This Distro Made Me Lose My Mind - AnduinOS

[@TheLinuxCast]

Follow me on Blue Sky - bsky.app/profile/thelinuxcast.bsky.social ==== Time Stamps ==== 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:46 Installation 00:04:10 UI 00:08:23 Pre-Installed Apps 00:09:48 Ubuntu or Debian? 00:12:06 Website, FOSS, and Legit? 00:12:58 The General Experience 00:13:53 The Dealbreaker 00:16:25 Matt Loses His Mind 00:22:21 Wrapping Up

[@Kunorrii]

I'm a bit mixed on the no app store. On one hand, the app store is easy to use and makes installing applications for new linux users easy. On the other hand, pointing them to the terminal could be better to prepare them for more cli based task. The documentation was fairly well written and I think that the devs want to push a terminal install on a new linux user distro to help new users get more comfortable with the terminal. It could have had a better approach, like a prompt to direct users to the website if they want to learn how to install apps via console, and a second option for people who are not quite ready or do not have the will to learn it. Has potential but I do think it needs more time.

[@NreKonkoro-vt2fo]

I've never seen Matt review GhostBSD or compare it one of these.

[@Problematist]

I like how honest they are with proclaiming to have "10+ users"

[@ys1197]

Chads

[@LukasRotermund]

When I imagine my parents using a shell to install something, I know the only thing they will install next is Windows again.

[@Damglador]

I read it as "ArduinOS" at first and thought it's something for Arduino

[@user-gv9uf9nq5v]

@@Damglador Being a NixOS and reddit user, I thought of anduril XD

[@Contmotore]

So basically just another Debian/Ubuntu based distro with a different theme and some Gnome extensions. Windows users are probably better off starting with Linux Mint.

[@BernardoHenriquez]

When they switch from windows to Mac, they don't complain about it, mac don't look like windows

[@Tall_Order]

An app store isn't a foreign concept to Windows users, either. So that can't be the reason they didn't include one in this. Windows has had "the microsoft store" since Windows 8.

[@John7No]

sure , but if we want to be fair , Windows 8 store was so bad that people never used it, and windws10/11 does have some apps. The majority is still installed wit the old download from the website way. So although it is not foreign, it is not as present as it would in a smartphone or linux with the package manager perspective

[@quantumastrologer5599]

Microsoft making the store not helpful but bloat is just so anti genius.

[@DBBravo]

Even if we are supposing that some users don't use the store in W8 onwards, or they never moved from 7. Even my grandma has a phone and guess what, since the BlackBerry days they HAVE APPSTORES. There is no way someone is not aware of the concept unless they have been in a coma since 2008

[@Damglador]

Microsoft Store is literally useless, you can't even find Steam there, it's just easier to always go for an exe installer. Better comparison is Android or iPhone

[@SecretlySeven]

As a new user snaps and flatpaks were my personal nightmare. From stuff not being located in .config to permission issues. Everything is easy to install via terminal. Only way it goes in the right place and works right. From day one for everything I didn't know I googled how to install XXXX in terminal on (insert distro name) Easy and guaranteed to work. Being able to copy and paste text to terminal is strait forward. I like this. Would have loved this distro day one personally.

[@bharm6974]

Damn. Thanks! I have a friend who has asked me to tutor his 11 yr old son in using Linux ("Windows is boring and Mac is too expensive" says the young lad). I have the perfect start for him. ANYTHING that gives an easy introduction to the terminal is PERFECT for this task. Let's see if it will run OK on a 10 yr old Dell XPS that I have to donate to the cause. One Matt's junk is another man's treasure...

[@keenancarey7041]

I like the software install process. We all find our way to the terminal as Linux users and they seem to hold your hand through that process. You could argue that is exactly what you should do for new users. Immediately bringing them to the terminal and breaking through that specific wall to empower people to slowly wrap their head around what really makes this system so great seems awesome. Wouldn't give it to my grandmother, but a kid.... That could work out great.

[@TheLinuxCast]

But do they actually learn the command line if they're just copying lines from a website? I don't think so, even if I agreed that dumping them into the scariest part of Linux is the best thing to do. Gradual exposure, fine, but this is dumping them into the deep end with a RTFM as a life preserver.

