#linux troubles

[steaked-bolt]

last fedora update I did, completely fucked up my internet connectivity (between kernels!) and power utils (shutdown, reboot, etc) :/

the update prolly just got corrupted, since it froze, telling me not to shut it off, and I had to hard kill it.

luckily I kept notes of all the tweaks I've done while running it! so I'll just reinstall and be back to where I was in like a day 😌

[girlwarlock]

i want to switch to linux--windows 10 is nearing end-of-support, windows 11 sucks, if i'm switching OS i'd just as soon switch to linux.

i see people online being like "switch to linux!!" which is great, but the same people have like... no suggestions for distro (even in terms of "if you do X, try 1, 2, 3; if you do Y, try 3, 4, 5" or something) and no instructions for *how* to start setting up the new OS that you'd be switching to. fucking--ten or fifteen years ago, "no suggestions from other people" would be workable, because search engines worked. but now between google enshittifying their search engine to force people to run more searches and computer-generated clickbait articles outnumbering real ones i can't fucking find recommendations i can trust.

Both of the "try this distro if you're new from windows and just want an OS to run your little programs in" distros I tried [running off a flash drive, bc i only have the one SSD and i can't fucking figure out how to make a new fucking volume/partition/whatever on it with the tools that windows+google give me and i don't want to wipe my fucking C drive just to try out a distro that i might not use], ZorinOS and Linux Mint, had things that I just couldn't figure out how to do. I looked up guides, but every single guide i found just had instructions of "enter "sudo bongle bleeplorp choochoo" in the terminal" with no insight as to wtf those commands mean, or wtf you're supposed to do if you get any kind of error from trying to run them. (the terminal also wouldn't accept ctrl+V pasting which made putting these unfamiliar commands in super inconvenient as i had to make a lot more keyboard/mouse switches; that's a much lower-tier complaint but it is a complaint) and

i just have this general frustration that so many of the instructions for things that you're likely to want to do because you're new to linux from windows just presume this high degree of familiarity with linux systems. i just want an actual honest-to-fuck Beginner's Guide, and if that is Too Fucking Much, then I want an actual no-fucking-around out-of-the-box useable-as-is operating system. one or the other.

@girlwarlock [mentioning myself so i can reblog if more thoughts happen]

[tertu-m]

oh boy installing linux. yay. yay.

[01tacocat]

[ID: A drawing of a teal and light green striped undertide dragon. He has green swirl patterns on his wings and frills and a light green underbelly. End ID]

[steeloptic]

you can't catch me in cyberspace!

[rackartyg]

every day i get closer to saying fuck it and installing linux

[from-the-working-classman]

Honestly, don't even apologize ─ you seem to have thought about this a lot, and not only is this an interesting topic, but I am finding all your answers incredibly engaging, which is great for the both of us.

For some reason, the market is just not open to the possibility of Linux ever becoming a name as big as Windows or Apple to the average person. (Which is in part because Linux will never change)

Which is insane! because the amount of things Linux is capable of is mind-blowing; you, sir, are absolutely correct.

In a way, we all know the only limitation with it being FOSS is that people have to want to contribute. And I'm not talking solely voluntary contributions.

Any sort of agency, anything that is a program needs to want to create a version of their product for Linux; or else it just won't exist.

(I think this is felt mostly to gamers or video editors (there are probably a wider range of fields that feel this)

Still, if there is a lack of options, and if the best tools of trade aren't available on Linux, then it's highly unlikely you'd want to switch to something that won't meet your needs.)

I don't think the average person cares about this, though?? The real stopper is that even if the option exists, the ordinary person ─ if they don't know about Linux and are daunted by what they read online, they just won't buy it ─ if they do know about Linux, and the likelihood is that they already use Windows, will find the transition significantly jarring.

Linux is marketed as something for technicians, software engineers, people that like to build things (and a little on the crazy side) and understand how to run it.

People probably won't consider it an option for a long time ─ computers come with Windows, or they buy a MacBook, iPad, or iPhone.

That's it. That's the market.

