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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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When do you consider a system to be bloated? (lemdro.id)

submitted 6 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I often hear folks in the Linux community discussing their preference for Arch (and Linux in general) because they can install only the packages they want or need - no bloat.

I've come across users with a couple of hundred packages installed (likely fresh installs), but I've also seen others with thousands.

Personally, I'm currently at 1.7k packages on my desktop and 1.3k on my laptop (both running EndeavourOS). There might be a few packages I could remove, but I don't feel like my system is bloated.

I guess it's subjective, but when do you consider a system to be bloated?

I'm asking as a relatively new Linux user - been daily driving for about 7/8 months

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[–] [email protected] 23 points 6 months ago (2 children)

I love a bloated Linux system. Zeitgeist running in the background? Sweet, that means when I search for the file I was editing 3 days ago I’ll find it fast. Tracker busy indexing my files? Nice, next time I search for something the results will be near instantaneous.

That’s why I bought the ram, CPU and disk. To work for me, not the other way around. I’m daily driving a PC, not a server.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

If you frequently use the software and there's no easy alternative, is it really bloat?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Are you sure you’re answering the right comment? If you are, you lost me.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

You said you love a system with lots of useful processes running in the background. My comment questions if these useful background processes are really bloat, at least in your system.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

I am not about to descend into a philosophical discussion of the nature of bloatware. There’s a definition somewhere, but I’d rather use the tried and true “I know it when I see it.”