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1 • One distro to rule them all. (by yeahyesno on 2025-07-21 00:33:27 GMT from United States)
Debian. Been using Linux for like 30 years, I never liked forks but I still test the main ones and the main independent, while Slackware is still in my heart, Debian is the one I pick for all I need (not gonna lie, if Canonical drops the snaps I will strongly reconsider mostly because of the free Pro but can't now). I like Devuan and Alpine too but Debian is my N1.
2 • distro chooser (by John on 2025-07-21 01:26:20 GMT from Canada)
I went through this
https://distrochooser.de/
and one question is too restrictive. On GUI, it only allows you to choose "Windows Like" or "MAC Like" interface. I dislike both, there should be 2 more options, "very lite interface" and "no GUI interface".
Plus I very much doubt it considers Slackware as a viable option.
3 • Settling Down with One Distro (by Jupiter on 2025-07-21 02:00:05 GMT from United States)
I've been through that distro hopping madness myself! In the end though I think Debian with a bit of Configuration works just fine, although Trixie I hear is fixing to have a proper release soon, so I'd wait to move to that for a while, assuming you dont do what I did and go to Debian Testing.
Ubuntu I would prob use instead if it weren't for snaps and the corporate aspect, LMDE is great though.
Cant make myself use Arch. Fedora is nice at least, but overall I just like Debian, just do it myself.
4 • StormOS (by twodogs on 2025-07-21 02:12:10 GMT from United States)
I just tried it like an hour ago. Upon booting to the desktop I was presented with just white, no background image. It was easy to fix. In the background box that pops up where you can choose an image, the developer doesn't have it pointing to the right folder. Change /usr/share/backgrounds to /usr/share/backgrounds/stormos. This should have not passed QC.
5 • Settling down with one distro (by Craig on 2025-07-21 02:45:30 GMT from United States)
I came to GNU//Linux just over 4 years ago after a 40-year run with CP/M, DOS, and Windows. During the pandemic and being home a lot gave me a chance to experiment. I got a cheap NUC and tried a bunch of distros. I even tried Intel Clear Linux; with it being discontinued, am very glad I didn’t choose it. After all my testing, I decided to be in the “deb” realm and not rpm or others. I started with Ubuntu and Mint using a dual boot. Eventually I got rid of the dual boot (just Ubuntu) and put Mint another machine. I tried using Debian on my TV computer, liked it, and then put it on my daily driver. Last year I put Debian on all 4 of my work machines (I use a KVM switch). I like stability and at this point will likely make Debian my forever distribution. It’s just my style.
6 • Settling down with one distro (by user on 2025-07-21 03:40:39 GMT from Bulgaria)
Just one distro is not possible for me. I have a clear use case definition - Ubuntu Dev desktop and the taste of future technologies now, Debian for server and the carefree stable conservatism long term
7 • Longevity of distribution... and new iso file (by Bobbie Sellers on 2025-07-21 04:34:49 GMT from United States)
Well too sad about the Intel decision to drop Clear Linux.
As for sticking with a distribution and I am strictly a user I am very happy after trying
in my role as a newcomer to Linux 20 years ago and as librarian for the SF-LUG
many different distribution to settle with PCLinuxOS which is not everyone's cup
of tea. Oh and we have a new iso file out for KDE 6. I am not using it yet myself
but maybe soon. Best way to find out more is to come to the PCLInuxOS Users
Forum now back online after the building housing the computer caught fire.
bliss- Dell Precision 7730- PCLOS 2025.07- Linux 6.12.39- Plasma 5.27.11
8 • Longevity of distribution... and new iso file (by Bobbie Sellers on 2025-07-21 04:35:44 GMT from United States)
Well too sad about the Intel decision to drop Clear Linux.
As for sticking with a distribution and I am strictly a user I am very happy after trying
in my role as a newcomer to Linux 20 years ago and as librarian for the SF-LUG
many different distributions to settle with PCLinuxOS which is not everyone's cup
of tea. Oh and we have a new iso file out for KDE 6. I am not using it yet myself
but maybe soon. Best way to find out more is to come to the PCLInuxOS Users
Forum now back online after the building housing the computer caught fire.
bliss- Dell Precision 7730- PCLOS 2025.07- Linux 6.12.39- Plasma 5.27.11
9 • DistroHoppig (by Myst Ified on 2025-07-21 05:27:43 GMT from The Netherlands)
I'm not technical, No PC while studying.
