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submitted 2 days ago by lightrush@lemmy.ca to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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[-] fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com 51 points 2 days ago

Obligatory: "Use Debian instead of Ubuntu. It's basically Ubuntu without Snap."

[-] pupbiru@aussie.zone 25 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

it was always wild to me back in the day when so many container images were based on ubuntu… was like PLEASE debian is functionally identical here at like 1/10th the base container size!

[-] lightrush@lemmy.ca 17 points 2 days ago

Mostly yes but there are functional differences in convenience. For example the standard upgrade process is completely manual. You have to disable third party repos. You have to change the repos. You have to check if you have space. You have to remove obsolete oackages. And more. On Ubuntu, the software update tool does all that, eliminating a lot of possibility for error. To an exoerienced user, the Debian process is fine. A novice would have plenty of opportunity for frustration and pain.

[-] fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com 5 points 2 days ago

What? Software Center is GNOME, not Ubuntu. Discover is KDE, not Ubuntu. Debian updates can be done the same way? I don't do any of the things you mention. Using SC or just apt upgrade works just fine.

[-] ozymandias117@lemmy.world 9 points 2 days ago

They're talking about a Debian 12 -> Debian 13 upgrade

On Debian, you get release notes on what commands to run.

Ubuntu has their own software update utility, separate from Software Center or Discover, that runs the commands for you

[-] fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com 2 points 1 day ago

Ahhh OK. I've always gone fresh for a full upgrade. But does apt dist-upgrade not work? That's what the docs say to do.

[-] ozymandias117@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

You have to at least modify your sources.list.d manually first. For most people, updating sources.list.d and running full-upgrade will probably work fine...

The full instructions are

  1. run dist-upgrade
  2. remove back ports
  3. remove obsolete packages
  4. remove non-debian packages
  5. clean up old configuration files
  6. add non-free-firmware (this is a 12 -> 13 specific)
  7. remove proposed updates
  8. disable pinning
  9. update sources.list.d to point to the next release
  10. apt upgrade --without one wrongs
  11. apt full-upgrade

It takes like an hour? but it's still not "just press okay."

Ubuntu's has broken on some upgrades for friends and they had to do the whole Debian process manually, but it does try to automate the removals, disablements, and updating sources

[-] fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com 2 points 1 day ago

Ahh yea, thats not too great

[-] Grass@sh.itjust.works 13 points 2 days ago

I prefer "ubuntu without the bullshit"

[-] deadcream@sopuli.xyz 7 points 2 days ago

It has much slower release cycle and ancient kernel. For people with new hardware it's not suitable.

[-] Eggymatrix@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 days ago

Unless you prototype in a cpu fab it does not matter, debian 13 came out last week and its kernel is not that old

[-] fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com 3 points 2 days ago

This is why Backports exists. You can get any newer packages or kernels you need by enabling it.

And Ubuntu LTS doesn't go much farther ahead than base Debian.

[-] seralth@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

If you need to rely on back ports to have day to day function of HARDWARE. Then your OS is not suitable to your use case. Backport reliance should not be the norm for your avg user.

[-] fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com 0 points 1 day ago

I disagree, since this is why Backports was made. That being said, everyone is entitled to their opinion.

[-] dropped_packet@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 day ago

At that point why not just run a rolling release? Debians whole selling point is stability which backports kinda ruins.

[-] vandsjov@feddit.dk 2 points 1 day ago

I would argue that backporting one package does not ruin everything. If you backport a lot of stuff, then I would agree that it changing distrio to something more up-to-date should be considered because of the increase of potential problems.

[-] Mubelotix@jlai.lu 0 points 1 day ago

A great way to brick your system and enter the package versionning conflict hell

this post was submitted on 12 Aug 2025
269 points (97.2% liked)

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