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Summary
The Linux world is always evolving.
There’s one recent concept that’s causing quite a stir: immutable distros.
Imagine a Linux distribution that’s unchangeable.
Sounds like a limitation?
What if that brings actual benefits for you as a Linux user?
What Is an Immutable Linux Distribution?
An immutable Linux distribution is an operating system (OS) that is read-only at its core.
That means it’s possible for you to’t easily modify the OS.
This includes the file system, directories, applications, and even configurations.
Even as an administrator, you might’t make any modifications to the distribution.
If something gets changed in an immutable distro, it’s only temporary and reverts when you reboot.
That’s why these OSes are called “immutable.”
What Are the Advantages of Immutable Distros?
Why should someone consider an immutable Linux distribution over regular ones?
That’s because these distros come with some extra perks due to their immutable nature.
Let’s discover some of them.
Suppose the wrong person gets administrative privileges on your system.
Now they can tamper with it as much as they want, if it’s a normal Linux system.
But in immutable distros, even the administrator can’t modify the system files.
This reduces the attack surface for malicious people since they can’t install malware or compromise the system.
your machine becomes more secure and resists unauthorized changes.
Easier Maintenance
Immutable distros are easier to manage and deploy.
You don’t need to take care of complex upgrade processes, dependency issues, or managing system state.
Updates don’t work on the live system and only work after you reboot.
This reduces the chance of messing something up during an update, which is a common occurrence.
Atomic Updates
These distributions follow a different approach when updating the OS.
Instead of treating the updates package-wise, updates are done throughout the whole OS.
In other words, the entire OS is treated as a single indivisible unit.
If there is any kind of failure during the update, the system rolls back to the previous state.
Another interesting aspect is the image-based upgrade process.
During the update, the system creates a new image in a separate partition.
All the updates take place in that new image while you’re using the existing image.
In the next boot, you’re booted into the new and updated image instead of the old one.
Improved Reliability
You or others can’t modify the file system.
So unlike a normal Linux distribution, you could’t permanently break these operating systems easily.
Even if you accidentally or purposefully break something, it gets fixed in the next reboot.
Overall, immutable distros are way more reliable.
How Does Software Installation and Updates Work on Immutable Distros?
If immutable distros are read-only, how do you install applications or update them?
you might install and run these packages without modifying the file system.
They are also isolated from your operating system.
Some immutable distributions use a technique known as “layering” to install packages.
In this method, you install applications on a dedicated layer on top of the read-only base system.
This means you have access to the distro’s package repositories to set up the packages.
Another option on some operating systems is installing apps through containers such as Distrobox.
You install your software in the container on top of the main distro.
This allows you to install and use programs not available in the official repositories.
Best Use Cases for Immutable Distros
Immutable distros are not as rare as you might expect.
In fact, Steam Deck uses an immutable Arch Linux-based distribution called SteamOS.
Likewise, a lot of handheld devices make use of immutable distros due to atomic updates.
But these aren’t the only use cases for these distros.
Organizations requiring high security and reliability often opt for immutable distros.
Developers can make great use of these systems to create isolated and reproducible testing environments.
You’ve only seen the good so far.
Let’s see some of the complexity issues that come up with these operating systems.
The first thing is, of course, the learning curve.Learning Linuxcan be a bit difficult on its own.
And if you’re coming from Windows or macOS?
That can be a daunting experience.
Updates not taking place on your active system and only applying after a reboot can be reliable.
But that also means you must reboot the system to get the updated packages.
However, some distros do allow you to apply the updates to your live running system.
Another problem you face is juggling between several systems since these distros create a separate bootable system for updates.
Installing software also doesn’t work the same as using traditional package managers.
That doesn’t sound so good.
In addition, you’re able to’t write anything to the system.
That includes editing the configuration files.
But what if that’s a necessity for you?
You still can’t do that.
Some distros allow writing to the/etcdirectory, but that’s about it.
NixOS
NixOSis a completely reproducible immutable Linux distro.
Vanilla OS
What if you could run multiple Linux distros on a single system?
For that, you use the container for the particular distro.
Every time you launch the software, the system runs the container and opens the app.
Fedora Silverblue
This is Fedora Workstation’s immutable spin.
Most of the experience is identical to the regular Fedora version.
With every new Fedora release, you also get a new release forSilverblue.
This version is more suited for testing and development in a container-based OS.
Is an Immutable Distro Right for You?
So should you use an immutable distro?
That depends on whether you actually need it or not.
Systems not meant for customization and tweaking (appliances, for example) can benefit from these distros.
But for regular desktop use, immutable distros may not be a good choice.
Some of the simple stuff like installing software is much more complex than in a regular distro.
You need special workarounds since you’re free to’t reach the root file system.
Some of the advantages that immutable distros come with are also available in regular Linux distros.
Installing universal package formats on any Linux flavor is also possible.
While more secure in certain ways, these distros are still vulnerable to cyberattacks and malware.
More Security and Reliability but With More Responsibility
Are immutable Linux distributions the future of Linux?
They aren’t going to replace regular Linux systems any time soon.
Not for regular users at least.
But with numerous advantages, these are definitely suited for certain niche users and IT organizations.
