this post was submitted on 16 Oct 2023
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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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Hey fellow Linux enthusiasts! I'm curious to know if any of you use a less popular, obscure or exotic Linux distribution. What motivated you to choose that distribution over the more mainstream ones? I'd love to hear about your experiences and any unique features or benefits that drew you to your chosen distribution.

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[–] lily33@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I use NixOS for very similar reasons. And also, because I like my full configuration in one place.

[–] Guenther_Amanita@feddit.de 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah, I fully get why people like Nix.

I fully respect it when people want a "next-gen-Arch" with the DIY-aspect of building their own OS. At least, that's my impression on it.

For me personally, it sounds like too much work. I'm not advanced enough and want something hassle free that "just works".

But especially for professional developers (reproducibility) and Linux enthusiasts, it sounds like a dream!

[–] thayer@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago

As a fellow Silverblue user, I really wanted to like NixOS. I was surprised to discover it did not support declarative management of flatpak workflows, which pretty much eliminated it as an option for me. That, combined with its highly unconventional filesystem hierarchy, and its cumbersome configuration and project documentation was enough to send me back to Silverblue.

Don't get me wrong, NixOS is very powerful and an excellent solution for some use cases; it just wasn't right for mine.