this post was submitted on 15 Feb 2025

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"SO proof" distro (self.linux)

submitted 6 days ago by Hozerkiller to c/[email protected]

130 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Any recommendations for a linux distro that i can set up and be reasonably sure my non techy SO won't break accidentally? The set up doesn't have to be easy it just has to not break once I leave her alone with it. My first thought was popOS.

My plan is to have 2 profiles and not give her access to sudo. I just don't want to have to go into it unless she needs a new program.

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[–] [email protected] 32 points 6 days ago (3 children)

Any of them. Just don't give the root password.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 days ago

This is what I do with my mom and her boyfriend. I've had them on Linux for a few years now and neither have managed to break anything.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Might end up in dumb annoying situations like setting up wifi requiring root and such

[–] [email protected] -2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

That is not a thing in userspace. No idea what you're even alluding to here.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

Surprising amount of stuff requires root (or used to). It reminds me of this glorious rant from Linus from his less domesticated times (that he made on Google Plus hah). https://forums.freebsd.org/threads/linus-to-opensuse-devs-kill-yourself-now.30414/

The highlight:

So here's a plea: if you have anything to do with security in a distro, and think that my kids (replace "my kids" with "sales people on the road" if you think your main customers are businesses) need to have the root password to access some wireless network, or to be able to print out a paper, or to change the date-and-time settings, please just kill yourself now. The world will be a better place.

Oof.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

This is old as hell, and on a locked down account. You don't need restrictions like this for a personal use machine, and a base install of any distro wouldn't have this type of issue whatsoever. It is not a modern concern.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Friend, this is from my own system I'm running right now lol.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Oh wild, I thought "No way!", but apparently yes way as I (Tumbleweed/KDE/Standard User) get all of this which I imagine would be disorienting to non-Linux users. Just going to Wi-Fi & Networking, not attempting to make any changes even.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

Don't have this issue on archlinux. I think there is a group, which if you are part of, you can change networking settings.

[moonpie@cachyos-x8664 ~]$ groups moonpie
sys network wheel audio kvm lp storage video users rfkill libvirt docker moonpie

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

The common theme with us and the complaint from Linus is openSUSE. Dunno why these groups aren't set up as default on Tumbleweed, maybe some old and dusty security policy. This case seems to be some polkit nonsense going on, dunno why this is the default. But this is the sort of stuff a user without root password might bump into that would cause them pain.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 days ago

Yes, and it's a standard group anymore, which is why something is up with these folks saying this affects them.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Then your account is not part of the proper groups to control NetworkManager as integrated in Gnome. That's on you.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Friend, that's KDE lol.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Doesn't matter what DE it is.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

NetworkManager as integrated in Gnome

Uhhuh. Dunno why you brought up Gnome when it doesn't seem to be at all relevant

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Set up Tailscale and an SSH key for remote tech support

[–] corsicanguppy 3 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Or just wireguard and ssh?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

If you already have a public facing server for them to connect to then sure.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

Or just ssh. Personally I'd set up a remote desktop in addition to that