Xfce

Debian buster with Xfce desktop environment

I upgraded my Debian box to the latest version, with the default GNOME desktop environment (DE) recently.  Sometimes the computer runs slowly, perhaps consistent with its age.  On searching the cyberworld, several culprits regarding such slowing are pointed out.  Without going any further, my erstwhile DE is found on top, of course apart from the usual suspects (Microsoft, e.g.).  I thus searched for the best DE, one that is not bloated, one that is lean and mean.  I zeroed in on Xfce which was immediately installed.  Many geeks actually recommend it (among others) for lower-end hardware, although it's also useful for the high end computers.

My relationship with computers spreads for less than 40 years, perhaps occasionally during the first quarter of this period, and probably more frequent later with the introduction of the CD-ROM.  The Internet was not available at all!  I think I used Apple DOS and MS-DOS operating systems (OS).  Internet was available in the second quarter, but it was so slow (using the modem) and also expensive.  In this quarter, it was Windows everywhere I looked.  I think I used Windows 3.0, 95, 98 and ME.

The third quarter showed my frustration with Windows prompting my search for an alternative OS.  The software is buggy, not to mention expensive.  I landed with Linux, particularly the free Debian GNU/Linux 3; it was free alright but I spent time reading about the manual pages.  At this time, Linux was still a geeky subject.  I tried several distributions using disk partitions (called multi-boot install).  In this latter period, I used Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 10; in the UNIX-like OSes I tried NetBSD, GNU Hurd, Fedora, YOPER, Ubuntu, Xubuntu, Lubuntu and of course Debian (present).

Some DE I used include Luna, Aero and Fluent for Windows, and Enlightenment, LXDE, Unity and GNOME, and of course, Xfce.  I'm now back to the traditional scene of the good old menu system, simple and easily configured.  Why fix it when it's not broken?

"Xfce embodies the traditional UNIX philosophy of modularity and re-usability. It consists of a number of components that provide the full functionality one can expect of a modern desktop environment. They are packaged separately and you can pick among the available packages to create the optimal personal working environment."

Debian

More than 3 months ago, I posted about my Fedora installation in my desktop computer, and it's smooth sailing since then.  It replaced my erstwhile perfectly running Ubuntu box for 12 years already, just out of curiosity.  OK, admittedly I tried Fedora because I read somewhere that Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux is using the OS personally.  He also mentioned that he doesn't like Debian because it was difficult to install with its many options, or something to that effect.  Well, it was this last statement that got me thinking into going back to my very first open-source OS... what else... Debian GNU/Linux (now just called Debian)!  That was Debian 3.0 (Woody), way back in 2002.

Four years later (2006), I wrote something on how I got and installed Ubuntu 6.06 on my desktop.  It was so easy because they provided free live CDs!  It was no surprise that Ubuntu is based on Debian, and the former just made it easier to use the latter.

Debian 9 overview screenshot

It's good to always return to our roots.  So, I'm back (for good) in debian... it's now Debian 9 (Stretch) using kernel 4.9.0-4-amd64.  The screenshot looks familiar because it also uses GNOME (3.22.2) desktop environment by default.  The user experience is great!

When I got this computer several years ago, it had Windows already installed so I had to install Linux in another partition.  Using the same hardware, linux loads several times faster, and appears more secure and stable.  I don't know if it's the usual, but I don't have any antivirus program running, and nothing seems to matter.  With its more than 21,000 source packages [51k in 2018], the available Debian software can meet almost any need that one could have, whether at home or in the enterprise.  Debian is and will remain composed entirely and exclusively of free software.  All software development within the Debian project, itself, will be free [taken from The Debian Administrator's Handbook].

"Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God." (1 Peter 2.16 RSV)

Fedora 27

Fedora 27 overview screenshot

I installed Fedora 27 Workstation edition in my desktop computer last December 1, and it's still running without any glitches for a few weeks now.  It has gone through several updates and it's presently using the 4.14.7 kernel version.  I tried this Linux distribution, replacing my Ubuntu box just from curiosity.  Ubuntu is running perfectly though and it's a very good Linux distribution, if one may inquire.

I noticed immediately that Fedora updates opaquely (somewhat like Windows), as opposed to Ubuntu where updates are installed and presented in a separate window.  In Fedora, the computer has to restart or shutdown first before updates are applied.  This is okay with me but others may not be (I guess this behavior can be tweaked).  It uses GNOME (version 3.26.2) as default environment, same as in Ubuntu.

"The truth will make you free."

~Jesus (John 8.32 RSV)