I failed to install the “most difficult” Linux distro but here’s why I’m sticking with it

I love using Linux and experimenting with different Linux distributions, but I usually do so on a virtual machine, so I don’t royally screw something up. It’s a fun hobby, but the last thing I need is to crash and delete my entire system (again). Beyond that, there’s just something fun and satisfying about trying out a new OS, customizing it, and using it. With so many different Linux distros out there, there are bound to be a few that require more technical knowledge and expertise than others.

Some of my Linux-enthusiast friends recommend both Gentoo and Linux from Scratch to me. I don’t think I’m quite ready to attempt Linux from Scratch yet (I’m getting there), but Gentoo seemed interesting. Considered by some to be the “most difficult” version of Linux, Gentoo seems both intriguing and challenging to work with. So I gave it a shot.

I attempted this experiment last year, when I first became interested in Gentoo. Before that, I had plenty of experience with other distros, like Ubuntu, Red Hat, and Mint. Since I made this attempt, I’ve been dedicating more time to studying Gentoo and remain very invested in getting it up and running in a virtual environment. I also made a lot of mistakes along the way, which I’ve since learned from.

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Why I stopped installing apps the traditional Linux way

Installing programs on Linux is a fairly simple process. Using a package manager and an installation command ( sudo apt install [program name] for example) in your terminal installs an application, assuming it’s available in your distro’s repositories. As I grew more experienced with the operating system, I stopped installing Linux apps the traditional way, largely because the other options offer more control, variety, and customization.

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I turned my old Galaxy phone into a pocket Linux server with Termux

If you have an old phone lying around or like to experiment on your current devices, Termux is probably my favorite app. I decided to use an old Samsung phone, specifically my wife’s old Samsung phone, to build a pocket Linux server. My plan is to use the server as a home for my Syncthing drive that’s more convenient and portable for my purposes.

Termux is certainly one of my most used apps—I use it for hobbies, RSS, music, some video editing, home lab experiments, and to monitor my phone’s systems or test various functions. So I was excited to try yet another experiment for this awesome app.

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Termux gives your Android phone access to tools Google doesn’t want you to have

Termux is one of my favorite mobile apps. Since discovering the terminal emulator a few months back, I’ve been having fun with experiments. It got me thinking about how some of the apps available as packages might perform better than existing Play Store apps.

Since discovering Termyx, I’ve moved some of my RSS feeds to the terminal, used it to play music, and done quite a few other ridiculous things that don’t really serve a purpose. I’m trying to move away from the Google ecosystem a bit and felt Termux provided an opportunity to try out a few apps that Google wouldn’t necessarily make available on the Play Store.

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