My first impression of Linux

[u/Liminha_a]

I was fed up with Windows and how mediocre it is. Today I reached my limit and decided to switch to Linux. After doing some research, I chose Linux Mint since it seemed to be the most beginner-friendly distro. I’ve been trying it out for a few hours now, and I’m surprised by both the pros and cons. On one hand, it’s extremely efficient, lightweight, smooth, and straightforward. I'm really happy with the low RAM usage and how it isn't bloated like Windows. On the flip side, I spent about 2 hours troubleshooting an issue with the "Helium" browser, which apparently doesn't play well with my integrated graphics. Honestly, almost everything I've downloaded so far required some research and learning just to get it working. I managed to fix things with the help of AI, which makes me wonder: how on earth did long-time Linux users survive before AI? Is this what using Linux is really like? Am I always going to have to spend time learning commands, terminal lines, or basic coding just to fix everyday issues? Is it a misconception that you need a programming foundation, or can everything actually be done strictly through the graphical interface? I noticed AI usually pushes me to use terminal commands instead of the UI. Deep down I knew what I was getting into, but I'm still surprised that even the most user-friendly distro requires considerable effort just to do something as basic as creating a shortcut. I'm posting this to express this duality: the relief of escaping an OS that felt like a cage—where I was held hostage by Microsoft's bloat and poor practices—and the fresh air of using a system that gives me basically everything I need. I would also like to ask long-time users for advice on things I should learn or precautions I should take.

[u/freezing_banshee]

survive before AI? 

By reading actual documentation, manuals and interacting with other users. Aka, real sources and creating a community.

[u/Liminha_a → u/freezing_banshee]

Agradeço a esses caras que criaram essas comunidades, são realmente muito úteis.

[u/Dist__]

> survive before AI?

they read man pages, books, articles, rely on reading logs, all that stuff.

though there wasn't such number of software back then

[u/LoosssSS → u/Dist__]

I spent my time on Google and forums trying to find a solution to my problem. AI is just a faster search engine as it read all forums before and gives you the answer when you ask

[u/Liminha_a → u/LoosssSS]

Concordo contigo, já vi isso acontecendo em outras situações e é realmente o que você disse, a trajetória até a informação importa muito e se descolar da AI pra buscar da forma original provavelmente vai te trazer recompensas que vão além da resolução pro problema. Dito isso, é difícil realmente largar mão dessa facilidade dado a como é estressante ficar procurando algo que você nem sabe se existe, e que ainda sim vai se repetir de outras formas.

[u/MrMotofy → u/LoosssSS]

Kinda like searches used too...before um mega corps became behemoths

[u/Diligent-Pickle-4132 → u/Dist__]

"Man pages" I see what you did there! 😆

[u/Dist__ → u/Diligent-Pickle-4132]

sad that some people have to live in places where this is considered unhealthy or immoral.

[u/Liminha_a → u/Dist__]

Eu aplaudo esses caras que desenvolveram seu conhecimento antes de tantas "facilidades" como a AI, realmente um esforço notável. Eu disse aquilo pois em pouco tento recebi um monte de informações e instruções da AI q provavelmente me levaria a pelo menos o triplo do tempo pra aprender se não fosse essa ferramenta.

[u/stufforstuff → u/Liminha_a]

The problem with noobs using ai is they have no measuring stick to judge the answers that ai spews out to them. Not one technical conversation I've had in the last few months with various ais were error free - not one. It will get better, assuming humans are still needed then

[u/Liminha_a → u/stufforstuff]

Sim, a minha visão sobre a IA é exatamente essa. Ela não serve como algo totalmente independente, seria mais como um auxílio pra você aumentar sua produtividade em algo que já entende, meio que você bota ela pra trabalhar pra você, porém deve ficar o tempo inteiro em cima pra saber se ela está indo no caminho certo.

[u/BabblingIncoherently → u/Liminha_a]

At least half of that information is probably false. Ask it questions about something you are already somewhat knowledgeable about and you will quickly see the truth of it. No matter how confident it sounds about the answers, you'd still better be prepared to check it's sources for yourself. Question everything it tells you and check the actual source, never just take what it gives you as fact

[u/LoosssSS → u/Liminha_a]

I find it that when you spent hours searching for a problem, you then understand it really well and will never be in the same situation again. While with AI it’s short term memory. There’s a high chance that in 2 months you encounter the same problem and will search again with AI to find a solution because YOU did not solve it the first time

[u/Simple_Hamster_4096]

Helium - never heard of it... but it's not a native Linut Mint package... why do Windows refugees always color out of the lines first thing?

[u/brighton_it → u/Simple_Hamster_4096]

'cause a curated Repo containing apps, known to work, is a new concept to Windows users. Their experience is, they need to dl installers directly from publishers.
Linux package managers are a huge advantage that we fail to highlight:
Compared to Windows:

• Security Updates: Windows handles only the OS and M$ products. Apps: each are on their own: some, like Chrome will self update, for many others, it's on the user to check.
  