Telling young zoomers to "just switch to linux" is nuts some of these ipad kids have never even heard of a cmd.exe or BIOS you're throwing them to the wolves

[teledyn]

File under: #becauseweTHOUGHTitwouldbeeasy

OK, dead project or not, I did get UBOSlinux running on a pi-4B, easily ported radio.teledyn.com to a static page server, got nextcloud 'app' running, and then hit the next brick wall…

To be useful, a cloud server should have decent amount of storage, and while it seems ubos could BOOT from an external drive, and standalone NextcloudPi has tools to add storage, #Nextcloud under UBOS cannot use such on a per-app (or general storage) basis? Can this be true?

[relto]

laptop surgery

[ms-demeanor]

When I'm reccing linux to non-linux users, part of the reason that I say "install it on an old computer" is that one of the things that people worry about when experimenting with new operating systems is that they'll break the computer beyond repair. Which isn't *likely*, but which is a non-issue when you're talking about a computer that was otherwise just going to be discarded.

I'm leery of recommending dual-booting or booting from a thumb drive to absolute newbies because they're hesitant to experiment on their daily-use computers (with good reason! They've been told not to click on things they don't understand and not to get out of their depth their whole lives so it's very difficult to try to suppress those instincts on the computer you use for school, even if it isn't the operating system you use for school).

So putting it on an old computer is like a free pass to computer class. You can't break what was already broken, so they feel more free to try different stuff.

And, like, I totally get where people are coming from when they say to run a VM, but I'm largely talking about users who aren't aware that they can have multiple profiles on their computer, or who have trouble switching between profiles on a shared computer.

I also see people saying "installing linux isn't any harder than installing windows" and A) that's going to depend on a LOT of variables and B) I don't know if you know this but the reason that most people don't buy bare metal PCs is because they don't actually know how to install an operating system. There are a ton of people in the world who I'd trust to assemble a gaming rig physically but who I think would really struggle with getting it to go from a mass of connected parts in a case to a computer that is running software.

[muffinlance]

MY HERO <3

Honestly the biggest problem is that I'm totally new to Linux and still figuring things out, I will go forth and give it another try tomorrow <3

Excellent work on AO3Downloader, so simple yet so perfect, I love it dearly <3

Have a few more hearts: <3<3<3

would you mind talking about how you (currently) back up fanfics to read when AO3 is down? I've been thinking about trying it myself (now that I have a hard disk with enough space) but I have no idea how.

Le current system (all programs are free):

Get yourself Calibre (available for every OS)

Install the FanFicFare plugin, which allows you to go to any page on AO3 (and dozens of other sites) and download every fic there in the background while you do other things with your life

Profit. AKA: Archive every fic you even vaguely like because fics are text-based and take up barely any space, and calibre allows searching by tags similarly to AO3. I personally just bookmark everything I read and liked, and then periodically run FanFicFare on my newest bookmark pages. There is really no need to be discriminating here; I have never regretted having Moar Fics, and calibre makes things exceptionally searchable (and you can customize the tags once you've downloaded, for further fic findability)

When I was on Windows I preferred AO3downloader, which runs on Python and can go through all your bookmarks without input from you (FanFicFare needs to be told what the next page is; AO3 Downloader just starts at page 1 and goes until the page you tell it to stop on); AO3 Downloader also uses AO3's original download format (it literally just automates hitting the site's download button), whereas FanFicFare does a custom output (which you can tweak if desired, but it will never be exactly the same. Note that it works totally fine out of the box I'm just grumpy it's not Exactly The Same.) I couldn't get AO3 Downloader working on Linux, alas.

(If anyone knows how to get AO3 Downloader working on Linux Mint, or knows a calibre plugin that just automates clicking the AO3 download button, do please let me know.)

[mesaprotector]

the trouble with me specifically using linux is that i am simultaneously:

very, very stubborn about how i want my pc to work

just good enough at tinkering that i can usually get something to work after a lot of effort

the result is that the os that was honestly pretty stable the whole time i was a newbie, now has something break about twice a month. it's not even my homebrew applications breaking, usually—more often it's some deprecated xorg program or anything to do with graphics.

