We all have our favorite Linux distribution. Some of us like those that allow us to have the computer ready to use as soon as possible. Others prefer to spend time choosing every little detail of the configuration. The question is Are difficult Linux distros really difficult?
Of course, the concept of difficult or easy is debatable. I have heard symphony orchestra musicians (who have several years of study behind them) say that they cannot do things that their Tango or Jazz colleagues (in many cases amateurs) do. That has to do with the way in which you learn and practice
In other words, if you grew up with the GUI generation, installing from the terminal can be a culture shock, but for those of us new to the Commodore 64, typing commands is like coming home.
what does difficult mean
The RAE defines the word difficult as an adjective for something that presents obstacles. If we look for the definition of this last word, it informs us that it is an impediment, difficulty or inconvenience.
We must bear in mind that the causes of the difficulty vary. We have, for example:
- Number of steps to achieve a goal: A distribution that is already configured to use a desktop is not the same as one in which you have to write a series of commands to indicate which desktop to download and install.
- Documentation: If you know what you have to do, The Gimp is no more complex than Photoshop. However, Photoshop has millions of tutorials on how to do anything while The Gimp's documentation is not that complete.
- Specificity: The saying goes that if you only have a hammer you will see all problems as nails. Not quite, but while you can open a can with a hammer and screwdriver, it's easier to do with a can opener. In the same way, although you can technically install all programs on any Linux distribution, if you want to game, it's going to be easier to do it on SteamOS than on Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
Are difficult Linux distros really difficult?
In October 2006 I bought a computer with a Foxconn motherboard. Those in memory will recall that Foxconn hated Linux and at one time it was impossible to get any distribution to work. I did not know.
Luckily for me, the kernel developers had managed to fix the compatibility issues and Ubuntu 6.10 just came out. I just had to log in the first time with the monitor off and write a command that would adjust the bootloader resolution.
In the years that I've been using Linux, that and installing the driver for a non-pedigree camera to work as a webcam were the hardest for me. It only took me a couple hours of googling.
In my opinion, if you have the time, the patience and the desire, it cannot be said that they are really difficult.Difficult Linux distributions. What there are are Linux distributions that will require more of all three than others.
The reason for the most demanding Linux distributions
A few months ago someone asked me why I use distributions based on Ubuntu instead of using Arch Linux. I replied that it is for the same reason that I buy my food at Carrefour that is six blocks from where I live instead of going out to hunt her down. Time and effort.
Some of you could tell me that in the long run Arch Linux would end up saving me more time than a distribution that releases a new version every six months. It may be in the case of normal users, but I live testing programs from different sources and downloading files that I need temporarily. Reinstalling twice a year makes perfect sense to me.
On the contrary, for those who need a customized configuration, want to control each step of the installation or simply know how each part of the system works, choose Gentoo o Arch Linux it will be a better choice. Both have complete documentation.
For me there is only one really difficult distro and it is gentoo, in my opinion gentoo are big words, no matter how good documentation this distro has, it has a good dust. The rest I don't see as being difficult, arch took me 20 minutes to install following a tutorial and once you have everything fine-tuned it's all graphical, I see it as very simple, the only "difficult" thing is the installation, slackware would be more complex, although the Installation is easier, complex is to say, because it is not complex it is different, the problem with slackware is that it takes a lot of work to set it up and that you have time and desire for all that, because with slackware you lose a lot of time. And the rest I no longer see that they reverse any difficulty, the only difficult distros are gentoo and slackware, arch is to follow a tutorial and in 20 m you have it and that cannot be called difficult. Gentoo you have to compile absolutely everything, during the installation, after the installation and to maintain it, that is difficult.