thank you linux!
Posted by somianomoly@reddit | linux | View on Reddit | 28 comments
I'm a linux noob. I still use AI to help me with commands and set up configs, I can spend hours trying to fix the tiniest problems. But I truly enjoy that process.
What I love about linux is that you can think about something you want and then actually work towards getting it. Oh? You want picom to have animations, you can use a fork, or ever since V12 the main branch has animations built in.
You want a tiling window manager? Use i3 and make sure you don't get GNOMED (like i did).
I use linux mint and I'm loving it so far.
Ever since I switched to linux mint I've felt more ownership over my computer.
This is MY computer and nobody else's. These are my configs (helped with AI but still...), and these are MYYYYYY colors.
Thank you to the open source community, the linux community, and everyone who made this possible.
kramulous@reddit
Congratulations on now being hooked for life. One of us!
Pleasant-Leg8590@reddit
GNOME is my enemy...
Y0S_H1L0TL25@reddit
I HAVE FOUND MY BROTHER
Pleasant-Leg8590@reddit
sudo apt install Brotheryes... hello, brother :)
Y0S_H1L0TL25@reddit
sudo apt-get install ch1llbro
Propsek_Gamer@reddit
May I inquire what is windowmaker?
Y0S_H1L0TL25@reddit
a DE of sorts based on nextstep
AdMurky5620@reddit
Welcome old friend
TerribleReason4195@reddit
You are always welcome in the community, and free to ask questions if you would like to :-)
I would also like to address the fact that Linux is a kernel and the software that came with it is usually GNU, so give credit to GNU and say GNU/Linux. Enjoy!
secret019960609@reddit
you linux people are so damn nice
somianomoly@reddit (OP)
thank you for bringing that up to me! Will do from now on
BashfulMelon@reddit
GNU really isn't a larger part of a modern system than any of the other big projects. CPython and the Python standard library are foundational for a modern Linux system and even bigger than glibc but nobody says Linux/Python.
Xatraxalian@reddit
Using AI is the perfect usecase for this. I have 25 years of Linux experience, but still don't know everything. Yesterday I had a printer problem on Debian: I had upgraded from Stable to Testing, because I absolutely -WANTED- the latest kernel, firmware-amd-graphics and mesa for my graphics card. (I've had crashes since I upgraded to my RX 9070 XT).
The upgrade broke my printer; it worked in Stable (Debian 13), but didn't in Testing (Debian 14). So I checked everything I knew and still couldn't get it to work. Then I put my findings into ChatGPT.
"I have a printer that worked in Debian 13 Trixie (Stable) and it stopped working when I upgraded to Debian 14 Forky (Testing). The printer is detected when I plug it into the USB-port, but I can't add it with either KDE or the CUPS interface."
Then it came with some options to check, all of which I already did, except one: "AppArmor may block CUPS from accessing the printer." I asked why that would be the case. Answer: "AppArmor profiles may be lagging behind in testing. Check if CUPS is blocked." Question: "How do I do this?" Answer: "Provide me the output of these commands: ..., ..."
So I did. Result: "The situation is very clear. AppArmor is blocking CUPS. Fix it like this: .... Reverse this fix like this ... when Forky becomes stable and see if it still works."
And it worked. The printer works again, now that CUPS has been de-blocked. I would never have been able to find this on my own because I literally NEVER directly used (or specifically installed) AppArmor myself.
So... as long as you use AI to learn things and make sure you UNDERSTAND what is happening (if not, ask what is happening and why), you're good.
R4yn35@reddit
Why would you use AppArmor on Debian?
Xatraxalian@reddit
It is installed by default on a minimal Debian system. It is possible you may never have noticed, because you shouldn't. The only thing I noticed it is because CUPS hit that snag.
stormdelta@reddit
AI tools are extremely unreliable when it comes to system administration tasks like this in my experience, and will frequently send you down a rabbit hole of changing configuration you shouldn't be touching and leaving laypeople with misconfigured systems that will cause even more problems in the future.
It can handle very simple problems okay, and maybe intermediate ones if you already know what you're doing and how likely it it is to be wrong. But newcomers should be extremely cautious about using it for this.