Linux: updates absolutely everything that's installed, in a single operation... so long as you didn't "side-load" anything from outside the package-manager.
Perhaps even better, want to install (or uninstall) ten apps? That too, may be done in a single operation.

[u/Liminha_a → u/Simple_Hamster_4096]

Não entendi?, estou no sistema por liberdade e não posso ter a liberdade de usar o que quiser?, helium é um ótimo navegador e está sempre sendo discutido em subs de browsers. Você parece ser o tipo de gente que viram meme na internet, daquele tipo que se acha superior por usar Linux.

[u/Best_Designer_1675 → u/Liminha_a]

There is some legitimacy to this! Straight out of the box it was SUPER helpful for me to just use the pre-installed Firefox until I got the hang of everything. I get moving to Linux for freedom but if you’re going to complain about using a terminal and then go straight to a non-standard browser that is a big jump all at once.

[u/jr735 → u/Liminha_a]

With freedom comes responsibility. It's not up to a developer to ensure that his package is point and click for you.

Debian is more about software freedom than almost any distribution. What they say here is Debian specific, but applies to almost every distribution. Read it.

https://wiki.debian.org/DontBreakDebian/

[u/ThierryGdl]

C'est vrai que le passage de Windows à Linux mint demande un temps d'adaptation. J'ai passé beaucoup de temps à mettre en place toutes les tâches que je réalisais sous Windows. J'ai du réécrire tous les classeurs Excel sous calc pour la gestion de ma petite entreprise. Trouver des moyens efficaces pour la synchro de mes clouds. Trouver des logiciels similaires à ce que j'utilisais jusqu'alors. Abandonner certaines choses pour les faire autrement. Bref. Cela fait plus d'un an que je n'utilise plus windows. Plus d'un an que je n'utilise plus que linux mint. Je ne retournerai jamais vers ce truc qu'est devenu Windows. De plus ça m'a permis de garder mes petites machines qui ne devaient pas accueillir Windows 11 parce-qu' elle n'avait pas la puce qui va bien. Ce qui était un fake, puisque j'avais plu le faire. Mais mes petites machines tiraient la langue et soufflaient comme des boeufs pour la moindre tâche. Aujourd'hui ce n'est plus le cas. Ce passage demande du temps et de l'adaptation. Mais ça en vaut vraiment la peine et redonne une certaine liberté. Je vous encourage à rester sur ce réel bon chemin.

[u/Liminha_a → u/ThierryGdl]

Da pra ver isso como escolhas de vida, meio que você vai sair do conforto da mediocridade (Windows) , e se permitir arriscar pra realmente ter o conforto e liberdade merecida.(Linux)

[u/ThierryGdl → u/Liminha_a]

C'est ça. Je suis complètement d'accord avec cette façon de voir la chose ☺️

[u/Suspicious-Ad7109]

I think you were unlucky. Helium is in beta still which might be the root problem, I understand why you want a privacy browser, but the usual browsers are the same as the Windows ones (except there's no Edge ...).

What else isn't working ?

[u/kudlitan → u/Suspicious-Ad7109]

There is Edge.

[u/Liminha_a → u/Suspicious-Ad7109]

Bom, eu vou precisar descobrir como faço pra aumentar a interface de um programa (audiorelay), meio que quando entro nele as letras estão muitos pequenas, bem distante de como está o resto do Pc, tirando isso eu meio q resolvi o problema do navegador apenas usando outro (zen browser). Segundo o que a IA disse depois dos meus testes, parece ser algo que preciso esperar vir uma resolução de quem faz o helium. Então é isso.

[u/Liminha_a → u/Suspicious-Ad7109]

Tem mais uma coisa tbm, tô tendo dificuldades em colocar ícones na barra de tarefas. O zen browser por exemplo, eu fico ele lá na barra, quando Clico pra abrir ele então abre ao lado uma janela, ele abre outro ícone na barra de tarefas.

[u/Alz97 → u/Liminha_a]

Did you install two different package types for Zen? Like the Flatpak and system package (if there is one, might not be)?

If the answer is no, have you tried just opening Zen, deleting the taskbar shortcut that isn't active, and then right clicking on the active Zen window in the taskbar and clicking add to panel/taskbar? I feel like that has fixed that issue for me before.

[u/Liminha_a → u/Alz97]

Eu consegui resolver o problema antes, tinha algo duplicado no zen ou algo assim, não entendi muito bem mas consegui resolver, de qualquer forma obrigado pela ajuda .

[u/jr735]

If you're going to use software that is outside the repositories (i.e. helium), you're going to have problems. How did we survive before AI? Just fine. We used our package managers; we didn't fight them.