Started experimenting with Linux from about 2010. Never coded. Yet comfortable with a terminal.
I like to tinker & learn. For me I always look for a Rolling release, but no-systemD distros. It's not politics, in my opinion, systemD is not as stable as other Inits. I have a preference for Plasma.
My daily worker is Redcore Linux. (Gentoo binary,open-RC and it so easy to use with the Sysiphus package manager) never use emerge, unless stated in News section of the website. Most stable Distro I've used.
Other distro I use are Mx-linux, SysV init, I prefer this to Debian/Ubuntu as the packages are current. As packages with Debian maybe 6-12months behind the current releases.
Artix & Void linux, are installed on my multi boot laptop, with Windows, that never sees the light of day !
Why multiple distros ?
So I have my contingencies in place as Linux OS's come and go, especially if they are a 1 - 2 person operation.
As stated I like to tinker, especially if I'm excited about a new distro.
Last week I installed a new impressive VoidLinux flavour,
https://distrowatch.com/langitketujuh, with Plasma, as there no native plasma iso available.
I hope this was helpful, certainly more confusion from my part.
10 • Helium (by Hank on 2025-07-21 05:58:15 GMT from Germany)
Helium
Named after the second lightest element but weighs in like a ton of bricks.
A clone of a clone based on Alma which is based on IBM RHEL.
1.3 GB when signed in to an empty desktop.
Installed size with very few applications a whopping 6.1 GB
Uses Fatpacks to ensure your disk is full fast.
The OS I stick with, have done so for some years. Debian based but no systemd suite of applications.
Choice of SysV or Runit, both work fine.
antiX running live from USB no persist could be considered Immutable, reboot any changes are gone.
The OS can also be run fully in RAM and the USB boot stick removed, that works on any reasonably modern computer, like from the last 12 years or so.
Again Immutable plus, switch off. Next boot your system is fresh.
Logged in to a fully customized ICEWM desktop 355MB, yes that is Megabytes...
antiX full needs a minimum disk size of about 4 GB. It comes with a lot of packages ! including LibreOffice.
11 • Distrohopping (by pugo27 on 2025-07-21 06:05:34 GMT from New Zealand)
Been distrohopping recently as i prepare my win10 LT for inevitable migration to Linux. I tried few of major distributions but the one that i liked and probably will stick to is MX Linux (XFCE). All apps I needed were 99% UI installable.
12 • Distro Hopping (by Pumpino on 2025-07-21 06:36:56 GMT from Australia)
Debian is a fine distro, but I've never found it to offer anything special. I've found Xubuntu and Manjaro (testing branch) to be just as stable. I could use flatpaks for more recent versions of apps in Debian, but what if a new version of Xfce is released? I don't want to have to wait up to two years to try it. With Manjaro, I'd receive it within several days, and with Xubuntu, within six months (or sooner with the Xubuntu staging PPA).
Running two year-old software is fine on a server, but why use it on a desktop machine when other distros are just as stable?
13 • Distro chose (by jura321 on 2025-07-21 06:37:05 GMT from Austria)
Hello,
MX linux - very polish distro, no systemd, Xorg, alsa plus the latest KDE 5 with support for next 3 years or around it, good documentation, stable and for new HW new kernel could be easily installed.
Void linux - super speedy, super think, no systemd, you got what you really need and require.
There are more distros, which could be consider, but only those with personal experieces(good ones) were written.
Best regards
jura321
14 • Settling down with one distro (by tomas on 2025-07-21 07:58:15 GMT from Czechia)
As already said in the answer, it is a matter of philosophy.
But what is the point of choosing just one distro?
The only advantage I see is that it saves the expense of updating.
On all of my PCs I run more than one distro and would recommend this.
I have visited the distro chooser and ended with a long list, not even going to the end of it.
Is the list ordered from the most recommended to the least recommended?
I run both the first two and have already rejected some of the following.
Running more distros on one PC has a great advantage of longevity.
If some of your distros leaves the scene, you are not affected.
If something breaks and the distro becomes unusable or disliked, you just wipe it.
