template: post
title: Why I use Linux
author: flewkey
timestamp: 1636929506
visibility: hidden

This is not a standard blog post, but a hidden FAQ which answers the common
questions I get about running Linux on my laptop.

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## Normal FAQ

#### Why do you use Linux?

- Package management
- Proper tiling window management
- Inter-application audio routing via PipeWire or JACK
- Supports all of the programs that I care about

#### Why do you hate Windows?

- Windows Update
- Annoying build toolchains
- Lack of inter-application audio routing without specialized tools
- Spontaneous combustion

#### Should I switch to Linux?

Probably not. Use whatever suits you best.

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## Cynical nerd FAQ

#### Isn’t desktop Linux a mess?

It isn’t _great_, but it works well enough for me.

#### Isn’t it tedious to use?

I find it quite comfortable, personally.

#### Do you have to spend hours tweaking your system to make it work?

My “tweaks” congealed over time. If you sit on a chair for a long time, it will
mold to the shape of your butt. If you use a computer for a long time, it will
fit your preferences eventually.

#### Don’t you run into all sorts of issues?

Most of the software that I use seems to run well.

#### Doesn’t it spontaneously break?

Linux systems are chock full of footguns. Experienced users can avoid these,
but everyone else is walking on a minefield as far as I’m concerned. One dude
destroyed his desktop environment by installing Steam.
[Seriously](https://youtu.be/0506yDSgU7M?t=620).[^1]

[^1]: Although this was a result of poor quality assurance on the distribution’s
package repository, the point is that these mistakes are easy to make.