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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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I feel like I'm missing out by not distro-hopping (lemmy.ca)

submitted 9 months ago by Zoidsberg@lemmy.ca to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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I've been dailying the same Mint install since I gave up on Windows a few years ago. When I was choosing a distro, a lot of people were saying that I should start with Mint and "move on to something else" once I got comfortable with the OS.

I'm comfortable now, but I don't really see any reason to move on. What would the benefits be of jumping to something else? Mint has great documentation and an active community that has answers to any questions I've ever had, and I'm reluctant to ditch that. On the other hand, when I scroll through forums, Distro Hopping seems to be such a big part of the "Linux experience."

What am I missing?

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[–] Bitrot@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

If you're happy you're not missing anything. If you're using your computer and the computer itself isn't the hobby, you're also not missing anything. If you're an enthusiast, or super curious, you're missing out.

I've been doing this nearly three decades at this point and have at least tried most things, often for years at a time. I use Mint today because I have other things to do now than play computer (rather I'm paid to play computer for someone else). Before that was Fedora, but the release cycle is too short for me and there was a risk of messing up my system in a big upgrade every six months (rare as it is). I like Cinnamon because it has sane defaults, just enough customization without being ridiculous, and very little distracting swooshy effects that look janky on older computers, and Cinnamon runs best on Mint imo.

Trying new things has been very beneficial in that I'm familiar with most things and can use anything, but if I worked in marketing or something that wouldn't matter much.