[dirtikiti]

I dont get it.

Why do I need immutable if I'm just running docker?

Why do I need a specialized Debian variant when I can install docker on Debian or Ubuntu in a couple minutes?

And maintenance happens directly through the package manager, either through the distro maintained repo, or by adding the official docker repos?

This immutable fad needs to go away. So does flatpak and snap.

Linux already does the things these "solutions" are trying to solve.

Users can't update the base system without root, and applications should be installing dependencies in /usr/lib

[Zta77]

I'll try and answer all your points:

I tried to outline the project features in brief at the start of the page. I'm sorry if I didn't communicate it clearly. Feel free to pinpoint where you were thrown off.

You need immutability so you don't have to worry/waste time on maintaining the system, and instead can focus on your containers.

Lightwhale isn't a special Debian variant. It's built ground up with Buildroot. It is literally purpose-built for this task.

A package manager doesn't remove the burden of maintenance, it just makes it easier. But it's still maintenance. I'm basically arguing it's unnecessary as long as you have a Docker Engine.

Snap and flatpak, while totally different concepts, I agree.

Linux (or GNU) doesn't solve any of this by itself.

True, the root account is a layer of security. But there are still may other problem even attack surfaces on a system.

I did a different explanation here that is easier to relate to, perhaps: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47932066

[utopiah]

Indeed, Debian stable with podman/Docker is "immutable enough" for me.

It is also the insurance that I will get help whenever I'm stuck.

Sure it could be smaller ... but when it already runs fine on any hardware, even weird stuff like a BananaPi with a low-end RISC-V processor, then I have a difficult time wanting anything else.

[Zta77]

I won't try to change your mind, but I think you should know that...

Debian isn't immutable at all. Everything is writable from the partition table, the kernel, to the C library and every executable.

Lightwhale has very few moving parts, making it less likely to get stuck. The single-page website is easily searchable and has information to get most people started. The Lightwhale Discord server answers the rest.

Here's a link to the advantages that immutability of Lightwhale brings to the table, just to give you an idea what you're dealing with: https://lightwhale.asklandd.dk/#immutability