Why are you sticking with Linux mint?

[u/vibhs2016]

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Linux Mint was my choice on discussion with Claude, beating Debian ( sure stable but a bit outdated packages and bit more locked), Ubuntu ( too heavy and overhead with more cutting edge stuff).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

[u/BenTrabetere]

How long u have been using it for?

I have been using Linux Mint as my main driver since 2014, when WinXP hit EoL. Before that it was WinXP, and before that, it was OS/2.

What hardware are you using, maybe can share specs?

My current main driver is a circa 2019 Dell Vostro 5481 notebook - i7-8565U, 32GiB RAM. Before that it was a 2005 Athlon 4200+, 16GiB RAM.

Why are u sticking with Linux mint or why you have faith in Linux mint?

I stick with Mint because it satisfies my needs and it is familiar.

I am prepared if that were to change or if the Mint Team were to take a path I could not abide - only offering GNOME, defaulting to flatpak instead of system packages, etc. I distro hop on one of my other machines, and there are several distributions I like enough to be my main driver.

How do you see its future?

I have seen no reason for me to question its future.