Install the headless version, no GUI:

${EDITOR} /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/99noRecommends
APT::Install-Recommends "0";
APT::Install-Suggests "0";

and then run apt update.

Then install fluxbox session manager, oughta be enough.

they have paid developers

They should pay lawyers as well.

With Headscale being an open source, self-hosted implementation of the Tailscale control server.

Tailscale

Have you considered Headscale?

What’s your mail stack and your take on self-hosting dying?

Depends on your threat modeling.

I have an address to register in irrelevant sites and the provider is also irrelevant.

I have an address for important use (utilities’ bills, government stuff, friends), currently tuta.

I also have an alias there for occasional registrations.

I’d try proton (has an .onion site) but they force you to supply a phone number or email address on registration, which for me defeats the purpose. They also leak a lot of links to clearnet.

Self-hosting has become increasingly hard but I haven’t tried it.

DNS, most web searches, trackers in apps, location data, just to name a few. Ad blockers won’t help you there.

besides not using Google?

That’s a bit oxymoronic, isn’t it? And the answer always depends on your threat model, so start there.

putting people before profit feels increasingly radical.

OMFG they actually said that…

From a recent search i made, with similar purpose, these may support x86 and are based on either Debian or Ubuntu: antiX, Q4OS, Slax; Zorin Lite, LXLE.

(I haven’t combed through the results yet so YMMV and there may be cadavers.)

Serial numbers are hardly covert though… but yeah.

Yes MS intentionally implements it inconsistently and yes that’s why i meant whichever format is open.

I get the usefulness of technical telemetry such as kernel version, RAM, disk space, processor type, etc… but NIC MAC? HDD serial? WTF?

Focus instead on enforcing standards’ compliance so i can open a .docx with any program and be usable anywhere.

Then focus on enforcing FOSS software in public services but don’t bother with a “european linux distro”, that’s just a waste of resources. There are already a great deal of distros around. Considering geopolitics i’d go with SuSe or some other EU-based distro.

Whonix or Qubes OS?

So does mIRC.

Gentoo!

XFCE doesn’t support multiple monitors with different refresh rates.

I have an LG TV and an old Asus monitor, i’d wager their refresh rates differ but i can’t confirm atm.

Technically speaking: nothing really, provided you have time and skills.

Except maybe not having access to NDA-ed binary blobs or something…

Try forgejo, it’s the forge Codeberg uses.