[@realivanjx]

@@TheLinuxCast copy pasting is where i started my linux journey

[@MisterHumanKirby]

@@realivanjx let's be real, 99% of users learned interacting with our system by copy pasting. I think for a distro like this, forcing terminal usage is very weird though. A imo better solution would be a default gui that has a friendly button (or small notification after 5 or so installs) that links you to that resource for the people that want to learn. People that are not interested in learning are not going to learn by being forced to use the terminal. You could even go a step further and allow the gui to change into a different mode, where instead of downloading directly when you click a button, it instead shows you what it would use as a command to install it. Slowly figuring out what (might) be happening under the hood when you click a button, even if very simplified and in no way a complete mental model is, in my opinion, the most fun part. And I am sure there are many people interested in that but a bit intimidated. Don't think teaching people is the main goal of this distro though

[@anthony7194]

​@@TheLinuxCastIs it the deep end if they're copying and pasting basic terminal commands with a high chance of success? This is the very shallow end of the pool.

[@williamepps9519]

@@TheLinuxCast It is up to the user if they want to learn. I learned 2 decades ago from copy/paste to terminal. It made me want to learn more. You can not force someone to learn unless they want to. There are already enough distros that use GUI app storefronts where new users basically learn nothing.. Anduin decided to go with a different approach I personally support. CLI/Terminal is an important part of Linux. Almost every user will have to use it at some point.

[@chillnacho]

The Linux Roast. Love it!

[@topherfungus8424]

Hey Matt keep up the good work😄

[@MrModtronix]

'Perfectly randy dandy' that made me laugh quite a bit! Good stuff!

[@JoeSmith-pu9hi]

Why remove synaptic and force terminal? Wonder if you could still install synaptic?

[@chaoslimits]

What a funny video. In the terminal below indeed.

[@anthony7194]

I think you've misunderstood the point of this OS. It's clearly for new but mildly technical users who want to get used to using Linux. Having documentation that holds your hand and walks you through using the terminal to accomplish something useful is great. It's excellent user centric design. App Stores come with all sorts of issues and then when something in the app store DOESN'T work the user needs to go and use the terminal anyway. Except now for a more complicated issue in a space they're entirely uncomfortably with. If the goal is adoption and getting people using Linux like Linux then this distro takes a refreshing and user centric approach with good UX that gives users a hand up WITHOUT coddling them. This is the first newbie distro I've ever seen that says "you can do it" rather than "I'll do it for you". The terminal is necessary in Linux and what better, simpler, high pay off exposure to the terminal is there than installing software.

[@williamepps9519]

Thank you... I basically wrote the same thing, not as eloquently, just a few minutes ago before reading comments. Every Linux user will have to use the Terminal at some point. Starting early with good documentation, as in this distro) is a Good Thing.We have ton of new user distros with GUI storefronts. AnduinOS is taking a different approach.I'd rather have a new user use a Distro that teaches the basics of the terminal to new users.

[@xojo]

9:48 i think the reason you see ubuntu based distros is because of the easy gpu driver install. there is nothing special or sophisticated about preinstalling themes and extensions that would require more than a debian base like you suggest. mint could be an exception because they write software for their desktop experience, so you'd expect mint to be able to justify using ubuntu. the theme they assembled does look good though.

[@CabbageBloke]

I use Fedora and i always try to install any app as a native RPM rather than Flatpak. Not because i don't like Flatpak's, mainly because i can't be bothered jumping through hoops to theme it etc.

[@laurentitolledo1838]

Puppy Linux was the first one that made me loose my mind....struggled to install for about a week.... after conquering it.... ditched it!

[@schemage2210]

So the only bad thing is the default app install process, totally not what I would have expected from the video title.

[@kuollutkissa]

I like how when you try to make Linux like windows it goes to shit /hj

[@williamepps9519]

Honestly, there are a ton of new user distros to choose from. Almost all them have a GUI app store. I actually like how Anduin is doing this. Every person using Linux will have to use the Terminal at some point. Anduin is hand holding these new users in how to use the terminal to install apps. I don't understand why this is bad. If a new user has an issue and does not want to learn how to use the terminal, as I said, there are a ton of other options. Yes, the Terminal can be intimidating to a new user, but it is something that needs to be learned. Why not start with the easy uses for the terminal?

