From MacOS to Ubuntu: Rediscovering Linux and Escaping the Windows 11 Ad Nightmare!

Hey folks! 😄

I’ve been a MacOS user for over 15 years, loving its smooth vibe and sleek design. Way back, I dabbled with Windows and Linux (mostly Ubuntu), but never dove deep. Out of curiosity and with some free time this weekend, I decided to play around with other systems on an old laptop. What a ride!

First up, I installed Windows 11. What a disaster! 😩 The setup was a slog, demanding a Microsoft account (seriously, I need to log in to use my PC?), and it felt like jumping through endless hoops. When I finally hit the desktop, I was buried in ads: ‘Buy this, subscribe to that!’ Even the Start menu was a billboard! 😂 I updated, restarted, cleared everything... and the ads just kept coming back, like Windows was saying, ‘You’re not getting away!’ I was annoyed—just let me use the dang laptop, not play ‘ad whack-a-mole.’

Done with that nonsense, I grabbed a USB and made a bootable drive with Ubuntu. Guys, in under 30 minutes, the system was installed and ready to roll! Zero ads, zero hassle. Ubuntu’s interface is super polished, so easy to set up it almost feels like MacOS at times. It’s just plug-and-play! 🚀

Out of curiosity, I tried about 10 different distros. Pop!_OS blew me away with its insane speed, but I stuck with Ubuntu for its smooth, familiar feel. Mint and Zorin, despite all the hype, let me down hard—their interfaces felt clunky, like Windows XP with a facelift. 😅

In the end, I’m keeping MacOS as my main system, but Ubuntu’s my new buddy for quick tasks on a secondary laptop. It’s the hassle-free solution that doesn’t bombard you with ads. I’m stoked to rediscover Linux!

https://redd.it/1lhlpc2
@r_linux

Built a free, open-source terminal productivity tool after finding nothing up-to-date
https://redd.it/1lho9f0
@r_linux

Saw this at my local Jack in the Box
https://redd.it/1lhs0d9
@r_linux

I built a modern, tileable TUI file manager in Python called veld

**TL;DR:** I made a simple, tileable TUI file manager in Python. You can open/close panels and manage your files all with keyboard shortcuts. [GitHub Link](https://github.com/BranBushes/veld-fm).


Hey everyone,

Like many of you, I spend most of my day in the terminal and I'm a huge fan of keyboard-driven file managers like `ranger` and `nnn`. I've always loved their efficiency but wanted something with simple, out-of-the-box tiling panels, similar to a tiling window manager.

So, I decided to build my own! I'd like to introduce **veld**:

[A screenshot of the veld file manager in action.](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/BranBushes/veld-fm/master/.assets/ss.png)

It's a terminal-based file manager built from the ground up with the awesome [Textual](https://github.com/Textualize/textual) library. My goal was to create something that feels modern, is easy to configure, and makes managing files across multiple directories a breeze.

### ✨ Key Features

* 🗂️ **True Tiling Panels:** The core feature! Open as many vertical panels as you need (`o`), close them (`w`), and navigate between them with `Tab`. No extra config needed.
* ⌨️ **Keyboard-Driven Workflow:** Everything is designed to be used without touching the mouse. Perform all your file operations (copy, move, rename, delete) from the comfort of your home row.
* ⚙️ **Simple TOML Configuration:** No complex noscripting required. To change your keybindings, you just edit a simple `config.toml` file that's created for you on the first run.
* 🐍 **Pure Python:** Built entirely in Python with Textual, making it cross-platform and easy for other Pythonistas to hack on.

### Why not just use [ranger, nnn, lf, etc.]?

Those tools are incredible and I still use them! `veld` isn't trying to replace them, but rather to offer a different experience, especially for:

* Users who love the look and feel of modern Textual apps.
* Anyone who wants tiling panels to work instantly without needing to configure them.
* People who might find noscripting in other file managers a bit daunting but are comfortable editing a simple config file.

### 🚀 Get It on GitHub

It's fully open-source under the MIT license. I'd be honored if you checked it out, and I'm very open to feedback, bug reports, and feature requests!

**GitHub Repo:** [https://github.com/BranBushes/veld-fm](https://github.com/BranBushes/veld-fm)

Installation is straightforward with the setup noscript:

```bash
git clone https://github.com/BranBushes/veld-fm.git
cd veld-fm
chmod +x setup.sh
sudo ./setup.sh
```
After that, you can run it from anywhere by just typing `veld`.

---

I'd love to hear what you all think! What's a must-have feature for you in a file manager? Have you found a bug? Let me know.

Thanks for taking a look!

https://redd.it/1lhx1cx
@r_linux

A long way of saying... Debian really deserves more love.

