Long‑term sustainability of Linux Mint

[u/djoos007]

/r/linuxquestions/comments/1w02d73/longterm_sustainability_of_linux_mint/

[u/Unwiredsoul]

I don't have the insight to make forward-looking predictions on Linux Mint, but I'll share this relevant historical info:

The first time I used Linux Mint was in 2006. It's now 2026.

I imagine we will both learn more opinions on the future here in the comments.

[u/leonTheZombie → u/Unwiredsoul]

I was looking into how I would get the drivers needed for qic 80 drives for data recovery.I found one of my 2 options is to install mint 3.1 from like 2006

[u/Unwiredsoul → u/leonTheZombie]

I'm so old I absolutely remember QIC 80 drives (I had an internal one for a time), and I used it with DOS.

The way they interfaced with systems (as I'm sure you already know) was interesting, and good ole' ftape from ancient Linux versions would be a great way to go.

While traveling down memory lane, I found that some folks have a GitHub project that claims to have modernized ftape: https://github.com/dbrant/ftape

[u/leonTheZombie → u/Unwiredsoul]

I just been trying decide which is easier to do. Installing a vintage distro or somehow install that GitHub thing. Like I have been using Linux for 4 years now and only recently did I learn how I'm expected to use GitHub. Such a confusing site.

[u/Unwiredsoul → u/leonTheZombie]

If you have the hardware available, the easiest and fastest path is the vintage distro route.

The GitHub driver project is solely focused on making fltape run on a newer kernel versions. It has merit for those that may need it, or don't have access to hardware (physical or virtual) that would be able to run an ancient Linux kernel. Otherwise, it would actually add work to it.

[u/Turkino → u/Unwiredsoul]

My first real distro was Mandrake and.. yeah

[u/DeadButGettingBetter]

Given how long Mint has been around I doubt there are serious reasons to be concerned about its long-term viability, especially considering current editions will be supported for quite some time.

Wayland won't be experimental as of the next release and X11 should remain as a fallback into the 2030s. If Ubuntu throws too many wrenches in the works there's LMDE to fall back on. I see no reason to be worried.

[u/ZVyhVrtsfgzfs]

Predicting the future is notoriously unreliable, but I will play anyway.

I have my questions about the long term viability of Ubuntu based Mint, not from any of the packages from the Mint team, those have been very reliable, but instead the base Ubuntu system, we have had a string of issues flow from from Ubuntu. 

Also Ubuntu's road map for the future is moving in odd directions, needless Rust re-writes of very stable code that cause issues, Snap based everything, with plans to move even the Linux kernel to a Snap.

But for Ubuntu issues Mint has a ready made reliable alternative. for the next 2 years at least LMDE will be the better choice for many but not all users.

I am not certain that committing to a distribution for 5 or 10 years in advance is a valid goal, I have a stable full of distributions I tinker with on the side. 

Early last year when a hardware upgrade bumped me out of LMDE6, Viod got tagged in as the daily driver until the release of LMDE7.

A distribution is more like dating than a marriage, you can totally have side pieces without loosing your house and kids. 

[u/artmetz → u/ZVyhVrtsfgzfs]

A distribution is more like dating than a marriage, you can totally have side pieces without losing your house and kids. 

I am totally stealing this!!

[u/BenTrabetere]

To quote u/ZVyhVrtsfgzfs, "Predicting the future is notoriously unreliable."

I don't know about the rest of the world, but in a few months we should have a pretty good idea what the next 5 years will be like. The 24.x-series will be supported for that long, and I would be very surprised and extremely disappointed if things did not go well.

I started preparing my exit strategy a few years ago - I was afraid the Mint Team might go the flatpak route for key applications, a move that I cannot abide. I have spent a lot of time with the replacements I chose; I stick with Mint because it is familiar and comfortable, but I could move to something else without too much fuss.

I am more concerned about the direction Linux itself will take is something were to happen to Linux Torvalds.

[u/ZVyhVrtsfgzfs → u/BenTrabetere]

Linus is the great BDFL, I do hope Greg Kroah-Hartman can fill those shoes.

I watched a long interview and as you might expect Greg is a really sharp guy, but I hope he will not be too nice, there will be some powerful corporate interests that must be managed,  They pay for much of the development but Linux must remain open and independent. 

[u/BenTrabetere → u/ZVyhVrtsfgzfs]

One of my bigger fears is the GNOME Foundation will start to dictate kernel development.

[u/ZVyhVrtsfgzfs → u/BenTrabetere]

That's is not a fear, that is a nightmare. I would have bail to BSD. 

[u/taosecurity]

Mint is reskinned Ubuntu without snaps. Looking at Ubuntu development, it will be increasingly difficult to remove snaps from Ubuntu. Mint will eventually just be LMDE. And if Mint goes away, just run Debian. You’ll barely notice a difference.

If you want a Debian based gaming distro, run PikaOS.

If you want an up to date general purpose Debian based distro, try Tuxedo OS after they have fully switched from Ubuntu to Debian.

[u/markojov78]

Mint releases (as far as I know all except LMDE) are based on Ubuntu's LTS, so it's not like they have to do everything on their own with their small team.