r/debian • u/47th-Element • 20h ago
From Arch to Debian!
After 5-6 years of Arch (with KDE), I finally moved to Debian (with Xfce).
What I appreciated about Arch (and KDE):
Rolling release: I could use the latest version of the kernel, Gradle (I'm an Android dev) and other tools where being on the latest version matters.
Extensive Wiki and documentation: Arch wiki is just great.
AUR: makes installing packages that aren't in the official repos easier, it's like a book of recipes, and it's literally got everything you could imagine.
Customizability: this is where KDE excels, versatile and everything is configurable.
KDE Connect: made my life easier all these years, thanks!
What I didn't like about Arch (and KDE):
Rolling release (yes, again): not necessarily because it's bad, I just happen to live in a 3rd world country where internet is very limited and slow (how fuckin lucky for me I guess), so I would update once every 5-6 months and that breaks stuff, and sometimes you need to install a simple package, but because you haven't updated in a while, you need to update the repos, and then the package ends up forcing you to update the whole system anyway because of problems with partial updates and dependencies. Again, this is not on Arch, I blame this on geography.
KDE is a bit heavy: compared to Xfce, and comes with a ton of preinstalled apps, many of them were actually useful, but I ended up going through the app list and debloating as if I was using Windows.
The community: arch elitism is real, and it is a bit toxic, but it's tolerable when you've been using arch for a long time.
If you reached this point, thanks for reading! And I would appreciate a KDE Connect alternative that works with Xfce, I know you can set up KDE Connect on Xfce anyway but I don't wanna bring the whole Qt suite, I would rather have something light and GTK based. If you know a name drop it in the comments, thanks again! :)
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u/diracwasright 15h ago
So now you use Debian, btw.
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u/47th-Element 15h ago
Damn I'm gonna miss saying I use arch btw. 😂
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u/mok000 13h ago
Arch’s claim to fame is the no-installer install, but you can do _exactly_ the same miinimal, manual, step by step installation with Debian debootstrap. In fact you can pretty much follow the instructions on the Arch wiki, and Debian even has Arch’s helper scripts in the repository if you want to cut corners.
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u/Suspicious_Punk84 20h ago
I never used kde connect, but it sounds like it's just to transfer files locally? I use localsend for that.
And welcome! I think you'll enjoy your stay.
(I've been using both arch and debian for years, I like both)
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u/Icy_Definition5933 20h ago
Kde connect is a direct link to your linux system. I have a shoulder injury currently and am unable to normally use a mouse and a keyboard. With kde connect I can use my phone as a full on remote control for mouse and keyboard, and I can work on my system for instance from bed because my tv is connected to the machine. I knew about it since 2019 but it's really now that I can truly realize and appreciate how awesome kde connect really is
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u/47th-Element 20h ago edited 20h ago
Thank you :)
KDE Connect shares files, notifications, syncs clipboard between your Linux desktop and your phone, allows controlling your desktop using your phone (pre-set commands, keystrokes, phone screen as touchpad), presentation mode (very useful if you do presentations on your device, allows you to move slides with your phone), ring either device remotely, and more!
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u/Inevitable-Self-2702 19h ago
What do you prefer about localsend over sftp via CLI?
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u/Suspicious_Punk84 18h ago edited 17h ago
I mostly use it to send files to Android phones. Its very convenient, anyone can just install the app from fdroid (or play store) and receive the file right away.
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u/Otherwise_Fact9594 11h ago
KDE connect is really good. Generally, I don't like installing Qt apps, but it works phenomenally. My keyboard broke once and I was able to use my phone as a mouse pad, keyboard and pointing device. Local send is wonderful too! It's like airdrop for everyone. GS connect and Zorin connect are both built off of kde connect
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u/MiracleDinner 15h ago
Excellent choice, Debian with Xfce is a very solid choice and I've been using it daily for the past 4 years, and I've tried both Arch and KDE before and think they're pretty great too, just not for me on a long-term basis.
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u/old_mikuan Debian GNU/Hurd 7h ago
Welcome to our party 🥳
(But I use devuan bcz my laptop to old running debian 🥲)
I realized then solid rock will make calmness in my daily driver
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u/Imperial_Bloke69 20h ago
"arch elitism is real" as if they've reached LFS, Gentoo levels.
GSconnect is gtk, lightweight? nah. Try scrcpy not sure what toolkit this program is built on.
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u/47th-Element 20h ago
If I'm not mistaken, scrcpy is kinda the opposite of KDE Connect,
KDE connect makes controlling your PC with your phone possible, scrcpy mirrors your phone's screen to your PC.
I already have it, it's useful to me because I'm an Android dev and have headless phones because they are cheaper than raspberry pis, but it's not the same as KDE Connect.
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u/wankerbanker85 18h ago
Great post. Thank you for sharing.
From a cursory glance on my end it looks like while Wayland can be setup with XFCE, by default XFCE uses x11 as the default display server protocol.
Are you planning to use Wayland or are you going to stick with x11?
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u/47th-Element 18h ago
I don't have a special use case that requires either of them so I'll probably stick with the current setup until there is a need to change it.
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u/Shift_OG 18h ago
nice setup! can you please share the wallpaper link? i like the setup btw debian xfce is awesome
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u/47th-Element 18h ago
I downloaded it about a year ago so I forgot the source, but I'll upload and share when I get home!
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u/yahbluez 8h ago
The rolling release was the strongest push to let me go the same way, away from arch/manjaro back to debian. But i also moved from XFCE to KDE, the opposite you did. Calling a DE heavy in 2026 sound wired with todays machines. And the newer software argument i often read, this is in 2026 pure nonsense because every software that needs to be on the edge is delivered as docker snap flatpak appimage.
With TB of ssd why do you bother about the needs of software like Qt libs?
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u/47th-Element 8h ago
I'm 100% with you, it's just that we don't have the same circumstances, I'm using an i3 core machine with 500gb nvme, that nvme sounds plenty but it really isn't practically it gets filled up quickly. You could say a big part of me jumping to debian is the circumstances: bad internet and my old machine
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u/yahbluez 7h ago
ack, my move to KDE after a long time with XFCE was the lack of wayland support in XFCE. The step from xfce to KDE was more easy than i thought it takes me 3 days and now i did everything i was used with XFCE but a lot of thing got more polished - will not go back. But my daily system is a workstation with plenty of power. I hate changing the system and use my hardware often like 5 years before i upgrade.
fun fact, the RAM in my WS today is more expensive than the whole system was a year ago.
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u/Blinkore 18h ago
You can customize a lot in xfce. But mb thats just my view cuz i only used gnome before.
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u/47th-Element 18h ago edited 17h ago
I actually tried Gnome, KDE, Xfce, i3, sway and LXDE.
I used KDE for the longest period of time though. Changing the DE can make your time on the PC more exciting again, or a nightmare I guess if you don't like that DE.
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u/raderator 14h ago
You should update to the 7.x kernel. I don't even need it and have been running it for months with no problems.
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u/mgF0z 19h ago
Debian and Xfce here... Great call