15 • Distrochooser (by luvr on 2025-07-21 08:21:25 GMT from Belgium)
@2 - I went looking through the distrochooser code on GitHub, and, as expected, they don't consider Slackware as an option. In fact, the distros that they know of, are the following:
arch
artix
cruxlinux
debian
deepin
devuan
elementaryos
fedora
gentoo
knoppix
kubuntu
lubuntu
manjaro
mint
mxlinux
nixos
opensuse
pclinuxos
popos
qubesos
rhel
rocky
solus
tails
ubuntu
ubuntumate
void
xubuntu
zorinos
As I understand it, they do invite contributions, though. If anyone knows how to fit Slackware into their scheme, it could be added.
Having said that, I ran the distrochooser myself, and I arrived at Devuan - which is exactly what I am currently using as my daily driver, with Slackware as my second choice.
16 • Distro Hopping (by Serge Terryn on 2025-07-21 08:24:46 GMT from Belgium)
Linux user since 1995. My personal opinion: stay with the mainstream distro's. Remember, a distro that look nice is not a reason to switch. What one distro do, you can achive that with every other distro. For me, a distro don't need to be nice looking. I'm a gnome user and I realy don't care how my desktop looks. Dash to dock, AppIndicator and Workspace Indicator is al I need. I even stick with the default background. Most appilications are running in max expanded size and a background don't matter, because you don't see it. With a mainstream distro you don't need to be worry that the distro will left behind.
17 • Mint or LMDE (by Pete on 2025-07-21 08:31:13 GMT from United Kingdom)
LMDE here it's so good, it's boring! It just gets the job done. No tinkering required.
18 • StormOS (by Babu on 2025-07-21 09:01:24 GMT from Belgium)
24 • StormOS
"Upon booting to the desktop I was presented with just white, no background image." You are right. Small but stupid error...
However for me it isn't easy to solve. Maybe I am too stupid... "In the background box that pops up where you can choose an image" : I don't see any box propping up . Any help please? Can I correct the error via the command line?
The distro looks interesting!
19 • Distro choice (by grraf on 2025-07-21 09:20:43 GMT from Romania)
Somewhat controversial opinion to have but id say you are better of with a rolling distro(install it once and never again till you buy a new rig) but don't be on its experimental branch stick with its stable(no surprises to be had... but the latest stuff tends to lag several weeks/months) or testing branch(may be prone to the occasional exotic config bug that can slip trough(as in you have niche hardware that isn't tested/accounted for and can act up at times) but is otherwise stable enough and rarely lagging more then a few weeks behind in adopting the cutting tech)
For smb that has a gaming hobby/is somewhat tech savvy going with a rolling distro is a no brainer... but if you find yourself on the opposite end of the spectrum then just get a plain no rolling distro/heck even an immutable one and have a tech savy friend pop around whenever an EoL occurs for your chosen distro version(don't expect your pal to be exactly thrilled to do it(its a hassle and it can often fail spectacularly and a clean install may be the only option left(say goodbye to your stuff if you didn't do/ask him to make a back up for your data(or at least use distinct partitions to store it on)
Its the whole 'serenity now insanity later' approach with non rolling distros(all is fine and dandy till you need to update/install a new version and shit hits the fan hard) while the rolling ones will 'pester' you with frequent small updates that are easy to keep track of and reverse if anything goes sideways every once in a blue moon but on the upside you never have to reinstall again nor will you find yourself kept away from new kernel/driver/software features that can ad a fair bit to your overall quality of life as linux user.
20 • Which distro? (by Maarten on 2025-07-21 09:25:33 GMT from Belgium)
I have distro-hopped before but settling on Fedora for a while now and happy with decent gaming support and easy configuration. I don't like the fact I need to upgrade every (half) year and the amount of updates each weeks and reboots needed but I'm pretty satisfied. Beats windows for most stuff.
21 • setting down with one distro (by me on 2025-07-21 10:46:12 GMT from Poland)
About 20 yesrs ago (and a year or two more), I managed to install Mandrake, that stopped at Mandrake 10 CE, moved to Slackware, have used Slackware since then. True I test out others, ebery now-and-then, but always come back home to Slackware.
