Hi there folks, I’m still learning about Linux and have yet to dip my toes properly in any arch based distro. Have for the moment fallen in love with the immutable distros based on Universal Blue project. However I do want to learn about what arch has to offer to and plan on installing default arch when I have time. But have been wondering why I haven’t heard of any immutable distros from arch based distros yet.

So, am left wondering if there are talks within that Arch community of building immutable distros?

While writing this post I found a project called Arkane Linux, which seem to be very interesting. Does anyone have nay experience with it? Is there a specific reason why immutable wouldn’t be a good idea when based on Arch?

Project: https://arkanelinux.org/

  • Lem453@lemmy.ca
    0·
    5 months ago

    The biggest issue with immutable OSs is the lack of containerized apps. Most devs simply don’t distribute their apps in flatpaks etc. Install fedora atomic. Fist think I want to do is install xpipe to manage my servers. Can’t be don’t in an unprivileged flatpaks. Great layer it on.

    Let’s try seafile next to sync my files and projects…the flatpak is maintained by a random volunteer and most up to date version is from a year ago. Great, layer that in as well.

    Let’s install a command line tool, before it was 1 line, now it’s a whole lot of googling only to discover that the best way is probably to just have a whole other package manager like brew

    The concept is great and it has lots of potential, just it will only work if devs start packaging their stuff in a format that works with the new paradigm (containers)

      • Lem453@lemmy.ca
        1·
        5 months ago

        Actually yes. Fedora atomic has a system called toolbox that uses podman to encapsulate desktop apps. Flatpak also provides a sandboxed container.

        The idea is to keep the OS and apps separate as much as possible for both security and stability.

      • Lem453@lemmy.ca
        0·
        5 months ago

        I don’t think xpipe would work, it needs too many permissions.

        Something like seafile would work, better than overlaying it I guess but still isn’t park of a package manager with easy auto updates etc like it would be if the devs published to flatpak.

        At the end of the day it’s a lot more work that the promise of opening discover, searching an app and hitting install.

        • biribiri11@lemmy.ml
          1·
          5 months ago

          I know ssh -X works fine in a rootless podman container, and so does waypipe. I’d be shocked if xpipe didn’t.