Making Void and XBPS even better with this little tool

[@anon_y_mousse]

That's why I try to memorize the aliases I make so that if I'm on an unfamiliar system I can just edit bashrc and I'm back in business. I don't have many that I would need on other people's systems, but enough that it's worthwhile.

[@JakeLinux]

Good advice.

[@drishalballaney]

or even better just keep the aliases in a git repo and then you can clone your dots quickly and source the aliases from there

[@anon_y_mousse]

@@drishalballaney That's definitely a good option. I don't really have that many aliases, though.

[@dmiracle74]

I agree, the syntax for xbps is no harder than pacman. The only major difference is separate binaries for each function instead of command switches with one binary.

[@borremoonkey]

Vpm is great. I just discovered it a couple months ago. I wish it was also "riced" like Nala on Debian is, plus it allows parallel downloads but that's not that big of deal to be missing.

[@JakeLinux]

It's interesting, I will give it that, and it is handy. Not sure I will use it myself.

[@scottb4029]

I am using the vpm addon right now on my tablet, I like its intuitiveness for debian users. I try the command in xbps first, but if I don't get it in 2 or 3 tries, I use vpm and watch for the xbps equivalent. Trying to educate myself , while the system is still usable for me. I like the power of the xbps system and the availablity of software. Void strikes me as a Archlike replacement with extras and a community that isn't stuck in the reply ,"RTFM!". Again, thanks for the video Jake. I wanted to try this one out before I responded. It is a good program, if you use it like a child uses training wheels. That being, using them less and less until you remove them.

[@JakeLinux]

It's a cool tool, I admit, thought about writing my own version of it, but then realized I don't have time to do that right now. I'm already falling behind on requests from viewers.

[@wyfyj]

I did get the Void VM working. I was just too tired to finish setting up my graphical interface. I will do that after this video. Also Portage and Nix are my prefered package managers. Since I have not exp with xbps yet.

[@JakeLinux]

Portage and nix, have tried nix, never portage. What do you like about them?

[@wyfyj]

@@JakeLinux I'll try to send you an email reply. Might be too long to type out properly in the comment section. Tldr Nix set up felt vimrc adjecent. Very cool/unique style of software management compared to CLI. And portage is THICC like xbps. Since you're mainly compiling your own binaries, you can omit specific flags.

[@lqlarry]

Thanks Jake!

[@JakeLinux]

You're welcome

[@B1ADE99]

Hey jake if you get around to it, could you maybe give some insight on how to get the ttf-liberation font on void?

[@JakeLinux]

I will see what I can do

[@whitepaperkat67]

Interesting, but can you also do the same thing by just making a couple aliases

[@JakeLinux]

Pretty much, it is a nice program but it's not for me.

[@donaldmickunas8552]

Hey Jake, I agree. I too avoid aliases for even basic bash commands like ls -l. My memory is bad enough. If I were to use an Alia’s all of the time, I’d forget the original command. Obviously, I’m a bit different in this regard, so it is my personal preference.

[@JakeLinux]

Aliases are nice for some, I have a few on my system, funny thing is I only use a couple of them, the rest, I still use the actual commands.

[@benjaminwestcott5622]

I would like if something like yay existed for Void. I've just stating tinkering in a VM and the package management on void seems more extensive than Arch, but the sources a bit more disparate and less simple to access.

[@JakeLinux]

If you install xtools you can use the command xi, it is similar to yay.

[@Sam-bt9mi]

You should take a look at a similar tool, vsv (bahamas10/vsv). Also, vpm is available in the void repos, so you can install with xbps itself.

[@JakeLinux]

Will check it out.

[@itsfish8672]

Jake thk u GVJ.

[@JakeLinux]

You're welcome.

[@memorysticky7581]

If you have bash-completion installed, it seems to work fine on xbps-install -S however it does not work when using vpm script, bummer. I wish they had a more integrated way of install source apps kinda of like paru does for pacman in arch for example.

[@JakeLinux]

You should have xi installed, try that. Run man xi and see what comes up.

