Is Linux Ready for Primetime? Desktop Distro Shootout! - Rob Braxman Tech
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Date: 2022-03-20
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Comments and reviews: 10
Jim
As I see it, no way is Linux ready for prime time. It's sources and governance are too loose to ensure that Grandma will be able to use it--particularly if she needs meaningful support. Linux distros are typically built layered on top of other distros and include code and features contributed by various development teams separate from and not controlled by or even well-coordinated with distro managers. Plus, distros tend to be free, and -free- doesn't pay for a professional support staff. Instead most Linux users have to rely on -community- support--meaning that when they encounter a real bug they receive mainly palliative -help- from other Linux users with little hope that a trouble ticket will find its way to the responsible developer.
I've been a software developer for several decades writing both application and operating system code. I've worked for Microsoft and have been a Linux user for about 25 years. My current favorite Linux distro is Linux Mint. Mint 20. 2, the current version, has IMHO, made a complete mess of audio hardware support. There are two competing and conflicting audio support packages: ALSA (advanced Linux sound architecture) and something called -pulse audio-. Programs written to use ALSA can't properly use the audio hardware if pulse audio is present. Somehow pulse audio intercepts the audio stream and does perverse things to it before it reaches the hardware. So for these programs--including a video editing and playback app I wrote--pulse audio must be disabled in order for them to produce sound properly.
Mint used to provide a simple way to disable pulse audio. -Simple-, that is, for experienced Linux users--Grandma couldn't hack it. Then some clown posing as a developer took away our ability to disable pulse audio, with the result that our ALSA-using apps are broken. Who is responsible? A developer at Mint? One at Ubuntu (on which Mint is built? One at Debian (on which Ubuntu is built? None of the above but instead someone out in the weeds somewhere who is supervised by no one? Can even the Mint team figure out who decided, unilaterally, to shove pulse audio up all our noses? Do they care? Meanwhile we experienced Linux users are using system administrator privileges to mess around with Linux system files trying to fix the problem without causing too many ill side-effects, and Grandma is f--ked.
Welcome to the Linux ecosystem.
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As I see it, no way is Linux ready for prime time. It's sources and governance are too loose to ensure that Grandma will be able to use it--particularly if she needs meaningful support. Linux distros are typically built layered on top of other distros and include code and features contributed by various development teams separate from and not controlled by or even well-coordinated with distro managers. Plus, distros tend to be free, and -free- doesn't pay for a professional support staff. Instead most Linux users have to rely on -community- support--meaning that when they encounter a real bug they receive mainly palliative -help- from other Linux users with little hope that a trouble ticket will find its way to the responsible developer.
I've been a software developer for several decades writing both application and operating system code. I've worked for Microsoft and have been a Linux user for about 25 years. My current favorite Linux distro is Linux Mint. Mint 20. 2, the current version, has IMHO, made a complete mess of audio hardware support. There are two competing and conflicting audio support packages: ALSA (advanced Linux sound architecture) and something called -pulse audio-. Programs written to use ALSA can't properly use the audio hardware if pulse audio is present. Somehow pulse audio intercepts the audio stream and does perverse things to it before it reaches the hardware. So for these programs--including a video editing and playback app I wrote--pulse audio must be disabled in order for them to produce sound properly.
Mint used to provide a simple way to disable pulse audio. -Simple-, that is, for experienced Linux users--Grandma couldn't hack it. Then some clown posing as a developer took away our ability to disable pulse audio, with the result that our ALSA-using apps are broken. Who is responsible? A developer at Mint? One at Ubuntu (on which Mint is built? One at Debian (on which Ubuntu is built? None of the above but instead someone out in the weeds somewhere who is supervised by no one? Can even the Mint team figure out who decided, unilaterally, to shove pulse audio up all our noses? Do they care? Meanwhile we experienced Linux users are using system administrator privileges to mess around with Linux system files trying to fix the problem without causing too many ill side-effects, and Grandma is f--ked.
Welcome to the Linux ecosystem.
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Duane
Rob you did not tell us which distro you were using MATE in. Since Mate is not a distro itself you should have done that. Your dismissing some distros because you did not like the icons is really cutting those distros short. I personally would recommend new users take a computer that is a few years old and try different distros giving each one a few weeks to a month to get a better idea of the what the distro is like in real use. Also you did not consider the forums of the respective distros. I think new users will find this to be very important in the long run because this is where they will be turning for help. I think MX Linux has the best forum but of course I am biased. I came to MX from Mepis which MX Linux originated from. I started using Linux in 2002 having very little computer experience before that. I used Windows 98, Windows 2000 and Windows XP for a short time. Nowadays it is so much easier to try Linux. I do not understand why more users have not tried it.
