In the end of November 2022 (1 year ago), I switched from MacOs to Linux (Debian with KDE Plasma) on my MacBook.

No regret! Was a very good decision.

I think, I’ll never go back.

Experience:

  • I did not know about KDE Plasma until 1 year ago. The picture in my head about Linux was pretty much GNOME. I’m a huge fan of KDE Plasma now. KDE Plasma 6 in 2024 will probably be awesome.
  • The GitHub repository “Awesome-Linux-Software” was awesome during the first weeks. It made me realize that most of the stuff I was already using, is also available for Linux. Only software I had to leave behind: Affinity Designer (IMO far more intuitive to use than GIMP, sorry FOSS community) and Visual Studio for Mac (which is dead anyway)
  • The only advanced thing I had to do in the beginning: My WIFI connection is always gone when I close my MacBook, but there is not automatic reconnect when I reopen it. None of the usual stuff recommended when using Debian on a MacBook helped. So, I had to write a service that checks for this (something with rmmod, modprobe, brcmfmac, …). Probably too much for a casual user and hopefully not necessary for them…

TODO in the next year:

  • Trying out gaming on Linux, maybe buying a Steam Deck
  • Migrating to KDE Plasma 6 (and switching to Wayland)
  • Recommending our religion Linux to others
  • 0x4E4F@infosec.pubEnglish
    22·
    1 year ago

    Try Void. I was aiming at Arch as well, but then I stumbled upon Void… never made the switch to Arch.

      • 0x4E4F@infosec.pubEnglish
        3·
        1 year ago

        • It doesn’t use systemd, it uses runit.

        • The repo is full of any software you might need, including proprietary (through xbps-src).

        • Everything just works, if it doesn’t it’s probably your fault.

        • It’s a rolling release distro, yet focused on stability and usabilty, so you won’t get the latest and greates, but instead builds that are known to be solid. For example the kernel, it’s not the latest, as is with Arch, but it’s maybe one or two minor versions behin. The same applies to software, they’re known to jump versions if the current build proves to be unstable.

        • Lightning fast boot up. It’s also the fastest distro there is, apart from the *BSDs.

        • Compiling and testing is a breeze thanks to xbps-src.

        • A lot of tools and scripts that make building templates for software not in the repo very easy.

        • Supports a lot of architectures. NetBSD is the only other POSIX OS that supports more architectures than Void.

        There are other things, I’m sure, but these are the ones I can think of ATM.

        • vrighter@discuss.tchncs.de
          4·
          1 year ago

          it’s pretty much just arch without systemd then. which is enough of a dealbreaker for me, as I think that systemd is the best thing to happen to linux since sliced bread.

          • 0x4E4F@infosec.pubEnglish
            1·
            1 year ago

            No, it’s not Arch without systemd. Arch breaks a lot more than Void does. Ask Void users when was the last time a Void update broke their system. I use it as a daily driver, plus for a lot of other things (at work and home) that are considered mission critical. I would never use Arch for that. Also, it’s faster than Arch, it supports A LOT more architectures than Arch does… or any other Linux distro for that matter (LFS excluded).

            • Cwilliams@beehaw.org
              1·
              1 year ago

              Personally, I’ve never had an Arch update break my system. But it’s probably only a matter of time

        • MonkderZweite@feddit.ch
          1·
          1 year ago

          Everything just works, if it doesn’t it’s probably your fault.

          Not even console locale did on my notebook, have to fix that setup sometime. And the installer is pretty barebones and a bit buggy.

          Supports a lot of architectures. NetBSD is the only other POSIX OS that supports more architectures than Void.

          Nononono, there are only two POSIX certified linux distros: K-UX and Huawey’s EulerOS.

          • 0x4E4F@infosec.pubEnglish
            0·
            1 year ago

            Not even console locale did on my notebook, have to fix that setup sometime.

            What exactly did you do that you couldn’t change your locale? You do know that you have to reconfigure glibc-locales afterwards.

            And the installer is pretty barebones and a bit buggy.

            What exactly is buggy about the installer?

            Nononono, there are only two POSIX certified linux distros: K-UX and Huawey’s EulerOS.

            POSIX certification costs money. There are a lot of distros and OSes that are POSIX compatibe, just not certified.

            • MonkderZweite@feddit.ch
              1·
              1 year ago

              You do know that you have to reconfigure glibc-locales afterwards.

              Oh, i did? Thanks anyways!

              What exactly is buggy about the installer?

              I had to work around it so that it doesn’t send me to (disk? network? not sure anymore) setup again and again.

              • 0x4E4F@infosec.pubEnglish
                1·
                1 year ago

                I had to work around it so that it doesn’t send me to (disk? network? not sure anymore) setup again and again.

                Never happened to me. How long ago was this?

                  • 0x4E4F@infosec.pubEnglish
                    2·
                    1 year ago

                    You should also probably try and see if the same thing happens in a VM. The flash drive might be failing and I don’t think Void does CRC checks of files when copying them… definitely not when funning them, like the installer for example.

                    EDIT: I remember the installer bringing me back to the partitioning setup, but that’s because I partition manually, not through the Void installer, so the installer thinks that that step is skipped. No worries though, just go to the end of the installer setup and continue with the provided settings. If an adequate target partition has been set, it will install Void.