As background... I started with Linux in the mid/late 90's while doing InfoSec work for large financials and Internet concerns. During this time, I was big-time into tinkering with different distributions/desktop environments.

Around 2003/4 I consolidated my personal setup from a windows box and a Linux box to a single Mac. At work I ditched Linux for a Mac (I had pull in the org, lol).

Fast forward to early 2021, needing to better align my workstation to my work, I moved back to Linux as my daily driver.

From 2021, until last week, I had been running Ubuntu, when the snap system started to again give me grief. I was done fucking around with it and decided to find a distribution that didn't deeply integrate snaps into the system.

For perspective, I have a business to run (BotBarrier), environments to maintain, coding to do, testing to do.... I need my workstation to be rock solid. As such I require a distribution that is: stable, compatible, and relatively low maintenance. It needs to be well established (has staying power), and it would be nice if - all other things being equal - it didn't have corporate ownership/entanglements that can arbitrarily change the direction or availability of the distribution.

Debian 12 checked all the boxes, so I installed it and I must say, I am very impressed. As with Ubuntu, I'm running GNOME as the DE. Here's what I quickly noticed: The system is significantly more responsive, resource efficient and performant compared to the same system running Ubuntu - a Dell XPS laptop (i7, 64G ram, 1 1tb ssd, 1 2tb ssd, nvidia dgpu, intel igpu).

With just GNOME running, Debian is using about 1/3 less memory than the same state in Ubuntu. Everything is just smoother and snappier in Debian. Even Vim, my editor of choice, is noticeably better (especially with large files). Firefox ESR is lightning fast and far less memory hungry compared to the snap based Firefox running on Ubuntu.

Here's what I think you folks will find really interesting...

Debian's Wayland running with the Nouveau drivers is smoother, snappier, crispier, with better color rendering than Ubuntu's Wayland with Nvidia drivers. Now, I am not a gamer, nor do I do 3d graphics work, but I do watch videos and really value a quality picture.

In the "if it ain't broken, fix it anyway" department...

I thought if the Nouveau drivers were performing this well, the Nvidia proprietary drivers must be even better! After HOURS of dick'n around, I simply couldn't get Wayland to load with the Nvidia drivers (and yes, I went through Debian's wiki), only X11 would run (it looks like Debian's implementation doesn't like having an intel integrated gpu co-existing with the dedicated GPU). Even with X11 and Nvidia drivers, Wayland with Nouveau driver was smoother, crisper, snappier and with better color across the built in display and the Sony 4k TV/Display I use at my desk. I have since removed the Nvidia drivers. The only drawback is that when mirroring displays, I only have very reduced resolutions... so now I join them instead.

In the smidge of irony department....

I wound up installing snapd as it was the only way to get MySQL-Workbench to install (don't give me crap about using it, I like it). It is what it is...

In the end, I'm very happy with Debian 12. My system is back to doing everything I need, and even better than before. Yes, the software may be a bit older, but it does what I need it to...

Sorry for this being so long... hopefully this is helpful to someone.

https://redd.it/1lhycue
@r_linux

When did you use Linux?

Hello, when you first installed linux on your device and why you did it. I installed Linux on an old computer that was having trouble running Windows, about 3/4 years ago. And when you discovered Linux.

https://redd.it/1lhpzx4
@r_linux

How do I get rid of a desktop in Ubuntu
https://redd.it/1li4t1d
@r_linux

A humble experiment in project management on Linux

This is another one of my quiet little experiments. Not about kernel tweaks or responsiveness this time, but about managing complexity in a simple way.

I’ve been looking for a clean way to do personal project planning on my Linux machine.

So I tried this:
• Debian
• Emacs
• Org-mode
• TaskJuggler (tj3)
• Firefox-ESR or Flatpak Firefox to preview the charts

I write my projects in a .org file. Tasks are just headlines with properties like :Effort: or :Start: or :Depends:. Org-mode can export it directly to a .tjp file. TaskJuggler compiles that into beautiful HTML reports. Gantt charts, task breakdowns, even basic budget simulations. All from text.

That’s all. And surprisingly, it just works. Curious if anyone else does project planning this way. Not just todos or lists, but actual timelines and dependencies. Is there anything else out there like this that stays local and minimal?

Thanks for reading. Just wanted to share this in case someone else is looking for something similar.


https://redd.it/1li7ius
@r_linux

My first kernel panic
https://redd.it/1li9f03
@r_linux

I added offline, self-hosted mode to meet community requests. Now Flowstate-CLI supports hybrid approach.
https://redd.it/1lib7ae
@r_linux

When did Linux finally "click" for you?

