Why Did I Switch Back to Fedora 36 After Using Ubuntu 22.04 LTS?
I have been a longtime Ubuntu user, but recently, I switched to Fedora 35. I couldn’t resist Ubuntu 22.04 and installed again. I regretted.
Habits… Human nature… It is so hard to break 16 years old habit: Linux Distro. Ubuntu was not the first linux distro that I have used all these years, but it was definitely my main driver. All these years, I tried a lot of them by also changing core Linux version like Arch but at the end, I am Debian person and I like debian-based Linux distros. Ubuntu was the main driver of it (at least for me) and I even never cared their Unity movement: For me, it was the best. I like Ubuntu font-face, color template, mentality, philosophy of the name… I have Debian and Ubuntu t-shirts, I have always been happy to show off my Ubuntu setup etc. I even didn’t care when Ubuntu took ads and put Amazon to the dock.
We need a good packaging format, there is no discussion about it. Linux is not a popular environment Worldwide, and we are expecting software developers/providers to provide different Linux native packaging format. They are generally providing it for drivers or system softwares, but they are not so happy to provide these packages with third-party user applications. As a result, Linux users are ending up many electron-based applications or web applications.
The native package formats have their advantages and disadvantages as usual, but the biggest problem is that of their age. They came with a very long-time architecture and models so, they may be not the best choice for nowadays needs. We ended up with 3 popular package formats (if there is more, I missed, sorry): Snap, Flatpak, AppImage. Typically, AppImage is faster than Flatpak and Flatpak is faster than Snap. Snap is created originally for servers and IoT products, and Canonical made it the default packaging system for Ubuntu with Debian’s deb. There is nothing wrong about it, and you don’t need to have a lover’s relationship with packaging system. The only issue is that we created additional 3 packaging formats, and we didn’t solve the problem: We created the bigger one.
What’s the big deal?
I have been using Linux systems for their freedom and to know what I have and what I am doing. Other than this, I am also not happy not to have latest bluetooth headphones; having half working bluetooth 6+ buttons mouses, problematic screen sharing and mirroring for good number of monitors and screens, problematic mobile device sync, not having integrated environment (opening laptop or mobile device with a watch is great) etc. You got my points. I am using cable headphone, the smallest mouse from Logitech (if you would like to unify mouse and keyboard, it is nightmare but installing Windows as virtual device to set up helps), keyboard with Windows logo, mediocre screen because wide or 4K creates problem (yes, if you would like to spend a weekend, maybe you can find some solutions if you are able not breaking your Linux). You need to always search: “Product X for Linux”. There are good, bad, ugly ones and make your choice.
There is one single reason for me to use Linux:
Linux is freedom, and I am not going to sacrifice from it. Period.
Wow, bold statement, ha? Yes, because if I would like to sacrifice from it, there are better options like Apple. I can lock myself in the environment, pay my groceries with a watch, buy movies with eye blink, share my files with other family members in very cheap file sharing system, sync my photos etc. Asides from popular understanding, Apple is not expensive. 13” M1 with 16 GB RAM is cheaper than Lenovo X1 Carbon which runs Linux very well in comparable (for me better because of X1 Carbon’s weight) hardware and laptop case quality.
Now, Canonical is forcing everyone to use Firefox in Snap, and it is getting installed via snap package by default. Nowadays, web browsers are like operating systems, so they are very heavy, and they need to run smoothly if you would like to enjoy what you are doing. Snap is not providing this experience. It is heavy in first start, so you need to wait, it gives weird errors and quits Firefox weirdly. I am not the only one, there are tons of messages in forums like this.
What’s wrong with Canonical?
It is not the first time that Canonical’s done odd things to Ubuntu. I understand that it is business, they have to earn money, but they need to work on better business models rather than forcing Linux users to use what Canonical dictates. We have already had popular companies which are doing the same. Yes, of course, Linux is freedom, if you would like to spend sometime, there is always a solution, but I am not willing to spend my time just to take care of web browser installation. I don’t need someone dictates me or thinks for me “the best”. I can choose which is the best for me, and this is the beauty of Linux. If I want someone/company to think for me the best, as I said before, there are good options.
There are other reports that Ubuntu 22.04 is so aggressive about memory management. I haven’t faced directly besides Firefox, but people are complaining that the applications are killed randomly. The most notable one is Chrome, which is famous about bad memory management. I don’t know who is the one using Linux and Chrome together, but why not? This is the freedom that I have been talking about!
The most essential applications
In Linux nowadays, there are 2 essential applications for me:
Terminal
Browser
The rest can be replaceable. I am not the big fan of Electron apps, so if I need to use something javascript heavy, I use it in browser (like Todoist). When I code, I am using terminal with Vim as well as I am managing nearly everything in Terminal.
Now, I am half-baked because Firefox with Snap is not working properly! I don’t know how we can make Canonical’s Product Owners to understand the situation. And I am not going to use a half-baked Linux distribution because I lost 50% of my setup for Firefox in Snap.
Switching back to Fedora 36
In all these reasons, I switched to Fedora 35 some time ago and wrote about it:
I Changed My Go-to Linux Distro for the First Time from Year 2006
The post went viral, and it was the first time that I earned money because I am talking about Linux :) All these years, I’ve talked dozens of times, contributed and setup Linux environments, but I got nothing apart from recognition. It is OK because I have a job to live. When the post went viral, I bought a running shoe based on my Linux post earning! Yes, I know, you expected bigger numbers but no, it is not possible if you are not talking about making your bed, waking up at 5:00AM, breaking your habits, telling same principles for ages about leadership… But I am very happy with my running shoes!
As I am not so good at breaking up bad habits, I was attracted by Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. I missed it already and said: “Why not?” I also have some complaints on Fedora side because of font rendering, being a testing unit of RedHat guys, weird package management (default is not enough, you need to enable non-free rpm, copr, flathub etc.), bad terminal setup, and (not related to Fedora directly) not able to change font size without tweaks tool. So, I made Fedora “unhappiness” bigger and one Friday evening, I initiated Ubuntu 22.04 LTS installation and I initiated Fedora 36 installation in the next week’s Friday. I could live with my ex-love only for 1 week, unbelievable!
Nothing solved. Same problems with Ubuntu, and additional ones like aggressive memory management. Fedora 36 is not the greatest but at least, they have respect for my choices.
I wish Canonical good luck with their mindset. I am not planning to return soon.