22 • Which distro (by Nik on 2025-07-21 11:09:25 GMT from United Kingdom)
Few quick comments. Totally agree on the philosophy comments, and for me, the best fit is and has always been Arch with Hyprland or Sway. I like to mess and don’t really need stability, though it is handy. I have a new Tuxedo laptop on order (lucky me, though I have been waiting for 3 months and am starting to get a bit jumpy now). When it arrives, my plan is to leave the OS alone, install Virt-manager and VirtualBox and then install a few VMs and have a jolly good play. I was intending on trying Slackware and Gentoo, both as projects, and possibly also installing my preferred setup of Arch / Hyprland, and using this in VM as my daily driver, assuming the machine is powerful enough to allow me to do this inside Tuxedo OS as the base OS. Also will install SteamOS, purely for gaming, again in VM. And if all of this is too crazy or doesn’t work as planned, maybe try QubesOS on bare metal and then compartmentalise all my work flows. So Arch as daily, as I like messing and fixing things, and compartmentalisation for added security. But for me, this is a hobby. Unfortunately my work PC is Windows and so locked down I can’t even change the screensaver. Until I retire, I am afraid I am stuck with it. When I retire (next 5 years or so) I plan on doing a full LFS setup on an old laptop, again purely for interest, but for this one i need plenty of time! I have also installed Mint on the kids laptops, and Debian / Gnome on a touchscreen laptop for my dad, and both work very well as stable, simple setups for non-techies. Honestly, if you just want it to work and be stable, you could do a lot worse than Debian stable.
23 • Settling on one Distro (by kc1di on 2025-07-21 11:21:57 GMT from United States)
I've been using Linux since 1996 or so ditched windows about win 7 and never looked back. I've tried many distros over the years and have use most of the big names. But two distros have always stuck with me Debian stable and PCLinuxOS. Both are quite stable and offer good experience. I use PCLinuxOS most ot the time Just like their forum I guess. It's what I would call a semi rolling release. Newer apps are updated quickly while the base stay close to the same. Just upgrade it to KDE/plasma 6 and I like it very much. But as I almost always tell new users try several Distro live (most have Live version now) and see which one fits you need, tastes and Hardware.
most of all Enjoy the Journey!
24 • PikaOS (by John on 2025-07-21 11:26:42 GMT from Canada)
Recently discovered PikaOS and so glad I did! Based on Debian but focused on gaming it has all the Debian goodness and up-to-date kernel and MESA drivers so best of both worlds! :-)
I installed the Gnome edition and it has been working flawlessly. If you like Debian systems, but still want to game, get PikaOS.
25 • Mint or LMDE (by Jim4444 on 2025-07-21 11:40:02 GMT from United States)
Maybe a comparison of Mint and LMDE? Who may want to choose LMDE over the more polished Mint? I'm a low tech user. If I remember correctly, LMDE was started as a backup in case Canonical ever ceased Ubuntu. Is there a reason to use LMDE other than to help develop the alternative system?
26 • Distro-stopped-hopping, mostly (by crayola-eater on 2025-07-21 11:52:45 GMT from United States)
To be honest, and maybe I should be grateful, systemd ended my distro-hopping. One of the main drivers of my mergeing into Linux was KISS. Windows was just getting too maddeningly obtuse, full of useless bling, and closed. And so once in Linux, I again enjoyed being able to tweek (and break) to my heart's content.
Migrated eventually to antiX core, where I can build to my own wants and desires on anticapitalista's fine base (I bounce between sysV and runit on installs).
But I still 'Hop', if that is what you call looking at the new and less common distros to find new and exiting ideas and KISS programs.
27 • Trisquel (by Dave on 2025-07-21 12:25:37 GMT from The Netherlands)
I've been using Trisquel since late 2010 without issues. It does everything I need it to do and is free as in freedom.
28 • Clear Linux (by Devlin7 on 2025-07-21 05:31:05 GMT from New Zealand)
I fired up Clear Linux on a spare laptop last week. Ran like a rocket and seemed to work just fine, 1 week later the project is dead. I would like to say this is the first time a distro has been terminated on me but that would be a lie.
29 • LMDE (by Mario on 2025-07-21 12:40:49 GMT from Italy)
@25
Is there a reason to use LMDE other than to help develop the alternative system? Yes there is: Debian base.
30 • Distrohopping (by ~hellfire103 on 2025-07-21 13:09:14 GMT from Sweden)
I have, for much of the last six years, been distrohopping avidly. However, I have more-or-less settled now on a few reliable and dependable operating systems:
* Arch Linux
* CachyOS
* Artix Linux
* Devuan GNU+Linux
* FreeBSD
31 • THE distro to settle on.. (by Slappy McGee on 2025-07-21 13:22:05 GMT from United States)
Jesse, being the Jesse that he is, sez: "I find a big part of finding the right distribution for me is finding a project where the developers have a similar outlook and mindset to my own."