Trogdor1597@reddit
This only makes you smarter. I have websites that I self host and made all using AI to assist in configuration of cloudflared, security guardrails, and writing the code itself. The first time I had an outage and my websites were down, yes I went down the rabbit hole, but I didn't mindlessly do it. I evaluated everything the AI was trying to get me to do, I was combative and questioning everything. In the end it was literally just starting the service (and enabling it to auto start), and as stupid as that sounds, the rabbit hole helped me learn it's not always some advanced issue, sometimes it's just the basics. This has helped me tremendously understand the infrastructure for self web hosting and even other things like minecraft server hosting. I'm currently going to school obtaining my bachelor's in Computer & Information Technologies and these experiences have seriously helped me further apply the material I'm learning.
The advice id say to a newcomer is, yes use the AI but always question it and do your own research on the side for concepts/material you don't yet fully understand. We all start somewhere, better to start here than no where at all.
Xatraxalian@reddit
My mantra against his is: if it didn't fix the problem, change the situation back to what it was before you tried the fix.
GameTeamio@reddit
That's awesome you're diving into linux and server hosting! The hands on experience really does help with understanding the infrastructure side of things.
I've been running minecraft servers on linux for a while now and it's such a good learning experience. You get to mess with port forwarding, systemd services, backup scripts, all that good stuff. Plus when something breaks you actually have the tools to figure out why.
The ownership feeling you mentioned is so real. Once you start managing your own servers you really understand what's happening under the hood.
I work for GameTeam and we see a lot of people who started self hosting and then want something more reliable for playing with friends, but honestly the learning experience of doing it yourself first is invaluable.
LocalDry3740@reddit
Linux is not easy for beginners and memory is a bitch sometimes. I have been using Linux for years... Oh my I'm old. Anyways. I still use google to remembered commands. I've had AI write small scripts for me (for things not super important, don't trust AI). Learning comes in different forms, don't be embarrassed to use AI and just be proud that you are using YOUR Linux and learning new things.
MaheshBabuuuuu@reddit
Same feelings here. I have made a recent shift to linux. Linux feels like a home to me, no AI bullshit. I can use it however I want, just like placing things wherever I want in my home. While windows feels like a corporate job i.e., using my personal computer under constant manager supervision.
MrKusakabe@reddit
Same here. I am using Mint since 1.5 years now, X11 is a bit annoying due to the lack of scaling which I worked kinda out by using a bigger font which also "inflates" the elements (e.g. title bars) with it. My initial sound problem (crackling) is only in the LTS kernel (6.8) and fixed with every HWE kernel since. I have nothing to complain. Heck, the ability to select the kernel itself or decline updates is something MS could not fathom.
I am reading the friggin patch notes that the Mint updater offers even though I don't understand many of the subsystems, it is just amazing to see what and how they fix or improve the system. I read the Mint blog. I read this subreddit which is, ironically*, the most civilized one on Reddit.
(* It's supposed to be full of angry Arch nerds but I look here for changes/things/discussion on how I will "personal compute" in future).
Since August 2024, my Mint is basically the same. The "minimize icon" and the Wifi icon changed a bit as well as the volume slider. That's it. My Dualbooted Windows however... Ribbon came back, I got weather widgets, my start menu has been defaulted twice, my Firewall has been reset so I get pop-ups all the time and it starts with an idle RAM usage which is not even happening when I have a browser open with 10 tabs.
As said before, I am going to monthly donate to Mint once our worker's union gets the payrise through. The side is greener on the Linux side. Not the perfect English lawn, but close to it.
Y0S_H1L0TL25@reddit
WAYLAAAAANNNDDDDD
CarloWood@reddit
Do NOT comply with age verification. Our PC should remain our PCs.
No-Elk6835@reddit
Welcome aboard son!
nincesator124@reddit
I am new as well as I always wanted to go to Linux but was too lazy now I am planning on making a post about it on how to transfer cleanly
OliMoli2137@reddit
Nice you're happy with Linux!
Also, you should check out swaywm which is "a drop-in replacement for i3" but wayland
TerribleReason4195@reddit
and checkout swayfx for the eyecandy.