DEV Community: Animesh Singh

The Experience of Linux.

Animesh Singh — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 18:50:33 +0000

I have been in the Linux meta since 2023. Here is my entire journal and experience.

2023
It was the year when Valve's Steam Deck became relevant to me, at least to my knowledge. At that time, Valve managed to turn around Linux Gaming by a complete 270 degrees. Games just worked. No aggressive tinkering, no nothing. It was the holy grail of Valve's Proton.

Unfortunately for me, the distribution I had my very first Linux experience with was... HoloISO. It was a very botched attempt to put together Valve's SteamOS onto Desktop devices, and the experience was nothing short of terrible.

Once I realised HoloISO was bust, I tried running back to my good ol' Windows. Unfortunately, I couldn't. Nothing worked, reflashing my boot drive never worked, because at that time I never understood filesystems the way I do now.

2024
This year was mostly relegated to trying Bash scripts on Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), nothing too much.

I consistently had people telling me that Linux was getting better and better. But after the trauma of Filesystems that haunted me an year prior, I couldn't being myself to do that. Things were still relegated to WSL only.

2025: The Beginning of a Turn

Linux Gaming was advancing. I began to see a more aggressive push of Linux content on my feed. It wasn't until the tech boys of YouTube began pushing Linux steadily, and I was slowly starting to regain my faith into the system.

I still was in touch with WSL only, because that was the only way for me to run Bash scripts on Windows. But the more aggressive steps by Microsoft onto Windows 11- an OS I liked were becoming major. I resisted by using debloat scripts and AME Playbooks.

Late 2025, Windows 10 support dropped. Linux migration spiked. Something stuck into me and never left since.

2026: The Turn

This year is what the Internet deems as the "Year of Linux Desktop". And for good reason. Linux migration is at an all-time high (as of July 2026).

I did what any other person did. Showed my act of bravado and jumped into the waters of Linux once more. And I liked it. The bittersweetness of freedom. I did hop back and forth between Windows and Linux because I learnt what was wrong after I hopped back to Windows then I had to reset again.

However, one of my friends just asked me to stop my time-drainage that I was letting on by distro-hopping and asked me to stay put. And I did just that. Now I am settled onto Nobara Linux and all things that I want my computer to do work well. I still miss the plug-and-play capabilities on Windows.

CONCLUSION
Linux is fantastic, in the end. Now that I am 100% on Linux and relying on the Linux Terminal instead of WSL, with all the major changes and improvements over the workflow on Linux compared to Windows, I can safely say this was one of the best things I had ever done.

Sure, with a lot of hiccups on the way. NVIDIA Drivers not working properly, and some mild hiccups like a botched installation.

However, with every attempt I came back with new knowledge, and now, I am staying put. Learning this beautiful ecosystems where I am in charge.

Ah, the sweet taste of freedom.

Google is the next Apple and you know it.

Animesh Singh — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 20:30:01 +0000

Google released Android on September 23, 2008. They promised a freedom from the Apple walled-garden for all users- developers and users alike. Sure, it was coming from humble beginnings and was nowhere near Apple's offerings, but it was maturing.

Fast forward to 2026. Android today has matured to a point where it beats Apple in certain statistics. But the freedom they promised... it has long since been taken away.

The shiny new features, Gemini EVERYWHERE. Wanna cook? Gemini! Do you want to do a simple search about spline reticulation? GEMINI! Some people love it, many hate it. But behind all the new AI integrations, they have been brewing the biggest anti-consumer scandal ever. And a massive disgrace to Open-Source, ever.

Common terminology to familiarize before continuing:

Play Protect/Integrity: An API based hardware-backed attestation used by apps to detect device certification.
Custom ROMs: Forks/Distributions of AOSP (Android Open Source Project) created by developers because Android is open source.
Bootloader: Piece of software below the OS which locates the OS on your flash memory OR allows access to various low-level components written into the flash memory (vbmeta, dtbo, etc.)