[@ytbone9430]

As a 25+ years Windows user, I kind of wonder whether faking a "Windows Look" makes sense in any way. I mean, it takes me 1 click or pressing one missing short-cut to realize I am not using Windows. If the fake holds longer than 10 seconds for someone trying this OS, this user is not a Windows user by any means, he can use a toaster as well and probably would be fine. o) Personally, I couldn't care less how a desktop looks, it just needs to offer similar flexibility and workflow and it should not look like the GPU has bad memory. o) I can learn to close an application window on the left or right side and such things, I also can learn to resize windows with ALT pressed down or use CLTR+Shift+V to paste in the terminal. It's questionable though, why very famous Windows short-cuts and functions are not present by default in some desktops, it would not take away from the Linux experience, if UI would work like the industry standard out of the box. You can learn a lot of things, but it does not make sense if you actually don't need to. I would love to see Windows like Linux distributions on a different level, like using object oriented powershell for scripting, have a standardized user-, disk, event- and service-management tool somewhere, get rid of the cluttered / root file system, have some file manager capable of previewing a simple text file at least etc.. The look is not that important, you can fix the look yourself (shouts go out to Linux desktop developers who made this possible - that said, there's still a lot to do though! o).

[@The_Wandering_Nerd]

The Linux Mint Software Store can handle both Ubuntu packages and Flatpaks; they could have just taken and reskinned that

[@nicoleking772]

And I rarely IF ever have problems with either through the LM store

[@damolin77]

You should suggest input to the developers and if they genuinely want to make this a new user distro they will take everyone's feedback. Constructive feedback if done right can have a major positive and I agree there should be a app store. At the Same time the command page to learn is good for new users but only after a app store is put into the distro. People who want to dive in to Linux then can use that page.

[@PPKNexus]

Tbqh, I agree about the whole terminal as the "software center" being kinda absurd. But I think they jumped the shark a long time before that by going the bass ackwords route of mutilating Gnome into a Frankenstein, as opposed to just using Plasma or Mate as the DE. I mean, Matt seems to be captivated by the idea of doing that to Gnome, but I think its ridiculous to go that far out of your way to customize Gnome instead of just using something more customizable. Am I just out of touch here, or is there something I'm missing? Also BTW.........Where is the INTRO???

[@TrustJesusToday]

I wanted to leave a comment in the terminal and finally settled on the comments section.

[@TheLinuxCast]

We need to petition KZbin to let creators rename their content sections like student sections at Basketball games

[@PC4USE1]

As a perpetual newb,I use the command line as little as possible. I know how to copy and paste and a few commands but as a former Windows user,I like gui installation of software much better than CLI.

[@Maxume]

The only reason I can think of for them to handle software installation like that, is to "subtly" force new users into using the terminal. It's very misguided 'cause a brand new user's eyes would glaze over if they saw that. On the plus side, they have given me a spectacular idea which might finally entice me enough to learn C++ or Python.

[@Blessed2bFresh]

WattOS is pleasant imho. I don't use it but I would if I wanted a ultra light Debian openbox that has no frills and is already setup without the many options of Bunsen or Lilldog

[@mkrleza]

The weird thing is that I know many guys who customize Windows 11 to look less like Windows 11 if you know what I mean.

[@Bananapepperszx]

I’m liking the shorter distro reviews I really think the App Store thing is stupid especially for new Linux users. If I was a new user and I clicked on the App Store and I got sent to a website and asked to enter commands in the terminal. I would just quit there and then.

[@referralacc1033]

Shorter ?

[@orcaflotta7867]

American manages to pronounce Gnome he way it is intended. :) Congratz. ;)

[@Damglador]

Someone didn't use Windows for a while. MS Store is basically useless for installing software, it's always an exe installer. Even Steam is not available at MS Store

[@MichaelWilliams-lr4mb]

Maybe the goal is to get those Windows users new to Linux using the terminal very, very quickly? I don't know. I've heard people argue for that kind of thing before.

[@TheLinuxCast]

If so, that's silly. Would you want to give this to your grandma?

[@nahidahmed9153]

@@TheLinuxCast why give linux to ur grandma at all? maybe windows is enough if she doesnt like tinkering

[@lairizzle]

@@nahidahmed9153Linux would work fine for basic email/browser use. My grandma would have had no issue using it as a daily driver for this. Just because you CAN tinker doesn’t mean you MUST.

[@paultapping9510]

​@@TheLinuxCastnew to linux doesn't strictly equate to non-technical. It's a small niche, I should have thought, but one that exists.

[@donaldbaird7849]

@@nahidahmed9153 Because they could have an old computer they don't want to get rid of. Install Linux on it and it will breathe new life into it.

