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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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"SO proof" distro (self.linux)

submitted 5 days ago by Hozerkiller to c/[email protected]

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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] 18 points 4 days ago (3 children)

I’m gonna be the boring guy.

RedHat Enterprise Linux. (Or Rocky)

Most boring distro ever. Install it, turn on all the auto updates and be happy. Install something to take backups. Ignore any new major-releases, that laptop will die before the OS hits EOL.

Benefits:

Boring. It’s their tool, not your plaything.
Actually works
Will be reasonably secure over time with minimal effort and manual intervention.
If any commercial Linux software is required, it will most likely only be supported on RHEL or Ubuntu.
Provides web browser and word-processing. And we don’t need anything else.

Drawbacks:

Boring (for you)
Not ideal for gaming

If you install anything else than RHEL-derivatives or possibly Ubuntu on a machine that someone else will use, you are both in for a world of pain. It has to ”just work” without intervention by you, and it needs to keep working that way for the next 5 years.

Source: Professionally deploying and supporting multiuser desktop Linux to a few thousand users other than myself.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 days ago (2 children)

In the era of Flatpak, I kind of agree with you.

The primary drawback is the complete lack of packages. A home user is going to want something not included and then things fall apart. Flatpaks and Distrobox have made that a lot better.

If you could get away with a RHEL core and Flatpak for apps, you would have a pretty solid setup for a “normal” person.

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

I both agree with you, and kinda disagree.

If you venture into installing Flatpaks on such a system, just keep in mind that:

Auto updates must be on
The Maintainer of the Flatpak in question must be expected to provide security updates for the next five years or so. Personally, I’d only use it for packages provided directly by project maintainers (i.e. Dropbox from Dropbox Inc. as packaged by Dropbox Inc.).

Keep in mind, like 95% of normal people (we are not normal) don’t know what a package manager is and only use

”The internet”
Webmail
Google Docs
Spotify

For that, we need the default desktop install and the Spotify app (probably a Flatpak). That’s about it. It’s a glorified web browser with batteries. Treat it that way and keep it that way, unless your SO has any specific needs and requirements.

The limited and dated package set is kind of a feature. Only packages that should work until the laptop breaks, and only packages that won’t change randomly when you update (mostly).

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

Really seems like we are agreeing. I get that the limited package set is a feature. I also get that it is both too small and too enterprise to satisfy most people you would describe as a “SO” precisely because they are probably normal people.

You gave the excellent example of Spotify and suggested a Flatpak for that. Honestly, I am not sure where we are in disagreement. Especially since I started by “mostly agreeing” myself. We even agree on that. :)