I've been trying Linux on and off since about 2009, but for the most part, I just couldn't get everything I needed to work. There'd always be some proprietary program or game that would force me back to Windows. I did spend over a year on Linux Mint 17 during my Minecraft phase, but that didn't last forever, and I was back to having to use Windows for games and college programs.

However, I gave it another go about a month ago on my new PC, and this time, I don't think I'm going back. Granted, it's lucky that I hate FPS games anyways, but all the games I've tried run in Steam or Lutris. App compatibility across distros is so much better with Flatpak and Distrobox, so I don't have to worry too much about using the most popular distros for package support. And everything else I need works, albeit with a bit of tweaking sometimes.

So basically, I'm free. Just in time for Windows Recall to be unveiled again. 🤮. When did you all finally get to the point where Linux was usable as your main OS? And if it hasn't quite yet, what do you still need?


https://redd.it/1lid2gt
@r_linux

I use android btw <3
https://redd.it/1lidyql
@r_linux

Disabling Intel Graphics Security Mitigations Can Boost GPU Compute Performance By 20%
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Disable-Intel-Gfx-Security-20p

https://redd.it/1lie39p
@r_linux

Linux Media Summit 2025 recap
https://www.collabora.com/news-and-blog/blog/2025/06/23/linux-media-summit-2025-recap/

https://redd.it/1ligig5
@r_linux

X11 Session Removal FAQ
https://blogs.gnome.org/alatiera/2025/06/23/x11-session-removal-faq/

https://redd.it/1lih63w
@r_linux

GIMP 3.1.2: First Development Release towards GIMP 3.2
https://www.gimp.org/news/2025/06/23/gimp-3-1-2-released/

https://redd.it/1lik03l
@r_linux

My PSU Was So Bad It Couldn't Handle a Login Screen (And My Local PC Shop Owner is Clueless)

TL;DR: Spent weeks troubleshooting mysterious Arch Linux boot crashes, turns out my "550W" Hi-Power PSU can't even handle SDDM login screen. Also my local PC shop owner thinks less storage = faster SSDs.

# The Problem

So I've been trying to install Arch Linux and kept getting these infuriating hard reboots right when booting up. Here's the weird part:

Windows boots fine \- no issues at all
Arch installer works perfectly \- even ran Hyprland compositor without problems
EndeavourOS in VM works great \- Hyprland runs smooth as butter
Bare metal Arch install? INSTANT REBOOT \- usually right when SDDM (login screen) tries to load

I was going INSANE trying to figure this out.

# The Revelation

Then I realized something: Windows is gentle with hardware initialization, but Arch is like "HERE'S ALL THE DRIVERS AND KERNEL MODULES AT ONCE, JUST FUCKING RUN!"

When you boot Arch:

CPU ramps up immediately
All drivers load simultaneously
GPU gets hit with graphics demands instantly
Every component screams for power AT THE SAME TIME

Windows? It's like "oh hello hardware, let me gently wake you up... here's one service at a time... take your time..."

# The Culprit

Checked my PSU: Hi-Power 550W

Never heard of this brand in my life. Turns out Hi-Power is notorious for:

Fake wattage ratings (550W probably delivers 300W realistically)
Terrible voltage regulation under load
Cheap capacitors that fail under stress
Complete garbage that somehow gets sold to unsuspecting customers

My PSU could handle gradual loads fine, but the moment ALL components demanded power simultaneously (like during Arch boot), it just said "NOPE" and shut down.

# The VM Proof

The fact that Hyprland worked in a VM actually PROVED it was the PSU:

VM: Windows already handled hardware initialization, Hyprland just rides on stable power
Bare metal: Direct hardware assault that my PSU couldn't handle

Perfect controlled experiment showing it was 100% power delivery issues.

# Bonus: My Local PC Shop is a Disaster

When my dad originally built this PC, the shop owner:

1. Sold him a Hi-Power PSU (should have known this brand is trash)
2. Later refused to sell us a 500GB SSD because "less GB = faster performance"

I'm not joking. A PC shop owner actually said smaller storage capacity makes SSDs faster. I was trying so hard not to laugh in his face.

# Lessons Learned

1. NEVER cheap out on PSU \- it's the foundation of everything
2. Stick to reputable PSU brands: Corsair, EVGA, Seasonic, be quiet!, etc.
3. If you've never heard of the PSU brand, run away
4. Some PC shop owners have zero technical knowledge
5. Arch Linux is an excellent PSU stress test \- if your PSU can't handle Arch boot, it's garbage

# The Fix

Getting a proper PSU from a real brand. No more Hi-Power garbage that can't even handle a login screen.

