Manjaro is suppossed to be “easy to install Arch Linux” and oh hell nah I am never going to use it. If Arch Linux breaks once per 1-2 years, the Manjaro breaks in 1-2 months… Had it installed for “daily driver” like 3 times and all of those times it broke.
How? I’ve been using it for 3 years now as my daily driver, it’s one of the most pleasant distros I’ve ever used. I don’t understand how people break it.
It’s probably related to installing packages through the AUR, even though it’s known to be unsupported on Manjaro specifically due to their policy of holding back packages.
I don’t even think it should be avoided at all times. Just approach it through an Arch-container, Distrobox can streamline that process, and everything should be gucci.
I have something like 70 AUR packages installed and it’s very seldom I have problems.
There isn’t any significant difference in AUR compatibility between Manjaro, Arch or any other Arch based distro. I believe this to be an often misunderstood issue.
When you install an AUR package it will work now, on the current state of the distro (current package versions). Later, as you upgrade packages, AUR packages will gradually start failing to work. This is the same on any Arch distro and it depends on how often you upgrade. If anything, by delaying packages by 2 weeks Manjaro will also delay potential incompatibility.
TLDR is that all AUR packages will break eventually and have to be reinstalled periodically, on any distro.
I have something like 70 AUR packages installed and it’s very seldom I have problems.
I’m glad to hear that you’re able to dodge problems more often than not. But even if you wouldn’t have any problems at all, it’s undeniable that the model of Manjaro + AUR is fundamentally broken. No amount of copium, Stockholm-syndrome or masochism would change that.
There isn’t any significant difference in AUR compatibility between Manjaro, Arch or any other Arch based distro. I believe this to be an often misunderstood issue.
Don’t you think that Manjaro’s model of holding back packages conflicts with the AUR that primarily targets Arch which (by design) doesn’t hold back packages? And, if you agree that it conflicts, don’t you think that this actually is a very significant difference as two distinct programs/binaries/software/whatever might rely on two different versions of the same dependency? It’s like a schoolbook example of what dependency hell is*.
When you install an AUR package it will work now, on the current state of the distro (current package versions). Later, as you upgrade packages, AUR packages will gradually start failing to work. This is the same on any Arch distro and it depends on how often you upgrade. If anything, by delaying packages by 2 weeks Manjaro will also delay potential incompatibility.
Fam, with all due respect, I’d like to invite you to educate yourself on this matter. Because, apologies for saying this, there’s just an awful lot of misinformation, conflation and confusion present in this paragraph.
TLDR is that all AUR packages will break eventually and have to be reinstalled periodically, on any distro.
I agree that packages everywhere on all distros may break at some point; that’s just how software is. Though, nothing condones taking on a defeatist stance towards package breakage.
there’s just an awful lot of misinformation, conflation and confusion present in this paragraph.
Then explain what it is. One thing I’ve noticed from most Manjaro detractors is that they can never quite put their finger on exactly what’s wrong with it, they just issue vague statements like these.
Most AUR packages are source so they will link dynamically against whatever is installed on your system, be it Arch or Manjaro. There isn’t much (if any) binary incompatibility between Arch and Manjaro.
The two weeks delay is insignificant. If anything, the delay helps a compiled AUR package remain compatible longer, because the system changes that will break it will come to weeks late.
If there were any significant incompatibility between Arch and Manjaro it would be noticed with AUR binary packages first and foremost. But those packages usually download binaries that were meant to be long-term compatible for the most part and will only break after very long intervals (years) during huge upheavals of the library landscape.
I’ve used Manjaro for a few years now and it’s the longest I’ve gone without formatting and reinstalling. Then again, to each his own. Run what works for you!
Somewhat, I’d estimate once every week or two. It’s my daily driver and I’ll usually update if a few conditions are met: the update icon let me know something is out there & I’m plugged into external power at home & I’m not going anywhere for a while.
I only have 2-3 AUR packages which is where the trouble seems to start for a lot of folks.
Now that I think about it, I did once end up with a mess where ceph was dropped from the repos and subsequently compiled itself from the AUR over the course of a few hours. Must have been a dependency for something.
No distro is perfect, but for me, Manjaro was a good fit. I’m moderately tech-y but with little formal training, but have used some form of GNU/Linux since at least Warty Warthog in ~2005.
