I recently picked up Distrobox to play some older native Linux games I bought off of GOG that were compiled to work with 10 year old versions of Ubuntu on Linux Mint Debian Edition and it works great!
Hi jay, I have been watching your videos for quite a while, thanks for contributing to the community with such valuable knowledge in such simple explanations. I wanted to request a video 'Common linux commands' that you use or a linux user would.
Nice to know how to install Ubuntu but would have been better to learn how to access a list of available distros or do we just give it a "best effort" at guessing eachs particular syntax & if it exists?
I just asked Google Gemini AI and it said it depends on the distribution that you're using but it typically creates the containers in the user's home directory in a folder named distrobox. I haven't verified this but that's what it told me.
I use distrobox for running a desktop email client (thunderbird). Have written some basic scripts to backup my distrobox containers, so I can distro hop without having to set up everything yet another time.
All my scripts and notes are stored inside my homelab which is not exposed to the internet. These scripts are really simple but in case someone have any use of them I did register an account on blogspot called "technicalities001" where I put up a short blog post about it (I think youtube hates links, so cannot directly link to it)
Nice shell command prompt. Wanted to emulate it, so I found the "how to" in your video titled "10 Linux Terminal Tips and Tricks to Enhance Your Workflow" (at ~17:10). Thanks! [PS: See the arxaaron comment on that video to see how to set the prompt on Mac OSX terminals]
The way i see it distrobox has potential to break all borders between distro's regardles of the base allowing us users to trully understand increbidble power of Linux. Unlike usual docker app which you acces via you internet browser distrobox makes it even easier because all you need is make shortcut to app you run through distrobox with command to run it. Linux being linux means everything you do executes commands even simple double click to run the aplication executes a command.
How would this work with something like saving files? For example if I ran un ubuntu text editer, and wanted to save it to my host arch systems document folder, could I do that? Also, would I be able to use the screen reader on my host system with a gui app in distrobox?
I had wondered this also. I assume you could use "podman cp SOURCE_PATH DEST_PATH" from the host shell or create volumes and mount them inside the container
@@alvallac2171 thghank you. Honestly I was typing braille on my phone while about half asleep. Braille screen input is not easy to do, which could have led to my mistakes. Also, my grammer sucks lol.
I haven't really had time to try this distrobox out yet but I plan on experimenting hardcore after work tomorrow for sure. But steam is one case where I wouldn't really see a need for it unless you're running a distribution that completely lacks a steam package or you just don't want to run the flat pack version. Basically every distro that has steam is on the newest version so I don't really see the point in what you're asking. But any other application that you want to run the newer version of that is in the arch repositories you probably can do it and it would totally rock.
The best video of the year , just I want to know if we can interact with host apps when running apps inside container, ex : I have postgresql database in my host and pgadmin inside distrobox ? Will it work fine?
Thanks. Nice little intro vid to distrobox. I'm a bedrocklinux user (since 2012), so I never got around to looking at distrobox, since I already use any/all distros in one, with the bedrocklinux method. :) Interesting to see. But since already got over the learning hurdle for bedrock, it's actually easier to just keep using bedrock. But maybe I'll find an edge-case yet, and use Distrobox in Bedrock... and wont that be something. Hehe. :D
Technically DistroBox is DIY version of Flatpak/Snap/AppImage. But it's hard to imagine where I could use it on everyday bases, because I'm neither developing desktop apps, nor experimenting with random software.
No. Flatpaks and snaps are more performant and are better for GUI applications. Distrobox is better suited for CLI and when you want an isolated environment, say npm. While Distrobox looks "cool", most people won't have a use for it.
Great video as always. My real question is, how many applications are out there that really don’t have compatibility across all linux distributions? For the most part, apps are fairly compatible across almost every linux distro. Every now and then you might find an application that only works on a single or limited number of Linux distributions but it’s far and few between.
If you're talking about the PPA that he added in the beginning that's only required if you're on an ubuntu derivative that doesn't have distro box in the repository. I just checked Debian 12 and distrobox and podman are both in the repository so there is no need for additional repositories.
I am not sure if is the place to ask a ? Bud i am going to ask. I have a small script i need it to execute in a terminal, because it need user input. What code can i put in the script to have it open terminal, and also run the script? I am running a Raspberry Pi with Bookworm. Thanks Brent!