Too damned practical of an approach, too intelligent, and no danged fun at all. Well, maybe a little.
I'm a hopper/settler. That's a guy who raves about the one that's working okay, and calling it the venerable, "Just Works." Then destroying it to try another. I haven't taken names, but I do get the feeling that many who comment here are of the same ilk.
Right now it's Arch derivative Manjaro. Yay for Manjaro. Last week it was Fedora and Nobara (a tie). I'm typing this on Windows 11. Oy vey!
32 • SystemD (by Friar Tux on 2025-07-21 13:41:29 GMT from Canada)
@26 (crayola-eater) I would have to agree. In my distro hopping days I found the distros with the least post-install need for fussing about were those with Systemd. They were also the most stable. Per poll, I'm using Linux Mint/Cinnamon. I haven't had any lost-time issues in a decade of running Mint - neither has The Wife. (Both of us switched to Linux a day apart, a decade ago.) For all the griping and groaning about SystemD, it has never given me grief.
33 • CachyOS review (by Hank on 2025-07-21 14:09:31 GMT from United States)
New toy of the influencers, flashy, memory cpu and gpu hog.
Fashionable but not very usable, for performance you need very potent hardware,
aka. it is very inefficient and expensive to run. My power consumption check proved that fast.
Deleted.
34 • Distro curious (by Mr B on 2025-07-21 14:56:42 GMT from United Kingdom)
@31 - I like your style. Lately, I've been really impressed by Manjaro (KDE), RegataOS and TuxedoOS. RegataOS is a Brazilian distro' with the best app store I've ever seen on Linux - talk about slick. TuxedoOS is sort of Kubuntu without snaps but better still.
@32 - always a pleasure. My wife and I both use Mint too but the MATE version. If Mint was a KDE rolling-release, that would be my idea of Linux nirvana.
35 • Distro settlement and poll (by Jagdish Deshpande on 2025-07-21 15:21:35 GMT from India)
Settled on Solydk which is Debian made still easier without much deviation from Debian base Getting root actions in dolphins right click menu and few more apps in solidxk repository.
Regarding poll, my choice is comparison of these 2 i.e. mint ubuntu and lmde, after lmde 7 is released.
36 • Distrochooser (by RetiredIT on 2025-07-21 15:20:02 GMT from United States)
I ran it and answered all the questions. To my shock it gave me a HUGE list of possibilities. Way too many which I consider "overkill".
I currently have 8 distros installed on my Dell Latitude 2 TB production SSD:
Mint, Mint Debian, Manjaro, Fedora, Nobara, Ubuntu 24.04 with Pro, openSUSE Tumbleweed and Tumbleweed Slow Roll. Some I installed for testing and others I use in production.
With WinDoze people have NO CHOICE! Maybe one day more WIN adherents will start to wake up!
37 • Settling down with one distro. (by eb on 2025-07-21 15:37:25 GMT from France)
@15 : Slackware since 2005, faithfully, but if ever Slackware abandons us, I would shift to Devuan.
38 • Can you see the funny side of what you wrote? (by Mr B on 2025-07-21 15:43:28 GMT from United Kingdom)
@36
To my shock it gave me a HUGE list of possibilities. Way too many which I consider "overkill".
I currently have 8 distros installed on my Dell Latitude 2 TB production SSD:
39 • Distro choice (by David on 2025-07-21 16:26:39 GMT from United Kingdom)
One thing to remember is that when you update a long-term support distro which you have kept to the end of its life, several programs will have changed — it may be like when the supermarket re-arranges the shelves. On the other hand, a fast-moving distro may move to fast to get reliably checked. Fedora has enough volunteers to usually update successfully. Ubuntu, with a small staff, checks the stuff in the default distribution but just copies the rest of the repository from Debian Unstable — sometimes things conflict. I'd recommend avoiding those two problems by using either a distro with a two-year cycle (e.g. Mint) and replacing the moment the new version is released or a very cautious rolling release (e.g. PCLinuxOS).
There's also the problem of un-checked material. The report above on malware getting into Arch's AUR repository shows the risk of just trusting the community. Get a distro where they are responsible for all their programs (e.g. not Arch or Ubuntu).