[@alexvalentain9849]

true linux user)) "Keep comment in terminal"))

[@shawnjefferson692]

hmmm I wonder, is the app page a sign of laziness or a very clever way to track interest in their so -called OS. Either way AnduinOS is not their yet.

[@glebglub]

just wondering, will you ever look into Kali? it's a distro meant for system penetration testers so a lot of the tools might go above your head (or 99.9% of everyone's head really, including my own) but it'd be interesting nonetheless

[@williamepps9519]

I think they used Ubuntu over Debian because of drivers, especially Nvidia drivers. I love Debian but for a new user, Debian can be intimidating compared to Ubuntu.

[@TheLinuxCast]

Makes sense. I wasn't arguing over that, just the wording of it

[@sandradorr3497]

I agree the app store is stupid. Hopefully they will fix this.

[@687ABC]

There's no reason that the developers couldn't have installed the Gnome App Center as it is in the Ubuntu repo. If you talking to NEW users there's no need to bring up Snaps or Flatpaks. Face it a newbie ain't gonna know what they are anyway. Constantly talking about them too, you're just justifying their fears about trying to using Linux.

[@moneyfr]

Developers didn't deserve so much hate

[@MSTNocte]

I think this is for a certain type of new user who wants to learn more. Because, giving a tutorial on how to install i think is a great idea. It makes them interact with the terminal.

[@TheLinuxCast]

If that’s how they billed it on their site I wouldn’t have an issue. But it’s not.

[@TheDotBot]

Not really, it trains people to c/p code into the terminal on trust, without knowing what they're doing. Not a good thing that.

[@MSTNocte]

@@TheDotBot I would disagree. I started c/p command lines. But, I looked up what I was doing to make sure I was doing the right thing. I think it comes down to the individual user.

[@TheDotBot]

@@MSTNocte I take your point and I think we've all done that - but right at the beginning? Might be ok for some but I still don't think it's a good way to start.

[@williamepps9519]

@@MSTNocte That is how I started 2 decades ago when I was a new user. It made me want to learn more about what CLI/Terminal can do. It helped me to learn and get interested in Linux.

[@IceBlade1992]

this is one of the reasons windows users still dont do linux wen sudenly there forced to use a terminal that they have never used nor know what eny comand even dose or wher it gets installed ect.

[@chadjones3380]

Why didn’t they just use the gnome flatpak store, it’s a whole lot easier than copy pasting commands

[@TheLinuxCast]

dunno

[@jonathanhirschbaum6754]

Linux on YT is in never ending death spiral of "linux for begginers" with notable exception of Luke Smith. Jesus, linux is older than large chunk of YT audience. All those distros make no sense whatsoever. Debian is OK for pros, Ubu is for grandma, rest is hobby/irrelevant. Thats it. Unless some balls of steel decided to install Arch on production servers. And transition users from Windows makes more harm than good. Then you get Linuses Techtipses of this world thinking that Linux is free windows with no games. If you make Linux like Windows, why would anyone switch to it? He already has windows

[@cevmantius]

I dont get this kind of distros. If you coming from windows just use mint.

[@jmacdono]

Gnome 42.9? Yikes, kind of old. But I guess it has to be a little older version of Gnome to get that kind of theming in it.

[@TheLinuxCast]

And it is based on the last LTS, which is why it's old.

[@Jeff_Seely]

With enough effort, anyone can make a windows 11 look and feel from Gnome and KDE with pretty much any distro. So what was developed here? A distro?The answers to these questions are why I cant really get behined these offerings. If its in its infancy though, then I say good luck I'll check back again, down the road.

[@salgadosp]

It takes a lot of tinkering. It's fun and games if you got time to waste, but there's always people who'd rather just take the shortcut. This is like a Zorin, but open source.

[@JuanGarcia-lh1gv]

For new Linux users that want to learn how to use the terminal, I think that page is great. For grandma who doesn't like or isn't very good with computers, not so much. A website like that would have helped me a lot when I first started using Linux 25 years ago.

[@rudynotfound]

is it ReviOS on linux??

[@KiraGaming-e2l]

No , Revios is modded/optimized version of windows.