ACT ONE:
OEM Unlocking (skip this if you are not interested in below OS level trust chains, but recommended to read to understand Google's practices)

In the past, there was no 'aggressive' attestation for apps when custom ROMs were mainstream. So bootloader unlocking was safe and no one would judge you for doing so.

Android 4.4, 2013. Verified Boot. Not a big problem because bootloader unlocking was incredibly sparse and Android was still gaining traction. However, this introduced the 'signed images only' measure. However, it was incredibly easy to circumvent.

2014, Google adds an option for OEM Unlocking. Fair enough, unlocking the bootloader. Incredibly hackenstein option, no one is doing that.

2015, FRP (Factory Reset Protection). Malicious groups cannot Factory Reset for security, however Factory Reset from user-side also became impossible without inputting Gmail credentials. Left compromised devices unusable. Circumvented by low level security tools used by repair shops.

2016, Verified Boot became MAJOR. Unlocking bootloader means tripping security and losing the 'certification' of security from your device. Enforced a chain of 'trust' between Google and the user. Circumventable only by developers only on certain Android devices.

2017, Android Verified Boot (Verified Boot 2.0). The most powerful strike. Introduced Anti-rollback protection, permanently removing your ability to downgrade your system without a certain, unusual method and trying to do so would result in a brick.

2017-18 (bridge to Play Protect), Introduction of SafetyNet Attestation. Unlocked Bootloaders or unsigned Android images will not be able to pass this proprietary 'safety' check, hence, multiple apps with DRMs (Digital Rights Management) and Banking apps won't work.
Circumvented by root and root modules, highly dangerous stuff.

2021, Beginning of Deprecation of SafetyNet and introduction of Play Integrity API. So much more tougher than SafetyNet and relies on Hardware checks and so many tough checks. Was easy to circumvent but has been tightening ever since. Unlocked bootloaders WON'T pass Play Integrity at all, and will require a library of root modules and stuff beyond basic modules.

2024, End of Life for SafetyNet. Migration to Play Integrity required.

ACT TWO
PLAY PROTECT (the thing plaguing the general public)

2017, Install Unknown Apps permissions. You must have seen this once in your life if you have used Android for quite a while. This was common when you were installing say an app from GitHub or from a 'sketchy place' either way, it was just a toggle and you didn't need to mess with it again.

2017-18, Google flags uncertified devices (which do not come under the GMS and Google MADA agreement, or devices that have unlocked bootloaders)

2021, Announcement of Play Integrity. Slowly beginning to replace SafetyNet on newer devices, however older devices still used SafetyNet Attestation and was easy to circumvent.

2024, SafetyNet deprecated (End of Life in January 2025.), Play Integrity now MANDATORY for device attestation.

2026, Starting from September of this year (or September of 2026 if you are from the dystopian future), Google will now requite GOVERNMENT IDs for developer verification. You CANNOT install .apk files normally like toggling developer level permissions (the older permission is now locked behind developer options). Dismiss scare screens, WAIT 24 HOURS, dismiss MORE scare screens then toggle the install unknown apps option and THEN install the app.

(read more about this on https://keepandroidopen.org)

There it is. A once open-source platform now a 95% walled garden.
Worst of all, this runs through Google Play Services, which is literally REQUIRED on every Android device (replacements include microG which is Play Services implementation at it's bare minimum, without Google's suspicious stuff). Google can tighten it or kill .apks off at any time. Breaking their old promise on being open ground for developers and users.

Is the shiny new AI feature really necessary if your autonomy with your device is being crippled? Ponder. Rally. Write to Google. Reject. Lead an uprising. Boycott. Write to your Government. Do whatever to take an action against this nightmare.

Or have your autonomy and ownership with your hardware traded for more AI.

cover page thumbnail by Techlore on this video, "The End of Android Freedom".

A guide to ricing (customization) on GNOME.

