this post was submitted on 18 Jan 2026
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Linux installs fast. Then you spend the next hour doing the same boring ritual: browser, codecs, media tools, chat apps, dev tools, fonts, utilities… all via tabs, notes, and half-forgotten package names.

So I built LinuxMate: a free, open-source helper that generates a clean “get me productive” install script from a checklist. Basically Ninite, but for Linux, and without the “sign in to continue existing” vibes.

  • Pick apps/tools
  • Choose your distro / package manager
  • Get a reproducible script
  • Run it and move on with your life

Live demo: https://www.allroundwebsite.com/linuxmate/ Repo: https://github.com/Henkster72/LinuxMate Blog (my reasoning / background): https://www.allroundwebsite.com/blog/bye-windows-hello-linux-and-linuxmate/

If you’ve got strong opinions (the useful kind): distro support, package picks, safer defaults, or edge cases, I’m collecting feedback.

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[–] illusionist@lemmy.zip 5 points 2 days ago (2 children)

It looks great but I don't like it.

You decide that firefox gets installed via apt and not flatpak. Why?

This aims at someone who already has a system and wants to have some reproducible thing for a new system.

Back the fuck up and restore from backup.

This also includes take asnapshot of flatpak apps and simply reinstall all of them on the new system.

Yes, there is a lot of improvement to automatically do all this. But not with another solution. Just use dotfiles. Dotfiles and a cloud sync thing.

[–] henkster@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Sure! But hey.. some people like it differently

[–] Andres4NY@social.ridetrans.it 3 points 2 days ago (2 children)

@illusionist @henkster Firefox from apt and firefox from flatpak are not equivalent. The former goes through an extra process to remove non-free components.

[–] henkster@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

true so how to make it better?

[–] illusionist@lemmy.zip 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Neither do native and flatpak vscode work the same way. It's about that OP decides it, not the user.

[–] Andres4NY@social.ridetrans.it 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

@illusionist At least with the demo that I'm looking at with the script to download, it gives both flatpak AND apt install commands, giving the user a choice. Maybe I'm looking at the wrong thing though?

[–] illusionist@lemmy.zip -1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Your right. The rest of the comment still holds. Backup and restore.

Edit: I have to sanitise the final script and remove all the wrong commands afterwards 🤔

[–] henkster@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] illusionist@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Backup apps with e.g. this https://www.nixtutor.com/linux/keep-a-backup-of-installed-packages/ and this https://itsfoss.com/back-up-restore-flatpak-apps/ and borg/pika/deja dup/kopia for files. Let's add appimages, snaps and brew and containers/distrobox.

The only thing that is missing is an all in one solution that puts everything together. And a cloud where you can restore it.

[–] henkster@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

all good ideas! A cloud where you can restore it? Don't know about that one.. You can share (with link) and copy those commands

[–] illusionist@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Anyone shall use linux, even kids and elderly, lazy and uneducated people. There has to be a cloud that is easy to setup for a simple backup like firefox sync for the browser.

[–] henkster@lemmy.world 2 points 23 hours ago

completely agree. hence linuxmate 😉