I need recommendations for a stable release distro for OBS Studio livestreaming and light video editing. This machine will be shared between several users who are techies, although not necessarily Linux (they’re coming from Windows). I don’t want to worry about things breaking because of an update, or to start a shoot only to find problems once we’re live.
Nvidia and nonfree codecs should be treated as first-class citizens. H.264 w/ AAC will be everywhere with this workflow.
Some thoughts:
Linux Mint Debian Edition: Currently my top choice. It just works?
Fedora Bazzite: My second choice, maybe with auto-update disabled. Seems a bit risky though in the case of security updates to packages.
OpenSUSE: I run Slowroll on my laptop and work desktop, however recent package management errors relating to codecs and the packman repo have spooked me away.
Debian: Release cadance seems too slow for my preference.
I use Debian for anything that matters. The release cadence means that stuff just works and keeps working. You cannot beat the documentation and I’ve been using it for 25 years.
I’m not touching anything Redhat / Fedora with a barge pole.
Not sure what the attraction to Mint is.
Never used OpenSUSE.
Since you’re a Linux old-timer, what’s your beef with Fedora, if you don’t mind sharing?
That’s a big question, but I don’t trust Red Hat after the stunts they’ve pulled over the years. Here’s a taste.
https://www.theregister.com/2023/06/23/red_hat_centos_move/
Ah, I see. It doesn’t particularly bother me, but I can appreciate why it might bother somebody else with different values.
Thanks!
It goes well beyond bother.
In my opinion, the biggest issue is that software with a GPL licence is not permitted to be distributed without making the source code available, which Red Hat restricted to only paying customers, and in doing so added a licence restriction which is not permitted by the GPL.
They are now profiting off the work of every developer who ever contributed to the software they’re selling and none of those people are getting paid.
I see that, now that you explain it that way. That does seem ethically questionable.
I’ll have to take some time to learn more about the details, so I can make my own informed decision.