Eg, they have a "zen optimize" command, which clears caches, nukes /tmp, turns swap off and on again and runs fstrim. You don't need to do any of this stuff. Clearing cache and swap will make programs run slower. Wiping /tmp can be harmful to running processes.
It all seems like a big LLM vomit.
https://github.com/Zenclora/build/blob/697c20a79b5638b4447bf...
If I were to guess, I would say Gemini 3/3.1, as it tends to add a lot of numbered steps comments, more so than other models from my experience
I have to admit that (assuming they both work flawlessly) it'd be easier to type "zen install steam" than it is to manually edit a file and run four commands following the directions here https://wiki.debian.org/Steam
What kind of bloat did they get rid of to reach the same footprint as the OS they started from?
More charitably, it's faster and a lot less complicated to modify a distro to your liking than trying to get a major distribution to cater to your whims and philosophy and making your version avilable to others gives them the option of easily installing your new features/modifications as is or using what parts they want. That's the joy of of FOSS. Even when the changes are modest, if they are shared and even a little useful then someone else can incorporate them or build off of them.
