So the thing with Debian and any Debian based distro like Ubuntu or Linux Mint is there is no big centralized software repo like the AUR. Yes there is the apt repository but if you want something that’s not in there, get ready to read the documentation or follow random guides.

For example, one of my friends wanted to download an audio tool called Reaper. On Windows this is just looking up the application and clicking on the .exe. It really depends on the dev if they include a .deb, sometimes you might need to download the .sh file or they may tell you to compile it yourself. Perhaps, you have to add a ppa. On Arch, all I have to do is Paru -S Reaper, if there are multiple Reapers I can look for that by typing Paru Reaper.

Now that Arch is so easy to install with the Archscript, and the software repo so vast and easy to use, is Debian really user friendly if you have to jump through several hoops to download programs?

Edit: yeah yeah there’s flathub and stuff but that’s more of a last resort, optimally, you want to get it the correct way.

        • /home/pineapplelover@lemm.eeOP
          13·
          1 year ago

          I have installed manually before. I’m not saying that it’s hard, I’m saying that arch is faster to do so since it’s one command. You’re not going to memorize the wget link and process to install keys for every program. Why is this so controversial?

            • /home/pineapplelover@lemm.eeOP
              1·
              1 year ago

              I don’t even need to visit any page or look stuff up if I just type paru librewolf paru will search the aur for me directly in the terminal showing the amount of votes, version number, if it’s orphaned or not. If I absolutely know the package name I can type in paru -S librewolf

  • GravitySpoiled@lemmy.mlEnglish
    111·
    1 year ago

    Congrats. Now you know why distrobox is so good. The package manager of the host doesn’t matter anymore. Nix package manager also works on any system. And finally, nowadays you use flatpak to install apps whereever possible.

    You can’t take the package manager as a reference to judge which OS is better.

    Arch is not only about installing but keeping up to date. A normal person does not want to read about selinux. Debian doesn’t use it either but uses something comparable. On arch you have to take care of it. On debian the maintainers take care of it.

  • Static_Rocket@lemmy.worldEnglish
    9·
    1 year ago

    Dog. I’m an arch user. You can’t just say “Arch is easier than Debian” and then in the first part of your argument say:

    Yes there is the apt repository but if you want something that’s not in there, get ready to read the documentation or follow random guides.

    You do realize Arch just frontloads that effort right? It’s not any “easier.” We embrace the fucking manual. (Arch based distros aside…)

    Now if you were praising the simplicity of makepkg and the PKGBUILD syntax then sure. As is, though, this is just a bad take.

    • /home/pineapplelover@lemm.eeOP
      11·
      1 year ago

      I’d argue that debian based distributions also need to refer to the documentation as well. If you have a simple setup, you probably don’t even need to visit the documentation on Arch.

  • spacebanana@lemmy.world
    6·
    1 year ago

    You should check out Nix (the package manager). NixOS’s Nix package manager can be used outside its own system. It supports the vast majority of Linux operating systems as well as MacOS.

    Nix’s package repository is gigantic like you wouldn’t believe, and Reaper is in it.

  • Jo Miran@lemmy.ml
    6·
    1 year ago

    Reaper is as easy to install on Linux (any distro) as it is on Windows or OSX. Any packaged versions of it, other than the tar file that you can download from Reaper.fm, are maintained by a third party and have nothing to do with the distribution.

    PS: IMHO, you want tools like Reaper and Bitwig to install directly unto your system rather than Snap, Flatpak, etc., due to the low level audio hardware interaction.

  • UnfortunateShort@lemmy.world
    61·
    1 year ago

    Imo Flathub/Flatpak is the correct way most of the time. I see zero need to install desktop apps any other way on Arch these days. It takes a lot of headaches away from users and developers. Different story for core packages and in case you actually want to compile stuff yourself of course, but I don’t see why I need an Arch-native version of LibreOffice or something. For some apps the Flatpak experience is even better than native (e.g. Lutris, Firefox).

    The AUR and Arch’s packaging system are still amazing tho, because of the great flexibility they offer. I agree that setting up Arch based distros (not Arch itself, sorry :D) are easier to setup than Debian based ones partly because of this. Another big reason is the info readily available in the Arch Wiki imo. But maybe I’m just used to setting up Arch.

  • scratchandgame@lemmy.mlTiếng Việt
    2·
    1 year ago

    Now that Arch is so easy to install with the Archscript

    Trash. Not true arch user.

    Switch to BSD instead, it is easy to use while being better in quality.

    • /home/pineapplelover@lemm.eeOP
      1·
      1 year ago

      Installed arch the manual way but have also tried to script to see if it was really as easy as people make it out to be. I would still recommend everybody giving the manual install at least once but for people who want it very easy to use, the script is there and hopefully nothing goes wrong with their system.

  • OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml
    43·
    1 year ago

    Everyone is downvoting OP, but OP is literally the common case of what users actually want…

    • /home/pineapplelover@lemm.eeOP
      32·
      1 year ago

      Honestly didn’t think I would get this much hate. People talking about how the correct way to install is flatpak most of the time, a comment right after says you shouldn’t use flatpak for low level, and other comments saying to install it the long manual way (which, admittedly, is the most secure way), nobody has admitted that it’s easier to install from aur rather than on debian.

      If it’s a popular and maintained package on aur then most of the time it should be fine. Very rarely do I have to go to the official documentation to make the packages manually unless it’s a smaller project.

  • sudo64@lemmy.worldFrançais
    21·
    1 year ago

    You gotta add the fact, that ArchLinux sometimes requires you to fiddle a lot when a update failed and broke a lot of stuff, there’s also the installation process, Debian is much more stable (and while archlinux is too), debian is generally a better option for beginners to its approach, And also Reaper is practically Avaliable on a crapton of distros, the fact that it provides binaries officially, and also that its avaliable on FlatHub.