Another Year, Another Step Towards Linux Full Time

It's not often I decide to write blog posts, but I find that I'm compelled to write more and more about my experience using Linux over the past year. Well, technically I've been using it for longer than that if you include the server, but when I say use it in this case, I mean on the Desktop. I've been using Arch Linux (btw) for almost a year now, and It's had ups and downs with it. I wanted to take a moment and reflect. To give a little summary of my experience, and tell the world if it was worthwhile or not.

9 months ago, I published this video of my first impressions with my Framework 13 laptop, which I installed Arch Linux on. If you want a refresher, start here.

It's been an interesting ride since then, but to respect your time, I'll just say now that while I had lots of challenges, it was totally worth it. I've broken my Arch install several times- some quite severely. In fact, just a few days ago I accidentally completely lost the ability to boot into Linux completely. Whoops! That turned into hours of work and a quite a learning experience, but I was able to completely recover my build with a little Googling.

See, while I sometimes have issues with breaking things after updates, I've never completely messed things up. In fact, I feel like if I've found out how to fix a completely wrecked install like a few days ago, I can pretty much recover from anything. As a result, my initial goal of getting much better at using Linux is on the right track. I feel like I understand Linux so much more, and that means Windows is one step closer to being out of my personal life.

While I can't completely get rid of Windows, I've at least decided to make it my personal goal to use it as little as possible from here on out. My desktop computer has been acting up lately, and I'm thinking it's time to start fresh. Wipe the slate clean. When I do, that means it's time to install Linux on that bad boy. I'll at least retain the ability to dual boot, just in-case someone has a game with some particularly nasty DRM on it, but other than that, I intend to use Linux full time for everything possible.

You're probably wondering how that's possible. Aren't there a ton of applications you depend on that only run on Windows? Ehh, not really. Sure, I do enjoy a few things on Windows like Affinity Photo, Capture One, etc- but to be honest? I'm not worried. I'll use the free and open source alternatives like Gimp, or Darktable. Seriously- they aren't that bad. They're perfectly usable actually, for my non professional needs. Davinci Resolve is the one thing I hope I can get working on Linux- and as far as games? I'll be able to get everything working- at least for the most part. And guess what? If a game doesn't work, I'll either dual-boot into Windows, or I'll just not play that game. I have no shortage of games to play that actually DO work on Linux. I'd rather play those anyway.

So what about my main squeeze game- Star Citizen? Well, there's luck there. Lots of people are out there playing Star Citizen on Linux right now, so as long as that remains possible, I'm good to go. I should even be able to get my expensive Virpil Joysticks and Panels to work. Perfect.

So where does that leave us? Why go through the pain of learning a new operating system in the first place? Well, it's because I see the direction that Windows is going, and I'm over it. If you accept that you're using a platform that doesn't care about your privacy, and you love seeing ads shoved down your throat, stick with Windows. If you're happy with being a target for algorithms, subscription services, and the continued enshittification of our once great digital age, than do nothing and see where big tech takes you. For me, I'd rather go through the initial painful learning curve if it means a lifetime of reassurances that I'm in control of my digital life. But hey, I'm not saying you can't use Windows. I'm just saying you gotta watch your back.

But enough about the philosophy of it all- the fact is, we do this in large part because it's cool. Go to r/unixporn and check out all the cool "linux rices" and you'll see that the best benefit is using your computer and looking cool as hell while you're doing it. I love the way my machine feels to use, and it's the best benefit of them all.

As far as the Framework 13 goes, it's an ok machine. I like it, but let's be honest- it doesn't hold a candle over a Macbook of any kind. I'm very interested in putting Linux on my Macbook and seeing how that works out. If it's good, maybe I'll use it a little bit. My main issue right now with the Framework 13 is it's hot on my lap atm. I find that it gets quite warm. I may be able to do something about that, but even in the powersavings power profile, it's toasty. I'll go more into the Framework 13 in a future blog post.

Wrapping up, it's been a solid and fun experience using Arch. I've loved the customization, and I've tuned my machine to fit perfectly with what I want. The Hyprland tiling window manager has been both aesthetic and functional, and I've developed quite a nice bit of hotkeys and efficiencies within the machine that make me very productive. Now all I need to do is actually start doing what I consider "true programming". Or maybe start back up doing some small gamedev stuff. I want to start writing code, and I think doing it on my Linux machines will be a lot of fun. If using desktop Linux has shown me one thing after 9 months, it's that I look forward to seeing how much more I improve after another 9 months!