[HN Gopher] Linux Instal Fest Belgrade
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       Linux Instal Fest Belgrade
        
       Author : ubavic
       Score  : 140 points
       Date   : 2025-12-06 10:20 UTC (12 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (dmz.rs)
 (TXT) w3m dump (dmz.rs)
        
       | aerzen wrote:
       | Nice. I know a few people who'd need this in Ljubljana
        
         | mentos1386 wrote:
         | There was one.
         | https://radar.squat.net/sl/event/ljubljana/kompot/2025-11-26...
        
         | ubavic wrote:
         | Check podcast https://radiostudent.si/druzba/tehno-klistir They
         | talk about open source, linux, etc...
        
       | haunter wrote:
       | I thought this would be a speedrun event like Games Done Quick
       | 
       | 1:14 Arch record https://youtu.be/8utpbbdj0LQ (jokes aside the
       | tmux trick is insane didn't even know you could do that before I
       | saw this video)
        
       | petra wrote:
       | On that same note,of reducing the barriers for Linux usage.
       | 
       | Would it be possible to create a Zorin OS USB drive that after
       | inserting it into the USB drive of a laptop:
       | 
       | The user would get a running Linux, with the UX they know(win
       | 10/11), with full speed and full capabilities - without
       | installation ?
        
         | yjftsjthsd-h wrote:
         | That just sounds like a live USB?
        
         | ubavic wrote:
         | System from USB will feel sluggish. Users could get a feel for
         | UI, but I think it would be inadequate for a long term usage.
        
         | fsckboy wrote:
         | windows subsystem for linux, it's builtin to windows (after
         | download from microsoft) and no USB needed
        
       | jasoneckert wrote:
       | It's so nice to see installfests still happening in the Linux
       | community - I have fond memories of running many of them 25 years
       | ago.
       | 
       | As for the distributions mentioned, the points are definitely
       | sage, but I would argue that the Flatpak-centered Fedora
       | Silverblue is the best distribution for beginners, and that the
       | sentence "...but the system can be potentially more unstable than
       | Debian" is no longer true nowadays.
        
         | ubavic wrote:
         | You know what? I removed that part. You are probably right, and
         | there is no need to scare beginners :)
        
       | oytis wrote:
       | At least it wasn't Comic Sans
        
       | LucidLynx wrote:
       | I remember organizing Linux install parties at my university
       | (University of Lille (1), in France), each year for like 3 to 4
       | consecutive years.
       | 
       | It was always a pleasure to meet new people and explain how
       | basically "their computer is working" and how they can free from
       | Windows.
       | 
       | The most interested person at that time was a 55 years old woman
       | who knew nothing in computer. I installed Ubuntu on its computer
       | and she came the next year with strong system knowledge for a
       | linux-newbie, and the same laptop... with Debian in it!
        
       | ognarb wrote:
       | There is a nice overview of this sort of events on the End Of 10
       | website: https://endof10.org/places/
        
       | thenthenthen wrote:
       | Really good to see. We have been popping up at some events so
       | repair peoples installs with bootable Linux sticks here in
       | Shanghai and Nanjing. It is super satisfying to revive peoples
       | machines with a few simple actions.
        
       | TeaVMFan wrote:
       | Typo in title: "Install" is missing an "l"
        
       | Panino wrote:
       | I've been thinking a lot about organizing an installfest sometime
       | in the next year or so, which would be my first time in over 20
       | years. To anyone with _current_ experience running one, do you
       | have any advice?
       | 
       | I'm also interested in smartphone operating systems like Ubuntu
       | Touch and postmarketOS etc.
        
         | ubavic wrote:
         | This is my third install fest and I planned to write some check
         | list that I compiled in these years. I can share this:
         | 
         | - make sure bring extension chords, and make sure you have
         | enough fast wifi for all participants
         | 
         | - bring enough USB-s. Installation on older laptops can take
         | time
         | 
         | - ventoy is useful
         | 
         | - for beginners stick to Fedora/Debian. Popular distros come
         | and go, but these two are constant and will be supported for a
         | long time
         | 
         | - don't give options to beginners if they don't ask for it. You
         | will induce paralysis of choice
         | 
         | - automatic dual boot setup by Debian installer works very
         | well. Partition shrinking on Windows isn't scary as I thought
         | before
         | 
         | - sometimes you can't install BIOS/UEFI drivers without windows
         | (on older devices). You maybe want to do that before installing
         | Linux
         | 
         | - i think it is good to have a windows installation ready. At
         | least for windows boot loader recovery if anything goes bad
         | 
         | - bitLocker can be PITA. Don't lock users device
         | 
         | - after installation update system
         | 
         | - write some material, what-to-do-after-installation guide, and
         | give to participants. Maybe create group on some social network
         | or messaging app
        
           | rtp4me wrote:
           | I have never been to one of these "fests" but wouldn't be
           | easier to just bring a small PXE server with an SSD and 10G
           | NIC with an 8-port switch for net booting/install? Are the
           | machines so old they can't boot off the network? The PXE
           | server could easily handle 5-6 install clients via the 10G
           | NIC.
        
           | lukan wrote:
           | So .. if you want to keep it simple and reduce the chance of
           | scaring away interested people for good because of failure,
           | don't offer dual boot, unless you know all the tricks. Too
           | many ways this can go wrong in my experience and if it goes
           | right, it likely means they just continue using what they
           | know - windows.
           | 
           | For a risk free just trying out, have linux live usb sticks
           | prepared.
        
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