this post was submitted on 28 Sep 2025
1 points (52.0% liked)

Linux

10196 readers
351 users here now

A community for everything relating to the GNU/Linux operating system (except the memes!)

Also, check out:

Original icon base courtesy of lewing@isc.tamu.edu and The GIMP

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
Ategon@programming.dev
anzo@programming.dev
dwraf_of_ignorance@programming.dev
1
What's the highest # of tabs you've opened while troubleshooting something? (linux or not linux related) (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 month ago by TheTwelveYearOld@lemmy.world to c/linux@programming.dev
6 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Linux undoubtedly requires lots of troubleshooting and searching. Lately I’ve been spending hours (and still aren’t done with) setting up a Windows VM with good graphics support on NixOS. I’ve opened >300 tabs as counted with a browser addon, having looked up stuff like "best way to install Windows VM on linux with , “best VM software for linux”, and more specific things like how to setup WinApps, but I’ve been told that it has very poor graphics performance, since it doesn’t include anything to make it better, so now I’m torturing myself trying to get Looking Glass to work. I opened an feature request today to make better support for NixOS but it was closed stating that documentation is for deb-based distros and “a niche distro such as NixOS”, RIP.

all 8 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] hendrik@palaver.p3x.de 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Well I guess I regularly open like 20-50 tabs to get to the root of something. But that's not necessarily linked to Linux. Happens if a major Windows update destroys my friends printer drivers, or if I compare prices for things, or which Smartwatch or phone to buy... Could be anything.

Btw, I use virt-manager and libvirt for virtualization. And Proton and Wine plus all the helpers for Windows software. So rather than virtualize an entire Windows, I'll just fire up the software in Lutris or Bottles and be done with it.

And don't complain if you installed NixOS, you brought this upon yourself. It's one of the most complicated distros out there and in my opinion better suited for servers, automated deployments, certain kinds of development and absolute experts, not so much for desktop use by someone who needs documentation, because it's often lacking good documentation. You're supposed to already be an expert 😅

[–] poinck@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Yes, same here. That is why I read on Lemmy to inform myself in advance and reduce the amount of tabs.

I am in the 5 to 20 tab range depending on the solution I am searching for. At around 5 I usually use LLM to help me and cross-check with more searches. If it is longterm, I subscribe to related communities on Lemmy and interesting podcasts.

Regarding your question to virtualize Windows: Use virt-manager if it is just for you and Proxmox if you want to provide virtualized services. Certainly, you can use Proxmox just for yourself, it even works with nested virtualization if you want to learn things before commiting to additional hardware. I am there right now. Many more tabs will be opened to learn about Proxmox, I am sure.

I recommend Debian stable or Fedora if your aim is to get things done. NixOS is maybe a thing you can try out and learn about in a VM on Proxmox or with virt-manager.

[–] TimePencil@infosec.exchange 1 points 1 month ago

@TheTwelveYearOld

I'm a Linux Mint newbie, so, at most, 4 tabs opened to resolve a glitch.

Well, 4 tabs if the search engine used was DuckDuckGo...
... but, as much as I hate to admit it, only 2 or 3 tabs if Google was used to find the needed pages.

[–] IceFoxX@lemmy.world -2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Depression starts at 5 tabs. Going suicidal at 10 tabs . By stories like this i know we are close at the end of humanity.