I'm about to get a new laptop and I'm considering switching to a different Linux distribution. I've been using Kubuntu for a while, primarily because I wanted something simple with KDE and didn't want to research many options. But now that I've gained more experience with Linux, I'm ready to move beyond beginner-friendly distros.
While Kubuntu meets most of my needs, I have one major issue: the package versions. I prefer when I install software through apt that I get the latest versions. I know Arch has that advantage, but I'm not a fan of constant updates and want a system that is reasonably stable. I don't mind fixing an occasional issue, but I don't want to deal with frequent problems. Ideally, I'd prefer something based on Debian since I've found .deb packages are widely available.
I'm looking for a distro that is stable, lightweight, and doesn't have telemetry (I'm not extremely privacy-conscious, but I don't want the OS spying on me either). I want something with scheduled releases instead of rolling releases, or a rolling release that's stable enough that I could update less frequently. Is it possible to use a rolling release like Arch if I only update every month or so without breaking things? And can I install .deb files on other distros?
To clarify, I don't need every single package to be the latest, just the ones that I interact with directly.
5 Answers
If up-to-date packages are a priority, then you will need to get used to regular updates. If you’re only wanting a few specific packages to be current, consider using tools like Nix, Flatpak, or Snap. These allow you to install applications with the latest versions without having to upgrade your entire system all the time. Plus, you could set up a script in your ~/.bashrc to update specific packages automatically on a schedule if you want to automate some of the process.
Have you thought about trying Fedora? I sometimes wish there were less frequent updates, but honestly, I just run 'sudo dnf update' maybe once or twice a week, and it works great on my laptop.
If you want a Debian base, have you looked into LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition)? It’s based on Debian, but it gives you a pretty user-friendly experience, and might meet your needs.
It’s a solid choice if you're looking for something stable with a good balance of updates.
You might want to check out the Debian backports method. It allows you to pull in newer versions of packages while still being based on a stable release.
Have you considered Garuda? I've been running Garuda Dr460nized for over two years, and it has been pretty stable for me. People often say Arch can break easily, but I haven't had any major issues so far, which is surprising given its reputation.
Thanks for the suggestion! I'll definitely check out LMDE.