this post was submitted on 15 Dec 2024
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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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Let's say we compare regular Fedora (Workstation) or KDE spin with Vanilla Silverblue or Kinoite (Atomic).
Fedora Atomic is the newest generation of Linux, as some people call it.
It is a bit similar to how Android works. Basically, the core operating system is "locked up", and everything you do is done as normal user, including app installations.
Therefore, you have a "you" section, with all Flatpak apps and cat videos, and a "OS" part, which you don't have to care about.
Of course this is still Linux, and you have full sudo permissions and can still install all software on the host system, e.g. Nvidia drivers. Upstream Fedora Atomic is good, but has some minor flaws, like users having to install said Nvidia drivers or codecs manually.
uBlue (Bazzite, Bluefin, etc.) basically take the upstream image and rebuild it with a lot of tweaks and optimizations, like having codecs (e.g. for watching videos) already included. They especially try to make everything as user friendly as possible and provide a "just works" distro.
As I said, it's a bit similar to how you use Android: you don't use Android, it's only a platform for you to launch your apps. You don't worry about codecs, updates gone wrong, or whatever. You just use it and don't think about it. And that's the mission. Building an extremely robust and simple OS.
You'll never have to reinstall anything. If an update comes out, either a big release or just bug fixes, they get installed in the background and then applied onto the next boot without any interference. You don't notice it.
And if you really want to switch to another variant, e.g. when the new Cosmic DE comes out, you can do it with just one command. With that, the "you" section is kept, and the "OS part" is swapped out.
And if you worry about being too bleeding edge, you can choose the ´gts´ variant of Bluefin, which is a more conservative branch with less surprises.
That was a supremely enlightening explanation! I'm installing bluefin in a vbox to check it out and ordering a new SSD. Thank you!
I'm also on Bluefin for my daily driver and Bazzite for my Steam Deck. I love it because the important part is set and forget it, and the part I tinker with is separate from the part that keeps things running. And if an update borks something, you can just revert to the image you came from.
One thing to keep in mind with this is it's "a new way" so expect hickups. I use Bazzite on my living room PC, and have had:
yumwasn't supported for what I wanted to doI do love Bazzite, and just recommended it in another thread, but I would not run it on my workhorse.
I use Aurora (the KDE version) as a software dev/ gaming machine. It’s great!