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> Overall, Guix seems like the more polished product Possibly when comparing the Guix vs. Nix package managers, but for Linux distributions GuixSD ("Guix Syste

> Overall, Guix seems like the more polished product Possibly when comparing the Guix vs. Nix package managers, but for Linux distributions GuixSD ("Guix System" now) is very far behind NixOS in this regard. I've tried to install GuixSD on different hardware several times over the past couple years, and failed every time, between a lack of drivers and unpolished or buggy installer. Last time the installer wiped out my partition table without prompting when I went in to manually partition (to set up dual boot). NixOS on the other hand has always been flawless to install, and now there's even a modern GUI installer. I like Guix better in theory, but Nix wins in practicality.

tcmart14 4y ago
Well the thing with the "Guix System" is that is uses the LinuxLibre kernel. So if the hardware you have requires proprietary bits or driver, it just isn't included. That isn't to defend Guix in anyway, but the problem doesn't seem to be Guix when you read the fine print of the distro, the problem is your hardware. So, do I agree necessarily agree with GNU's official distributions having this philosophy? Not really. Firmware and drivers is probably the one area I think the GNU people should finally throw in the towel. It keeps people out of running it, or doing so with relative ease. And the battle is for the most part lost on that end. But they do essentially tell you that it is likely it won't work across a lot of hardware out of the box. But here is the download page [0] https://guix.gnu.org/en/download/ https://guix.gnu.org/en/download/ That mentions the Libre kernel with link to information about the Libre kernel [1] https://www.fsfla.org/ikiwiki/selibre/linux-libre/ https://www.fsfla.org/ikiwiki/selibre/linux-libre/ With the following information: "Linux, the kernel developed and distributed by Linus Torvalds et al, contains non-Free Software, i.e., software that does not respect your essential freedoms, and it induces you to install additional non-Free Software that it doesn't contain. Even after allegedly moving all firmware to a separate project as of release 4.14, Linux so-called "sources" published by Mr Torvalds still contain non-Free firmware disguised as source code. Stux, a cute penguin. Few realize he's not Free GNU Linux-libre is a project to maintain and publish 100% Free distributions of Linux, suitable for use in Free System Distributions, removing software that is included without source code, with obfuscated or obscured source code, under non-Free Software licenses, that do not permit you to change the software so that it does what you wish, and that induces or requires you to install additional pieces of non-Free Software."

tcmart14 4y ago

Well the thing with the "Guix System" is that is uses the LinuxLibre kernel. So if the hardware you have requires proprietary bits or driver, it just isn't included. That isn't to defend Guix in anyway, but the problem doesn't seem to be Guix when you read the fine print of the distro, the problem is your hardware. So, do I agree necessarily agree with GNU's official distributions having this philosophy? Not really. Firmware and drivers is probably the one area I think the GNU people should finally throw in the towel. It keeps people out of running it, or doing so with relative ease. And the battle is for the most part lost on that end. But they do essentially tell you that it is likely it won't work across a lot of hardware out of the box. But here is the download page [0] https://guix.gnu.org/en/download/ https://guix.gnu.org/en/download/ That mentions the Libre kernel with link to information about the Libre kernel [1] https://www.fsfla.org/ikiwiki/selibre/linux-libre/ https://www.fsfla.org/ikiwiki/selibre/linux-libre/ With the following information: "Linux, the kernel developed and distributed by Linus Torvalds et al, contains non-Free Software, i.e., software that does not respect your essential freedoms, and it induces you to install additional non-Free Software that it doesn't contain. Even after allegedly moving all firmware to a separate project as of release 4.14, Linux so-called "sources" published by Mr Torvalds still contain non-Free firmware disguised as source code. Stux, a cute penguin. Few realize he's not Free GNU Linux-libre is a project to maintain and publish 100% Free distributions of Linux, suitable for use in Free System Distributions, removing software that is included without source code, with obfuscated or obscured source code, under non-Free Software licenses, that do not permit you to change the software so that it does what you wish, and that induces or requires you to install additional pieces of non-Free Software."