What is your opinion on immutable distros?

[manfredlotz]

Bazzite. Thanks a lot, very interesting. I will take a look.

[latisullivan]

@dalto

If my non-tech savvy friend liked to try different software because they also liked to edit photos or play games, probably not. The thing about most immutable distros is that they are easier to use…until they are not. Meaning as soon as you need to do something other than install a flatpak, they suddenly get harder to use.

I like the response(s) you gave and this part is what I was trying to get to get an answer about. Let’s say you set up the PC for [insert person here] and it has: note taking app/program, docs editor/reader, the browser, say “Spotify” and some other stuff they may want. The printer and everything else is set up. So at that point there shouldn’t be a need to install anything else for them to use. In that case, would an immutable distro be “better” than just a plain ol’ Debian or Mint?

[dbarronoss]

I used a SilverBlue Fedora Spin for a while. It was fine. I was able to do everything I needed to do with only breaking immutable in one way. I didn’t want a flatpak browser, so I really installed the non-flatpak one.
Anything you can do (ie immutable) you can undo, especially when it’s not intentionally obtuse (like using checksums to validate or something)…so immutable is a flawed concept really. However, it does ensure that most people are using a single software base and updates can be atomic. I could see it being more prevalent in “user-friendly” distros in the future, but it’s probably not my cup of tea, though I could live in that environment.

[dalto]

@latisullivan

note taking app/program, docs editor/reader, the browser, say “Spotify” and some other stuff they may want.

Is all this stuff available as a flatpak? If so, it would probably be fine.

@latisullivan

In that case, would an immutable distro be “better” than just a plain ol’ Debian or Mint?

It depends. Who is supporting them? Is that person able to explain what needs to be done in the event of a failure?

I don’t think there will ever be a one size fits all answer to this question.

My recommendation would be for you to try it. I think if you want to advise others to consider it, you need to see the pros and cons for yourself.

[Pacman]

@dalto

For example, Nixos

NixOS is arguably the least immutable of the ones you listed. It’s better described as “declarative” and “reproducible” rather than immutable. While the base system is rebuilt from a configuration file, it doesn’t actually stop you from making ad-hoc changes. Those changes simply vanish on the next rebuild unless you have defined them in the config.

[Pacman]

I agree with the chorus: immutability is likely the key to widespread Linux adoption.

[manfredlotz]

Bazzite seems to be more for gamers. It has included steam aso. which I don’t need.

Just discovered that there is also Bluefin which is Fedora Silverblue based and supports Nvidia. I think I will test this on my test notebook…