Immutable distros

General Discussion
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I understand that in immutable distros you cant change the system files so it can be unstable if you dont know what your doing,thats how i understands it, but i dont understand really cant i install software at all if they change the system files or how does that work ?

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I had never heard of immutable distros so I searched the internet and I found;

“An immutable Linux distribution features a read-only, locked-down core operating system. Rather than modifying system files in place, updates and changes are applied as an atomic whole. This prevents accidental breakage and improves security, making it a highly reliable and popular choice.”

It seems some of these distros are Fedora Atomic Desktop, SteamOS, Vanilla OS, and NixOS.

I don’t believe I would be interested in this type of distro. Right now I am very happy with my current Linux Mint system.

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Yes im happy with mine also i was just curious

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I think immutable distros are a partial way out for lazy people who do not want to do backups.

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But is it possible to install softwares in an immutable system or how does it work

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I think they keep 2 copies of the OS … one locked and the other modifiable.
I dont think they lock apps … only kernel and utilities…not sure?

Its a bit like BSD … there the kernel and utilities are completely separated from the apps and the update procecures are separate and different. You can roll the OS part of BSD ( ie the kernel,and utilities) back or forward across releases, without affecting the apps.
The OS is not locked in BSD , but a user can easily avoid touching it, as it is in a separate part of the filesystem.

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Ok. Thank you

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@cat-man

As there are different immutable distros, there are different methods in how apps must be added.

I use NixOS and a lot of people use home manager and flakes to accomplish customization and adding things. But I installed it to learn how to use it via the configuration file only.

That means you have to know how to edit the config, the commands & correct syntax to use and where, in order to install and use apps. That includes use of flatpaks as well.

Firefox was in the config by default, but every other app I use had to be listed in the config under the correct heading as system apps or under flatpaks if that is the version I wanted to install.

Flatpaks to me are for the lazy person :slight_smile: Because there is no configuration needed. The tradeoff is a lot of redundant files so disk space gets used. Some immutable distros (VanillaOS, if I remember) only allow flatpak installations.

It took a long time to get all of my apps setup and running. Bitwarden password manager had to be added. LibreOffice, screenshot app, image editor app, other browsers, email program, etc.

I have yet to get NoMachine setup as it is way more complex than what I have done so far.

So NixOS, without using managers/flakes, is definitely not for the lazy. But a simple command updates the version I am on. And when a new version is out? It is up to me to modify the version file to that new one, if I wish to upgrade, so that the same command will continue to update accordingly.

Hope this helps!

Sheila Flanagan

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Ok thank you Sheila :slight_smile: . i will wait to try an immutable distro it sounds to advanced for me at the time but i will sure try one later when i know more about Linux and how it works.

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@Sheila_Flanagan and all:

Hi Sheila, :waving_hand:

thank you very much for mentioning NixOS and for providing your introduction to it. :+1:
Not only does it follow an interesting approach but I was also reminded of a 3-part article which was published on gnulinux.ch only in May.
It´s called NixOS - Setup Guide and it covers the stuff pretty extensively.

Although this Swiss web page is published in German I could easily display it in English with the help of waterfox´s built-in translator.
Of course it works the same way with firefox. :wink:

kgwNixOS
kgwNixOS1336×783 141 KB

Whether or not the English translation is good enough is for anyone to decide.
For those interested in NixOS the content is certainly excellent.

Many greetings from Rosika :slightly_smiling_face:

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