this post was submitted on 09 Sep 2023
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Linux
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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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Other than some autostart apps, you are free to do whatever you want. I actually like having at least 2 DEs, one generic with default settings and one customized for everyday use. Also, they should use different backends. Then if I completely mess up with my config, I've got a fallback.
Autostarts are the one thing I'd point to too. It's nothing harmful but can be a little annoying if you need different scripts or tools to run on your different DEs.
If you haven't already give NixOS a go, used to have a dual boot as a fall back but using nix I've got the courage to screw around to my heart's content cause I can always just load an earlier version of my config and/or wipe the machine and be back up to speed in 20 minutes if need be
I've tried, but I've got lost quite fast.
If you start with the default config and just modify it from there you can figure it out as you go
Installing software is usually just a case of adding the name to the package list in your config (you can find packages and options on search.nixos.org/packages
@flashgnash @Redo11 I use Debian and Arch and could also wipe out my machine and be back in 20 mins or less. Nix is great but this is not Nix specific. As long as you have a backup of your files and config, recovery is quick on basically any distro.
Nix makes that process a whole lot simpler and more robust imo
If you do it via the config file, you can simply revert one line of code and rebuild and you're back, if you use backups unless you backup before every single change you make it's much more heavy handed what you revert