[@NovemberOrWhatever]

From an ease of use perspective, XBPS seems to really suck. Glad there's something like this

[@JakeLinux]

On the contrary, xbps has been o e of the easiest package managers I have used, it is one of my favorite things about void.

[@NovemberOrWhatever]

@@JakeLinux For me, it requiring two commands to update itself everything else and the length of the command are both negatives for ease-of-use, and, while it's far from alone in this, it still requires sudo. But I don't really use package managers for anything but finding, installing, and updating software, so they all end up performing similarly enough for my use case.

[@B1ADE99]

Dude you need to upload more!!!

[@JakeLinux]

I'm trying, life is busy

[@liquidmobius]

Void is definitely not for the average Linux users who are used to distros like Ubuntu and Pop_OS, but I think that's what we really appreciate about it. You either learn the skills to use it or go back to other distros. And I don't think that's an elitist attitude at all. Personally, I'm really not for making Void "easier to use", because it's basically a flawless system if you know what you're doing. Just my two cents.

[@MajinHico]

My grandfather has no knowledge of computers and uses Void Linux that was set up by me. What are you talking about?

[@c3cxla]

I find runit lot easier than systemD

[@a.e.7427]

after years with debian, redhat, suse ... since 1996 - i prefer void linux as my dayliedriver :-) all i need runs smooth and rockstable. about 4 years now all my work i do on void-linux. and imho i get newest kde, firefox and kernel updates realy fast and anytime its without issues. i love it.

[@donaldmickunas8552]

I fell in love with Linux over 20 years ago because it offered me the opportunity to do whatever I wanted with my computer. Yes, I'm nerdy. Today, the major Distributions continue to put more and more obstacles in the way for people like me. I prefer the Unix way over the Microsoft/Apple way. Unfortunately, Linux seems to be abandoning the Unix way. The average user today wants convenience and an appliance they can easily use. No learning curve. That's fine for them. I want a system that I can learn about and configure to do whatever I want to do. Yes, that means a lot of learning. So what? I love the rush from succeeding at getting my system to do something difficult, at least for me.

[@JakeLinux]

I'm not saying void needs to be easier to use, but for some, if there is a tool on hand that makes the job easier, why not use it? If you are breaking down a brick wall with a framing hammer and suddenly find a sledge, your going to use it, right. I completely agree with your statement, I just don't feel it does harm to highlight current tools available to entice people who may have otherwise been scared to try it out void.

[@edbeckerich3737]

Hey Jake, I got pile of gaming hardware for my birthday last month, my Nvidia card has threw a huge learning curve in my path. Frogging Family has helped with nvidia-all. Do you hear much of this going on with Void? It has crossed my mind the Void is rolling and stable and might be really good for Proton gaming..

[@borremoonkey]

I don't game but I have an Nvida card, 1070 and the drivers have given me no issue. I tested Stalker Anamoly and the recent Metro game and it worked from my short testing

[@a.e.7427]

for me, void (with kde btw) runs great with lutris & steam with my hardware (nvidia gtx960). e.g. star citizen or cyberpunk 2077 runs smooth and realy stable. the void-docs on the website helped me a lot to install all reconomed nvidia packages.

[@JakeLinux]

I have little to no gaming experience, I am not much of a gamer, I would enjoy having the time to play but it is just not possible for me at the time. As far as pros and cons of void and gaming, I am not sure, I have heard it is smooth but I cannot personally verify that, sorry.

[@mzakyr342]

you know dwm is the universal software in linux it can be any linux distro

[@callyral]

the vpm repo is 404

[@JakeLinux]

I see that, that's unfortunate, I didn't use the tool but I know others who did.

[@anthony.wagner]

That's because it's now in the official void repo:)

[@JakeLinux]

Well that's good

[@medes26]

None sense! I don't see the need for such a helper. XBPS is straight forward on its own for me!

[@EugeniusNaumenco]

is there a similar thing for Arch?

[@JakeLinux]

There are multiple helpers for arch.