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Rob you did not tell us which distro you were using MATE in. Since Mate is not a distro itself you should have done that. Your dismissing some distros because you did not like the icons is really cutting those distros short. I personally would recommend new users take a computer that is a few years old and try different distros giving each one a few weeks to a month to get a better idea of the what the distro is like in real use. Also you did not consider the forums of the respective distros. I think new users will find this to be very important in the long run because this is where they will be turning for help. I think MX Linux has the best forum but of course I am biased. I came to MX from Mepis which MX Linux originated from. I started using Linux in 2002 having very little computer experience before that. I used Windows 98, Windows 2000 and Windows XP for a short time. Nowadays it is so much easier to try Linux. I do not understand why more users have not tried it.
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IVAN
Not quite ready, still have many issues under the hood. ageing monolithic kernel is very outdated of security that is 95% effective for hackers of penetration and successful compromised than on windows 10 approach is way longer and harder to hack. only thing that temporary solve many issues is not use systemd. use distro is pure to it's alternative sysinit, few with successful make systemd free distro, take void and guix example. pure systemd free while devuan and artix are hybrid systemd free. meaning it still depends on systemd lite version files. but nothing wrong with that to make it simple than guix is much harder while void is functional working with as artix just few stuff is not bleeding edge as archlinux but good enough for production that requires little more compiling and recommend use flatpaks instead of compiled missing software.
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Not quite ready, still have many issues under the hood. ageing monolithic kernel is very outdated of security that is 95% effective for hackers of penetration and successful compromised than on windows 10 approach is way longer and harder to hack. only thing that temporary solve many issues is not use systemd. use distro is pure to it's alternative sysinit, few with successful make systemd free distro, take void and guix example. pure systemd free while devuan and artix are hybrid systemd free. meaning it still depends on systemd lite version files. but nothing wrong with that to make it simple than guix is much harder while void is functional working with as artix just few stuff is not bleeding edge as archlinux but good enough for production that requires little more compiling and recommend use flatpaks instead of compiled missing software.
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robert
All roads lead to Arch. It doesn't make assumptions for you other than the systemd init which is in essence becoming the industry standard like it or not. You -can- compile your own kernel with gentoo or something but for my purposes I saw no advantage in doing so. Ubuntu still clings to Gnome3 which is hot garbage and trying to make everything snap packages. No. just no. Go with mint if you want one of the apt based ones. Every version I have tried works as intended. As far as Manjaro goes I don't think it's a good idea to try and sell a system based on one that's aimed towards developers and power users to would be windows people and mint users. Things break in Arch. I accept this fact but the newb users will have absolutely no clue how to fix it and you have to wait until someone else gets around to fixing it.
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All roads lead to Arch. It doesn't make assumptions for you other than the systemd init which is in essence becoming the industry standard like it or not. You -can- compile your own kernel with gentoo or something but for my purposes I saw no advantage in doing so. Ubuntu still clings to Gnome3 which is hot garbage and trying to make everything snap packages. No. just no. Go with mint if you want one of the apt based ones. Every version I have tried works as intended. As far as Manjaro goes I don't think it's a good idea to try and sell a system based on one that's aimed towards developers and power users to would be windows people and mint users. Things break in Arch. I accept this fact but the newb users will have absolutely no clue how to fix it and you have to wait until someone else gets around to fixing it.
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OffGrid
I use alot of pc's that are 10 years old roughly and Linux Mint Mate performs way better and longer then windows did when they first came out on the market. I also found LibraElec work very well on these old systems too, especially when the o/s is on a USB drive and I can swap from 1 pc to another without a peep of it installing new drivers or different drivers and if it does then its all in the background. So with my tested units i can store them in a faraday cage and be pretty certain they will still work when we get hit with another Carrington Event soon, cos i tell ya, if shit hits the fan and we are all Zucked, atleast I can watch my media library to pass the time after foraging for food till i die. Buckle up Rob ur gonna need to investigate doing a similar backup cos the time is near.