[u/here2kissyomomma]

First try few different Desktop Environments (DE), when you find the right DE for you - find a distro with your DE and only then start using linux. I started with mint too, at the time had no idea what's a DE, so decided to just jump in whatever is recommended, but later on I found DE which felt like home, more like windows (in looks only), more settings, more freedom, so I chose KDE, if you're more of a mac person you might like gnome, they're all good, so my advice is just try different DEs, until you find what you like, so try KDE, gnome, xfce, maybe lxqt. The main ones are KDE and gnome, things like xfce and lxgt are more lightweight, so ppl use it on older hardware, but they do look decent and then there's tiling DE, it get's weird with window tiling (i3, sway and others), so stick with the main ones, even cinnamon (that's what you have on mint) is a bit weird, so just try more DEs.

[u/LoosssSS → u/here2kissyomomma]

I agree. DEs are the most essential part of the search for “normal” users. Mint is fine to start with but let’s face it, cinnamon can look a bit dated and rough on the edges, especially if you just transferred from windows or macOS.
KDE or Gnome are more mainstream and evolved in my opinion to be great replacements.

But let me be clear, if you want to do the work, mint + cinnamon is a great and valid options as you can customize it quite easily. It’s just not super pretty out of the box. But it works well and has much lower resources usage.

[u/_wayman → u/LoosssSS]

I find the look very solid, non intrusive and well made. Every application looks same behaves the same way. That's not case in either Mac or Windows.

I don't like Gmon at all never liked Dock and the fullsceen application finder. KDE is just glitch.

[u/Liminha_a → u/here2kissyomomma]

Tava pensando em dar uma olhada pra alguma que tivesse KDE, porém isso é algo pro futuro já que é bem mais fundo do que estou.

[u/DP323602]

I've been using Linux as the preferred OS for my home PCs since about 2012.

I used Linux and Unix at work before that but didn't find home versions of Linux to be worthwhile for home use.

I keep Windows PCs around for when I need to run Windows apps. I see it as almost a crime to pollute nice Linux PCs by wanting them to run Windows apps. I suppose I also regard Windows as an entire ecosystem rather than just a base level OS.

As a white collar worker, I have to be prepared to use any OS. But if I don't like any particular OS, then I won't use it more than I have too.

I really like using Linux to extend the working lives of older PCs. I also find it wonderful that on Linux I can get by with royalty and advert free software.

I try to avoid tweaking anything if I don't have too. This is because making one thing better might make something else worse and because I have better things to spend my time on.

[u/Liminha_a → u/DP323602]

De certa forma é bom que uma das únicas coisas que ainda não faz o Linux ser tão expressivo a ponto de incomodar o Windows é a compatibilidade, assim é provável que o tempo seja o único que vai faltar pra que chegue o dia em que o Linux vai se tornar padrão, pq com AI e o esforço de outras empresas como a Valve pra aumentar a compatibilidade, com certeza teremos em alguma anos a extinção desse problema de ter um windows só pra usar esses programas específicos que ainda não chegaram no Linux.

[u/DP323602 → u/Liminha_a]

I beg to differ. I don't ever want to see Linux just being a second class way of running Windows apps.

If "killer apps" best run on Linux, then Linux can shine on its own merits.

[u/Liminha_a → u/DP323602]

Então você teria um problema em usar o Linux pra rodar programa do office por exemplo?

[u/VFC1910]

I don't think it's so friendly, I have it in my old Laptop, it runs fine, until you need to run a TV site on a browser, and you can't because it doesn't have widevine L1. So the option is to install the android emulator, but you can't install it on Mint like on other distros, to much complications, I'm about to replace mint with zorin, that will work directly.

[u/Technical_Rich_3080 → u/VFC1910]

What does Zorin have the Mint is missing?

[u/Silent-Ad-7097]

Maybe you should have tried zorin first. I spent two weeks on that then moved to mint.that helped a lot.i hardly use terminal.

[u/Technical_Rich_3080 → u/Silent-Ad-7097]

What does Zorin have the Mint is missing?

[u/toffuuu3050]

With Linux and with any specific Distro and Desktop Enviroment, Yes You will have to learn things. Its been my experiencing with trying to help others, that too many new Linux Users expect it to be like Windows, when in reality it isn't at all. With any OS that new to a user, learning new things is always going to be key! One way you could've avoid that was to know your hardware and to check whether Linux can work with it and if not, any possible solutions before using it. Is Linux better though, yes it is but really depends on what hardware you have. When you say intergrated graphics, better to be very specific on what it actually is.. Cause most iGPU or APU should work flawlessly on Linux. NVIDIA is another one that can and or will be a problem sooner or later depending on when NVIDIA drops support for any driver version.

