this post was submitted on 01 Aug 2023
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Opinion: Distributions that only change non-system pre-installed software or desktop environment should instead be packages or scripts (lemmy.ml)
submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by cyclohexane@lemmy.ml to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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The majority of Linux distributions out there seem to be over-engineering their method of distribution. They are not giving us a new distribution of Linux. They are giving us an existing distribution of Linux, but with a different distribution of non-system software (like a different desktop environment or configuration of it)

In many cases, turning an installation of the base distribution used to the one they're shipping is a matter of installing certain packages and setting some configurations. Why should the user be required to reinstall their whole OS for this?

It would be way more practical if those distributions are available as packages, preferably managed by the package manager itself. This is much easier for both the user and the developer.

Some developers may find it less satisfying to do this, and I don't mean to force my opinion on anyone, but only suggesting that there's an easier way to do this. Distributions should be changing things that aren't easily doable without a system reinstall.

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[–] phoenix591@lemmy.phoenix591.com 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

kubuntu is already literally just a package.

if you just install kubuntu-desktop (or something similar) from any buntu flavor you get it.

[–] cyclohexane@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

And that's exactly my point. You get the same experience by just installing a package rather than having to "distro-hop"

[–] skullgiver@popplesburger.hilciferous.nl 3 points 1 year ago

Hard disagree. I installed kubuntu on a Gnome Ubuntu to try it out and the duplication of system tools and helper programs was maddening. I had two key managers, two settings screens, three times as many daemons, and there was something weird going on with the theme I had applied.

During online installation it makes sense to pick a DE and install that, but unless you expect installer images to ship with every DE under the sun separate installer disks like Kubuntu make total sense.

[–] zagaberoo@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

But if you start with Kubuntu then it's not exactly hopping, it's just more convenient.

If people wanted to do it by package installation, they would!

In the end it's just more user choice, which is good.

[–] cyclohexane@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sure, you're right! But here's a proposition: it would be easier on both the developer and the user (without sacrificing user choice) if it was a package, or better yet, an option to check on the installer. It is still just the same amount of choice.

If people wanted to do it by package installation, they would!

In the current state, they usually can't. Maintainers do not provide these as packages, so you're forced to install a whole distribution just to try out their configuration of KDE

[–] zagaberoo@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago

I'm with you that it would be awesome to have more options to explore big changes like that.

I just don't see maintainers putting the effort into it. I don't think these DE-only distros are going anywhere anytime soon, and I'm glad they're filling a gap for the users that want it.