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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Looking to make the switch (lemmy.ca)

submitted 11 months ago by LowlandSavage@lemmy.ca to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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Hi everyone, looking to make the switch from windows. I'm reasonably technically apt but not a programmer by any means. I've been doing some homework on which distro I would like to use and pop_os kinda feels like the right direction. I'm running an Nvidia 3060TI on a Ryzen 5600 chip set on an Asus tuf motherboard. Any other distros I should be looking at, and does somebody have a link for a comprehensive guide to installing? I'm looking to continue running windows on the side until such a time as I am comfortable enough with linux that I don't need it.

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[–] BananaTrifleViolin@kbin.social 5 points 11 months ago

To answer your questions:

When it comes to other distros; I currently use Linux Mint with KDE Plasma desktop. The debian/ubuntu ecosystem is pretty easy to use and there are lots of guides out there for fixing/tinkering with Linux Mint (or Ubuntu which largely also works) because of their popularity. Lots of software is available as ".deb" packages which can be installed easily on Linux Mint and other Debian based systems including Ubuntu.

I've also been trying Nobara on a living room PC; that is Fedora based. I like that too, although it has a very different package manager set up.

Whatever distro you choose, Flatpak is an increasingly popular way of installing software outside the traditional package managers. A flatpak should just work on any distro. I would not personally recommend Snap which is a similar method from Cannonical (the people behind Ubuntu) but not as good in my opinion.

In terms of desktop environments, I like Linux Mint's Cinnamon desktop, but have moved over to KDE having decided I prefer it after getting used to it with the Steam Deck. KDE has a windows feel to it (although it's very customisable and can be made to look like any interface). I've also used some of the lightweight environments like LXDE, XFCE etc - they're nice and also customisable but not as slick. You can get a nice look on a desktop with a good graphics card with KDE. The only desktop environment I personally don't like is Gnome 3 (and the Unity shell from Ubuntu); that may just be personal preference but if you're coming from Windows I wouldn't start with that desktop environment - it's too much of a paradigm shift in my opinion. However it is a popular desktop environment.