Disto Agnostic Toolkit
Posted by whyexist12345@reddit | linux | View on Reddit | 24 comments
I am curious what the community would think about a distro agnostic toolkit that would help install common things and some not so common things that new users struggle with when first installing Linux. It would handle things like samba setup codecs setting up repos give access to a common software center for the installed distribution and helpers to install applications. All in one place rather than separate apps and with minimal use of the command line. It would auto detect the distribution the environment and package manager for the installed system and act accordingly. Would this be genuinely useful?
Business_Reindeer910@reddit
I think it's better to just have them use flatpak for most applications, then you just get the codecs very easily.
TheSenFire@reddit
Don't ask, deliver. Otherwise the comments might eat you up. It has potential. And if you make it, some people will use it. Doesn't matter if it has been done before. Make it and then improve it. People new to linux could use it.
whyexist12345@reddit (OP)
DM me if you want to test it
anh0516@reddit
This is fundamentally impossible because of the sheer number of variables across Linux distributions and configurations.
edparadox@reddit
Totally not interested.
whyexist12345@reddit (OP)
Linux Toolkit isn’t trying to replace the terminal — it’s here to help people who aren’t ready for it yet.
A lot of tools are made for power users. This tool focuses on new and intermediate users, especially those coming from Windows/macOS who want to configure their system without memorizing commands.
It gives new users a safe, GUI-first way to handle early setup, installs, and tweaks — powerful when you need it, approachable when you don’t.
Not everyone wants this, and that’s okay.
But for the folks who do, it can make Linux feel welcoming instead of intimidating.
xooken@reddit
dont slop post
whyexist12345@reddit (OP)
I guess I don't understand?? I am trying to offer something genuinely useful. I am not slop posting I am trying to make life easier for us all to get along.
xooken@reddit
i dont have an issue with the tool, but commenting slop spit out from an llm is absolutely not helping you
whyexist12345@reddit (OP)
Yes I realized that too. I was just trying to be clear on how this differentiates itself from other tools. I removed it. I will say it comes down to this. The tool is distribution agnostic. It is a Swiss army knife of an app and it is GUI easy clickable and the user does not need to know CLI or use it. I feel if a user wants easy with a GUI, this app is it.
MelioraXI@reddit
There are a lot of tools for this already but if you think you can bring something that they don't, knock yourself out.
whyexist12345@reddit (OP)
There are tools that work across all distros in one app? Could you point me to one please? Something that works with arch debian and fedora families as well as Opensuse that is not a flatpak and preferably built in python.
MelioraXI@reddit
Not sure if it check all those requirements you just outlined but Chris Titus has an tool called Linutil.
There are some other tools I seen but don't recall name on the top of my head that does very similar things.
I rarely have the use for any of these things as I just script this myself to my setups but I'm sure some might want a one-stop shop sort of thing.
My comment was more point you in the direction of other tools so you don't have to reinvent the wheel.
whyexist12345@reddit (OP)
Got it — I’m familiar with LinUtil.
Chris Titus’ tool is great for people who already know what they’re doing and who are comfortable making system changes through TUI/CLI menus.
Linux Toolkit has a different goal:
Power users can always drop to terminal — but new users coming from Windows often feel safer with a GUI front door instead of a command prompt.
So not reinventing the wheel — more like offering a steering wheel instead of handlebars.
No_Bridge_8824@reddit
I do not want come over rudely, why did let an LLM write this comment? This does not give me personally confidence in you tool.
whyexist12345@reddit (OP)
Honestly I should have known better. I was trying to just be clear on what the tool can actually do. Honestly this has been built to handle multiple distributions and do it gracefully making tasks that I have searched for in the past, automating, fixing, and setting things up myself that took time. Now it can be done in a click of a few buttons. If folks want to continue to search the internet and follow guides that's fine. No one will ever be forced to make their life easier.
MelioraXI@reddit
Then you are offering something that it doesn't. That was where I was going with it.
whyexist12345@reddit (OP)
And I am honestly sure it is a great project. What I am working towards is made for folks that turn on their computer for email and web browsing but also for advanced users who want the tools when they are needed. I am trying to include simpler samba sharing with out having to know how to set up a smb.conf file. Or know that they need to add themselves to the samba users group. I am striving to make it easy with a GUI. Plus the toolbox is more than that. It is whatever you want it to be. Easy enough the 10yr old grandson can use it but powerful enough a sysadmin could use it. I respect the Linutil project, and others like it. I am just trying to lower the entry point barrier to Linux even more so when we have new users come on board no matter what distro they choose. We can pull them to hey use this. It's dead simple and you don't have to know commands to use it. Maybe it would help with the power users having to repeat themselves 100 times in reddit threads. 🤷🏻♂️
MCplayer590@reddit
it could be useful, but I'd need to try it to give feedback. is it available yet?
whyexist12345@reddit (OP)
Sent you a DM
theschrodingerdog@reddit
For system information there is kinfocenter, that is part of KDE (fully supported and maintained by them) and is totally distro agnostic.
whyexist12345@reddit (OP)
And does that handle Gnome and XFCE?
theschrodingerdog@reddit
Sure - but at least the first part of your screen was about system information. And kinfocenter is a standalone app, you do not need to be running KDE to use it.
FootFungusYummies@reddit
You will get burned out maintaining that because things constantly change.