What to expect from Debian/Trixie
michael-prokop.at281 points by exiguus 4 days ago
281 points by exiguus 4 days ago
I've been running testing/trixie since the end of 2023 or so. (I generally always run testing, but stick with stable for ~6 months after stabilization, in order to avoid lots of package churn in new-testing.)
It's been what I expect from Debian: boring and functional. I've never run into an issue where the system wouldn't boot after an update (I usually update once every 2-4 weeks when on testing), and for the most part everything has worked without the need to fix broken packages or utter magic apt incantations.
Debian has always been very impressive to me. They're certainly not perfect, but what they can do based on volunteers, donations, and sponsors, is amazing.
This is exactly why I use Debian when I install Linux. I want something that will keep chugging along, yet may not have the most cutting edge software. I can take my time with the system, and know that it is solid.
If I need newer software that isn't in their package repository, I understand that I have the ability to compile what I need, or at least make an active decision to modify my system to run what I want. Basically, the possibility of instability is a conscious choice for me, which I do sometimes take.
Same here. I run Debian and docker on top to have current services that do not friend on the host freshness.
I just need boring stability to wildly experiment in isolation
Exactly what I expect from the latest Debian. Boring and not working. Too many hacks by people who cannot work with upstream and have no idea what they are doing. But they are having their own good idea of a "proper" layout and package management.
Curious what you run, instead of Debian. I haven't had the same experience as you've had, but for myself, Debian has just worked other than having to provide my own wireless adapter driver .so file when I installed off a thumb drive without an Ethernet connection. While I have more experience than the average Linux user, and got started with Slackware in the 90's and then moved to Red Hat in the very late 90's, it's been a good 20 years since I used a Linux system full time. That's as a desktop, I've had no issues running as an application server for 2 decades.
I haven't run into a scenario where the desktop has caused me issues, only with Windows-only software that I sometimes require. What software has caused you issues that doesn't play nicely with Debian? What hacks are in place to mitigate upstream issues? I'm honestly curious, and if you don't use Debian, what distribution do you use regularly?
Exactly where is Debian "not working"?
Almost daily at work. Always have to verify with my fedora machines that it is indeed debian/ubuntu and not upstream.
debian or ubuntu? I have had terrible experience in the past with ubuntu breaking randomly, but debian has been fairly stable for a desktop machine
At home with debian testing.
At work I usually have to spend 6 hours per day to fix random Ubuntu issues on code which works fine on Fedora. Usually Ubuntu 20 and 22.
It's Debian testing; a rough experience is practically expected. I say this as a person who daily-drives Sid.
That's some hyperbole. If I spent 6 hours a day fixing some distro's issues, that would be my whole job. I would begin questioning whether I'm "holding it wrong" or if it is the wrong tool for the job.
Exactly. It's the wrong tool for the job. Europeans love Ubuntu/Debian, but it's shit