Animesh Singh — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 20:38:24 +0000

Last post, we picked a Linux distribution. Now it's time to make your workflow to suit YOU so you can get all snug and comfy working on the desktop the way you like. After all, all the Linux users promised you complete freedom, didn't they?

STEP ONE: Required Apps

GNOME Tweaks: This is an app that allows you to change Icon themes, Cursor Themes, Sound Effects, System Fonts, Startup Apps, Appearance, etc.
Extension Manager (Flatpak ONLY): Allows you to download Extensions from extensions.gnome.org, and plays a HEAVY role in customisation.

STEP TWO: Desktop

TWEAKS:

Open Tweaks and choose your options from the side bar. You can install icon themes, like Papirus, Tela, or YAMIS (Yet Another Monochrome Icon Set) and more.
Or you could install a custom cursor! Bibata Ice, Yaru, and others are great cursors.
Or change the Font. I personally rock Google Sans and JetBrains Mono for the Monospace Font.

EXTENSIONS:

Open Extension Manager and Browse Tab. Browse your extensions and install to your liking. ** However, worth noting is that many times, your GNOME Extensions might not support your GNOME Extensions. I personally avoid using such Extensions but feel free to use them. **

Here are the extensions I would suggest:

Blur My Shell: Transparency effects to everything. Must have.
Dash to Dock: For the Mac feel. Takes your Dash panel out of the Preview to the desktop.
Dash to Panel: For Windows and people used to traditional Taskbar like workflow.
Customize Clock on Lock Screen: Allows you to tweak every bit of the lockscreen clock, including allowing you to display a terminal command! I use Fortune.
WACK: MacOS style clock on Lockscreen. Super clean.

BUILDS! (if you want to make it feel a bit proprietary)

Google:

FONT: Google Sans (obviously), Monospace: Google Sans Mono (on GitHub)
Cursor: Bibata Modern Ice
Wallpaper: Any Google Pixel Wallpaper
Icons: Vector Icon theme (Outdated), Papirus Dark OR Trinity Icon Theme (GitHub) OR Tela Circle
Extensions: Dash to Panel, Blur My Shell

NOTHING:

FONT: Roboto, NDot55, NType-57 (GitHub)
Cursor: Bibata Classic Ice
Wallpaper: Abstract Wallpaper, preferably black and white, with Lenticular effect from lentlay.vercel.app
Icons: YAMIS
Extensions: Dash to Dock, Blur My Shell

That's it. Go crazy with your newfound freedom of customization.
On a different desktop environment? No problem! Guides to XFCE, Cinnamon and KDE Plasma coming soon.

Thinking of switching to Linux? Please read before you do!

Animesh Singh — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 19:10:28 +0000

If you are ON Windows right now and are going to switch to Linux because either (or none) of these reasons:

A: Tired of the bloatware and adware
B: Windows hogging your space
C: "better for development"
D: Native Git support
E: Better Terminal
F: Claude Code

You should read this! I am Animesh. I daily drive Linux and I have had experience with using GNU/Linux for two whole years, so I can give an experience on how it feels to work with Linux.

COMPATIBILITY

Often times, if you utilize a Windows-only tool (like Adobe, MS Office), you have no way but to replace it with a FOSS or other native equivalent, like DaVinci Resolve, or LibreOffice or OnlyOffice.

DISTRO-CHOOSING

Linux isn't an operating system. It's a kernel on which most distros and 'OS' are built upon. However, not every distro is the same. Some come with extensive customization, but with a steep learning curve, some come with an easy to use interface. Here are my top contenders for a distribution.

BEGINNERS - "I NEVER TOUCHED A TERMINAL"

If you belong to this category, no problem! Given the mass migration to Linux thanks to Windows being... well we won't talk about that.

Linux Mint: The Most Familiar UI. Windows-like workflow, built on giants like Debian and Ubuntu.
Zorin OS: The most polished Windows-like, also built on giants like Debian and Ubuntu. Minimal tweaking out of the box.
Nobara Linux: Mainly built for gaming, but uses the BORE kernel which pumps out the little bit more of juice out of your computer.

