this post was submitted on 15 Apr 2024
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Linux
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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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Tips for switching to linux:
Determine if your hardware will play nice with linux. If you have Broadcom or Realtek wifi/bluetooth be aware that linux doesn't always have great drivers for those. Nvidia gpus don't always play nice with wayland.
Certain anti-cheats for games just don't work on linux.
(might not apply to you since you're in IT) Try to avoid using obscure linux distros or bleeding edge distros like Arch. You'll run into issues and not many people will be able to help. Debian, Fedora, and Ubuntu seem to be the popular distros rn for most people.
I don't agree with the 3rd take. I used both Debian and Arch based systems. Both break equally often (quite rarely), but when smth breaks in a Debian based system there's little support or help, while on Arch everyone is willing to help you and you have Arch wiki, which is in a league of its own. Also thanks to AUR, there so much more software available out of the box on Arch
I'm actually switching my mom over to Manjaro today specifically because of the AUR. The reason she hadn't switched before was a very niche embroidery program that we were both convinced would be a Windows exclusive, then two days ago I found out that someone had packaged it earlier this year!
Agree with the broader conclusion that a first time linux user should probably avoid gentoo, arch, whatever, but its not because nobody will be able to help you, more just that the expected level of polish is a bit less.
It isn't considered a huge inconvenience to have to use the CLI or edit a config file by arch users, but for ubuntu especially they are more bent on building something that "just works" for most people (with the tradeoff being it's a commercially exploited product, and the innards of GNOME and the like tend to be more of a black box and less tweakable than say, a tiling WM)
But if you do want to dive in and learn how more of the internals work and how to configure things at a lower level, you will find a lot of help with issues, and very detailed documentation for a lot more things in Arch, vs Ubuntu. I find the ubuntu community online to be sort of a middle ground between the detailed technical help I've gotten from Arch communities, and the "here's some magic steps that worked for me, no idea why" type of thing that is prevalent on windows support communities.
Which isn't to say ubuntu people aren't helpful, but the critical mass of users isn't the only thing that matters, it also helps if the users are knowledgeable, and friendly (some arch people fail at this, though I've lucked out and really not had any bad experiences)
I meant more that, when it comes to newer bleeding edge software, some of the bugs introduced won't be as well recorded and people won't know exactly how to remedy your specific problem. Whereas with debian/ubuntu or fedora, often its as simple as typing whatever problem you're having into a search engine, plugging some junk into the terminal, and it fixing the problem 90% of the time.
But I agree with your comment overall so have my upvote! :)