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title: There are no beginner GNU/Linux distributions topics: ["gnu/linux", "linux", "free software", "opinion"] DATE: 2024-11-10 ---
I see this so often and it's so wrong. That if you know GNU/Linux, you must switch to Arch, Gentoo, Fedora, OpenSUSE or at least Debian. That if you use Mint or Ubuntu, you're not a real GNU/Linux user.
These distributions happen to be perfect for someone who hasn't used GNU/Linux before: everything can be done graphically, they have lots of apps in the repository and a large community. But this isn't Android; you aren't forced to not use the terminal, add your own repositories, modify the kernel, or compile your own software.
I use Linux Mint, but not because I can't use Debian or Arch. I use it because, besides being user-friendly and having introduced me to GNU/Linux, it is very stable, Cinnamon is a good desktop (not perfect, but good), it has a good community, supports most hardware, is very customisable, and most importantly, the developers are really nice, and not doing stupid things for profit.
Distribution 'difficulty' is not about how smart you have to be to use it, but about how much time you're willing to spend in order for it to work. You can still customise any (regular) distribution to your liking; the 'beginner' ones are just easier to get started with. But there's no reason why one should be ashamed of using a 'beginner-friendly' distribution, if they like it.
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---
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title: There are no beginner GNU/Linux distributions
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topics: ["gnu/linux", "linux", "free software", "opinion"]
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DATE: 2024-11-10
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---
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I see this so often and it's so wrong. That if you know GNU/Linux, you must
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switch to Arch, Gentoo, Fedora, OpenSUSE or at least Debian. That if you use
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Mint or Ubuntu, you're not a real GNU/Linux user.
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These distributions happen to be perfect for someone who hasn't used GNU/Linux
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before: everything can be done graphically, they have lots of apps in the
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repository and a large community. But this isn't Android; you aren't forced to
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not use the terminal, add your own repositories, modify the kernel, or compile
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your own software.
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I use Linux Mint, but not because I can't use Debian or Arch. I use it because,
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besides being user-friendly and having introduced me to GNU/Linux, it is very
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stable, Cinnamon is a good desktop (not perfect, but good), it has a good
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community, supports most hardware, is very customisable, and most importantly,
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the developers are really nice, and not doing stupid things for profit.
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Distribution 'difficulty' is not about how smart you have to be to use it, but
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about how much time you're willing to spend in order for it to work. You can
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still customise any (regular) distribution to your liking; the 'beginner' ones
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are just easier to get started with. But there's no reason why one should be
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ashamed of using a 'beginner-friendly' distribution, if they like it.
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