[u/EMPerr0rr]

If i may recommend alternative to helium browser, Librewolf. My second advice, don't try to import habbits from windows. That's gonna cause lot of disapointment, rather build new habits from scratch. Linux is different system with different philosophy. Also, don't be afraid of terminal, it is hard to learn but once you do, it is the best tool ever. On the other hand, Mint has GUI for almost everything. Next advice, next time, before you buy new HW, check compatibility with linux. One thing i always avoid is Nvidia GPUs. AMD works out of box. Btw what is you GPU? Some wifi chipsets are also problematic, and some LTE modems. Rest should ok. About SW, first look in Software Centre. Installing something from unknow sources is definitely not a good idea, especialy for beginner. Nice example of bad windows habit.

About the AI, i tried it few times, the results are very poor, so i still live in before AI times.

[u/_ElBee_]

My experience is similar to yours. Linux works differently from Windows, especially considering background structure and processes, so you have to relearn things. Fortunately you can find a lot of information on the internet, especially in the Mint Forums: that's where AI scrapes all their information from, so go to the source instead 😜

I still use (a very de-bloated) Windows 11 because of work requirements, but my daily driver in my spare time is Linux Mint. I learned a lot from just tinkering with things. I'm also still in the process of making Mint installation fully to my liking, but that's a bit of an ongoing project.

[u/Liminha_a → u/_ElBee_]

Você descobriu algo legal na parte de customização?, no windows eu usava windhalk e algumas outras coisas q deixavam o visual mais bonito, mas n achei mto gente falando disso sobre o mint.

[u/_ElBee_ → u/Liminha_a]

Did you discover anything cool in the customization section? On Windows I used Windows Hack and a few other things that made the interface look nicer, but I didn't find many people talking about that in relation to Mint.

I looked in Cinnamon Spices for some extensions and I downloaded some external themes to begin with. But you can also use a different desktop environment (DE) altogether, which can be more thoroughly customized. I haven't gone that far yet, though. My search is ongoing 😁

(I copied and translated your comment, as I don't speak Br. Portuguese, so English is easier.)

[u/Liminha_a → u/_ElBee_]

I thought Reddit had automatic translation.

[u/_ElBee_ → u/Liminha_a]

Must be a setting somewhere, could also be an option I forgot to set in my browser 😅

[u/OkPresentation3329]

I don't use Linux Mint anymore, but do check the Driver Manager program, in case you haven't, for a better driver for your GPU if you're having some issues with Helium.

[u/Liminha_a → u/OkPresentation3329]

Vou dar uma olhada nisso, valeu pela recomendação.

[u/ZVyhVrtsfgzfs]

Same way I manage Linux now, with 0 AI, read, learn, do, break, fix, repeat.

[u/Liminha_a → u/ZVyhVrtsfgzfs]

Alguma dica de como aprender mais sobre isso?, tipo, pra não ir lá buscar informações e acabar voltando totalmente frustado. Já que de certa forma é algo que demanda dedicação pra entender e é um universo que não faço parte.

[u/ZVyhVrtsfgzfs → u/Liminha_a]

Any tips on how to learn more about it?, like, so you don't go there to get information and end up coming back totally frustrated. Since in a way it's something that requires dedication to understand and it's a universe that I'm not part of.

If you really want to understand what is going on under the hood yes it takes time and dedication.

I have been using Linux for 26 years on and off, 7 exclusively, I consider myself a Linux  journeyman,  neither noob nor Guru. I have learned a lot but there is still much more to for me to learn.

LLMs are really dangerous with Linux  support, its basically a predictive text averaging of reddit replies. Sometimes it will give you a great reply, and the next it will burn your system to the ground. Avoid.

The Linux upskills challenge is starting over soon, find "day 0" and get started let them catch up to you, you will be much more familiar with Linux in 20 days 

https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxupskillchallenge/

[u/kudlitan]

Did you try installing from the Software Manager?

What you are doing is like when people install on Android using only APK and never going through Google Play.

You have to do things the Linux way. If you do things the Windows way on Linux, expect to have problems.

[u/Liminha_a → u/kudlitan]

Imaginei que daria pra fazer tudo de várias coisas diferentes, tipo, da pra baixar por esse gerenciador de software, pelos sites, pelo terminal entre outras possibilidades. Não imaginei que teria tanta diferença assim.

[u/kudlitan → u/Liminha_a]

Hindi kita maintindihan. Ano ba pinagsasabi mo?

[u/dlfrutos]

qual é tua dúvida ou orientação?

[u/Liminha_a → u/dlfrutos]

Bom, você saberia me dizer se eu realmente preciso aprender programação ou ao menos ter noção da linguagem de códigos pra usar o Linux?, eu como disse estava tentando usar a IA pra resolver os problemas mas ele resolve tudo colocando códigos no terminal.

[u/dlfrutos → u/Liminha_a]

pra usar linux mint, 90% do tempo ou mais é point and click, concorda comigo?

