Linux is generally less prone to malware than Windows, and as long as you’re careful about the commands you type, Linux systems tend to age much more gracefully than Windows systems. However, no system is truly safe from malware, and blindly following online instructions can easily break something on your system if you’re not careful. This is where immutable distributions can save the day.
Ubuntu (and other distributions) are handy
One of the big appeals of mainstream Linux distributions over more specialized options is their abundance of support. Whether you’re researching an app, trying to troubleshoot a problem, or just looking to customize something, you’ll have more documentation than you could ever read at your fingertips.
Their repositories contain thousands and thousands of applications, and support for Windows applications has only improved over time. However, all of these Linux distributions have one glaring problem: they are quite easy to break.
The problem with popular distributions
The most popular distributions you can think of, like Ubuntu, Fedora, and Arch, all have one thing in common: their mutability.
When an operating system is mutable, it means that you can change it in fundamental ways. On Ubuntu, for example, you can just use apt to update the entire OS: enter your sudo password and you’re good to go.
If something goes wrong and you run some commands to fix the problem, you can make low-level changes to almost anything related to the operating system. The only thing separating you from an unusable computer is your sudo password.
So it’s especially important to carefully evaluate each of your troubleshooting steps before following them blindly: you could really screw something up if you’re not careful.
And, while it’s not very likely, you could inadvertently install malware in the form of a malicious DEB or RPM file.
What if there was a way to completely prevent these risks?
Immutable distributions protect you
Unlike a typical distribution, an immutable distribution is extremely resistant to corruption, whether from a corrupted program, malware, or a command gone wrong.
The entire operating system is read-only, making it very difficult to accidentally interrupt.
Updates on immutable distributions are also handled differently than most Linux distributions. These are essentially large, “atomic” updates that replace the entire operating system at once rather than releasing a bunch of small updates sequentially.
All of this creates an operating system that is theoretically more secure and less prone to user error than Linux usually is.
How to install applications on an immutable distribution?
The only real downside to an immutable distribution is a slightly more limited number of applications. You cannot use the normal repositories that come with Ubuntu or Fedora. Instead, you need to use some sort of containerized application, usually a flatpak.
APT vs Snap vs Flatpak: Ubuntu Package Managers Explained (And When to Use Them)
If there’s one thing you get with Linux distributions, it’s choice.
Flatpaks are fundamentally different from classic apps. Normally, applications modify and create all kinds of files when they are installed.
Flatpaks keep things nicely contained in a sandbox, which helps isolate them from the larger operating system. This isolation also necessarily makes them quite self-contained, which also makes them portable between distributions.
While there aren’t as many flatpaks as apps available through the usual channels, there are still thousands of flatpaks available, including the most popular apps you’ll need.
Switching to an immutable distribution is painless
I tried Fedora Silverblue just to see how strange it was to move from a regular Linux distribution to an immutable distribution.
Despite how different it is from the traditional Fedora, I adapted pretty quickly. If you’ve used the App Store on Windows or macOS, you’ll feel right at home installing and using flatpaks.
When I first tried an immutable distribution, I actually expected more friction than I experienced. However, there were hardly any. If you use your PC daily for normal tasks, I seriously doubt you will have problems with an immutable distribution.
Which immutable distribution should you use?
As with all things Linux distributions, it really comes down to your preferences.
I’ve had a pretty good experience with Fedora Silverblue, but I’m not normally a Fedora user.
If I was looking for a permanent, immutable distribution, I would definitely try NixOS or Bazzite if gaming is a priority for you.
NixOS has its own repository of over 120,000 containerized applications, which could make it even easier for you to find what you’re looking for.
Here’s why there are so many Linux distributions
Because the more, the merrier.
Whether you’re a Linux veteran looking to make life easier or a beginner looking to avoid making a critical mistake, immutable Linux distributions are an attractive option. Whether or not they become the standard, they are sure to become more popular than they are today, especially in applications where security is the top priority.
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