this post was submitted on 12 Jan 2024
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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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I just switched from Ubuntu, which I've been using for almost twenty years, to Mint 21.3 and I'm impressed. Not only does it seem to have solved my printing problems (at least with one day of use so far, but I've had zero failures compared to multiple failures per day with Ubuntu), it just seems snappier (or is that snapless?) and smoother overall. Just dumb little things like remembering my sound device settings after reboot and letting me know the printer was out of paper. Ubuntu just seems clunky by comparison now. Hopefully it isn't just the honeymoon phase.
No it's not just a phase. Mint really is very good which is why it's very popular and widely regarded as the overall best distro whether beginner or advanced user.
The team really do make it their goal to have a user friendly, capable OS that helps you instead of hinders you.
I use Linux Mint Debian Edition because I'm done with Ubuntu but the Ubuntu based mint is still excellent compared to Ubuntu itself.
Mint widely regarded as the best distro for advanced users? I must have missed it.
Not trying to shit on it or anything, but I've never heard the sentiment.
I've fooling around with Linux distros since RedHat 5 and Mandrake 6. Even wore the sackcloth and ashes of Slack for a bit. What I have learned is that it's fine to use a "beginner's distro" or run Slack and boot directly into a terminal to run Emacs all day.
Whatever gets the job done or floats your boat. It's all about choice.
As I mentioned somewhere else, getting a system to do what you want is the easy part. The impressive part is offering a solution that can be sustainably maintained long-term, at low effort for the user.
All the distros are Linux, they are identical underneath basically. Mint is Ubuntu. You don't think advanced users use Ubuntu? Ever heard of The Enterprise?
All I'm saying is that it's NOT ONLY a newbie distro. It suitable for all levels.
Personally, I'm not the biggest fan of Debian's and by extension Ubuntu's development and distribution model. That being said, it's my personal preference, and not an objective judgement on quality.
Mint doesn't really have any features that make it especially interesting for advanced users that it doesn't inherit from Ubuntu or by extension Debian. Or does it?
Again, not trying to shit on it or anything, but Mint's goal was always to create an easy distribution, which is no small feat. But this is nothing I'd associate with "advanced users".
Don't think of Mint as an "easy distro", but rather as a distro that tries to stay the hell out of your way as much as possible to get things done. Any OS - Linux, Windows, Mac, BSD, or Unix is merely the means to the end goal of the user and not the reason itself. I don't want an interesting or complex distro. I want a distro that helps me to do a task.
You want something interesting? Give LFS, (Linux from Scratch), a try. That's an advanced distro that you can make as interesting as you desire.
I wouldn't call LFS an actual distribution. Also, while anything but easy, getting a Linux system up from scratch is the easy part. Actually building an infrastructure to maintain it is hard.
I just downloaded the default (Cinnamon) Mint. Is there a particular reason to go with the Debian version?
Just my opinion, but no I don't think there is a generalized reason to choose LMDE over LM or the other way around. Try them both and see which you like the best. Use that and be happy.
Typed from my LM Cinnamon 21.3 upgrade from 21.2.
No. The regular version is fine and gets updated more often. For people who want their system not updated so often, the Debian edition only gets a new base every 2-3 years
Sounds like I made the right choice.
I did have the same old printer failure today though. I suspect its endemic to Linux (or WiFi printing in Linux) given a Google search turns up the same issue in a bunch of different Linux forums. Debian based and otherwise. It was quicker to right itself in Mint than it was in Ubuntu anyway.
@Underwaterbob @st3ph3n
I like Mint too, got it on my old laptop.