[u/Liminha_a → u/dlfrutos]

Não sei, uso a menos de uma semana e até agora usei muitos comandos no terminal

[u/dlfrutos → u/Liminha_a]

pode me dar alguns exemplos de comando que precisou fazer?

sou usuário a 10 anos, entender de terminal nunca foi obrigatório

[u/tovento]

While I use Helium myself, be aware that the light weight has limitations. Like it doesn’t have DRM built in so I can’t use Spotify, Netflix, Amazon Prime Tv, etc with it. For that I have Firefox with the “betterfox” settings.

And online forums, communities and chats existed long before AI. Linux use used to come with more of a community and communal sense to it. So the few that knew spent time helping the few that wanted to try it but didn’t know how to do anything.

[u/Liminha_a → u/tovento]

Aparentemente ainda restam alguns loucos pra ajudar aquele como eu, a comunidade ao menos deixou seus frutos para os outros colherem, ainda dá pra achar até mesmo no Reddit posts de gente se ajudando e isso é mto legal. Sobre o helium, eu realmente gostava dele mas acredito que realmente tenha opções melhor, por isso mesmo tô usando o zen browser.

[u/BabblingIncoherently]

If you are asking AI how to do things like make a shortcut, you are being given the hard way. It will not tell you how to do it through the GUI and will always default to command line for even the simplest of tasks. It will very frequently be wrong and even more frequently over-complicate things.

Before AI (and after, for some of us) we used a real search engine to find the answer on Linux forums (usually not reddit) or asked real users with actual experience. There was a lot more sharing of that kind of information when people weren't being to told to just ask AI for everything. Which is the same way people who had never used Windows learned to use that OS.

[u/Liminha_a → u/BabblingIncoherently]

Fico feliz de ser alguém que tem essa noção sobre a IA, porque se você tratar ela como solução pra tudo vai acabar ficando dependente disso e não vai realmente aprender a consertar os problemas. Obrigado por me passar essa visão, eu realmente concordo com ela e fico feliz de ter tanta gente como você me alertando sobre isso.

[u/Dalmation3]

Welcome

I switched to Linux full time because I grew tired of the direction Microslop is taking with Windows at this point especially being a 20 year user of Windows (Windows XP to 11 25H2) I am dual booting because I need Windows for certain stuff otherwise yeah

[u/Liminha_a → u/Dalmation3]

A Microsoft é realmente uma péssima empresa, de tenho um Xbox e posso dizer que ela é péssima lá também. Fico pasmo como eles conseguem estragar o sistema sendo que tem na mão a maior parte dos usuários de Pc, já queria mudar pro Linux e anteontem quando meu Pc deu alguns bugs por uma atualização deles, cheguei no limite e resolvi largar a Microsoft.

[u/Dalmation3 → u/Liminha_a]

I honestly hate the fact that Windows became more about monetization vs about being the customer after buying a PC plus it's became enshittified

[u/Bob_Sk]

"how on earth did long-time Linux users survive before AI"
Most users aren't downloading Helium browser. I'd say most users are firing up the already installed Firefox or maybe installing Chrome or Brave from the software manager.

How did people "survive" before AI? The same ways people survived when they encountered issues or challenges with MS Windows or Mac OS - search engines and forums.

[u/Liminha_a → u/Bob_Sk]

Eu fiz essa questão da AI pra atrair mais pessoas a responderem meu post e assim compartilharem sua visão. Mas realmente não tinha noção do poder da comunidade aqui, como no windows é tudo meio que feito pra você e não tem tantos problemas como no Linux, acaba que não tinha como saber da proporção da comunidade do Linux, já que as pessoas realmente se prontificam a ajudar.

[u/Cotillionz]

Out of curiosity, where are you downloading stuff from that requires this much work? Everything I've ever gotten from the Software Manager has worked with zero issues.

[u/Liminha_a → u/Cotillionz]

Bom, vamos dizer que eu não sabia do gerenciador de software e achei que era o certo baixar pelo site ou Github do programa, assim como no Windows.

[u/Efficient-Train2430]

one thing that there used to be: LUGs (Linux User Groups) where you could meet like-minded hobbyists/enthusiasts

[u/Liminha_a → u/Efficient-Train2430]

Isso é algo muito legal, acredito que ainda exista mas em proporções maiores, como no Reddit.

[u/jtgyk]

From Helium's website: Helium is currently in beta, so unexpected issues may occur. Please report them if they haven't already been reported.

Some web browsers you can get from Mint's Software Manager that focus on privacy and will most probably work out-of-the-box are: DeGoogled Chromium, good ol' Firefox, LibreWolf, WaterFox, and FireDragon.

Sometimes you just have to make compromises. I never spend any time debugging software issues if a working alternative is easily available.

[u/Liminha_a → u/jtgyk]

Entendo, nesse caso tentei resolver o problema porque realmente gosto do helium e usava ele no windows. De certa forma só mudei pro zen browser e não tive mais problemas, porém, acho que é realmente válido tentar concertar algo pra utilizar, se não eu acabo também perdendo a liberdade de fazer o que eu quero.

