I got into custom ROMs late into the game. I always had locked devices because it was easier for me paying monthly for a phone.

However, when I switched to using my Pixel 7 Pro I tried LineageOS, and a few other forks and such. I tried GrapheneOS back when I was on my 7 Pro. I didn’t stick with GrapheneOS because I was struggling with some app compatability. Ultimately switched back to LineageOS with Root. It allowed me to use my system wife adblocking, and other custom stuff such as custom kernels, and modules.

I broke my 7 Pro, and got an 8 Pro. For a brief period of time I used LineageOS with root and custom modules and kernels. I got tired of having to fix play integrity and safety net. So I switched to GrapheneOS.

Noe that I am on GrapheneOS again full time, it has gotten a lot better, and more importantly I have changed my habits. So GrapheneOS offers me exactly what i want and need.

Hi dad, did you come back with the milk yet?

What distro should I use?

This always feels like a loaded question. I don’t believe there is a one choice that is “right.”

After distro hopping and trying many, I have come to a few realizations for myself.

There are a few factors to consider:

• What Desktop Environment (if any…): KDE, GNOME, XFCE, Cosmic, etc (this gets a bit more complicated depending on if you don’t want a desktop environment. You could just go CLI or with just a Window Manager like Hyprland, Sway, i3, or others I’m unfamiliar with.)
• What package manager are you comfortable with? And what style of package management do you want? Do you want older but tested and more stable? Do you want bleeding edge?
• Is systemd a deal breaker for you?

Really what I am getting at, you don’t know what you don’t know. So test out many! You can do this in a Virtual Machine with Virtualbox on Windows before switching.

I’ve wanted to give NixOS a shot, but I have very little reason to switch away from Arch. I have my install tailored to be exactly what I want. No fuss in maintaining it either.

I have been running my own dockerized instance of SeaeXNG for years now. I love it. I have it setup behind a reverse proxy to serve a cert for https and I am always VPN’d into my home network (split tunnel for only apps I want to use my home network anyways) and it has been working like a charm.

Search results are reliable, and it’s customizable.

Where’s the /s

Clearly it’s an LFS guide book… LFS isn’t Gentoo.

Hey valid complaints. As someone not in the need for professional editing tools i felt I’d be better to ask than to assume! Thank you for sharing

How is running windows in a virtual machine going to get stopped? Please elaborate.

Can I ask you what “sucks” about GIMP?

I much prefer handwriting in shorthand, scanning it in, running it through OCR, and cat to a file.

Today I learned

It suits my needs because I decide. It’s bleeding edge, so I get latest packages. Just the way I like it.

Arch. If it’s not a server, arch. Always arch.

I mean, the pictures don’t even hint on “broken things” And I don’t care what operating system you use, every single one has the capability to break.

VPN off or Split Tunneling works for me.

I chose Spplit Tunneling because it fits my use case better.

So for context, I have android auto not going through VPN, but I have my music player going through VPN.

I have used GrapheneOS on and off for 3 years or so.

I used to be on LineageOS with root. I did that so I could run a firewall, and have complete control over every aspect of my OS.

I tried GrapheneOS before they had ability for android auto. But lacking that, caused me to switch.

While my ultimate goal is to ditch big tech, Google, Microsoft, apple, etc I have to compromise a bit for some functionality.

That being said, having sandboxed Google Play has helped. Something I didn’t have on LineageOS.

Getting data to and from Debian won’t be an issue. Plug it in, and copy files to and from. Ezpz.

I use Arch BTW. And have had zero issues. So Linux compatability isn’t an issue.

As far as getting a Pixel with a headphone jack, that May be an issue. Security updates and software updates for a model with one may be an issue.

I have had GrapheneOS on a Pixel 7 Pro, and now an 8 Pro.

As much as I hate Google, I do like pixels. The 7 pro was miles better than my 8 pro.

I want to add, without Google play, you can still use Accrescent and Obtainium. While Accrescent is good, it has few apps. Obtanium you can pull from GitHub, F-Droid, Gitlab, and more and will check for updates.

I use both.

Arch has been the least limiting experience I have had with Linux thus far.

You wanna delete system files, do it, I dare you. Oh, it broke your system? Okay, not a problem. I haven’t encountered a situation it wasn’t recoverable. You wanna test bleeding edge custom kernels with drivers that are the newest available? Done.

If you’re afraid of reading, troubleshooting, and trying new things to test your mettle? Yeah, go with something else.

There is very little I haven’t been able to do with my Arch setups. I ditched Windows, and can’t go back.

Just be aware of what you are installing. And do your best to audit your system regularly. Switching to a bleeding edge distro, and using thebAUr absolutely comes with risks. But it is up to the user to be aware of what they are installing. This goes for any OS. Be aware of what you are installing.

This can happen on any OS you install software willy nilly with no thought behind it.

I would agree with this. I don’t see it as melodramatic.

Enthusiastic, yeah. And nothing wrong with someone interested in tech to also take the more poetic route of expression.

Many of the tech enthusiast types are more akin to mindless 1s and 0s. And not everyone is.

So like you did, rather lack thereof, the response of your own story is optional. I chose to share, because it’s fun to discuss. This isn’t a changelog, or patch notes. This is part or being human and sharing something other than binary data.