Is there a reliable, easy to use Linux OS? One with decent package support?
I am tired of Linux shenanigans and want something that works. I left Windows because it doesn’t work plus all the bs they have pulled recently. Now I am finding that many Linux are still difficult, broken by default mess.
Currently trying NixOS but I already have concerns.
Sorry, I misinterpreted your “I’m coming from Windows” as “I’ve never used something else”.
Those “Linux shenanigans”, as you call them, are and should not be the norm.
If your hardware allows it (e.g. no Nvidia), everything works plug and play in my experience. And even if your hardwar isn’t optimal, it usually works perfectly fine too after minimal tweaking (e.g. installing the Nvidia driver).
But seriously, if you have to “compile the kernel” and stuff, you’re doing something wrong in my eyes.
I’m also not super experienced and don’t even have a background in IT, and Linux is way less troublesome than Windows is for me.
If not having HDR is a huge deal-breaker for you, then maybe consider keeping a second drive for Windows there. I personally don’t even know if my monitor has that and couldn’t care less. Good news is, it’s coming soon hopefully. I personally prefer not having that above Windows.
If that’s (or similar stuff) your only reason for not using Linux then you never will. It’s just a different OS with different features and pros.
About distro choice, my favourite is Fedora Atomic, specifically uBlue. It’s a pretty new concept and exactly that what Linux should always have been imo.
It’s perfectly reliable and won’t break. I always had the tendency to brick my OS, and that won’t happen on that.
It’s not the only issue. That’s the problem. By itself it’s just an irritation. I think most of my devices have limited HDR support anyway. I would just suck it up and move on. The issue is it’s lots of stuff like this, mint doesn’t seem to work with VRR for example. Other distributions can do this but not mint. Similar issues with things like Waydroid. Mint really need to catch up as they are still the flagship distro most newbies will be pointed to.
There are two topics I am talking about. One is compiling the entire kernel, the other is compiling specific modules. If you use zfs, nvidia, or a few other things chances are you have had to compile kernel modules at some point. This becomes a problem when those builds fail, as was the issue with Debian on my server VM. If you have ever seen linux-headers or DKMS pop up when installing something then that’s to do with compiling modules. Other things I have had to manually compile modules for have been even more of a pain. This isn’t something I am doing wrong here - it’s necessary for certain hardware and software features like some WiFi adapters and TV tuner cards.
Compiling the entire kernel is recommended by things like Gentoo and is a whole other ballgame.
I sadly have to leave the conversation. I don’t think it will get further.
I don’t want to be rude or so, but you basically said “I know everything better and everything sucks”.
Maybe not Linux/ any other OS, but you are the problem? You really need to orient yourself and settle your expectations.
You want HDR/ VRR? Then use Windows and live with that.
You don’t want to use Windows? Then go for Linux and live with the drawbacks of having to wait a while for those features until they are stable enough.
Don’t like Linux? Then buy a Macbook and use it like everyone else.
As I said, Linux doesn’t require you to recompile the kernel or shit, on a normal setup, for reasonable use cases, it just works.
You can blame a lot on Linux, but not everything. It has its flaws, for sure, but if you break it every 5 minutes or have to jump hoops, then something is wrong in my eyes.
Do you really wanna know my advice?
Use your all-knowing CS skills and get a good paying job, and do your stuff, and not more, on a company laptop. If your job is to manage servers, then just do that and use vanilla Mint or so for that. You can change your wallpaper, but not more.
And then, after your shift, go home and learn gardening. It’s spring right now, grab a few seeds and grow tomatoes or something, I don’t know.
The way you are on right now will only lead to more frustration. Return to a simple life and don’t worry about recompiling kernels or shit. Peace ✌️
VRR it turns out can be enabled with just a couple config changes. So it will actually work in mint theoretically. If you had taken the time to check you would have known it’s possible and mint/cinnamon just haven’t added a setting for it yet like KDE have.
You should not be using mint for enterprise servers. Most don’t even need a GUI. Why would you ever think that’s a good idea?
I am sorry but you very clearly don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s not even about having a degree or whatever, you have less knowledge than I did around 17/18. There is nothing wrong with not knowing stuff, but pretending you have a clue is silly.
I made this post in a moment of frustration with the state of some Linux distros, including some aimed at advanced users. It was clearly a mistake coming here. There are some issues in Linux distros and Linux communities and you’re one of them.
Also if I could find a job I would have done so already. The job market for graduates in CS without experience is bad.
I actually have ublue (bazzite) installed on one of my drives. It’s not my favorite but I can see why people like it. Sadly I did actually manage to break it my home messing with fleek, one of the included packages.