Anyone else dealt with mystery brand PSUs causing weird system issues? How many people out there are blaming "unstable Linux" when it's really just their trash PSU?

https://redd.it/1lie8pf
@r_linux

Could learning Linux in more depth get me into the IT? Which distros shall I focus on?

So, I'm over 30 and working in hospitality. Considering to change my career for a while. I would like to learn myself something valuable, but not really any pressure.

I was thinking cybersecurity in the long term, but for now I need to focus on the fundamentals first.

As I did my research I was thinking why not go down the Linux path. Although I've been using Microsoft mainly in my life, I also installed Linux recently and I quite enjoyed it. Both would require me to learn in more depth anyways.

Would I be able to land in an entry level job by learning Linux admin? If so what is you recommendation to dive into? Would you is be also useful to learn some Python basic?

Any recommendations and opinions are welcome 🤗

https://redd.it/1linedl
@r_linux

Windows 11 installation “missing drivers” error on PC running Mint

I’m trying to install Windows 11 on a PC that’s currently running Linux Mint. I used Windows media creator tool to create a bootable USB, but when I try to boot, I get an error stating that the computer is missing drivers, but does not tell me which drivers are missing.

I’m stumped, please help

https://redd.it/1liyap1
@r_linux

From Windows 11 Enthusiast to Linux Convert

I genuinely loved Windows 11 at its launch; I was an incredibly enthusiastic beta tester. However, my initial excitement quickly turned to disappointment. Early on, incompatibility issues with AMD chipsets caused performance degradation and bottlenecks in games for users with AMD processors, including myself. These problems persisted until a necessary BIOS update was released.

After that initial hurdle, a brief period of calm ensued, quickly followed by a barrage of unfounded criticism and comparisons to Windows 10. For some reason, being a tech enthusiast who used Windows 11 became a negative point among my friends. It felt like they couldn't accept that Windows 11 was at least a decent, usable system, or even on par with Windows 10. The fact that Windows 10, despite its own UI/UX flaws, was constantly held up as superior, combined with the general rejection from my peers and the public, gradually fostered a sense of resentment within me towards the system.

But the final straw came in late February 2025. A microscopic crack in a Razer mouse cable (which I only discovered months later) somehow caused peripheral drivers, or perhaps another critical driver, to prevent the system from booting without immediately presenting a blue screen. I managed to enter Safe Mode, and using the system's built-in driver error detection tool, I pinpointed the issue. However, activating this tool created an insoluble loop: it prevented me from re-entering Safe Mode to disable it and attempt a fix, while I couldn't boot normally either.

This incident was the breaking point that pushed me to permanently abandon Windows. The thought of even reverting to Windows 10 felt like admitting defeat, even if it meant giving up games like Valorant, one of the few online noscripts I still enjoyed with friends.

Ironically, I now love Windows 11 because it led me to leave it and finally experience Linux. While Linux isn't perfect and I miss many beloved Windows applications—like SteelSeries Sonar, HWiNFO, and others that truly enhanced my user experience—I've found something fundamentally different. These small programs are, in my opinion, still a major differentiator for Windows.

Now on CachyOS, I've found a system that, to be honest, often feels like a work in progress (which makes sense, as I'm using Cosmic, a desktop environment still under development). However, its modularity combined with robustness and simplicity makes it infinitely more functional and logical than Windows. It feels like I'm constantly learning new, more intuitive ways to interact with the system. The ability to manage packages directly through the terminal has been a paradigm shift I can't live without.

Of course, not everything is perfect. Even in KDE, many apps and interfaces lack visual cohesion, and this is exacerbated in the still-developing Cosmic. GNOME, while more cohesive, feels too much like a mobile interface, which isn't to my taste.

Another significant challenge is the lack of many Windows-native programs, including all the "GOATs" from Adobe (despite complex and abusive relationship of this company) and applications like CapCut. As for games, I've come to terms with not playing online noscripts like Fortnite or Valorant.

I doubt many will read this entire text, but I needed to vent and mark this as a personal turning point. It's not just about operating systems; it's about discovering a new way of engaging with the digital world.


After falling down the distro-hopping rabbit hole, trying many distributions like Zorin, falling in love with Linux Mint, and finally finding my place with CachyOS, I now truly understand why Linux is so important to many people. It's hard to fully explain, but in short, the system (and its packages) just work. It's lean, functional, and the fact that I've built it myself—choosing the Cosmic Desktop Environment, the Limine bootloader, and understanding the logic behind each installed package—has given me an invaluable

sense of satisfaction and happiness.

https://redd.it/1lj26lo
@r_linux