this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2023
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Linux
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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The AUR is a great option. I'd argue that it can often be a better experience than upstream deb packages, because there is more oversight to how it is packaged.
For example, lots of vendors will give you a binary "installer," which kinda does whatever it wants to your system. Packages in the AUR often abstract this to simply a package with raw files.
Additionally, there may be problems with a deb, even on Debian. Instead of restoring to hacks, the AUR build scripts often include patches and fixes to get things to work, and it's built right into the package.
I'm not saying that Arch and the AUR is always better, but the level of control you have over what you're installing, and the visibility and quick feedback loop you get while fixing things is invaluable, in my opinion.