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LMDE- Linux Mint Debian Edition Explained

LMDE- Linux Mint Debian Edition Explained
Written by twitiq

What is LMDE 4?

The Linux Mint 19.3 catch-up version, LMDE 4, was published on March 20. In comparison to regular Linux Mint, Linux Mint Debian Edition with Ubuntu is more stable and secure. Debian Linux intentionally retains older packages to ensure stability and security.

What is LMDE 5?

Clement Lefebvre has released a new desktop Linux distribution based on Ubuntu 8.04 called Linux Mint 5.0: “On October 9, 2013, Linux Mint released version 5.0.

Linux Mint 5 Elyssa has been released with many new features. Among them are various improvements to mintMenu, mini update, and mintInstall; Various GNOME desktop enhancements; reduced memory utilization for improved performance; improved human interface guidelines compliance. A more comprehensive range of software is available now, and it is localized more effectively; default software selection has changed (Transmission, Rhythmbox, Brasero, etc. ); upstream improvements include PulseAudio and a command-line firewall configuration tool.

Linux Mint: Features

  • The goal of Linux Mint is to create a powerful yet easy-to-use operating system that is also elegant and comfortable.
  • The Linux Mint desktop distribution is one of the most widely used Linux distributions. Linux Mint’s success is due to many reasons:
  • You can use Linux Mint right out of the box, it comes with full multimedia support, and it’s extremely easy to use.
  • It is free as well as open-source.
  • Community involvement is key.
  • Linux Mint is encouraging users to submit feedback so that ideas can be utilized to improve the project.
  • It introduces about 30,000 packages based on Debian and Ubuntu and has one of the best software managers to offer.
  • It’s safe and dependable.
  • Due to Its conservative approach with software updates, the special Update Manager, and the potentiality of Linux Mint, the OS does not require much maintenance.

What is the significant difference between Linux and Linux Mint?

There are many advantages to both Ubuntu and Linux Mint, and either can be the best choice.

Differences between the two come mostly down to how their user interfaces and support are implemented.

When recommending between the default flavors (Ubuntu Unity and Mint Cinnamon), it’s not easy.

One difference between Linux Mint Debian Edition and Ubuntu is that it is built from Debian source code instead of using Ubuntu’s repository. It uses the Debian repository along with a special Mint repository compatible with Debian. Based on Debian 9 Stretch, LMDE 3 is the latest version.

  1. Linux Mint Debian Edition

The LMDE version of Debian Cinnamon is based on the Mint repository. Everything graphical here is identical to LMCE. There is a user interface based on Cinnamon and a file manager based on Nemo. There is just one significant difference; Linux Mint Debian Edition is built from the Debian source code and does not use Ubuntu’s repository. A special repository maintained by Mint developer supplements Debian’s repository. The latest version is based on Debian 9 Stretch. This edition only exists for long-term planning if one day Ubuntu will cease to exist.

Cindy’s latest version is 3.0

Here is the link: http://www.linuxmint.com/download_lmde.php

Cinnamon is the default desktop environment

The base distribution is Debian

The repository contains both Mint and Debian

PPA compatibility: no

Nemo is a file manager

There are numerous applications like LibreOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, etc.

Software managers: (CLI: apt), (GUI: Synaptic, Software Center, Update Manager, Software Sources)

A package manager alternative: Flatpak

  1. Cinnamon Edition

It is the flagship edition. Mint developers themselves develop the desktop environment for the LMCE edition. LMCE is an excellent place to start with Mint if you are a newbie. This desktop environment offers a Windows-like experience with our user-friendly desktop layout, context menus, file manager, system tray, theme and color options, and more.

The latest version of Tessa is 19.1

Cinnamon is the default desktop environment.

Visit https://www.linuxmint.com/download.php to download

It’s based on Ubuntu Linux

Ubuntu and Mint repositories

Yes, PPA is compatible with it

Nemo is a file manager

Among these applications are LibreOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, and many others.

Software managers: (CLI: apt), (GUI: Synaptic, Software Center, Update Manager, Software Sources)

Flatpak is an alternative package manager

The backup feature is available with TimeShift

  1. MATE Edition

MATE is the desktop environment component of LMME, the second flagship of Mint. The difference between Cinnamon and MATE, then, will help newcomers to gain a better understanding. While LMCE uses GNOME Shell with a Windows-like layout, LMME uses the old era of Ubuntu but with a Windows-like interface.

The latest version of Tessa is 19.1

Use MATE for your desktop environment (https://mate-desktop.org)

Visit https://www.linuxmint.com/download.php to download

Ubuntu is the default distribution

Linux repositories: Ubuntu + Mint

Yes, PPA is compatible with it

Using Caja as a file manager

Use applications such as LibreOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, etc.

