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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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just how “different from Debian” do you want to go?
FreeBSD. Can't go wrong with looking at unix if you want something interesting
Arch btw: it is much stable that many Linux users think, there are a ton of guide to do/repair things thanks to Arch Wiki, and, last but not least, it has the AUR repository in which you can find basically all software you will ever need; the only malus the AUR repository has is that you have to compile every software you install with it (even if sometimes they are precompiled).
P.S. if you want a "ready-to-go" arch distro, install EndevourOs and set the btrfs file system with timeshift. Here's a guide.
I always suggest Void, so 🤷...
I just installed NixOS on my laptop. It is very foreign to me coming Debian then Arch. Everyone is saying NixOS is worth it so I am going to give it a solid run. I would suggest NixOS if you have time to learn and Arch if you want more familiarity
Alpine.
But go nuts. Try different distros. Even ones you think you might dislike.
I usually prefer having any side machines running something more stable than the main one, as I'm always bound to use and mantain them less often.
Good luck finding something more stable than Debian tho. Maybe something like LMDE, that just got a new version out and is looking great, or trying out an immutable distro.
10/01 Second Morning Update: @cocolopez@lemmy.world The machine is spare for now, eventually, I would like to turn it into kind of a modern clone of an HP85/HP87 - Good plotting, Nice BASIC. Perhaps replace BASIC with Python once I am more comfortable with Python.
But then, I -do- have a Steam account.
Fun fact - this machine has a touch screen!
Alpine is cool, but be prepared to fix a lot of things that would usually 'just work' on other distros. Musl, openrc, udev, wifi stuff, etc
11/2 update: I have installed EndevourOS and will be playing with that for a short time, but I think Artix will be next.
Do any distributions use the systemd-homed home directory daemon?
11/01 morning Update: Arch with 3 votes. NixOS with 2 votes, Alpine, Void, Kinoite, Open Suse each with 1 vote.
I would probably want a cheater install of Arch, that way it may be less work.
I have been interested in Kinoite in the past. I have also been interested in Suse because of their admin application Yast(?)
Isn't Alpine downstream from Arch? That might count as another vote for Arch.. : ^ )
Nah, Alpine is independent. It's one of the more popular non-GNU/Linux distros.