I currently use a Mac, but I'm thinking my next machine might be a desktop. There's no way I'm gonna use Windows so that means Linux.
I'd like Distro recommendations.
My applications: 1. Brave 2. Thunderbird 3. VSCode 4. Libreoffice 5. Terminal 6. CPU & Memory meters in the top bar
My requirements:
NO BUGS, absolutely not one single bug. I will move heaven and earth to get the thing setup right, but I will not tolerate one single screw-up, no apt-get dependency conflict fuckery, nothing.
I'm open to minimalistic UIs like XFCE or LXDE if they can deliver no bugs. I need control+tab and control+tilda for switching windows.
@cjd As Linux is only a kernel, you won't get far if you attempt to install it on a desktop.
You can install whatever DE you want on any systemd/Linux distro.
>1. Brave Proprietary - you should use a free browser.
>2. Thunderbird Proprietary - you should use a free mail client - icedove is free.
>3. VSCode Proprietary malware - you should use a free IDE instead or at least VSCodium.
Trisquel GNU/Linux-libre offers the lowest bug-rate in my experience, as that software has really been tested by the time it gets to Trisquel - too bad it's very outdated.
>I need control+tab and control+tilda for switching windows. That can be configured in any DE.
@cjd@pkteerium.xyz Yeah, if you want bug free I would definitely stay away from #Ubuntu (and its derivatives), I've had plenty of issues on that one. I don't know why, it's supposedly the "beginner friendly" distro so you'd think they put effort into a painless experience. #Debian is more stable at least, but I've had apt break there too.
I've heard several people be very positive about their experience with F#edora, mostly because it seems to Just Work for them. Especially those who desire SELinux seem positive about it.
> The "no bugs" requirement is genuinely the only hard part here
I know, that's why I'm putting it front-and-center, and also indicating that initial setup and minimalism are sacrifices I'm willing to make.
I'm leaning more toward Fedora Atomic right now because of the fact that what you use is what someone tested.
That said, I've installed perfectly vanilla Ubuntu before and found what was objectively a bug within 20 minutes of clicking around to get it setup. So the "someone tested" part only works if there is actually someone testing it - and I get the feeling Canonical doesn't even boot their releases before sending them out.
@cjd@pkteerium.xyz I don't think any of these applications are going to give you any trouble. Most bars can also give you the CPU & memory meters, so it comes down to preference, really.
I'd personally suggest #Gentoo as it has been the most stable distro experience for me, but it requires more time to configure than #Debian for instance. You can install a DE like KDE on either and get a reasonably similar desktop experience.
The "no bugs" requirement is genuinely the only hard part here, you're a software developer too if I'm not mistaken, and you probably know how hard it is to make so much software play nice together without any single bug coming out of it.
@tyil@cjd Ah, you are the umpteenth complainer about Ubuntu! ' I've heard...', 'it seems...' blah blah blah. Not the best policy to back up a fantastic FOSS alternative to Big Tech, that f****g Trumpian Godzilla which has been infesting the internet for decades. Don't you think?