I'm sure this has its uses and enjoyed the video but am wondering, using your geany example why would someone want to use a fedora version of geany on ubuntu?
I would imagine the syntax is pretty close to every other Linux command type in distrobox --help or check the man page to see all the flags and options. There was a command to integrate it with the host launcher so I'm assuming there's a command to remove it from the host launcher unless it doesn't and then in that case you would have to manually remove it with the menu editor or whatever launcher you're using would have its own way of removing it.
How could i integrate distrobox with my host's Desktop env.? I am having difficulties opening files from file manager to distrobox app, also my mouse pointer inside the distrobox looks different from the one i have that is KDE, which my indicator that somethings missing in my config..
As far as I would guess the software that you run in the distrobox shares your kernel and that's about it. There's no guarantee that you're going to get the same theming because it's technically running in a different distribution. But I could be completely wrong.
The advantages and flexibility it offers are worth that 1% overhead for most. No, you probably shouldn’t run distrobox on embedded devices or extremely hardware constrained environments but for laptops and desktop pcs is a great solution
It would be interesting pointing out what is not so good about distrobox, like what happens to the containers if distrobox has to be reinstalled for some reason, what are the performance degradation in comparison to install and run the same apps on the host system, what happens if the distrox container gets corrupted, will all the apps inside have to be reinstalled? It is always good to show the positive and the negative sides of anything.
Oh thisnis nice ita a goos way to learn about other disstro command line and atill ise rhe one you are confortable as main one like im used to install with apt install command with this ill installa box with fedora bassed one with another ext o. My mint libux so i van get used to them i knew 2 versio. Where we can inatall other distro reposotory. Bassed apps ( blend os and vanilla os ) but you cAnt chabge muxh the de fault desktop environement a d i lime to ise multiple ( ill have one when i want ro ise my laptop more as a tablette ( i have a 2 in 1. Convertible laop top where i can flip the jeuboard under the screet fo have a tablet instead so need bigger icon ;)
Can you utilize hardware peripherals like an interface for a DAW's in and out channels via distro box? Say I want to, "options snd_usb_audio vid=0x1235 pid=0x8215 device_setup=1" > /etc/modprobe.d/snd_usb_audio.conf for a Focusrite Interface with ALSA, will it recognize? This is to test Davinci Resolve too, when they come out with new versions so Im not dead in the water post update with Ubuntu/Mint . If ya know ya know.
This has almost always existed in Linux. In the beginning, when there were RPM:s and DPKG:s only, there was alien. Linux is different from closed OS:es: it is directed towards being compatible and open, in contradistinction to the proprietary worlds of Apple and Microsoft.
@@doclorianrin7543 Docker et al. is a convoluted mess of overlays and obscure networking paths. LXC (and VMs) provide a standard sane Linux OS interface.
@REDGTA Then you don’t consider those words to be ableist. If you really care, then look up the list of words, there are plenty of them. I’m not here to educate, I’m not good at it. Educate yourself, it would be better anyway.
I've been on Linux for 16 years and once in a blue moon I see something that blows my mind and this definitely blew my mind. I think you may have mentioned in your video that people were using this to try out desktop environments and I just checked with Google Gemini AI and yeah apparently that's completely possible which is mind-blowing. And the possibilities are insane with this capability because if you're distro completely lacks a package you don't automatically have to run to a flat pack you can just use distro box if you wanted to to basically get a native package. But I'm extremely excited to try this out in different scenarios and uses. Thank you so much for creating this video and making it extremely simple to get started. Man I'm so excited now!
I recently picked up Distrobox to play some older native Linux games I bought off of GOG that were compiled to work with 10 year old versions of Ubuntu on Linux Mint Debian Edition and it works great!
Wow how funny I was just thinking how I was going to run some of those old GOG Linux games as well. Brilliant!
the audio on your videos is incredible. Massive sound and low lows. Sounds amazing on $25 Bluetooth ear buds, Wow!
Hi jay, I have been watching your videos for quite a while, thanks for contributing to the community with such valuable knowledge in such simple explanations. I wanted to request a video 'Common linux commands' that you use or a linux user would.