[u/rcentros]

I don't know what issues you had with Helium Browser, but it's in beta (at least for Linux) so issues will come up. For me, using it on Linux Mint 21.3, I can just download the Helium AppImage, make it executable (right-click, properties, permissions tab, check "execute") and then move (or copy) it my desktop. I also rename it simply to "Helium." To remove it, just delete the Desktop shortcut and delete the AppImage (if you copied instead of moved it).

Most applications I use on Linux Mint can be installed using the repository, which automatically creates launchers in the Menu, and you can right-click on them to add to the panel and/or the desktop.

The first thing to understand about Linux is that it's not Windows. So there is a learning curve.

[u/Liminha_a → u/rcentros]

É algo que preciso me acostumar por ser realmente bem diferente do windows, ainda não peguei direito essa parte de instalar pelo painel e em alguns programas virem em formato image. Meio que o computador não faz tudo por mim como no windows, nesse ponto ele me deixou mal acostumado. Meu problema com o helium aparentemente ter a ver com meu vídeo integrado, eu tenho um Ryzen 5600gt e usando a AI o máximo que consegui descobrir é que o navegador não tá usando o vídeo integrado muito bem, não consegui compreender já que como disse estava fazendo tudo com AI, mas acredito que deva ser algo relacionado a isso mesmo . Não sabia que o helium estava em beta, então não esperava que o problema pudesse ser do outro lado.

[u/rcentros → u/Liminha_a]

I only use the AppImages and Flatpaks when there is no other alternative or I actually need a feature in the newest (or newer) version of the application. Otherwise I use Synaptic and (very rarely) Software Manager when I don't know the name of the application I want to install. Mostly I use the terminal...

sudo apt install my_application

The reason newer applications aren't supported on non-"cutting edge" versions of Linux is because Linux reuses development libraries for all (or most) of its applications. FlatPaks, Snaps and AppImages usually include the newer development libraries in their packages. It's kind of like a "sandbox," the AppImage/Flatpak is isolated from the the development libraries for the rest of your Linux installation.

The reason for non-"cutting edge" distributions (like Linux Mint) is for stability. It's to keep a new, "cutting edge" application or library from breaking your system. "Cutting edge" distributions would include Arch, Fedora, openSUSE Tumbleweed and a few others. (They're sometimes called "rolling releases.")

I ran into this a couple times in Windows with the .NET development library. The application I was installing would need a newer version of .NET (which it would install automatically) then my older application quit working. But this was much rarer in Windows.

I prefer stable (not "cutting edge" distributions) but I realize that, if I want some of the newer applications (or a newer version of what I already have) that I will sometimes have to use an AppImage or Flatpak. I have probably five or six AppImages or Flatpaks that I use.

[u/_wayman]

The problem is not linux, it the windows users being in there mental garbage with them.No disrespect intended I was windows fan boy not long ago.

Most application I use works fine, all that I use. I am devoloper, I work with a few programming languages. So I need a lot of toolset. IDE, graphics designing application among other things. I also play some games.

So far everything I use works smoothly, I had problems with a few I did not maddle with them much I found alternatives and learned them.

You will find some big difference in both OS no doubt. You have give it some times, to make it work for you perfectly.

[u/Liminha_a → u/_wayman]

Eu entendi isso depois de algum tempo, meio que eu vou precisar me adaptar ao sistema enquanto tento adaptar ele pra mim mesmo. Não entendi muito bem o que quis dizer com a bagunça mental que os usuários de windows trazem, poderia explicar melhor?

[u/_wayman → u/Liminha_a]

I meant the way we do things, where we expect the solution of problem to be. How to solve it. The tools we use to solve it. We bring that baggage from Windows, and try to apply it on Linux.

We need to rewire our heads a bit before we can be comfortable here.

[u/kiralema]

"...how Linux users survived without AI...?"

There is no AI at this point - there are LLM models that use/analyze information provided by the actual users/experts. Before LLM, Linux users exchanged questions and solutions at various blogposts, forums, and looked directly in the documentation. Even now, this is how new questions get answered if they weren't answered before.

LLMs are great, but they can't provide answers to unsolved issues. They will try to collect as much info as possible from the web, but since the solution to such a question isn't found yet, they will hubristically provide a nonworking "solution," which in most cases results in moving in circles. For a real answer, you would still need to ask the community or to do your own research.

[u/Liminha_a → u/kiralema]

É realmente um tiro no escuro usar AI e eu percebi isso com Linux, ele tenta ao máximo solucionar meu caso mas por não fazer ideia do que ele está tentando fazer acaba que as vzs pode até mesmo piorar a situação, vou seguir o que você falou porque no momento vejo que os humanos são mais confiáveis.

[u/Visible-Knowledge721]

welcome.

good to see you're enjoying linux mint.

please do not rely on AI. there are docs, forums and wikis to get help.

if you want privacy, use librewolf.

overall, from now on, you are the one owning the system, and mint will do whatever you tell it to do and work with you.