Software managers: (CLI: apt), (GUI: Synaptic, Software Center, Update Manager, Software Sources)

Flatpak is another package manager

Availability of a backup: yes, with Timeshift

  1. Linux Mint 18 With Xfce

You might consider Linux Mint with Xfce if MATE and Cinnamon don’t suit you or you can’t install either on your PC or laptop. The Xfce desktop is available as either a full-on OS download or a separate installation. Xfce includes X-Apps, a few replacement programs to replace several GNOME-based apps that have become stale. While most of the visual changes are subtle, the hardware remains essentially unchanged.

  1. Linux Mint 18 KDE

It has been noted several times before that KDE Plasma is a nice new touch to Linux. You can also enjoy Plasma if you download and install Linux Mint 18 KDE. A popular Linux distro combined with a Plasma desktop makes for a winning combination. As a Linux desktop experience, Linux Mint 18 KDE is simply unbeatable in comparison to Cinnamon, Xfce, and MATE.

General Features of LMDE

Timeshift

Long-term support for Linux Mint 19 will last until 2023. Besides the new software, it has been refined and comes with several new features to make your desktop experience more enjoyable. Timeshift takes center stage in Linux Mint 19. The Linux Mint 18.3 update strategy and communication feature was introduced in Linux Mint 18.3, and it has been ported to all Linux Mint releases. Your computer can be restored to the last functioning snapshot by using Timeshift. Everything will be as if nothing ever happened if you go back to the snapshot. In this way, you can prevent potential regressions from occurring during your computer’s maintenance. Whenever a critical regression occurs, you can take a snapshot of the system (thereby canceling the regression) and apply updates selectively (as you did in previous releases).

Managing Updates:

Updating selectively and with vigilance is no longer encouraged in the Update Manager. To make sure your system stays stable, Timeshift provides you with the suggestion to apply all available updates. If it cannot locate your Timeshift configuration, it displays the following warning: Updates are sorted by type, security, and kernel packages being at the top. New types of updates have been introduced for updates originating from PPAs and/or 3rd party repositories.

An explanation of the updates’ origin is displayed when the cursor hovers over them. In the past, automatic updates were only available to advanced users. It was assumed that if someone had experience setting up cron jobs, they also knew how to parse APT logs and do work around regressions. Automatic updates can now be enabled in the preferences, thanks to Timeshift, which lets anyone work around regressions by restoring snapshots.

A mini update-CLI command replaces the mint update tool. With this new command, you won’t have to use conf, you’ll have better options, and you’ll be able to use it in scripts as well as in the terminal. Updates to kernels are performed through a meta-package rather than manually installing kernel packages.

Software Manager

Software Manager has received many improvements in Linux Mint 18.3 since it was revamped and gained Flatpak support. User interface refinements were made, such as the layout and transition animations. The keyboard navigation has been reviewed and improved. We have improved the search to make it faster, asynchronous, and categorized. APT and Flatpak have internal caches in Linux Mint. Applications like the Software Manager can handle APT and Flatpak in the same way using this cache without having to be concerned about the differences. In the future, this cache could be accessed by other applications such as the menu or the Update Manager. There were many efforts made to increase cache performance. Therefore, the Software Manager will launch even quicker than before.

Other features are:

  • Linux Mint19 “Tara” Cinnamon Edition.
  • The welcome screen.
  • Background activities in the Software Manager.
  • Adjustable maximum sound level.
  • Better file search in Nemo.

Pros And Cons Of LMDE

PROS

  • Most of the Linux Mint Debian Edition project’s software (such as Cinnamon) gets updated before the LM does.
  • There is no certainty as to why this is, but one would guess Linux Mint Debian Edition users are beta testers for the LM software.
  • There is an inherent feeling of an Operating System – And with Debian derivatives, it is quite different from Ubuntu (and other similar distributions).
  • Even if it is odd, one can feel the difference between LM and Linux Mint Debian Edition.
  • The core software (the kernel, for example) often doesn’t change very frequently, resulting in (a perception of) more/better stability.

CONS

  • Device Manager not installed
  • Adding a PPA to your sources and installing software from a PPA will cause your installation to break.
  • Eventually, you’ll see it with some PPA software, but not every time.
  • Likely, some/most software available will not be the most recent version.
  • The previous and current points can be mitigated and remedied
  • Compiling software requires installing necessary packages,
  • Obtaining the source code for the software you wish to have the most recent version of.
  • The process of compiling the source code and building a package
  • The package will be installed using pkg -1 *package name*
  • It does not get the same level of attention as the LM distro.
  • The length of time between the release of Debian 9 (which Linux Mint Debian Edition is based upon) and the release of Linux Mint Debian Edition is a recent illustration of this.
  • The existence of Linux Mint Debian Edition isn’t the highest priority, but rather as a result of a perceived need to have a “fall-back” should something change with Ubuntu.
  • A desktop uses a couple of different WiFi cards; one is not supported at all and the other only partially, whereas they are supported by Ubuntu/LM fully.

Conclusion:

The Linux distribution LMDE is both faster and lighter than the main distribution. However, it is best suited for little experience users. You start with Linux Mint and then try the Linux Mint Debian Edition for a month or two. As much as you may be inclined to run it in your main system, it is better to wait until the next release based on the upcoming new Debian edition is released first.

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