Linux Mint or LMDE

[ajm]

I have been using Mint exclusively for a year now and love it, but recently have learned that Ubuntu is planning on going with snaps more and might forego apt all together. Will this affect Mint, if so, is it time to move to LMDE? I get the feeling LMDE isn't quite as easy, or I will end up with a bunch of PPAs just to keep up and maintain compatibility with things.

[kevin987]

Hi ajm,

LMDE is basically the same as Linux Mint in how it functions. The updates are handled the same way through the Update Manager. You'll have the Software Manager and Synaptic Package Manager just like with Mint.

The only real difference is you will only use Debian repositories and not Ubuntu. Some of your software might not be as up to date with Debian, but it's still good. Debian is more conservative in its approach.

Edit: I forgot to add, only the Cinnamon desktop is available with LMDE.

[richyrich]

PS: No, PPA's are for Mint's Ubuntu compatible versions, not for LMDE.

[Hoser Rob]

Yes, LMDE is less friendly to the relatively inexperienced because it's Debian based. Debian is meant for experts, unlike Ubuntu (though many experts use it) and that's reflected in the Debian support docs. The LMDE section here isn't as good as the rest of this forum because there are much fewer users posting.

As mentioned, no, no ppa's. Debian doesn't support them. You also get older solftware versions than Ubuntu based Mint. Some people think no ppas is a good thing however.

[ajm]

Thanks for the replies. Just a little worried about maintaining my needs should the move need to happen. I require proprietary drivers, OpenCL and CUDA libraries, restricted codecs and so on, which is easy enough to get with LM 19.1, but I'm not quite comfortable with "taking a step back" with Debian so to speak. Debian is a VERY stable base, but I understand that it can be a pain just to get things to work like in a LTS branch of Ubuntu, and Mint makes things easier still in some cases, and the tools the Mint team have developed are great. I like to spend more time producing than configuring, or at least I think I do, since I have found tinkering in GNU/Linux fun as well. I'm sure when I break something that will change , and it seems that moving to a Debian base would tempt that fate.

Sticking with Mint, but keeping and eye on Ubuntu for changes.

[kevin987]

You can always create a partition on your hard drive to test LMDE 3. That's more of a true test than Virtual or a Live USB/DVD.

I have 3 extra partitions used to test distros when the mood suits me.

[mediclaser]

LMDE is pretty stable and based on my observations, it needs less frequent updating compared to Linux Mint. This is good for those who have data cap in their internet plan. But if you need or prefer having the most recent versions of the software you use, LMDE may not be for you. If you think Debian stable does not keep up with the latest and greatest (compared to Ubuntu), the same with LMDE.

[Pjotr]

I have been using Mint exclusively for a year now and love it, but recently have learned that Ubuntu is planning on going with snaps more and might forego apt all together.

Where did you get that idea?

[ajm]

From this link. Not sure how much stock to put into it.
https://blueprints.launchpad.net/ubuntu ... fault-snap

[Pjotr]

From this link. Not sure how much stock to put into it.
https://blueprints.launchpad.net/ubuntu ... fault-snap

That's just a proposal, from somebody without any official status within Canonical. Highly unlikely that it'll ever be approved (and rightly so: it's silly).