I should start this story from the beginning, which was many years ago.

I don’t remember the exact year; it was either at the end of my school or university years. I purchased my first Linux distribution. Why did I buy it? The internet was expensive, and downloading it wasn’t feasible, so I decided to purchase it. I paid only for the CD disks, receiving around 7 or 8 of them. My first Linux distribution was Slackware. This acquisition took place during winter in the city center, and, looking back, it resembled a detective story: my best friend and I handed money to a suspicious man. A bit more about this man - he was quite famous in the IT underground of my city, although he appeared like a homeless person. Interestingly, his posts were excellent and solid. We used Fido for communication, a detail that seems amusing today.

Now, why Slackware? A couple of months before this deal, I bought a book about Linux, specifically focusing on Slackware. So, my choice was straightforward.

Upon obtaining Slackware, the nightmare began. It was challenging to install and maintain, especially when compared to the present day. There was minimal documentation—only one printed book—and no guidance from friends. After enduring some hardships, I eventually switched back to Windows, partly because I enjoyed playing PC games. I recall creating my custom kernel during this period.

There is a considerable gap in my story during my university years, as I was engrossed in university life and only occasionally used Linux, mainly on hostings.

After university, I started experimenting with Debian and Ubuntu. Debian appealed to me from the start, while Ubuntu was easier to use but less aesthetically pleasing. From that point onwards, I stuck with Debian, using it not as my primary OS on my PC but as a secondary one.

Several years ago at my workplace, we began using Linux for some internal projects, allowing me the freedom to work with any hardware I desired. I created several VMs with different Linux distributions, with the majority running Debian and one running Red Hat. Managing them with Ansible proved to be an awesome experience.

I also decided to stop using Windows, as I no longer played games and didn’t require any Windows-specific software. Consequently, I built my new desktop with Linux in mind. Initially, I tried Fedora and used it for 1.5 years. It was good, but I disliked frequent updates and the need to update my system every six months. So, I returned to Debian, which I now use as my main system. As a desktop environment, I stick with Gnome, without any plugins or extras. Most of my time is spent in the terminal and browsers. Debian’s stability satisfies my needs.

Recently, I started some additional experiments with Linux, trying Gentoo, and attempting to use Slackware. I appreciate Slackware because it remains unchanged, like an old friend. I plan to write an additional post about this experience.