I recently switched my server over to running Plex and Home Assistant in Docker. I like the ease of transfer (just move my compose file and one directory where I have stored all the configs and I’m set) as well as the simple permissions management to give access to directories.
I have only used Fedora briefly, but I am considering it instead of my usual openSUSE because it is “officially supported” for the Framework 13 I have on order. I saw the immutable versions and the idea seems cool though I don’t really understand what new I would need to learn or really what benefits it would have.
Is the concept overkill for a single-user laptop?
I just wanted to point out that you pretty much can just tarball your user directory and drop it into a fresh system. If you embrace the Flatpak and container-based workflow, it’s incredibly easy to be up and running in no time. Obviously, containers and flatpaks aren’t unique to image-based distros, but are perhaps less common in traditional distros.
Sure, you’ll need to add a printer back, or reconnect to wifi networks, but your user and/or dev environment will carry over, and with a couple of commands, any package overlays and flatpaks will be reinstalled and ready to go.
I found flatpaks and containerization to be the only real learning curve with Silverblue, and only because I hadn’t used them previously. Compared to the learning curve and unorthodox approach of NixOS, Silverblue itself is as easy as using vanilla Fedora Workstation.
I mean, is this true in any way that hasn’t been true of Linux since nearly forever? You can always put your /home folder on a separate partition, install a new system, and as long as you make sure the UID of your new user matches the UID of the old user, the process is exactly the same. Just reinstall your apps and you’re good to go. I used to do this to keep configuration/data between reinstalls. EDIT – as opposed to a genuinely stateless user config, as systemd-homed is working towards
There difference is, to flatpaks and containers are in home, so you keep those even after a fresh install of you keep home.
It’s freaking great, specially in a work machine, to reinstall after breaking something and be able to just continue almost as if nothing had happened.