this post was submitted on 13 Jun 2025
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Why don't most distros support listing packages and system settings in text file(s)? (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 month ago by TheTwelveYearOld@lemmy.world to c/linux@lemmy.world
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I think the least that distros can do, is allow listing all packages and system settings in config files like .toml, rather than having to type in every single package to install, or click through system setting GUIs to setup. Would that require using a whole programming language or system like NIx?

While NixOS works much differently from most distros, that's the only reason I use it: package and system settings in text files. If I fix something, it's fixed permanently, I don't need to hunt down files in random directories if I want to change a setting. If I ever need to reinstall the OS I don't have to write dnf install every single damn package and manually setup all that up all over again. Having daily-drove Windows macOS & Fedora as throughout the years, my setups have felt hacky as well as houses of cards as I've wanted or had to set them up again (I don't mean Fedora specifically, but distros in general).

Basically it feels insane that it's the way most linux users and servers in the world operate. If I, a humble computer hobbyist can figure out Nix, why don't more users do so, and why is Nix so niche?

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[–] enemenemu@lemm.ee 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I'd love having a file that lists all software like in nix. It has always been a miracle to me why I don't have a history of installed packages. Before I moved to atomic fedora, I created a shell script that was like "sudo apt install openssh \ yt-dlp \ firefox". With this I would've known what I had installed previously. Since packages are built on top of the system image on atomic distros, they have to keep track now and I don't have to do it anymore.

To me, nix is still young in the sense that it is not as mature and user friendly as other distros. There are still "3 major different" ways to use nix. (I actually have no idea how many ways but it seems like you can do everything). It needs to be very simple.

I actually use home manager on my device and the package landscape is still not as reliable as on fedora, in my experience.