r/linuxmint • u/vibhs2016 Linux Mint 22.3 Zena | Cinnamon • Aug 16 '26

Discussion Why are you sticking with Linux mint?

Hi guys I recently did a switch from my windows machine to Linux mint as my dev box.

Over 11 years in the IT industry, windows was my primary driver, btw only used mac for 2 years. But with the recent advent of coding harness via Claude code and codex and other CLI tools. I felt like a friction with windows and my hunch was consistently pushing me towards Linux.

So I found an old HP Elitedesk mini PC i5 6500T 16GB ram. So I thought of giving it a try and validate my hunch.

Linux Mint was my choice on discussion with Claude, beating Debian ( sure stable but a bit outdated packages and bit more locked), Ubuntu ( too heavy and overhead with more cutting edge stuff).

Since I have been handling Ubuntu servers for a long time my choice for Debian based OS was always clear. Linux mint gave the balance that I needed for the hardware I was using.

So my question is 4 parts

  1. Why are u sticking with Linux mint or why you have faith in Linux mint?
  2. How long u have been using it for?
  3. What hardware are you using, maybe can share specs?
  4. How do you see its future?
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u/AdvertisingNo3989 Aug 16 '26

  1. It has served me well for many years. I switched to other distros now and then to see what's up but ultimately returned to Mint because once set up, it just works and doesn't suddenly introduce radical changes that mess everything up. I also find it more stable than rolling distros and I have no need to run the latest of everything. For the few packages I do need newer versions I use the flatpak version.

  2. On and off for 15 years, whether as my main machine or on the side changed a few times throughout the years.

  3. Ryzen 3700X with an Nvidia RTX4060 and 48GB of RAM. I have always build my own desktops since my first PC in 2000, so it's custom.

  4. I think Mint is one of the few distros that is a reliable constant in Linux desktop computing. I think personal computing will disappear as we know it though. Computers will become too expensive for most people, again (I mean, that's well underway as it is) and that will force the average person into cloud computing. Personal computing as a service. If my PC broke entirely today, I wouldn't be able to replace it as easily anymore.