ThinkPad - Time To Move To Another Distro (I Chose ARTIX)

[UncleSpellbinder]

@cc_spicuous_2

# Arch
	- Small
		- Artix: “lightweight”

That’s what I went with.

[keescase]

Artix is not bad but no aur OOTB though.

[Stagger_Lee]

@keescase

Artix is not bad but no aur OOTB though.

As it should be. No one should use the AUR without a complete understanding of what it is and how AUR packages work.

[keescase]

Was only saying that because of the fact @UncleSpellbinder seem to like the (chaotic) AUR so much

[UncleSpellbinder]

I like the idea of having to work to get the AUR enabled. The AUR enabled OOTB can get messy with newer users. Whether it’s by a newer user searching how to install and use yay or paru, I think it forces the newer user to investigate exactly what the AUR is.

As for thee Chaotic AUR, I’m not enabling that at the moment. I want to explore and use Artix on the Thinkpad for a while before I even consider that.

[EliasRook]

It’s not exactly difficult to add.

[drunkenvicar]

@cactux

1. Go to Distrowatch
2. Click on Random Distribution
3. Install the first one which tickles your fancy
4. If you like it then keep using it
5. If not go to point 1

Thus Spoke My Friend

the key to DW is using the search delimiters. When I tell it everything I don’t want…I’m left with some nice surprises.

I don’t know if that is belng closed-minded or not…but damn I like hoppin sometimes.

@UncleSpellbinder

I have nothing bad to say about KDE Linux. As a matter of fact, it’s running better than I expected, considering it’s in an Alpha state. But, as an immutable distro, I’m just not happy using only Flatpaks and Appimages. And I like to tinker with configs (like Kitty and Fastfetch, to name a couple). And theming can be hit or miss.

I think for you also that distro is been there/done that.

You are easily bored as I am. It’s significant that you realized immutable not for you. Now hopping gets interesting because theres still a huge undiscovered world.

I just sampled two no-names that called themselves “HAM Radio”-born distros. Linux is an interesting place.

The no-name, little known is my beat. I love Adelie and Alpine…something alien about being in a MUSL world that I like.

Anyway enjoy Arch proper

[Stagger_Lee]

I want my OS to be boring. I want stability and no surprises. Just stay out of my way and let me do what I want to do.

So I use Arch and Debian exclusively. I’ve tried a lot of others, but Arch and Debian are where I’ve landed. FreeBSD, too, but that’s not Linux.

[cactux]

@Stagger_Lee

So I use Arch and Debian exclusively. I’ve tried a lot of others, but Arch and Debian are where I’ve landed.

That’s exactly where I am too.
Well, plus a pinch of Fedora that I added to the mix recently.

[keescase]

That is why I said OOTB (Out Of The Box).

[UncleSpellbinder]

I’m really liking Artix. Finishing some theming and adding the last of my apps/packages. I’ll post in the Share Your Desktop thread in a bit. But Artix is quick and snappy.

Though their default system theme and SDDM theme are horrendous!

[cactux]

Which init system did you chose? And why? How is the management of services compared to systemd?

In other respects, is Artix basically Arch but with a different init system or does it have other aces up its sleeve?

[UncleSpellbinder]

@cactux

Which init system did you chose? And why? How is the management of services compared to systemd?

The init systems they offer are OpenRC, runit, S6, and dinit. I chose runit. No specific reason I chose runit, just a last-minute decision from their ISO download page. So far I’ve had no issues with services as compared to SystemD. Though I did have a sound issue initially that was easily addressed.

@cactux

In other respects, is Artix basically Arch but with a different init system or does it have other aces up its sleeve?

Artix feels like Arch and behaves like Arch, at least in my time using Artix so far. Since most of Arch’s packages would be SystemD-dependent, Artix doesn’t use the official Arch repos. They use their own repos, though Arch repos can be added to your /etc/pacman.conf. More on that here and here.

All in all, I’m happy with my Artix install on the ThinkPad. Still learning a bit as to what’s under the hood. But it’s snappy and feels buttery smooth so far.

And they have a highly detailed, exhaustive wiki…

Wiki | Main / Artix Wiki Main Page

[cactux]

Thanks a lot for your reply @UncleSpellbinder! I appreciate it.

I’m a bit intrigued by the idea of trying something new, something systemd-free. Artix does sound interesting. However I wonder if I want to try something “Arch-free” as well.

I have looked a bit at runit. I quite like it being simple, with a relatively small codebase and more aligned with UNIX philosophy, to do one thing and to do it well.

By now, I’m quite used the systemd to steal and run the whole show. But perhaps time has come to try something totally new to me, both init-system-wise and distro-wise.

Thanks again!

[keescase]

Have you ever tried this distro ?

Enter the void

[cactux]

I haven’t yet but I have been thinking of it. It’s a good candidate. It’s systemd-free and Arch/Pacman -free so yes, why not.

I’ve seen they have a CLI/pacstrap/chroot install option as well so it seems to be a good match for setting up a minimal system.

[UncleSpellbinder]

I’m really liking Artix on my ThinkPad. It’s been nearly a week with Artix Runit. I may reinstall and give the OpenRC variant a test run. That was my second choice. I’ll run that for a week or so and make a final decision on which feels best. Or, if there is indeed a discernible difference.

[cactux]

Did you use one of the community ISOs or installed it the a la Arch?

[UncleSpellbinder]

[dbarronoss]

I’d love to hear if you can tell any difference in the init’s. I would think not really…because non-systemd is so small and light…it should be about the same (I think).