I have used Arch for >13 years (btw) and use the terminal every single session. I also work with Linux servers daily, so I tried the other families with DEs (Debian/Ubuntu, RHEL/CentOS/AlmaLinux/Fedora).

I’m comfortable (and prefer) doing everything with CLI tools. For me, it’s a bit difficult to convert my Windows friends, as they all see me as some kind of hackerman.

What’s the landscape like nowadays, in terms of terminal requirements?

Bonus question: Which distribution is the most user-friendly while still updated packages? Does anything provide a similar experience to Arch’s amazing AUR?

  • it_depends_man@lemmy.world
    1·
    1 day ago

    All the “software stores” I have seen: ubuntu’s software center, flatpack are utter trash. Offensively bad. I’m not sure how you can even get the flatpack store without the terminal.

    so, e.g. flatpak tells you to install flatpak via commandline on ubuntu. Apparently it’s built into linux mint.

    https://flathub.org/en/setup/Ubuntu

    but when trying to install a random app,

    https://flathub.org/en/apps/app.curocalc.calculator/install

    the instructions are to “download file and execute”, but my filebrowser doesn’t have a “execute this file” option in my right click and double clicking does… nothing? Certainly doesn’t give me a popup with either confirmation or error message.

    I’m game to try a few more things, so if you have suggestions what I should try, please tell me.

    I’m on xubuntu.

    • ailepet@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      21·
      1 day ago

      Flatpak is not a store, it’s a package format. Mint has a built-in “Software Manager” GUI app that allows you to browse Flathub and install flatpaks from there. On Xubuntu, I guess you’ll need to install gnome-software or Bazaar, or just the flatpak package if you don’t care about using a GUI

      • it_depends_man@lemmy.world
        1·
        13 hours ago

        This is one of those intentionally misinterpreting posts that I really really… “dislike” in the linux community.

        https://flathub.org/en

        I guess you’ll need to install gnome-software or Bazaar

        …which the official instructions don’t mention, so it’s not a valid answer. Again, I can get it to work, but that’s not the topic of this thread.

        • ailepet@lemmy.blahaj.zone
          2·
          1 day ago

          My intention wasn’t to misinterpret your post; I genuinely thought you were asking for help using flatpaks without the terminal on your Xubuntu setup. As for the topic of this thread, as a Bluefin user, I’d argue that we’re coming very close of being able to daily drive Linux without ever opening the terminal at all.

          (also, the Flathub instructions page you’ve linked on your post do mention installing gnome-software)

          • it_depends_man@lemmy.world
            1·
            13 hours ago

            That is technically true, but

            Install GNOME Software Flatpak plugin

            The GNOME Software plugin makes it possible to install apps without needing the command line. To install, run:

            sudo apt install gnome-software-plugin-flatpak

            I hope you can see the problem with that.

            It did read that page, it just didn’t register because it’s more command line stuff.

    • cosmicrookie@lemmy.world
      4·
      1 day ago

      Not sure if this helps, but don’t you need to right click and under permission allow it to run as a program?

      Then I can often just double click and run