It took me years to accept that Debian based distros, suck as a desktop.

Debian's one advantage is because they've been around forever, you can find pretty much anything in terms of software. You cannot ignore that DEB still significantly has a much wider selection of 3rd party apps.

But Debian as a desktop is frustrating. I could easily argue that their packages are older, and I know someone would argue, that is what makes it more stable. But that is not true, regarding a desktop.

Debian's true strength is as a server. Rock solid.

But as a desktop, where you've added many different features, functions, services, and apps, you're going to run into dependency issues, even if you install no new software (keeping only the stock install). sudo apt distr-upgrade which is the basic command to update everything, is considered "taboo" within the Debian ecosystem, for a reason.

I doubt many Debian groupies have stopped and asked themselves why there are so many built in commands to fix Debian, or continuous updated guides to fixing Debian. As a previous Debian users, it was only until I stopped using Debian, that I realized, I had a lot more free time on my hands.

As I said, as a server, with minimalist needs, Debian keeps on ticking faithfully, but as a Desktop, you're better going with an RPM distro. If you're OK with a little bit of work, perhaps Arch. -- I'm not joking (I was surprised, myself). Debian is not the distro for desktops.

#Linux #Debian #Windows #Ubuntu

Setting up my new @tuxedocomputers InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen 9 and loving it so far.

#Linux has come a very long way, my #ubuntu install runs buttery smooth, there are so many great apps to choose from, dual screen *just works* via USB-C. Expect a post on https://fredrocha.net on this onboarding experience.

This is the future I want to live in. :)

Alt...

An open laptop with dual screen.

This week's Linux and FOSS news:

LINUX NEWS

Linux kernel 6.12 released with real-time PREEMPT_RT. initial Raspberry Pi 5 support, Intel improvements, better laptop support, AMD and RISC-V upgrades:
https://news.itsfoss.com/linux-kernel-6-12/

Linux-libre kernel 6.12 also released with removed proprietary drivers (e.g. Realtek 8852BE-VT Wi-Fi driver):
https://9to5linux.com/gnu-linux-libre-6-12-kernel-released-for-those-seeking-100-freedom-for-their-pcs

Archinstall 3.0 released with revamped interface (each main setting of the installer is opened in a side panel rather than a separate page), ruff linting support, get_loop_devices() function for fetching loop devices etc.:
https://9to5linux.com/archinstall-3-0-arch-linux-installer-is-here-with-revamped-interface

Ubuntu 25.04 (Plucky Puffin) daily builds available with updated packages:
https://9to5linux.com/ubuntu-25-04-plucky-puffin-daily-build-isos-are-now-available-for-download

Rocky Linux 9.5 released Podman 5.0, enhanced Cockpit, updated development and monitoring tools:
https://alternativeto.net/news/2024/11/rocky-linux-9-5-released-with-podman-5-0-enhanced-cockpit-node-js-22-and-much-more/

Phosh 0.43.0 released with improved quick settings, accent color support, new Pomodoro timer quick setting, option to disable lockscreen authentication, save screenshots permanently, improved Squeekboard:
https://phosh.mobi/releases/rel-0.43.0/
(Idk how about you but I'm not that excited for desktop Linux updates, or most mobile updates, but I'm always excited for Phosh updates because there's some update in each version which makes my experience better (currently waiting for the next postmarketOS update to get Bluetooth quick setting status page so I don't need to open settings to connect my headset each time. The built-in screenshot feature is pretty weird, idk why someone would prefer saving screenshots to clipboard instead of as a permanent file, currently I use GNOME Screenshot because of this, even if it's not fully mobile friendly, will probably ditch it if I get Phosh 0.43.0))

(more Linux and FOSS news in reply)

#WeeklyNews #FOSS #OpenSource #Linux #LinuxKernel #LinuxLibre #Archinstall #Arch #ArchLinux #Ubuntu #Ubuntu2504 #RockyLinux #Phosh #MobileLinux #LinuxMobile #EnterpriseLinux #DistroRelease #LinuxDistro #LinuxDistribution #LinuxDesktop #DesktopLinux #FosseryTech

@nik Ich hab schon so einige #Linux-Install-Partys mitveranstaltet. Damals haben wir uns in der Regel entschieden, #Ubuntu aus bekannten Gründen nicht mit auf unsere Sticks zu packen. Trotzdem bin ich sicher, dass sich Ubuntu bzw. #Canonical sehr verdient hinsichtlich der Verbreitung von Linux sehr verdient gemacht hat – trotz aller Irrwege. Für viele war und ist Ubuntu ein Einstiegspunkt, nicht das Ende der Reise.

Warum Linux Mint als nicht-kommerzielle Distri da gleich auf eine Ebene gestellt wird, ist mir nicht klar. Das gibt es auch auf #Debian-Basis.
@korporal @maexchen1

#LinuxInstallParty

@Monal @sbb I think everyone is assuming I use a phone for messaging. I do not, and never will unless there is absolutely no other alternative. I use my desktop computer, which right now is running #Ubuntu Linux although I hope someday to switch (probably to PopOS with the Cosmic desktop when it is out of alpha/beta), but before that I used to run a 2014 Mac Mini with MacOS until Apple decided it was too old to run the latest version of their ever-increasingly enshittified operating system. So when I talk about #XMPP clients, I am specifically talking about clients that run on the Linux desktop or are cross-platform.

#Monal only seems to be for iOS and macOS and right now I am not running either of those, so can't try it. I remember trying it a few years ago in MacOS and I really did not like it then for reasons I can no longer recall, in fact I continued to use Adium which was a older than dirt program but yet it was the easiest to set up and configure (in part because it did not insist that the server have a valid certificate before it would even communicate with it). However it could only do text; trying to send images or files would always fail.

Now I am using #Gajim which is the only client I have found that ticks most of the boxes for desired functionality. It's not absolutely perfect but it's very usable once you get it configured correctly.

Also, I am not at this point real interested in using a public XMPP server because I only use XMPP for two reasons, to talk to and send files to other family members, and to get certain status messages from a couple of servers. None of that needs to be on a public server. And the main reason I stopped using IRC was because I didn't like it because nothing was permanent or searchable (which may be an advantage in some cases, but not if you are using it for software support or tech advice, where you could miss an answer to a question you asked if you log out or lose your network connection unexpectedly). But for one off casual use (where some software maker still thinks IRC is the bees knees), it is possible to connect to a web-based IRC client and ask your question, without even setting up a client, in fact on some servers you don't even need to log in.

I'm not saying no one should use XMPP rather than IRC, there are almost certainly use cases where XMPP is the best choice, but you will never convince me that it's easier to use. Not that I would want to use either one for group chats, but with LIRC I can simply go to a server site and go to their web client, select a user name, and join a particular chat using the chat name. With XMPP I would need to install software, figure out how to connect it to a server (and probably login) and then configure it, knowing full well I'd be lucky to find more than a handful of people in the same room. IRC was great before we had web-based forums, but not that many people want to sit around and wait for someone to show up that they may want to chat with (gamers MAY be an exception to that but I am not a gamer so can't speak to that).

We celebrate 20 years of Ubuntu! Happy Birthday with love from all of us. https://ubuntu.com/20years #Ubuntu #Linux