Post #3934373

2026-07-19 12:51 UTC

I still miss the advantages for these cases. I can understand the kid example, but I feel that’s easily solved by not giving them root access. A htpc in which you just need to launch media Setup the system and install whatever media software. Update it every once in a while or setup auto updates. I do not see any difference between traditional os and immutable. You’re likely not modifying any system files anyway. A steam Deck like handheld in which you just want your game launcher The producing company controls software and updates, it should be immutable anyway as users likely do not have root access. Were users to have root access this may make sense. I’m not sure, maybe the immutability would make updates easier for the company? A PC for your technologically inept family members to just use as an email/browser/word processor Are they really going to brick their system? That would require opening the terminal. But I mean, fair. What I do not understand is why there are users swearing by bazzite and other immutable distributions. These examples you make is basically for users who just do the most basic operations with their systems. Fair, if this makes it easier for non technical people to use Linux I’m all for it. What I do not understand is why technically adept people are so excited for these kinds of distributions?

Replies (2)

@j0rge@lemmy.ml 2026-07-19 13:44

I still miss the advantages for these cases. Zero-maintenance and upgrades. Update it every once in a while or setup auto updates. I do not see any difference between traditional os and immutable. You’re likely not modifying any system files anyway. You’re overthinking it, there’s no reason to care if the root disk is readable or not. If it updates reliably out of the box there’s no reason to touch it. Are they really going to brick their system? That would require opening the terminal. But I mean, fair. You don’t need to open a terminal to brick a traditional linux system they tend to do that on their own. What I do not understand is why there are users swearing by bazzite and other immutable distributions. These examples you make is basically for users who just do the most basic operations with their systems. I can’t speak for “immutable distributions” but for bazzite it’s to ensure working upgrades. What I do not understand is why technically adept people are so excited for these kinds of distributions? I’m technically adept at Linux I expect software to work.

Open ##3935259
@MangoCats@feddit.it 2026-07-19 16:00

easily solved by not giving them root access. Root vs non-root is, in a nutshell, a tangled mess with millions of opportunities for “oops, didn’t think of that” situations: www.cve.org/downloads Immutable keeps the legacy system confituration basically unchanged, but also restores it “from ROM” every time you power on. (not real ROM, but effectively.) In an immutable system, the attack surface is dramatically reduced, and much more diverse among systems than with a mutable OS.

Open ##3937512