Thanks so much. I was about to install an entire distro, just because of one application.
Thanks for this Jay! I heard you and Tom buzzing about it the other day and was hoping you'd have a video up!
Thank you sir , your linux conceptual videos are really awesome sir , we will support you sir
*you, sir. Your
*Linux
*awesome, sir. We
*you, sir.
@@alvallac2171 No one likes people that do this. Especially being this pedantic towards someone who left a positive comment.
Brief and informative. Excellent!
Nice to know how to install Ubuntu but would have been better to learn how to access a list of available distros or do we just give it a "best effort" at guessing eachs particular syntax & if it exists?
Can't believe I had never heard about this -- thank you once again for another excellent Linux video.
Most people have not heard of BedrockLinux either... and it's been around for about 12 years. Linux's best kept secret. Hehe. :)
Excellent video 👍 Thank you 💜
I have an question. When I install a package in ditrobox, where exactly this package is it been stored? Awesome video Jay.
I just asked Google Gemini AI and it said it depends on the distribution that you're using but it typically creates the containers in the user's home directory in a folder named distrobox. I haven't verified this but that's what it told me.
@@markjones2349 thank you! I appreciate your effort!
*a question (because "question" starts with a consonant sound)
*Distrobox
*where exactly is this package stored
*video, Jay.
@@alvallac2171 thank you, I appreciate! these are common mistakes I insist to do (don’t know if it’s right now, but anyway).
This is amazing, I was running some obsolete Applications on docker, this will make my life somewhat easier.
*amazing. I (to fix your comma splice run-on)
*applications
*Docker. This (another comma splice)
I use distrobox for running a desktop email client (thunderbird). Have written some basic scripts to backup my distrobox containers, so I can distro hop without having to set up everything yet another time.
i have been searching for a way to do this can you help me with it ?
All my scripts and notes are stored inside my homelab which is not exposed to the internet.
These scripts are really simple but in case someone have any use of them I did register an account on blogspot called "technicalities001" where I put up a short blog post about it
(I think youtube hates links, so cannot directly link to it)
Nice shell command prompt. Wanted to emulate it, so I found the "how to" in your video titled "10 Linux Terminal Tips and Tricks to Enhance Your Workflow" (at ~17:10). Thanks!
[PS: See the arxaaron comment on that video to see how to set the prompt on Mac OSX terminals]
The way i see it distrobox has potential to break all borders between distro's regardles of the base allowing us users to trully understand increbidble power of Linux. Unlike usual docker app which you acces via you internet browser distrobox makes it even easier because all you need is make shortcut to app you run through distrobox with command to run it. Linux being linux means everything you do executes commands even simple double click to run the aplication executes a command.
How would this work with something like saving files? For example if I ran un ubuntu text editer, and wanted to save it to my host arch systems document folder, could I do that? Also, would I be able to use the screen reader on my host system with a gui app in distrobox?
I had wondered this also.
I assume you could use "podman cp SOURCE_PATH DEST_PATH" from the host shell or create volumes and mount them inside the container
*ran an Ubuntu
*editor
*Arch system's (singular possessive)
@@alvallac2171 thghank you. Honestly I was typing braille on my phone while about half asleep. Braille screen input is not easy to do, which could have led to my mistakes. Also, my grammer sucks lol.
your content is the shiznet ! Positive connotation of course
It sounds like a chroot environment. Does it allow you to work with the host filesystem?
What's difference between toolbox and distrobox? Apart from exporting apps to host desktop?
Could I do this to install Steam on an Archlinux distrobox and run it from my Debian 12 distro?
What would be the benefits of it?
I haven't really had time to try this distrobox out yet but I plan on experimenting hardcore after work tomorrow for sure. But steam is one case where I wouldn't really see a need for it unless you're running a distribution that completely lacks a steam package or you just don't want to run the flat pack version. Basically every distro that has steam is on the newest version so I don't really see the point in what you're asking. But any other application that you want to run the newer version of that is in the arch repositories you probably can do it and it would totally rock.
I was wondering what the memory usage is for running multiple distro's in containers at once?
Very good explanation.
for some reason it crashes the container for me after running commands with long terminal output. Maybe I shouldn't have installed the snap package
What about using BoxBuddy with distrobox. I'm using Debian 12.
