Debian 13 arrives with major updates for Linux users – what's new in 'Trixie'

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Debian on the desktop vs derivatives / rolling distros

  • Many argue Debian works well for users for the same reasons it works on servers: “boring”, rock-solid, minimal surprises.
  • Others prefer rolling releases, saying they “get out of the way” by tracking upstream closely and reducing mismatch with online docs.
  • Counterpoint: Debian can be used as rolling via the testing or unstable suites; several report long-term success running these on desktops with few issues.
  • Backports are highlighted as a way to get newer versions of selected software on stable without destabilizing the system.

Why Debian instead of Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, etc.

  • Some like Debian specifically because it’s “not Ubuntu”: no Snap-based Firefox, feels cleaner and snappier while remaining familiar.
  • Others say derivatives add value by:
    • Providing a more polished desktop out of the box.
    • Shipping more recent software.
  • Opinions differ on desktops: some switch to XFCE or use GNOME extensions to get a visible dock; KDE and Mint’s default environments are also referenced as decision points.
  • Consistency between dev machines and servers is a recurring reason to choose Debian.

Stability, age of packages, and “ordinary users”

  • Several claim most users don’t need the latest versions, just a stable, unchanging UI, making Debian attractive.
  • Others point out some tools (e.g., yt-dlp, Discord) quickly become unusable if too old, and can be awkward on Debian stable.
  • Debate over whether Debian is suitable or “targeted” at non-technical users; some report success deploying it for people who mostly need a browser.

Dropping 32‑bit x86 images (i386)

  • Concern over loss of support for old 32‑bit hardware; suggestions to look at antiX, Devuan, Tiny Core, Puppy, Alpine, MX, Slackware, Gentoo, etc.
  • Clarifications:
    • Trixie drops 32‑bit kernels/installer images, not 32‑bit userspace; 32‑bit binaries can still run on 64‑bit CPUs.
    • Upgrading existing 32‑bit installs is possible but may require staying on an older kernel.
  • Strong counterargument that 32‑bit x86 is effectively dead in real-world use, wastes power versus very cheap modern hardware, and is mostly a retro-hobby concern.
  • Others stress the maintenance cost of niche architectures and frequent kernel/internal API changes as justification for dropping support.

Upgrades, drivers, and rollback strategies

  • A user reports being dropped to console after upgrading due to proprietary Nvidia drivers no longer being supported; nouveau works poorly with an ultra‑wide monitor.
  • Advice: always read release notes; consider swapping to AMD GPUs, or mixing Bookworm kernel with Trixie userspace as a pragmatic workaround.
  • Some mention frustration and “PTSD” from Nvidia on Debian; AMD is perceived as better supported.
  • Others recommend snapshot/rollback setups (Timeshift, Btrfs/LVM snapshots, openSUSE-style automatic snapshots, atomic OSes) to recover from bad upgrades easily.
  • Dovecot config incompatibilities in Trixie are noted as another upgrade gotcha clearly documented but still surprising.

Debian philosophy and technical character

  • One perspective: Debian has strong opinions on free software, portability, linking, and packaging, with heavy patching to fit its vision; seen by some as political but beneficial for user freedom.
  • Critical view: these policies allegedly break good software, burden upstream developers, and exemplify flaws of the Linux distro model.
  • Others emphasize Debian’s light resource use, speed (especially in shell), and that desktops and servers don’t feel meaningfully different on Debian.

Miscellaneous

  • Trixie’s small CLI quality-of-life improvements are appreciated.
  • One bug report: kwin_x11 showing very high CPU usage when the screen is locked.