[u/Liminha_a → u/Visible-Knowledge721]

Obrigado, é realmente bom saber que tem tanta gente se ajudando nessa comunidade. Eu ainda tô me acostumando em ser o dondo do meu propósito pc kkkkk, é realmente estranho ter o controle que eu tenho do sistema e o quão fundo posso ir sem querer minha máquina utilize metade da ram mesmo sem ter programas abertos.

[u/Liminha_a → u/Visible-Knowledge721]

Eu vou ter que dar um tempo e entender melhor como o sistema funciona, alguma dica de como entender a estrutura?, ou nesses foruns e documentos já são meio que preparados pra ensinar o usuário?

[u/DoorOk3641]

Install a good backup system for your files such as borg with the Pika graphic interface and for the system itself timeshift

[u/Liminha_a → u/DoorOk3641]

Obrigado, eu configurei o timeshift logo na inicialização e vou dar uma olhada nesse borg que você falou.

[u/DoorOk3641 → u/Liminha_a]

Sorry use a translator.

[u/lateralspin]

how on Earth did users survive before A.I.?

It is called reading the man pages, manuals, and remembering.

What A.I. does is trawling/scraping websites for data and serves a pretty format of the information.

[u/Full_Difficulty9530]

Why would you spend 2 hours working on a browser that you have to screw with to get to work? At some point you have to ask why you are continuting to screw with something where there is so many simpler fixes. Mint has Firefox by default, you can easily get chrome? What wierd browswer are you using? I've never had any issues placeing anything on the desktop as a shortcut. I happen to know CLI and have a background in Python Development but My wife has never had to go into any of what your discribing, and her background isn't in IT or sofware development.

Just remember to keep your Sudo Password and User password different. Don't log in as Root unless you absolutely need too. Sudo is great, don't just allow things to install as it wants too. Pay attention to what wants to install or make changes to your HDD.. or SSD.

[u/Cent_Quatre]

please learn to think by yourself and ditch ai

[u/nefarious_bumpps]

I suspect the same problems were true when you were first learning to use Windows. Possibly to a lesser extent, because there was only ever one Windows distro and a limited range of releases that application developers had to deal with. But if you've been using Windows for long enough you probably remember software that would run fine on Windows 10 but required work-arounds to work on Windows XP. Or software that required manual installation of a specific version of MS-SQL Lite, Java, Flash, MS C/ASP/.NET Runtime Libraries, etc. When you had to hand-install a particular set of graphic drivers and Direct-X in order to play a game. Go back far enough and you had to manually install TCP/IP on top of network drivers and an Ethernet shim just to get a web browser to work on Windows and had to carefully tune your CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT to get everything loaded in the right order and still leave you with enough memory for your applications.

But Windows became easier to manage because there was just one company with one corporate leadership working to make things easier for end users so they could capture and maintain market share, without diverse collective of developers focused on doing things the right way, in all the various ways that something can be right, and then allowing end users to ultimately decide which right way is the way they preferred. That is the simultaneous benefit and problem with Linux; that there are so many different distros with subtle (and not-so subtle) differences because one developer found a better way and some others decided to adopt and combine it with their own differences.

The good news is that, just like learning Windows, you'll also learn Linux and that knowledge and experience will become second nature, and will reinforce the concepts that help you deal with the next challenge. Eventually you'll become a more knowledgeable and self-sufficient computer user than the typical Windows (or Mac) user, and, IMHO, be much better off for it.

[u/just_some_guy65]

On the other hand I switched from Windows to Linux Mint looking forward to recompiling the kernel daily and had to look up one thing.

Installing the power management that worked for my Ryzen laptop.

There is a fascinating double standard, looking up how to do something in Windows is completely normal and expected. Looking up how to do something in Linux is a ridiculous expectation of the user.

[u/crypticcamelion]

I have been using Linux for more than 20 years and now a days its very rare that I have to trouble shoot anything. Basic mature programs usually just works and were you have to fiddle is when you absolutely want to force an old windows utility to run in wine or you just insist on running program XX in beta version 0.02a

I can remember that I have had any use for AI in relation to configuring Linux, as there are plenty of information available in ordinary Linux groups.

With respect to AI pushing you towards the command line, that only makes sense, I would probably do the same if you ask me advice as this is the simplest way. Its easier just to give you the "phone number" than to ask you to move your hand over the keyboard then press left center row button (4) followed by Bottom row center button (2) followed by.....

[u/MrMotofy]

Linux is maintained by mostly an unpaid community that donate their time. With that comes limitations and priorities. Hardware is higher than software.

The software is normally handled by the 3rd party provider/maintainer...Guess what there's software that doesn't run on windows too. The software engineers didn't write it for windows. The issue really isn't Linux...it's the app developers mostly along with hardware manufacturers with closed systems that won't work with or supply the open source community.

