I see why this Linux distro is the dream pick for gamers and content creators

3 days ago 13

Follow ZDNET: Add america arsenic a preferred source connected Google.

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

GLF OS is simply a gamer-centric Linux distribution.
Although challenging to install, it's worthy the effort.
You tin instal and usage GLF OS for free.

When I downloaded GLF OS, I assumed I knew what I was getting into. From each indication, this Linux organisation was each astir gaming. The website claims that "Gaming Linux FR is the archetypal French-speaking video crippled assemblage connected Linux. We tally a abstraction wherever our members tin stock resources, knowledge, and experiences to afloat bask gaming connected Linux."

It's not conscionable an OS, it's a gaming community. Nice.

Also: How overmuch RAM does your Linux PC really request successful 2026? An expert's saccharine spot

During installation, however, determination was an enactment to instal DaVinci Resolve. The enactment amazed maine for 2 reasons: I've ne'er had an OS connection to adhd my favourite video exertion during the installation, and DaVinci Resolve tin beryllium a situation to instal and get moving properly. For one, you truly request an Nvidia GPU for the app to work, and there's lone 1 organisation officially supported by DaVinci Resolve: Rocky Linux (versions 8 and 9).

For installation, you tin take from the pursuing editions:

Standard: Basic workstation, acceptable for you to instal your favourite gaming platforms, doesn't see creator tools.
Minimal Edition: Base strategy that includes Firefox and LibreOffice, intended for a minimal NixOS configuration.
Gaming Edition: Preconfigured with Steam, Proton-GE, and assorted launchers for a ready-to-play environment.
Studio (Free): Includes each gaming tools, positive escaped bundle specified arsenic Kdenlive, GIMP, OBS Studio, and Audacity.
Studio Pro: Includes each gaming/content tools, but upgrades to the premium DaVinci Resolve Studio (requires a DaVinci Resolve Studio license).

I opted for Studio Pro. Here's however the installation went.

Installation

During my archetypal installation attempt, GLF OS crashed and rebooted. I wasn't rather definite what the occupation was, truthful I trashed the virtual instrumentality and started over, making the aforesaid choices. During the 2nd installation, I expanded the installer to spot what was happening. At 46%, it appeared to beryllium downloading and installing a ton of software, but the percent didn't budge.

I decided not to ticker that cookware to spot if it would boil past 46%. When I returned, the installation had frozen. Back to quadrate one.

Then it looked similar my virtual instrumentality instrumentality (KVM with Virt-Manager) had gone bonkers, truthful I switched to VirtualBox. A spot of probe suggested the contented mightiness beryllium insufficient RAM. I bumped the RAM up to 10GB -- aforesaid results. I bumped the RAM to 16GB and tried the Gnome desktop -- nary change.

As it turns out, the contented is that NixOS (on which GLF OS is based) downloads each azygous bundle for installation, which causes it to fail. This is simply a known contented with some GLF OS and NixOS.

Also: Goodbye, VirtualBox - I recovered a better, much reliable VM manager for Linux

Once much unto the breach, beloved friends. This time, I upped the CPU cores to 4 and turned distant from the installation to bash thing other (hoping that clip would beryllium my friend). Nope.

I past attempted a Minimal Edition installation, and -- success! My mentation is that the Minimal installation didn't request to download arsenic galore files arsenic the different options. Whatever works, right?

I wondered, however, if installing GLF OS arsenic a virtual instrumentality was portion of the problem. To trial that theory, I installed it connected a spare machine. This clip around, I went with the installation that included DaVinci Studio. Although the instal looked similar it was going to bent astatine 46%, it continued and completed.

Even better, DaVinci works similar a charm. I've installed the video exertion connected different machines (with much almighty hardware) and different distributions, but the extremity effect with GLF OS was acold superior.

Now, let's instrumentality a look astatine what GLF OS has to offer.

It's each astir gaming

It should beryllium obvious, fixed the tagline: "Linux Gaming Made Easy." Outstanding.

As soon arsenic I logged in, the Welcome app made it wide this organisation was for gaming. However, since I installed the mini version, the gaming apps were obscurity to beryllium found. In fact, determination were respective mentions successful the Welcome app that did not use (such arsenic Samba stock -- due to the fact that Samba is not installed by default with the Mini option).

Also: Want to larn Linux? These 5 games marque it amusive - and they're free

Fortunately, there's the caller Easy Flatpak app, which allows you to instal those apps precise easily. Open Easy Flatpak, hunt for Gaming, and instal everything you need. In fact, determination were gaming-related apps that I'd ne'er heard of.

One of the chill things astir Easy Flatpak is that you tin hunt for the bundle you privation to install, adhd it to your cart, support adding much software, and past instal everything successful your cart erstwhile you want.

How I privation each Linux organisation would spell this aforesaid route. Fortunately, you tin instal Easy Flatpak connected immoderate distro that supports Flatpak.

It took a reboot earlier Steam would tally properly, but erstwhile that was taken attraction of, I was capable to log successful and commencement searching for games to play.

Final impressions

First off, lone a prime fewer Linux distributions should beryllium this challenging to instal (I'm looking astatine you, Gentoo and Linux From Scratch). Once I got GLF OS installed, it ran similar a champ, earnestly impressing me. Although I would person loved to get my fingers connected the mentation that included DaVinci Resolve (to spot however good it ran), I was inactive rather pleased with the Mini version.

Also: 7 Linux distros you should debar until you've mastered the bid line

Who is GLF OS for?

If you are a gamer oregon a contented creator, GLF OS is close up your alley. If you person a spare instrumentality with beefy hardware, I highly urge installing this distribution. Since you won't beryllium installing GLF OS arsenic a virtual machine, you shouldn't person immoderate problems installing immoderate of the assorted editions.

Once you person GLF OS up and running, you'll find it a existent dainty to use.

Read Entire Article