Why I chose Debian 13 (Trixie) as my main os
A few weeks back I wrote about using AnduinOS and that while it was cool, I didn’t think it would be my main everyday-use OS. That ended up being true as Debian 13 released not long after that post. I debated on a few OSes prior to settling on Debian 13. While there are many reasons to use Debian, there are just as many reasons to use another distribution. The beauty of GNU/Linux is that we don’t lack for choice of distributions, desktop environments, and customization options. The following are reasons I chose Debian.
It uses APT
One of the biggest reasons I chose Debian over other distributions was for APT, the package management tool. This was surprisingly a difficult decision as I also really like OpenSUSE’s Zypper utility and YaST. I’m not as familiar with RPM installations as I’d like to be, but OpenSUSE makes it pretty easy and informative. That being said, I’m far more familiar with Debian and Debian-based distributions and using APT. And, because of Ubuntu and Debian-derivatives, most software will provide a .deb file for installation, and/or they have a package for Debian already. A lot of the troubleshooting in forums and online are also geared toward Debian and Debian-derivs.
It doesn’t have Snaps
I also seriously looked at Ubuntu since it’s Debian-based, but also has some great quality of life improvements. The problem is that Ubuntu and Cononical are so dead-set on using Snaps. Snaps are a sandboxed way to install apps like Flatpak or AppImages, but there are some major caveats. While I think various solutions can be a good thing, I also like the option to include it rather than having it foisted on me. I could have de-snapped Ubuntu, but then that was more effort than it was worth, and it seems that Ubuntu is building more and more of the core functionality into Snaps. Debian also makes it very easy to use Flatpaks and AppImages. Those integrate into the standard Gnome or KDE environment’s software stores easily, where Ubuntu has their own App frontend, so if you want to install Flatpaks you have to also install the Gnome Software application, too. You’d then have 2 app stores.
It’s standard Gnome
I really like KDE and it’s customization, but many apps are written for GTK/Gnome styling and workflows. KDE adapts better to GTK apps than Gnome does for KDE apps, but it can be quite a jarring experience when jumping between apps and their different design languages. It’s like using a Google app on iOS. Gnome also works better for how I use my personal computer, other than their insistance that there’s not a dock. Dash-to-dock is a lifesaver for Gnome users and I can’t understand why it’s not a default option. And unlike Ubuntu, that already has Gnome extensions set up for it’s customization, Debian’s Gnome does not. So I can pick and choose what extensions I actually want installed, or not.
It’s really stable
Something Debian is known for is it’s stability. Debian installs are supported for years and years, and once a new version is out, you know that not a whole lot will change other than security updates. This can be a problem, of course, if you run newer hardware and the kernel Debian includes doesn’t support it, and you will miss out on performance improvements over time. You’ll also miss out on newer features and newer desktop environments. For example, Gnome 49 just released, but Debian 13 users will have Gnome 48 for the next 3-ish years. I actually consider this a benefit on my main device, though, as I know that all my Gnome extensions that I’ve installed are good to go. I don’t have to worry about a rolling release breaking an extension I like or depend on for my workflow. It also means that all things being equal, I don’t have to fiddle as much with my main setup once it is configured. If I had a gaming PC, however, this would definitely be a completely different story.
It’s portable
When I say that Debian is Portable what I mean is that the workflows and usage are very portable across a wide range of devices. Because things like Raspberry Pi OS are based on Debian, I can easily transition habits and workflows to a Pi if I need to, or an install on a micro PC running docker containers on Debian. I don’t have to context switch as much. I use Windows in my day-to-day work and so I already have to context switch there. I’m getting too old to remember things well (at all) and so fewer context switches means I don’t spend as much time struggling unnecessarily. Debian is also really well supported with all types of software, so there’s very rarely a time where I can’t find software.
Conclusion
In the end, Debian won my time and energy as my main OS simply because it gets out of the way. It’s a community-driven effort that’s not beholden to a corporation, that prioritizes stability over pizzazz, and just works. I’m sure that when Gnome 50 or 51 releases I might wish that I had some of the latest features, but for my main OS I prioritize ease of use. Yes, using Windows or MacOS is even easier to use most of the time, but Windows for home users is such a mess and intrusive that I don’t think I can go back to it with out some sort of exceptional need. MacOS is a great choice, but with Apple pushing so much of it’s magic ecosystem and the lack of customization and control as an end user, I’m not as much of a fan. Debian with Gnome and a few extensions strikes a good balance for me, and I’ve been really enjoying using it and forgetting about it over the last month.