I didn’t really have any trouble with raw Arch a few years ago so use that as a baseline. I’ve really enjoyed EndeavourOS because it made everything about Arch easier.
Manjaro is suppossed to be “easy to install Arch Linux” and oh hell nah I am never going to use it. If Arch Linux breaks once per 1-2 years, the Manjaro breaks in 1-2 months… Had it installed for “daily driver” like 3 times and all of those times it broke.
How? I’ve been using it for 3 years now as my daily driver, it’s one of the most pleasant distros I’ve ever used. I don’t understand how people break it.
It’s probably related to installing packages through the AUR, even though it’s known to be unsupported on Manjaro specifically due to their policy of holding back packages.
This
I ran Manjaro for years. I think I ever needed, wanted something out of aur once for a simple something.
I don’t even think it should be avoided at all times. Just approach it through an Arch-container, Distrobox can streamline that process, and everything should be gucci.
I have something like 70 AUR packages installed and it’s very seldom I have problems.
There isn’t any significant difference in AUR compatibility between Manjaro, Arch or any other Arch based distro. I believe this to be an often misunderstood issue.
When you install an AUR package it will work now, on the current state of the distro (current package versions). Later, as you upgrade packages, AUR packages will gradually start failing to work. This is the same on any Arch distro and it depends on how often you upgrade. If anything, by delaying packages by 2 weeks Manjaro will also delay potential incompatibility.
TLDR is that all AUR packages will break eventually and have to be reinstalled periodically, on any distro.
I’m glad to hear that you’re able to dodge problems more often than not. But even if you wouldn’t have any problems at all, it’s undeniable that the model of Manjaro + AUR is fundamentally broken. No amount of copium, Stockholm-syndrome or masochism would change that.
Don’t you think that Manjaro’s model of holding back packages conflicts with the AUR that primarily targets Arch which (by design) doesn’t hold back packages? And, if you agree that it conflicts, don’t you think that this actually is a very significant difference as two distinct programs/binaries/software/whatever might rely on two different versions of the same dependency? It’s like a schoolbook example of what dependency hell is*.
Fam, with all due respect, I’d like to invite you to educate yourself on this matter. Because, apologies for saying this, there’s just an awful lot of misinformation, conflation and confusion present in this paragraph.
I agree that packages everywhere on all distros may break at some point; that’s just how software is. Though, nothing condones taking on a defeatist stance towards package breakage.
Then explain what it is. One thing I’ve noticed from most Manjaro detractors is that they can never quite put their finger on exactly what’s wrong with it, they just issue vague statements like these.
Most AUR packages are source so they will link dynamically against whatever is installed on your system, be it Arch or Manjaro. There isn’t much (if any) binary incompatibility between Arch and Manjaro.
The two weeks delay is insignificant. If anything, the delay helps a compiled AUR package remain compatible longer, because the system changes that will break it will come to weeks late.
If there were any significant incompatibility between Arch and Manjaro it would be noticed with AUR binary packages first and foremost. But those packages usually download binaries that were meant to be long-term compatible for the most part and will only break after very long intervals (years) during huge upheavals of the library landscape.
For example, it was grub issue that prevented me to boot after system update. No AUR was involved.
My Arch Linux devices were not affected.
Just a single example. I don’t recall what was the issue previous 2 times…
I’ve used Manjaro for a few years now and it’s the longest I’ve gone without formatting and reinstalling. Then again, to each his own. Run what works for you!
Do you update it often?
Somewhat, I’d estimate once every week or two. It’s my daily driver and I’ll usually update if a few conditions are met: the update icon let me know something is out there & I’m plugged into external power at home & I’m not going anywhere for a while.
I only have 2-3 AUR packages which is where the trouble seems to start for a lot of folks.
Now that I think about it, I did once end up with a mess where ceph was dropped from the repos and subsequently compiled itself from the AUR over the course of a few hours. Must have been a dependency for something.
No distro is perfect, but for me, Manjaro was a good fit. I’m moderately tech-y but with little formal training, but have used some form of GNU/Linux since at least Warty Warthog in ~2005.
EndeavourOS or Garuda Linux are closer to that, and both still have their own issues.
I didn’t really have any trouble with raw Arch a few years ago so use that as a baseline. I’ve really enjoyed EndeavourOS because it made everything about Arch easier.
Manjaro was NOTHING but problems when I installed it.
@chunkyhairball @WindowsEnjoyer It’s Manjaro lol