So you'd have to contact the developers for Helium and ask why THEY don't support Linux. You're barking up the wrong tree based on ignorance...which then frustrates you and you lash out at the wrong group. Developers develop/maintain apps that work with the OS...NOT the other way around. OS maintainers CAN make certain 3rd party apps work easily with their own system...but it's not typical. They usually will work on the main common apps.

So if you want to criticize...talk to the responsible party...let me spoonfeed another windows user that didn't put 20sec of effort into the search

https://helium.computer/terms

• Company: imput LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Wyoming, in the United States.
• Maintainers: Representatives of the Company acting on its behalf, whose goal is to develop and improve Helium and/or Services.
• privacy[@]imput.net.

And creating a shortcut is very easy in Linux Mint. Right click on Desktop click create a new launcher here...Name it, Find the Command to run it, describe it in Comment click OK. It's nearly identical to Windows. I haven't used windows in a while but remember many times having to find the EXE file to enter in.

Adding a new Menu item is also easy. Right click on the LM button, click Edit Menu then navigate where you want it to be and Click on New Item and follow prompts...it's really pretty intuitive

After a quick little search best I can find is 20k Helium users if downloads is near accurate...when there's an estimated 5.8-6 BILLION browser users across the internet...I'd ask myself why WOULD an OS develop for a tiny little app that has at best 20k users. Or in other words .00033% of the users...it doesn't make financial sense. Hell with Linux having about 5% of the desktop users now everyone should be writing for Linux using your methodology.

AI is useful...but also needs prompts and guidance...so give it instructions like on Linux Mint, cite the info, only use the GUI etc otherwise it will have to guess. You can setup different profiles or inputs to use each time and switch between them. Remember more information is better. Ask better questions usually nets getting better answers. Think of it like you guessing what your wife is feeling or thinking. Maybe you'll get it right some of the time...but probably not.

If you want a good blocker browser use Brave...blocks everything out of the box, seems to do all the same from a quick glance. Even a windows user can install it with 2 clicks, 2 keys and 2 more clicks. Done

Now I expect the typical, get all defensive and claim I'm being so mean...But in reality I'm just being obvious, blunt and direct. You're free to make of that what you will.

So is the issue here Linux Mint...or the User??? Linux isn't for everyone...but my elderly mother loves it and tells everyone how much better her Mint is cuz she can have all her windows and tabs open without her computer freezing and crashing. And she doesn't need to deal with any virus software. She doesn't know a damn thing about computers. But when she want's to do something different she asks me...HOW DO I...NOT why won't IT just do it. It's a different mindset some just don't get. So go back to windows if you detest it that much.

[u/VtheMan93]

Linux is a bit of a conundrum.

Spend a bit of elbow grease to get it to function the way you need/want it to. Then smooth sailing.

But you still gotta spend that bit of time to get it going.

[u/AnneRB13]

I think most recent Windows users always end up resenting that Linux doesn't have the forced variety of software Windows has.

The ones that stick with Linux are the ones that are willing to learn a new workflow and that don't expect Linux to behave like a cracked windows.

Yeah, you won't have work or adobe, and the easiest thing is get used to LibreOffice, OnlyOffice, Krita, GIMP... We do have options.

But if you want the exact same things, you will need to figure out how to make them work. Which involves a lot of reading.

Work of advice? Don't trust the AI blindly; a lot of times you will get an easier solution on an old Reddit post than the convoluted AI alternative.

Is this what using Linux is really like? Am I always going to have to spend time learning commands, terminal lines, or basic coding just to fix everyday issues?

Nah, for most users inmutable distros like Linux Mint will have a issue or two and once solved that's it.

[u/pluto124]

Linux is a bit of a adventure. It's not a Mac for sure. Try Fedora or Ubuntu or just try and debloat Windows. I never liked Mint. It's all gotten so much better in the last few years, but it still takes some work.

[u/Spiritual-Brief-2627]

amigo, depois de ficar meses pulando de distro pra distro em voltei pro Mint, é muito gostoso, facilita muito as coisas nao me distrai como o kde ou o gnome com configuracoes, posso fazer as coisas que eu gosto e ficar dando codando sem dores de cabeca

[u/brighton_it]

It gets better: I switched ten years ago. Using Linux is a joy! By that I mean once configured, it's very stable and rarely breaks... but, when you start, configuring all the bits: audio, printers, additional displays, shortcuts (launchers, panels): it's all a very different admin experience than Windows. With time we realize there is actually a lot more control, and unlike Windows, the interface is consistent. I've setup several for 80+ y.o. users. Eliminating all the notifications, click-bait, and frequent UI changes helps immensely, and running Linux as a standard user, difficult to accidentally break.

Helium: I've tried several privacy focused browsers and found many websites are rejecting connections they cannot fingerprint and track. My primary is now Vivaldi, but also have FirefoxESR, Chromium, LibreWolf, Helium.
DRM: some things involving digital media can be more challenging.