One of the strongest points of Linux is the package management. In 2025, the world of Linux package management is very varied, with several options available, each with their advantages and trade-offs over the others.
One of the strongest points of Linux is the package management. In 2025, the world of Linux package management is very varied, with several options available, each with their advantages and trade-offs over the others.
Ah, typical Arch user response. “Everything is bloat. Stop having fun.” If it works for somebody else, let them. I get where you’re coming from, needlessly adding things because you can, leads to enshittification. But, trying new ways of doing things is the whole point. If it works and the majority of people use it then it succeeded. Bloat or not, if it gets new users to switch then it’s a net positive. Plus, Gentoo>Arch. If you don’t use custom flags and debloat the kernel you’re argument is invalid.
If it was just another method of distribution I wouldn’t care. When it becomes the only or preferred method, then I care.
If market share is your only metric for success, then I don’t know what to say. Look at the amount of threads/people stating “this basic thing didn’t work so it had to be the distros, switching distros solved my problem rather than trying to diagnose it”. Your idea of a “net positive” is a group of computer-illiterate Windows users who are now computer-illiterate Linux users, congratulations.
And Gentoo? I remember drobbins from when we were on the Stampede Linux team and he was a dick then, apparently he still is. I wouldn’t touch Gentoo with a 10 foot pole.