That’s what my first Linux mentor once said for me. I was using Ubuntu back then, 08.04, quickly moving off Mandriva. Back then, I had that feeling that Debian is for real pros, and Ubuntu is for the newbs like me.
‘Get yourself a Gentoo handbook, and never be afraid’ he continued.
I was afraid. Of breaking my system, of being unable to use my computer. I didn’t understand how to use Photoshop, after effects, illustrator, 3Ds Max (which I used only in a virtual machine!).
I gave up on Linux, and I went back to Windows for a couple of years, and bought myself a MacBook Pro, eat a virus bro.
I’ve been on macOS for almost a decade. But Linux haunted me, and after a couple of my Mac years, I’ve installed Debian. For my mom, some distant acquaintances, some obsolete computers here and there to play with it. I committed to supporting the systems. thinking Debian would be easy to support.
Debian was easy, but not simple. I didn’t like it, and it wasn’t my cup of it. It wasn’t something to be afraid either. (It’s one of the greatest distros, and one of the best. Just not my cup of tea.)
At some point later, I discovered Arch Linux. I was very afraid of even trying it, not for newbs. But I was slowly approaching it, been closing my eyes in fear and jumped.
And been falling. And the rabbit hole turned out to be immersive.
I’m still falling, five years later.
I was successful since my first attempt. But it’s only this year when I’ve become confident with Arch, even the installation process. I guess I can install it without the guide now, but I still consult one, just to be less doubt on myself.
But I always wanted Gentoo. It was my favourite, like, always. It’s that true love that isn’t mutual. Or it is, but you’re too afraid to even ask. No, not even ask, even speak. Even, come near. I’m not paralysed, but afraid of something, something I cannot explain.
I tired FreeBSD meanwhile, and I like it very much. It’s too good to use daily.
Because of the hardware support. Well, and the lack of my knowledge.
Gentoo inherited ports from there.
These days, I’m pretty sure I’ll have no issues with Gentoo, and I’m looking forward to that point in time. I’m just too consumed with my parenting adventure nowadays. I’ll come to it, when I’m ready.
The issue with Gentoo is, apart from the knowledge gap, is that I’m too sure I won’t be able to compile everything, I don’t have that powerful computers, I think. Or maybe I have just one, the one I’m working from. Laptops, I guess they’re in a different league.
And when I’m arrived at that destination of accepting Gentoo as my potential distro.
Or accepting me, as someone who can run Gentoo, actually.
And when I’m arrived there, I see this Nix os. And I like it too. And I think of it, I’m too newb for it.
Or am I not?