linux4noobs

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linux4noobs

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How to install a default collection of tools when upgrading / reinstalling (feddit.org)

submitted 1 day ago by ackthxbye@feddit.org to c/linux4noobs@programming.dev

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I'm getting ready to switch but there are a few things that I could not figure out how to do optimally. Here's one of those, maybe you can help me with that:

For the past 30 years on Windows when I found a new application I wanted to use I put it in D:\Tools. Almost all applications don't actually need to be installed even if they are only distributed in an installer. That meant that to move my tool collection to a new computer I pull out the D-Drive, mount it in the new computer as D and I'm instantly ready to go.

On Linux there are 2 scenarios flatpak or traditional Package Manager distributions.

For flatpaks putting them on a specific drive seems easy enough.

But how do I handle applications that are not (yet?) available as a flatpak? I tried Nix but decided I'm not ready for that. I could put everything in a bash script but that seems clumsy and would be work to maintain. Is there any other clever way to avoid manually installing my defaults when I updgrade / reinstall my OS?

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[–] dustyData@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

If it is for distro hopping, you are better served by liveUSB and virtual machines. Just remember the reason a Linux “distribution” is called that, is because of the package manager and the precise collection of libraries and software packaged for the fresh install and available for distribution on repositories. Managing those is 90% of the work of maintaining a distro. Therefore, your favorite software might not even be available on a different distro's repository. Flatpaks will work everywhere that supports them, but you're at the mercy of the distribution's managers including all of the portals required for desktop and system integration. No package manager I know of accepts a file with a list of packages to install. That's what bash is for, learn basic scripting and that should cover your use case then.