[@rudynotfound]

@@KiraGaming-e2l its branding is similar to revios

[@sacothemaster]

Adı üstünde andon!!! Means dummy in turkish

[@nestycb6702]

i'm a seasoned Linux user. If I click on a Software Center and I see that many lines of text I'm either uninstalling or fuck it I'm using flatpak

[@archpenguin6646]

Yeah, they need to make or include an app store. Or just stop pitching it as a "Noob Distro"

[@sagarthenightmare]

It is a good way of training the user for using terminal.

[@CRYPTiCEXiLE]

them show how to install these apps is honestly a good way to show new users how to use the terminal instead of not how is that bad ? anyhow I think you are kind of going over board here dude.. i use linux for over 25 years man and I think the distro is fine, its not trying to be like windows its just making it more like a windows or design in some ways thats not a bad thing a lott of people make their system siminlar to a mac or windows choice we have... almost all linux desktop look neither like a mac or windows.

[@themroc8231]

I get that the appeal of this series is to showcase weird distros we wouldn't normally try but I have to say I would be more interested in your take on really good, professional distros. I'd recommend Alpine, for example.

[@TheLinuxCast]

I save those for the long term reviews.

[@themroc8231]

@@TheLinuxCast I think you could also do some fast and lose" good distro" reviews every once in a while. For example I don't believe you would be willing to commit to a long term review of a distro like Alpine any time soon. Otherwise we get like 7 gimmicky distros for one good one.

[@deadeye1982a]

This distro is an anti-newcomer Linux. A graphical installer for applications is what beginners want to have. I started with Gentoo Linux, but I'm not the normal user. Someone who's not deeply interested, just want to use the distro to get work done, should better avoid this kind of distribution. The best is to use, what the most people use. Why? Because if there is one problem with the distro, many users are affected, and you'll find many solutions to solve the problem on the Internet. But if you use a niche distro, don't expect to get much support. Sometimes you could use documentation of other distributions, but which beginner want to deal with it?

[@hiYouareaclown]

Stop messing around, debian or devuan and cinnamon desktop are the best

[@nautnautnaut]

comment keeps getting whacked...

[@ArchLars]

Can we automatically destroy any computer from now on used to start a new Debian/Ubuntu fork whose whole gimmick is to be "good for Windows users"? Linux Mint exists, find some other angle please. Create your own revolutionary DE, start from scratch instead of forking Debian, like do ANYTHING ELSE please.

[@Tall_Order]

The comment section is my terminal. sudo pacman -S tint [plays tetris]

[@m4saurabh]

Use mint

[@milohoffman274]

Yet another distro that is just a useless SKIN on top of a real distro, that could have just been a ricing script.

[@gingered]

I think the point is it is a distro to transition users from Windows, not be like Windows. Making presentation and work flow similar while offering concise explanation on Linux concepts to walk new users into how to do things in Linux. Sorry Matt, i think you're a bit off the mark on the purpose of this one.

[@TheLinuxCast]

Yeah, I really don't think I am. The website itself says that it is meant to be like windows. "AnduinOS is a custom Debian-based Linux distribution that aims to facilitate users transitioning from Windows to Ubuntu by maintaining familiar operational habits and workflows." Familiar habits and workflows. How often do you see Windows users opening Powershell?

[@gingered]

​@@TheLinuxCast Personally see people open powershell? Daily, I am a sysadmin. "Familiar" and "the same" are two different things. Driving a Mini Cooper is familiar to driving a Chevy Impala, but is very much different.

[@TheLinuxCast]

@ how often do you see your non tech people open it? And I think you knew very well what I meant.

[@gingered]

​@@TheLinuxCast How many non technical people do you see use the start menu? If it isn't on the desktop it doesn't exist with my end users. I know what you mean, and I think you're barking up the wrong tree.

[@TheLinuxCast]

@ I’m not the one who marketed this distro the way they did. If they didn’t want to be criticized like a noob distro then they shouldn’t talk like they are a noob distro.

[@kassioalvesfarias8877]

FOR THE ALLIANCE!!!

[@slamislife74]

420th like :3

[@moneyfr]

why don"t you compare the tkg nvidia all custom nvidia drivers

[@GambuSaur]

lol

[@binocry]

nobody dare make beginner distro linux without ubuntu based kek what a pointless distro, again

[@securelinuxchannel1519]

Use only Main Line Version of Linux like Arch , Ubuntu, Debian, Kde Neon, Kali, Mint those who are popular and have dedication , AnduinOS like Linux versions doesn't maintain continuity of update's and version after some time . And I didn't understand why developers try to gave there distro look like a windows Totally Bullshit .