I just need a nice Linux distro where I don’t have to spend any time coding to install software… I don’t want to type in code to install things but I also don’t want to move to Windows 11.
Most modern Linux have optional GUIs for package management — software packaged by your distro mantainers — often integrated with flathub — a website for downloading and installing distro agnostic software, with limited access to system resources, like android’s permissions — and system management.
Generally we prefer to type in “code” as it is very straightforward and faster as well. For Windows, you go to system settings, install updates, wait a while, and reboot to install updates. This only updates Windows itself and some of their software, i.e. drivers, office, etc.
For linux it depends on the distro, but for Debian/Ubuntu based ones it goes something like this in a terminal emulator:
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
flatpak update
Each line is executed independently, and roughly translating them in order of appearance:
sudo means do the following command with administrator privileges;
apt is Debian’s package manager tool;
apt update is an apt command that checks if there any new packages for either your system or installed software;
apt upgrade is also an apt command to install these latest packages;
flatpak is a tool to manage distro agnostic packages, commonly from flathub;
flatpak update checks and install new versions of the installed packages.
While the explanation is a bit long winded, these commands runs in seconds to a few minutes, depending on how long it has been since the last update. It might be necessary to reboot afterwards, specially if you have nvidia graphics, for example. But it updates all the software you obtained through them, without the song and dance of going to each vendor’s website or third parties. They vetoed all of them in your stead.
Mind you, while flatpak apps from flathub may have unstrusted software — which also have a limited access to the system — your distro has higher concern for safety than Windows by not making you download an random executable from a website.
Most modern Linux have optional GUIs for package management — software packaged by your distro mantainers — often integrated with flathub — a website for downloading and installing distro agnostic software, with limited access to system resources, like android’s permissions — and system management.
Generally we prefer to type in “code” as it is very straightforward and faster as well. For Windows, you go to system settings, install updates, wait a while, and reboot to install updates. This only updates Windows itself and some of their software, i.e. drivers, office, etc.
For linux it depends on the distro, but for Debian/Ubuntu based ones it goes something like this in a terminal emulator:
sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade flatpak updateEach line is executed independently, and roughly translating them in order of appearance:
sudomeans do the following command with administrator privileges;aptis Debian’s package manager tool;apt updateis anaptcommand that checks if there any new packages for either your system or installed software;apt upgradeis also anaptcommand to install these latest packages;flatpakis a tool to manage distro agnostic packages, commonly from flathub;flatpak updatechecks and install new versions of the installed packages.While the explanation is a bit long winded, these commands runs in seconds to a few minutes, depending on how long it has been since the last update. It might be necessary to reboot afterwards, specially if you have nvidia graphics, for example. But it updates all the software you obtained through them, without the song and dance of going to each vendor’s website or third parties. They vetoed all of them in your stead.
Mind you, while flatpak apps from flathub may have unstrusted software — which also have a limited access to the system — your distro has higher concern for safety than Windows by not making you download an random executable from a website.
I just ran
flatpak updatefor the first time. Thank you. (I had been using KDE Discover’s updater.)I recommend using Debian with KDE. :)