no you're changing far more then just the apps. you changing desktop environment (probably) pulling in entirely different versions of the apps you have, and a different kernal version (named different.) probably technically possible but I'd prefer to backy data up and reinstall as that's really easy
I didn't mean to imply downgrading the kernel or any apps, but if there is anything one distribution has that yours doesn't, then there's no reason that you can't install it or add repositories. I used to just install PCLINUX, which was a simple dist, and then add whatever from Red Hat and Debian (rpm and apt). These days, you can back up and restore it anyway
the issue is you have to pick which version you want installed as the different repos probably will have different version (or they're the same version but for some reason there's an OS specific string in the version string [most notably I think the kernal does] which makes it a very easy way to break stuff)
[The Debian docs explicitly warn you that if you do this you're going to have trouble](https://wiki.debian.org/DontBreakDebian#Don.27t_make_a_FrankenDebian).
That's not saying that you're not allowed to do this. You just get to take responsibility for the consequences. "It's yours, and if you break it, you get to keep the pieces", as they say.
I have killed my Linux box many times in the past, especially trying to install drivers for Nvidia, which weren't included in the repository in my days
changing apps can just be like changing your car seat colors or giving it a paint job. Changing distros could be more in line wit changing the chasis. Especially if one were to switch from say Ubuntu to Arch.
However switching from mint to ubuntu would be more possible.
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Replace_a_Linux_installation_with_Gentoo_in-place
This is advanced but should be doable. I wouldn’t recommend it for a newbie.
Anyone does this needs to realize they're setting themselves up for all kinds of weird and unique bugs. Please don't waste the time of the distro maintainers with bug reports.
Taking the time to back up your home directory an install from scratch will save you a hell of a lot of time in the long run.
This is officially supported by NixOS to some extent. The [Additional installation notes](https://nixos.org/manual/nixos/stable/#sec-installation-additional-notes) include a section on installing from another distribution, including replacing the other distribution itself via `NIXOS_LUSTRATE`.
Changing distros in-place is usually fraught because you need to simultaneously install everything with a new package manager while also cleaning up everything left behind by packages using the old package manager. It works a little better with NixOS since it uses such a radically different directory structure, so it can assume that _everything_ in `/usr`, `/bin`, etc. is safe to remove and/or replace with links to the nix store.
I know Google did a live migration from Red Hat Linux(not RHEL, Red Hat) to a Debian based setup over the course of a few years. https://www.usenix.org/conference/lisa13/technical-sessions/presentation/merlin
Google can afford to full-time employ any number of clever technical experts as required for such a migration.
The rest of us are relying on ourselves, while having to work (retirees notwithstanding) to pay the bills.
You will waste more time that reinstalling the distro from scratch and then reinstalling and reconfiguring the system. You will have a lot less bugs too if you do a clean install.
Yeah no.
There are some edge cases like [centos2ol.sh](https://github.com/oracle/centos2ol) but that only works because CentOS and Oracle Linux are the "same" thing with different branding & repos URLs.
Similar could be done with Zorin to Ubuntu a few years ago, since I did it. At the time, I think Zorin used Ubuntu repositories for part of its distro. Mint and Pop!_OS might also be able to be converted to Ubuntu or Debian or vice versa. Converting from Debian to Ubuntu may also be possible, but in general these conversions are ugly.
I ran the RHEL to OEL conversion on several servers, and even with the script had to fix some things manually.
***Most basic level***: Save your home dir to an external disk, and then install a new distro. Copy your home dir into the new install & manually install/configure any extra software that you need. BAM new distro!
***More advanced level***: Save your home dir to an external disk, and write a [bash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bash_(Unix_shell)) or [python](https://www.python.org/) script to install/configure whatever programs you need that aren't part of a base install. Now install a new distro. Copy your home dir into the new install then run your script. BAM new distro!
***You're doing it right level***: Sync your home dir to a private git server. Write an [ansible playbook](https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/playbook_guide/playbooks_intro.html) to configure the system the way you want + pull down the git repo of your home dir. Install new distro, unleash ansible. BAM new distro!
[***God-tier***:](https://xkcd.com/378/) Set the universal constants at the start such that the universe evolves to contain the disk with the data you want.
Anything else is utter savagery. Alma Linux's [Elevate](https://almalinux.org/elevate/) is pretty neat, but you can't leave the RHEL-clone family of distros with it.
I don't think it's a good idea. Research or try different things, then make a decision based on what you prefer.
Too much to go wrong trying to force one into the other.
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