TrueNAS scale vs HexOS

[eddified]

Please help me understand the value-add that HexOS gives over TrueNAS Scale. I have never used either. However, I am interested in signing up for a lifetime HexOS license after I heard Linus (of Linus TechTips fame) endorse it (or at least positively mention it) in what seemed like a non-paid mention. 

I have been reading about TrueNAS & HexOS. And the understanding I am getting is that HexOS isn't really an OS.... ? It's more like a set of helpful utilities on top of TrueNAS Scale? Ie, it's TrueNAS Scale with some monitoring, UI, and installation tools. If it is more than this, I would really like to understand how much more value it adds. 

I mean, TrueNAS already has a UI and apps for containers. Like Plex: https://www.truenas.com/docs/truenasapps/stableapps/plex/

But HexOS just makes a better UI!? I mean, I'm making these statements not as a declaration, but as a question: am I understanding it right?

I understand that the command deck is an external service that runs in the cloud, outside my own home network. So that can have its uses, for sure, but how does that help with the actual OS side in terms of containerization, storage features, zfs, etc? Command Deck just helps manage it all?

[eddified]

Here is where I am coming from: I'm a "prosumer" home user. I want to use my own hardware, and use a single machine for the following:

• Storage
• Backups
• Windows Filesharing
• Plex
• Immich
• Nextcloud
• Minecraft Server
• Various Containers:
  • caddy reverse proxy
  • pi-hole
  • etc

Currently I'm doing all of the above using Ubuntu. But, I don't have RAID, just some external USB drives for storage & backups. 

[Mobius]

The big thing is that once HexOS is ready it will just simplify the use of the underlying Truenas.

The goal is that one won't have to understand how to setup permissions and what not.

I purposely haven't bothered to learn how to use Truenas so maybe someone with more experience with truenas can better fill you in.
 

[Todd Miller]

I am someone in a similar position in that I had not used and true NAS software.  I did inherit a unraid setup previously but I didn't really want to learn networking.  I think I have gotten to the point that simple is my number one requirement because I  If the developers first make HexOS simple to install, they will have my attention.  While my Plex and Immich installs are probably incomplete, I am much farther than I would have been without the work HexOS did for me.  After installing those apps all I did was copy pictures and Videos to folders HexOS told me to.  Again, I acknowledge my setup is missing some remote access but I will get there.  In addition to this it looks like the HexOS devs are working on adding more apps and functions to their recommended list.  To me this sounds like in the future I may have more tools like a password manager, network tools or really anything that docker has that can improve the user experience.  I won't act like I know much about the underlying TrueNas functionality and power.  But even when I have found I am stuck, I have had several folks who do know what they are talking about give instructions to go threw my issues and questions.  

If you are a TrueNas expert you can probably do lots that I can't do in HexOS.  That will probably always be true.  But it's not because HexOS in not a powerful product.  I just need to get my act together to take advantage of current (and hopefully numerous future) additions that are bridging the gap between my knowledge and the expert I have gotten help from here.