I am no longer use Fedora 36, too restricted to be useful
Tags: opensource, beginners, productivity, linux
Published: 2022-08-14 03:50:06

I used Fedora 36 for 3 months. It's a good ride, actually. Unfortunately, I hit a road block. I wanted to use my mirrorless camera as my webcam, which required a third-party kernel module called **[v4l2loopback](https://github.com/umlaeute/v4l2loopback)** to be loaded via `modprobe`.

However, an unsigned kernel module can't be loaded on Fedora, see **[the kernel module signing process on Fedora docs](https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/fedora/latest/system-administrators-guide/kernel-module-driver-configuration/Working_with_Kernel_Modules/#sect-signing-kernel-modules-for-secure-boot)**. Therefore, if you need to `modprobe` anything outside the default kernel module, you'll have a lot of extra works to do instead of just `sudo modprobe` things. Moreover, if you upgrade the kernel, which happens very often on Fedora, you'll need to sign the module again. I don't plan to work on a system that would break my tools now and then. Here's **[how to sign the v4l2loopback module](https://www.janhendrikpeters.de/2021/05/11/obs-virtual-camera-secure-boot/)**, directly from a Linux expert.

Well, but no, thanks, I moved on 🦎

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## Welcome to openSUSE Tumbleweed

![Chameleon](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/3du6kgjketpa15njefyb.jpg)

In terms of popularity among Linux users, openSUSE might not be as popular as Ubuntu, Fedora, or even Arch and Manjaro. Then, why do I choose openSUSE Tumbleweed instead of those Linux distros. The answer is simple, I get the new improved kernel, drivers, and packages before anyone else. For instance, I get the latest stable version of Mesa (my Intel GPU driver) like I would get on Windows with the official **[Intel Driver & Support Assistant (Intel DSA)](https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/detect.html)**, instead of having to wait for another 6 months on Ubuntu, or even a year or 2 if I stick with their LTS release. This is the benefit of using a rolling-release Linux distro.

Then, why not using Arch or Manjaro? Well, I don't want to spend too much time setting Arch, nor I want to disable secure boot for Manjaro.

openSUSE Tumbleweed is the sweet spot for me. I get the latest tech for my hardware, with good default settings and tools, then the flexibility to `modprobe`. 

In my opinion, Fedora won't become, and never become, a new Ubuntu like many have told you lately. There's too much hassle for the end users to find it productive or useful. Sorry, if it's too harsh. Therefore, I will end my Fedora review series here. And I will write my openSUSE Tumbleweed review series later.

Thanks for reading.

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**Cover** photo by **[Karsten Winegeart](https://unsplash.com/@karsten116?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)** on **[Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/@archerallstars/likes?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)**

**Chameleon** photo by **[Cécile Brasseur](https://unsplash.com/@_cecilencieux?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)** on **[Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/@archerallstars/likes?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)**