INTERMEDIATE - "HEY, I AM NOT TOO ROUGH"

This category is for people who have had slight experience with Linux Terminal or have used WSL often.

Fedora: This one did not make the Beginners because it has a certain policy which doesn't allow proprietary software, and you have to enable RPMFusion to even install your basic apps (if they are proprietary). Lot of initial setup time.
Debian: The Giant. It is quite a hassle to set up, even in the GUI Mode. Super barebones, you need so much to install before even beginning to use your system. Requires familiarity in nerd speak.

ADVANCED - "RAVAGE ME PLENTY"

This category... why are the advanced people even here? This category of distributions is for the Terminal enthusiasts and absolute top notch nerds. Requires quite a hefty bit of knowledge in system

Arch Linux: "i use arch btw" it's a phrase heard very commonly when you first think of Linux. The users don't lie. It is a soul draining process to install, because you configure your system down to partitioning YOURSELF. No GUI does it for you.
Gentoo: It's not difficult because you get a GUI, it is difficult because YOU (yes, YOU) compile the packages FROM source to even begin installing them. Gentoo is also very barebones, which means a lot of packages need to be built from source. Good Luck taking your time on that.

Well, end of post, folks. I hope this post educated you more and now you are more informed about everyone's favorite penguin operating system.

Second Brain on Obsidian WITHOUT a Subscription!

Animesh Singh — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:19:47 +0000

So, you want a second brain but without a fancy subscription? No problem! We all want to go a bit cheap.

Enter: Obsidian. My favorite note taking app. Simply... brilliant. The graph view is addicting.

Make sure Obsidian is installed on your computer.

APPROACH ONE

ANTIGRAVITY

First, you need Antigravity. This one is a fancy new IDE, but this one gives you Claude Opus 4.6 WITHOUT a subscription!

NOTE: This is made on Obsidian WITHOUT using ANY plugins!

Now how to begin making your second brain:

Create a new vault on Obsidian.
Create a new .md file (or click on the new note on the app)
Write down all you need Claude to know. Your projects, skills, ideas, etc.
Open Antigravity, create a new Workspace and point it towards your Obsidian Vault.
Choose Claude Opus 4.6 (Thinking) from the Agent Manager menu.
Ask Claude to analyse your .md file and then on basis of that, ask it to do whatever. For example:

"Create a multiple .md notes for Obsidian with linking for one specific focus point and link all other skills, projects, ideas, etc. to that one. Improvise on certain aspects and keep words to a minimum in each .md file."

The limitations of this are that you have massive rate limits on your free plan, which means you will run out of credits and usage. However, it's not necessary you do this with Claude. You could pick GPT-OSS, or any of the Gemini models.

HOWEVER, if you are too picky about this...

APPROACH TWO

TERMINAL BASED LOCAL AGENT

This approach REQUIRES a beefy computer that can run heavyweight models (or lighter models, but they do cut down on accuracy significantly)

Make sure you have your model of choice and Ollama up to date.

Configure your Local Model

ollama pull qwen3.6-coder:32b

Install & Connect Cline
Open VS Code.
Go to the Extensions Marketplace (Ctrl+Shift+X or Cmd+Shift+X) and search for Cline. Install it.
Open the Cline panel on your sidebar and click the Settings icon (gear).
1. Configure the provider settings:
  
  API Provider: Select Ollama
  
  Base URL: http://localhost:11434
  
  Model ID: Select qwen3.6-coder:32b (or your preferred local model)

Now, create a new Obsidian Vault and point VS Code towards it. Use Cline to ask the model to analyse your .md file filled with projects, ideas, etc. Ask it to create more .md files in a similar manner you would ask Claude to do so.

For this, qwen isn't suggested, but you should use GPT OSS or Gemma 4 (or above) in this case. They will make your second brain come out wonderfully.

Cover image credits to: Victor Hugo Germano.