I just started messing with linux the other day.
The best video of the year , just I want to know if we can interact with host apps when running apps inside container, ex : I have postgresql database in my host and pgadmin inside distrobox ? Will it work fine?
Awesome Thank you for Sharing 💯✴
So how is this different from Qubes-OS?
Qubes is a particular distro. Distrobox works on any distro
Thanks. Nice little intro vid to distrobox.
I'm a bedrocklinux user (since 2012), so I never got around to looking at distrobox, since I already use any/all distros in one, with the bedrocklinux method. :)
Interesting to see. But since already got over the learning hurdle for bedrock, it's actually easier to just keep using bedrock. But maybe I'll find an edge-case yet, and use Distrobox in Bedrock... and wont that be something. Hehe. :D
How can I make my shell prompt like yours, Master Jay?
Technically DistroBox is DIY version of Flatpak/Snap/AppImage. But it's hard to imagine where I could use it on everyday bases, because I'm neither developing desktop apps, nor experimenting with random software.
@MichaelDustterwhy wouldn’t you run arch on bare metal?
Maybe you don't want your browser to be run on the host
*on an everyday basis
@MichaelDustter *rolling back
For some reason when i tried the ppa it just... didn't work. it kept the hits, t old me it was done, then it never found the package.
Could this have been a better alternative to flatpaks and snaps? Does it take up lots space then they do?
No. Flatpaks and snaps are more performant and are better for GUI applications. Distrobox is better suited for CLI and when you want an isolated environment, say npm. While Distrobox looks "cool", most people won't have a use for it.
@@helloimatapir Thank you 🙂
*less space than (or maybe you meant "lots more space than")
I use Arch Linux, but only for Steam, btw.
Great video as always. My real question is, how many applications are out there that really don’t have compatibility across all linux distributions? For the most part, apps are fairly compatible across almost every linux distro. Every now and then you might find an application that only works on a single or limited number of Linux distributions but it’s far and few between.
davinci resolve is notorious for not working unless the tides are with you on a full moon etc.
For example ROCm, I have Debian but I don't feel like installing Ubuntu or RHEL.
is there any performance penalty for running programs inside of Distrobox?
Depend, If you can manage the instalation correctly, the performance will same with the main system
How about to setup distrobox's locale that is different from the host's locale?
Could we use this distro to automate testing on different browsers on a server?
As always a very good video, thanks. Did you know that PPA's are not supported on Debian or it's direct descendents i.e. Linux mint LMDE!! - bummer!
If you're talking about the PPA that he added in the beginning that's only required if you're on an ubuntu derivative that doesn't have distro box in the repository. I just checked Debian 12 and distrobox and podman are both in the repository so there is no need for additional repositories.
That’s wonderful
How to run a distrobox full desktop environment. Please
I am not sure if is the place to ask a ? Bud i am going to ask.
I have a small script i need it to execute in a terminal, because it need user input.
What code can i put in the script to have it open terminal, and also run the script?
I am running a Raspberry Pi with Bookworm.
Thanks Brent!
I'm sure this has its uses and enjoyed the video but am wondering, using your geany example why would someone want to use a fedora version of geany on ubuntu?
It was just an example. I'm guessing it was small in size and would waste as little time as possible to install it.
how do you remove exported app on the app launcher once you remove the file from the container os?
I would imagine the syntax is pretty close to every other Linux command type in distrobox --help or check the man page to see all the flags and options. There was a command to integrate it with the host launcher so I'm assuming there's a command to remove it from the host launcher unless it doesn't and then in that case you would have to manually remove it with the menu editor or whatever launcher you're using would have its own way of removing it.
How could i integrate distrobox with my host's Desktop env.?
I am having difficulties opening files from file manager to distrobox app, also my mouse pointer inside the distrobox looks different from the one i have that is KDE, which my indicator that somethings missing in my config..
As far as I would guess the software that you run in the distrobox shares your kernel and that's about it. There's no guarantee that you're going to get the same theming because it's technically running in a different distribution. But I could be completely wrong.
*which might indicate that
*something's
What do you use for terminal prompt to get the distrobox name in the prompt?