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I use alot of pc's that are 10 years old roughly and Linux Mint Mate performs way better and longer then windows did when they first came out on the market. I also found LibraElec work very well on these old systems too, especially when the o/s is on a USB drive and I can swap from 1 pc to another without a peep of it installing new drivers or different drivers and if it does then its all in the background. So with my tested units i can store them in a faraday cage and be pretty certain they will still work when we get hit with another Carrington Event soon, cos i tell ya, if shit hits the fan and we are all Zucked, atleast I can watch my media library to pass the time after foraging for food till i die. Buckle up Rob ur gonna need to investigate doing a similar backup cos the time is near.
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Simon
When windows 7 was ended I installed Linux Mint current version at the time. I had spent a year on the lead up to the windows 7 end date learning it on an identical computer. By the time the end occurred I had enough Linux knowledge to become a full time Mint user. I'm currently on cinnamon 20. 2. While 19. 3 was rock solid, 20. 2 has a few odd problems regarding Micron based hard drive docks, but as a daily driver it is otherwise very reliable and low maintenance. I have been saved by the outstanding advice from the Mint community and the methodical use of a built in program called Timeshift. I use older hardware and I would recommend both 19. 3 and 20. 2 to any who wants to stop funding a billionaire's life.
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When windows 7 was ended I installed Linux Mint current version at the time. I had spent a year on the lead up to the windows 7 end date learning it on an identical computer. By the time the end occurred I had enough Linux knowledge to become a full time Mint user. I'm currently on cinnamon 20. 2. While 19. 3 was rock solid, 20. 2 has a few odd problems regarding Micron based hard drive docks, but as a daily driver it is otherwise very reliable and low maintenance. I have been saved by the outstanding advice from the Mint community and the methodical use of a built in program called Timeshift. I use older hardware and I would recommend both 19. 3 and 20. 2 to any who wants to stop funding a billionaire's life.
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Jeff
I have used desktop Linux for over 22 years. I have used Debian since woody. I use the Mate desktop environment but also enjoy XFCE as well. Debian is not for new users who just want to turn it on and go for that Linux Mint is your go to distro. After a while you will want to learn more and do more I switched to Linux and never looked back. You can make your desktop look the way you want themes and icons can be changed and resized.
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I have used desktop Linux for over 22 years. I have used Debian since woody. I use the Mate desktop environment but also enjoy XFCE as well. Debian is not for new users who just want to turn it on and go for that Linux Mint is your go to distro. After a while you will want to learn more and do more I switched to Linux and never looked back. You can make your desktop look the way you want themes and icons can be changed and resized.
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Apathy
It is shame that the most advanced desktop comes hardly as a default. I use Ubuntu LTS with KDE flavor called KDEneon (maintained by experienced KDE people) which is kind of a distro kind of a repository. It has its own ISO and a site.
nvidia opensource drivers + virtualbox = not great
Essentially this is a cpu stressing test for non optimal drivers. OK test on a Linux phone not so great as in a desktop.
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It is shame that the most advanced desktop comes hardly as a default. I use Ubuntu LTS with KDE flavor called KDEneon (maintained by experienced KDE people) which is kind of a distro kind of a repository. It has its own ISO and a site.
nvidia opensource drivers + virtualbox = not great
Essentially this is a cpu stressing test for non optimal drivers. OK test on a Linux phone not so great as in a desktop.
reply
Tilted
Frankly i don't care what distro I'm running. I hate them all. You have to pay attention to name of the apps that comes with the distro. A few releases later your favorite app may no longer included with the OS. What was the app I was using? It had silly name not related to what the app. Oh I can read the Release Notes to see what changed. Nope I don't have the patience to go looking.
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Frankly i don't care what distro I'm running. I hate them all. You have to pay attention to name of the apps that comes with the distro. A few releases later your favorite app may no longer included with the OS. What was the app I was using? It had silly name not related to what the app. Oh I can read the Release Notes to see what changed. Nope I don't have the patience to go looking.
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itech
With all the hopping I have done, Zorin has been the one I come back to the most. Mint being a short second. Pop is ok but I just like how Zorin works for me. Plus I bought the Pro version for the support and extra themes both. But especially the support. The 2 brothers working on the Zorin project are really doing great for the Linux world and the support forums are top notch.
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With all the hopping I have done, Zorin has been the one I come back to the most. Mint being a short second. Pop is ok but I just like how Zorin works for me. Plus I bought the Pro version for the support and extra themes both. But especially the support. The 2 brothers working on the Zorin project are really doing great for the Linux world and the support forums are top notch.
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