What programs to install? “Does an advisor program exist?”

[Moderator Brian Masinick]

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There are certainly a LOT of ways to get software, and each of us is free to choose what we prefer.
Personally, I wonder about this though. If you are not content with the software installation options that we offer and the choices of software that we include, while you are still welcome to use antiX, I´d question if it may be more appropriate to use another distribution?

For example, our counterpart, MX Linux, is a very good distribution too, and it offers two desktop environment alternatives: Xfce and KDE.

Though the upstream from which we obtain a large percentage of our software, Debian, has a completely different scheduling and job handling infrastructure (systemD) that philosophically differs from what the antiX community wants to use, Debian is also an excellent starting point for people who want a wider variety of software applications and desktop options.

I am NOT saying you can´t get them on antiX too (you CAN), nor am I suggesting that one distribution is inherently BETTER than another. The reason we have so many distributions in the Linux ecosystem is that different people prefer different choices, ranging from small, nimble systems to large, comprehensive systems, and from minimal visual effects to fancy graphics, transparent panels, more applications, and different standard desktop environments. All I am suggesting is that if you want something that is a lot different than what we are providing, while you are still welcome to customize your antiX system to suit your needs, you may find it quicker to check if another distribution directly offers what you are looking for. The choices are yours and the choices are many. Experiment, evaluate. I build different stuff, starting with antiX and I am DEFINITELY a big antiX supporter. Even as big a fan as I am, I am also a software enthusiast, so I try out a LOT of different software; it is OK to do so.

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Brian Masinick

[Member stevesr0]

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Hi Brian,

I get the impression that people believe I am COMPLAINING.

I am NOT.

I like Antix enough to be using it on my three linux machines.

However, I like to find “neat” things – whether I am looking for a restaurant to eat at, a hotel to stay at, a shop to buy things at, a trail to explore – or a computer setup.

I haven’t seen a “place” where – like yelp or tripadvisor, different choices in the same categories are widely discussed and rated. I thought such a place might exist where different combinations of applications were compared and critiqued, that might be illuminating.

In its absence, a program that checked what was out there and retrieved reviews by users might be very neat.

And (optimistically), I thought unbeknownst to me, it might exist.

No criticism or even dissatisfaction with Antix implied…

stevesr0

[Forum Admin anticapitalista]

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As I said, it does exist.

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/linux-app-stores-compared/

Philosophers have interpreted the world in many ways; the point is to change it.

antiX with runit - leaner and meaner.

[Moderator Brian Masinick]

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I don’t think anyone is complaining. I, for instance, am suggesting that people look for systems that most closely meet their needs.

As far as something that offers reviews, feel free to do what you wish. Personally, if I’m looking for something, I do my own searching, using 2-3 standard searching tools. I generally do not take only one source for granted or automatically accept it unless I have some personal knowledge about it. Instead, what I do is look for a general consensus, usually from real customers (and also real people).

Feel free to do whatever you want. For me, I’m with those who have commented that most sites that have recommendations are paid for by those who advertise. Even so-called recommendations might actually be from people who are paid to make them. On the other hand, if you read things from friends, associates, and others that you know – at least for me personally, that’s more “believable”. You’re certainly free to have a different opinion; after all, we’re expressing opinions in this particular topic; these are not “FACTS”, they are observations, and by definition, unless an observation can be validated by unchanging facts, the observation is an opinion. At least for me, I am more likely to value the opinion from an individual with a similar background and opinion base – unless I am explicitly looking for alternative opinions.

So I wouldn’t be overly concerned about what I think or what anyone else thinks; it’s what you choose to do that ultimately matters, and I am sincere in wishing you success in finding whatever tools and applications are most suitable to your interests.

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Brian Masinick

[Moderator Brian Masinick]

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As far as distributions that offer a lot of software recommendations, Linux Mint is arguably a leader in that style of app store and app packaging. They have some good distributions too; they’re just different than antiX, in terms of what is emphasized.

For example, antiX puts emphasis on lean software that tends to run on systems that tend to be older, even well past warranty. Mint, on the other hand, places emphasis on familiarity and simplicity of operation, so that people trying it out are comfortable, especially if they are new to GNU and Linux-based software. Mint also has a lot of fine wallpaper, icons, and a reasonably consistent look and feel to match the backgrounds and color schemes.

Other distributions, including ours, pay some attention to these matters; Mint pays a great deal of attention to appearance and simplicity over efficient, lean processes and procedures.

These are traits that distinguish various distributions. All Linux distributions have some kind of Linux-based kernel, a number of GNU utilities, and applications from a variety of sources.

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Brian Masinick

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