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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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I don't know anything about Linux and the idea of installing it frightens me. Where do I start? (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I bought a laptop yesterday, it came pre-installed with Windows 11. I hate win 11 so I switched it down to Windows 10, but then started considering using Linux for total control over the laptop, but here's the thing: I keep seeing memes about how complicated or fucky wucky Linux is to install and run. I love the idea of open source software and an operating system without any of the bullshit that comes with Windows, but most of the open source stuff I have is on my android and fairly easy to install. Installing and using Linux just feels like it'll be a whole different beast that'll eat up most of my time and I'm kind of intimidated by it.

TL;DR Linux scawy, how does a barely computer literate scrub like me who's used nothing but windows since the dawn of their life get started with Linux?

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I mean software devs release software when it is ready. Fedora also is semi-rolling and especially the older release has some form of held back packages.

But knowing "my distro ships packages with some random frozen number and these issues will simply not be fixed in a long time" is not really helpful.

Also, people dont know this from anywhere. Android, macOS, Windows all have separated software that is officially maintained and uses the latest stable version. Only Linux distros use this strange packaging form.

So I think using Flatpaks is way better, as they are often officially maintained. A lot of them are not, but they manage the separation from the system very well, so you actually run the latest versions without any chance to break the system.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I guess if you think flat packs and snaps and rolling releases are gonna replace the usual way Linux distributions have done things then that would be good advice for a new person.

No matter the merits of either position, I think the better advice for a new user is to learn how things are now rather than learning the rolling way.

It’s worth noting that neither way is directly analogous to how windows or macOS handle software updates because… they generally don’t! Aside from software out of either systems store, user downloaded software is now expected to run its own update when it’s launched.

Maybe that’s more like snaps because doesn’t snapd periodically run and check for stuff?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Only Appimages are that messy, and Flatpaks are way better. Not managing software at all is pretty horrible.

I think macOS has a store though, but not much software is there. Same as on Windows.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

I didn’t even consider appimages. What a nightmare this all must be.