[k20spock]

Gecko’s list of free video games you should play right now

Hi I’m gecko I like video games and I like not paying 60 dollars for them so here’s a list of some free games I’ve unearthed and liked. Enjoy

(most of these are small, more obscure games made by a few people or even just one person, so support the creators if you can!! Some of these do have a pay what you want model)

Hikeback (Itch.io) 

You see a hitchhiker flagging you down during a long, lonely drive through the countryside. No matter how you choose to handle the situation, you end up back on that road. And then again. And again. And again, until you find a way to escape a loop of violence and self-sabotage. Hikeback is a visual novel inspired by the fable of the frog and the scorpion, and it takes about an hour to reach the ending. It’s available on Windows, Mac, Linux, and browser, and there’s a detailed list of content warnings on the game’s itch.io page. One of my strongest recommendations, Hikeback is an incredible experience, and it was made in only ten days!!

Purrgatory (Itch.io) (Steam)

Find ways to pass the time in an inexplicably cat-themed but otherwise pretty dull afterlife, and befriend its other inhabitants. Purrgatory can hit hard when it wants to, but it’s mostly a relaxed point and click game that takes about a few hours if you want the true ending (which you do). And also I really don’t like recommending things going “it’s rep!!” and not elaborating on what the thing is actually about, but Purrgatory does have a mostly explicitly LGBT+ cast and Korean characters by a Korean artist. It’s been a few years since I played Purrgatory, but I remember it was an incredible experience, and since then, even more people can play it because it’s been fully translated into Spanish and Simplified Chinese! It’s available on Windows and browser.

How Fish is Made (Itch.io) (Steam)

How Fish is Made includes incredible retro-style graphics, a sardine flopping around in a machine with a choice to make, a singing, cane-wielding, tophat-wearing, tongue-eating parasitic isopod, and a free expansion/trailer for the studio’s next game that’s like if Katamari Damacy was evil and also had fish in it. That’s the best I can do for a summary. How Fish is Made is available on Windows and takes about 30-45 minutes, but will itch your brain for much longer.

Stop Burying Me Alive, Beautiful (Itch.io)

A visual novel in which you are stuck between trying to convince your girlfriend you are not dead and she should stop burying you alive, and playing rat-themed card games with a woman you find living underground. The game doesn’t always do a great job walking the line between comedy and horror, but there’s some strong writing depicting a failing relationship and very strong artwork that makes this an easy recommendation. Stop Burying Me Alive, Beautiful is on Windows, Mac, Linux, and browser, and takes about half an hour. 

Caper in the Castro (Internet Archive)

Ok this one is pretty different, but fuck it, it was originally released for free in 1989 (with a recommendation to make a donation to charity instead) and is still free so I’m including it. Not enough people are aware that you can play the first known video game by and about gay people on your computer right now for free and it has that classic adventure game bullshit sometimes but it’s extremely playable and also funny as shit. Like it’s not just cool history it’s actually fun (sorry Gayblade). You play as a lesbian private detective named Tracker McDyke looking for your missing drag queen friend and you can get most of the doors in the game open by shooting them. People have made full walkthroughs for this game and how to get it working if you have trouble so there’s no excuse. Play Caper in the Castro.

Under a Star Called Sun (Itch.io) (Liminal Magazine)

A browser game made in Bitsy that’s extremely simple and only a few minutes long, but that’s all it needs to create a succinct, gut-wrenching depiction of grief. 

Hotel Infinity (Itch.io)

If you need more short Bitsy games you can play in your browser that are about death, you’re out of luck after this because I’ve only got the two. Hotel Infinity is more lighthearted, tasking you with checking in on your ghostly hotel guests, and helping one check out. It’s simple, but sweet and affecting. 

Water Womb World (Itch.io)

Back to marine life-themed horror. Water Womb World is about a man’s obsessive search for the Garden of Eden leading him to the bottom of the ocean. There’s a few brief moments of annoyance in the gameplay, but the atmosphere and visuals are fantastic. Fantastic enough I bought the shirt, because I like cool shirts. It's available for Mac and Windows, and takes about 15 minutes. 

