All things Linux and BSD…

[Cool.As.Ice]

I think it’s time someone made a thread exclusively for Linux. I have one Linux Mint laptop, and the other is a Linux Bazzite laptop. I’ve had a tough time getting the Bazzite one to install Watchtower Library, I recently converted that laptop over from Ubuntu because I wanted a more gaming-focused distro. The one using Mint runs just fine.

 

Linux in general, is pretty fun to mess around with, and is easy to install, depending on the distro one wants to use.

 

Anyway, if you guys have any tips, or things we can do in Terminal, or Synapse, etc; depending on the distro, please share them here. (Example: Using Winetricks or PlayonLinux to install WTLIB, on different distros)

 

Also, I’m interested in what you brothers were able to do on the BSD os {FreeBSD, NetBSD, GhostBSD, OpenBSD, etc.}. How were you guys able to install these systems, and how do they compare to Windows and Mac?

 

This is meant to be a general thread, to share tips; like, on how to install these systems on one’s computer, and how much you enjoy these systems.

 

I also would like you to state the pros/cons of these programs and why you decided to go back to Windows or Mac, if you’ve decided such.

 

The responses here will be very interesting.

Edited 16 hours ago by Cool.As.Ice

[Eryk]

The way Windows is turning users into products, bringing Linux to the attention of others is very good. Personally, I run openSUSE Tumbleweed with Plasma KDE as the desktop manager, and the setup is beautiful and rock-solid. WT Library runs smoothly (via wine). IF I ever need Windows, I can open up a virtual machine and run whatever Window apps (JW Library, for example) right inside my Linux environment, just like another program. I don't do gaming, so Windows-only games have never been an issue. LibreOffice is a full-blown MS Office replacement (without any fees). Pretty much everything has an open-source alternative that is as good (or better) than what's there on Windows.

As to BSD, my personal opinion is that it is better (at the moment) as a server OS, simply because of the limited availability of higher level user applications. But, that is just my own take on it.

[Tronora]

Following this thread! I am thinking about leaving Windows 10 for Linux instead of "upgrading" to Windows 11. But I am not that skilled in computing. How do I download jw lib app to Linux?

 

I wonder if remote install is an option?  

[Myew]

I don't really have many tips, but I can share what I've done and am familiar with. I have no aptitude (pun somewhat intended) when it comes to anything CLI/console/terminal based or coding, the only thing I use it for is winget on Windows for FOSS. I'm not a fan of Macs and I've never used BSD, though I've read Mac and iOS have bits of BSD in them and are similar in some ways. The main downsides of Linux in general are lack of compatibility with specific proprietary applications... in our case primarily WTL and JWL. WTL is possible to get working from what I recall, but it's easier to resort to WOL for general use even if it's not as nice to use. As far as I know JWL requires the effort of running it from a Windows/x86 Android virtual machine. I'd rather use that on a tablet or mobile, but of course that won't do for things like sharing media for meetings over Zoom.

Here's a website that allows you to test many Linux distros live within a browser if you're curious about Linux but don't want to go through the effort of downloading a bunch of .isos to a Ventoy drive: https://distrosea.com/

If you're not familiar with Ventoy, it allows you to create a USB drive that can boot any number of .iso live operating systems from a folder on the drive without having to use Rufus or similar to create individual bootable drives. Indispensable for any tech repair bag or computer recovery kit like Medicat. https://www.ventoy.net/en/doc_start.html https://github.com/ventoy/Ventoy 

I have tried many distros and GUIs over the years, mainly for refurbishing old computers for others or building PCs for ones who need a free operating system, but also in my personal attempts to find a solution to Windows antagonizing harassment that gets worse and now locks people out of local accounts with every update. I tend to stick to the more common/popular stuff for support reasons, primarily Mint Cinnamon when used for others or family, it's fine for Zoom. I have tried Bazzite on my ROG Ally for a month or so, though I ended up reverting it back to Windows due to having trouble with the hardware buttons/menus, getting TDP/overlay plugins to work, and compatibility with Xbox games. Funnily enough, I also have a Raspberry Pi 400 running Windows 11 on ARM.. just cause I don't have a use for the RPi400 and wanted to mess around with it and compare how well it runs to PiOS. Bazzite is great for a gaming console like experience, but it got me interested in trying Fedora otherwise, and I found Nobara which is what I currently like the most for personal use. It's Fedora with KDE GUI and gaming oriented tweaks that works very well as a desktop and for gaming. https://nobaraproject.org/ I have it on an SSD I can plug into my desktop, but that said, my main desktop PC still runs Windows 11 and it's what I use 95% of the time... I've sadly yet to personally find a way to use Linux all the time that 'just works' for what I want to do. I hate Windows, but it is what I know. I really wish I was able to separate my computer uses for less distraction, having one use case for focus and being serious and one for leisure. My end goal has always been to use a bare metal hypervisor such as Proxmox to have several virtual machines running on my desktop and minipc and laptop to be able to seamlessly switch between Windows and Linux at any time without the need for dual booting. That would make a lot of things simpler, especially backups and changing machines and software compatibility. That would also allow using the MiniPC as both a server and an OPNsense virtual router which intrigues me just to try using a PC as a router rather than buying one. But that's all proven too difficult for me with my executive dysfunctional disabilities for the time being. Anyway, that's my spiel.

Edited 7 hours ago by Myew

[Myew]

33 minutes ago, Tronora said:

How do I download jw lib app to Linux?

 

I wonder if remote install is an option?  

Unfortunately, you can't currently install JWL to a Linux operating system in any simple way that I am aware of.

Remote install of operating systems would only be possible using a somewhat expensive device plugged into your computer's motherboard which functions as a computer to control your computer over the internet from another computer... so it's not practical, unfortunately.

[Eryk]

Another option (which is what I use): If you have a valid Windows 10 license, you can install Windows 10 in Virtualbox and install JW Library there. You wouldn't have to worry about updating that Windows install too much, if that's all you used it for.