After 30 years using Linux, four lingering complaints

I've used Linux since 1997 on desktops, laptops, tablets, phones and servers. Overall the experience has been very positive, but a handful of recurring problems have persisted. Audio recording is the most frequent headache. Playing music is usually plug-and-play, but recording can stutter, drop out or fail — Audacity has been unreliable at times and I once stopped using Bodhi Linux because of sound problems.

Plugging a mic into a Focusrite Scarlet 2i2 fixed a recent issue, which highlights that the trouble often lies with sound servers such as Pipewire (the successor to ALSA) rather than the kernel. Laptop suspend and resume behavior is another weak spot. A lid close can mean the machine wakes cleanly or drains the battery, and a working release can regress in the next update.

Video drivers and hardware differences make hibernation and wake-up unpredictable, which is why I often reach for my MacBook.

linux, audio recording, pipewire, alsa, audacity, scarlet 2i2, sound servers, suspend resume, video drivers, hibernation