Hyperhell (Itch.io) (Steam)

A rogue-like bullet hell with a hyperpop soundtrack. It’s a mess, but in a good way. A run can (allegedly, I am not very good at bullet hells and I wasn’t able to get all the way to the end) be under ten minutes, but the game is very replayable with its different characters, weapons, bosses, and DDR and fishing minigames. You might have heard of this one already because maia has a cameo in it, but it really is a fun, if slightly painful for your eyes, time. It’s available on Windows.

Magicafe HD (Itch.io)

Under a technicality, I haven’t played this one yet, but that’s because I played the original text-based version of this game and I didn’t know the dev had converted it to a full visual novel until right now when I went to recommend the original. I’m certain this version is even better! It’s a cute, simple visual novel about a girl trying to get to her job at a magical girl themed cafe, while dealing with the struggles of secretly also being an actual magical girl. Available on Windows, and lasts about half an hour. The original is available on browser here if you’re interested. 

Dedz0ne (Itch.io)

Ok, wrapping up on a weird one since this isn’t really a universal recommendation. Dedz0ne is a Yume Nikki/Splatoon fangame inspired by Dedf1sh’s backstory and the atmosphere of Octo Expansion in general. It came out before Side Order so it’s not accurate to it, but it’s a really neat game with great visuals and atmosphere. It’s available on Windows

And that’s it for now. There will probably be a sequel someday because I am unable to stop digging through free games. Or maybe a collection of not free but extremely cheap games (like under five bucks) I like. Who knows! I hope you found something that catches your eye here!

[characteroulette]

Happy Layton Big Bang!!! @proflaytonbigbang !!

Here's my contribution: a whole new ukagaka to play around with!! (Grab them here!!)

Layton and Luke come with a few features --

Sit on your desktop and chat to themselves

Serve them a spot of tea! (Be careful not to jostle them)

Read through Luke's journal and get anecdotes from all their adventures!

A simple affection system!

Update functionality! So if they get more dialogue in the future, all you need to do is tell them to update and they'll grab it automatically!

Other ukagaka functionality (checking your email, deleting the files in your recycling bin, recognising certain files you drag and drop onto them)

And three whole shells! One made by the fantastic Danganny_art (Instagram) (X/Twitter) (check her post on it over here!!), the other made by @smooley (Instagram) (Itch.io) (coming soon!!)!! (I made the third but it was mostly for sprite sheet reference haha)

They come with their own unique balloon as well, made by @ageofzero!! It comes with designs from all 6 of the mainline games, so you can choose your favourite!

I have also posted all of their dialogue lines on ao3 in case you can't get ssp to work, though it's only the barebones dialogue from their release version.

Here's how to grab them --

Download SSP (you are looking for the ダウンロード button)

(as a note, SSP currently only runs on Windows. for solutions to a linux setup, check here!)

Make sure to place SSP in its own folder! Don't extract it directly onto your desktop and don't remove any of the files from its folder. Not even the application.

(You might have to add ssp to the exceptions on your virus protection software so it can run.)

Say hello to Emily (the cat girl)! She will always be there to greet you the first time you run ssp.

Download Layton and Luke's .nar! (You can download their balloon separately, but they come bundled with it so that's not necessary)

Drag Layton and Luke's .nar file onto Emily once she's finished speaking so she will install it.

(Alternatively, if you are having trouble with this, a .nar file is just another .zip, so you can grab the files from it and place it into a folder yourself! Make the new folder in the Ghosts folder of ssp's files (you will see Emily's folder in there!) (make sure to name it the same name as the .nar itself) and place all of Layton and Luke's files inside it!)

Then you can switch or call up Layton and Luke by right clicking on Emily and selecting them from the Switch Ghosts or Call Ghosts options! Simple as that!

Thanks so much for everyone involved!! Happy Layton big bang!!

[mirqmarq428]

Specifically StumpWM fonts

The solution is in this mastodon post:

https://emacs.ch/@zyd/111752877667015111

Thank you @zyd@emacs.ch for swooping in to solve all my problems with this window manager

Xorg fonts :(