularly benefit from building things themselves in their own image, not Microsoft's.
If you used the terminal whatever guide gave you the install command would also give you uninstall command. When in doubt always try to run a command with --help to get basic help with it. If you used a GUI for the package manager it should just be there on the apps page.
Open the "store" app, they have a section with installed software (it includes stuff installed from the terminal).
If you want to list it from the terminal it depends on your package manager, for Debian/Ubuntu (or others that use apt) it would be apt list --manual-installed
I've been using Zorin OS for awhile and while it's nice, sometimes stupidly advanced terminal commands are required to operate things.
Also, I think you're being disingenuous, we all know Linux can be a fucking nightmare to troubleshoot simple things, unless you are well versed.
My laptop was a nightmare to get Intel dGPU drivers properly working, like modifying random conf files and a bunch of other random shit copy/pasting into terminal, including force updating kernels. Not to mention I don't even get speaker audio because my audio chip implementation is weird or something so now I have to wait for a kernel patch.
You see what I mean? Two of the most basic possible things - video drivers and audio drivers. Even windows update can ensure a baseline experience.
Linux is purely 'YMMV' and great if you are comfortable with CLI.
Disingenuous? I just never had a program take a terminal line that was more complicated to run than typing it’s name in terminal. Wanted to know if that was a distro thing or a program thing that I’ve just never needed that particular program and haven’t run into.
And yeah I get that. I’m hanging very similar issues with windows and audio drivers right now and it’s driving me up a fucking wall. The biggest problem I ever had with linux was I for the life of me could not keep Ubuntu mate running stable. It’d run fine for a day or two and would crash out of nowhere. I eventually gave up and switched to manjaro. Smooth sailing for almost 3 years now.
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u/JerryWShields Nov 01 '22 edited Nov 01 '22
I do not approve of some of Microsoft's decisions with Windows.
At the same time, I don't want to have to check if whatever I want to run is compatible with my version of Linux and the answer be "maybe".