Starship
It similar to windows Linux OS container, where you can use Linux applications in windows
1:27 "almost just as well"
bye
The advantages and flexibility it offers are worth that 1% overhead for most.
No, you probably shouldn’t run distrobox on embedded devices or extremely hardware constrained environments but for laptops and desktop pcs is a great solution
It would be interesting pointing out what is not so good about distrobox, like what happens to the containers if distrobox has to be reinstalled for some reason, what are the performance degradation in comparison to install and run the same apps on the host system, what happens if the distrox container gets corrupted, will all the apps inside have to be reinstalled? It is always good to show the positive and the negative sides of anything.
Oh thisnis nice ita a goos way to learn about other disstro command line and atill ise rhe one you are confortable as main one like im used to install with apt install command with this ill installa box with fedora bassed one with another ext o. My mint libux so i van get used to them i knew 2 versio. Where we can inatall other distro reposotory. Bassed apps ( blend os and vanilla os ) but you cAnt chabge muxh the de fault desktop environement a d i lime to ise multiple ( ill have one when i want ro ise my laptop more as a tablette ( i have a 2 in 1. Convertible laop top where i can flip the jeuboard under the screet fo have a tablet instead so need bigger icon ;)
I loooove that the host is so excited about distrobox that he is willing to jump right out of the shower to break the news.
*excited
exited = past tense of "to exit"
Can you utilize hardware peripherals like an interface for a DAW's in and out channels via distro box? Say I want to, "options snd_usb_audio vid=0x1235 pid=0x8215 device_setup=1" > /etc/modprobe.d/snd_usb_audio.conf for a Focusrite Interface with ALSA, will it recognize? This is to test Davinci Resolve too, when they come out with new versions so Im not dead in the water post update with Ubuntu/Mint . If ya know ya know.
learn Kernel development Programing
Your beard is growing stronger by the day! "Men Only" beard fertilizer I assume?
This is awesome not I can install arch package on Linux mint
New office Jay?
❤❤❤
This has almost always existed in Linux. In the beginning, when there were RPM:s and DPKG:s only, there was alien. Linux is different from closed OS:es: it is directed towards being compatible and open, in contradistinction to the proprietary worlds of Apple and Microsoft.
A truly unique and fascinating observation. 🙄
Emo Jay
❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
this guy has to be AI bro lmao
Damn, it uses docker... not interested.
You can run podman smart guy.
@MichaelDustter Podman, docker, same crap. If it was LXC based, then I'd be all over it.
@MichaelDustter I agree, as I have nothing good to say about any kind of docker based system. Nothing personal to anyone here.
@@MarkConstableSo what makes you a docker hater. What is LXC offering that docker does not? What scenario makes LXC better for you?
@@doclorianrin7543 Docker et al. is a convoluted mess of overlays and obscure networking paths. LXC (and VMs) provide a standard sane Linux OS interface.
Please, consider not using ableist language. Thank you!
I didn't hear any ableist language. What did he say?
@@REDGTA Open the video transcript and Ctrl+F through it.
I watched the video and didn't hear anything, so no sense in scrolling through the transcipt. Got a timestamp?@@alsorew
@REDGTA Then you don’t consider those words to be ableist. If you really care, then look up the list of words, there are plenty of them. I’m not here to educate, I’m not good at it. Educate yourself, it would be better anyway.
If you seek offense you will always find it.
distrobox = dumb. Any dev will already have a test bench to run any distro they want. Everybody else doesn't give a shit.
I've been on Linux for 16 years and once in a blue moon I see something that blows my mind and this definitely blew my mind. I think you may have mentioned in your video that people were using this to try out desktop environments and I just checked with Google Gemini AI and yeah apparently that's completely possible which is mind-blowing. And the possibilities are insane with this capability because if you're distro completely lacks a package you don't automatically have to run to a flat pack you can just use distro box if you wanted to to basically get a native package. But I'm extremely excited to try this out in different scenarios and uses. Thank you so much for creating this video and making it extremely simple to get started. Man I'm so excited now!
*possible, which
*your distro (possessive)
you're = contraction of "YOU aRE"
*package, you
*flatpack. You
*Distrobox
*Man, I'm
Thank you for the video Jay. It is a great primer on distrobox.