40 • Settling Down with One Distro-Kubuntu LTS (by Samuel on 2025-07-21 16:59:47 GMT from South Africa)
I have settled on Kubuntu LTS. When developers make Linux versions of (proprietary) software and tutorials they seem do do them first for Ubuntu so Using Ubuntu makes life easier.
41 • Distro Choice (by John Torelli on 2025-07-21 17:46:34 GMT from United States)
Mint Mate, since 2012. Mint Cinnamon on a separate drive that I game with occasionally and Solus Plasma on another drive I play with once in a while. Used Ghost BSD for a long time on a separate computer until the CPU fan died while I was away. Liked Peppermint Linux and used it on a netbook I took with me while traveling years ago. For day to day use it's Mint Mate. The wife uses it on her computer, it's on my current ASUS laptop, on my triple monitor main setup and my business computer. Easy to configure, reliable and does everything I need it to do.
42 • Choice of Distro (by Debbie K on 2025-07-21 19:24:02 GMT from United Kingdom)
> "Summary of expected upcoming releases:"
> "2025-08-09: Debian 13 (see announcement)"
> "(see announcement = https://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce/2025/07/msg00003.html)"
So it's finally (nearly) official.
Praise Be! And a big "Thank You" to the team.
Been choosing and using Debian + KDE for years already.
Counting down to August 9th...
Debz.
43 • Longevity of distribution.. (by Bof on 2025-07-21 20:12:14 GMT from United Kingdom)
Pclinux........ 20 years and as fresh today as it was back then !
As Bobbie ... 7 ... says..... it's not everyone's cup of tea !
Tried 100's of distro's on other machines, but my main one has Pclinux and always will have !.
44 • MALWARE ON ARCH Parabola news (by rhtoras on 2025-07-21 20:16:51 GMT from Greece)
Malware on arch linux ? Lennart Poettering i love you so much. You will destroy linux BUT you will teach us a big lesson. Against systemD.
AS for parabola... great news for openrc... Parabola is an underrated operating system.
PcLinuxos is a nice operating system too...
As for Linux MInt no usecase for Ubuntu Flavor. Relase a systemD free Version and this would be thew #1. But you need great developers. Can they do this ? I am waiting...
45 • Settling down with ten distros (by needless on 2025-07-21 20:40:07 GMT from United States)
I built a desktop with a hot swap tray system and currently use 10 different distros. There is no dual booting, every OS has it's own drive. For general usage and because I'm lazy, MX seems to be a fine all a rounder. I set up my Ubuntu and OpenSUSE to do the same general purpose work, in fact I'm on OpenSUSE right now. Other Debian based OS's I use are Sparky, Modicia, Parrot and Emmabuntus. For Arch based I use Cachy and EndeavourOS. I also use Fedora. I used Mint (mostly) on my prior desktop for 13 years before replacing it.) Keep in mind that I am just a retired guy in his 70's who worked in manufacturing where we used Windows and terminals prior to that. I am not creating videos or playing games on my desktop. I think, among these systems, that Emmabuntus and the 2 Arch based systems are worth considering.
46 • No distrohopping (by bones on 2025-07-21 23:22:41 GMT from United States)
I have Slackware and MX in VMs. FreeBSD only (not a distro/not Linux) on bare metal.
47 • Choosing a Long Term Distro (by RHoagland on 2025-07-22 00:03:49 GMT from United States)
This is a great subject for discussion with probably as many opinions as there are people you ask. I love to distrohop, and mostly satisfy that curiosity using virtualization, but have a few guidelines for picking out a distribution for a daily driver.
1) What's the use case? My elderly parents need stability, while I like using the latest software and can fix problems if they arise.
2) What's the development model/philosopy? Rolling, fixed release, LTS? Is development governed by a community, (hopefully) benevolent dictator, or corporation? Will it continue if something happens to one developer?
3) Can I easily install the software/drivers I need? How hard is it if the package isn't offered in official repositories?
4) Community and support
48 • Software Management for Helium (by David on 2025-07-22 03:20:09 GMT from United States)
Software Management:
Did you try "download the source code and compile?"
Installing debian in a container and running software from that sounds like about the most convaluted thing I've ever heard of. Also, resource intensive.
Also for this week's poll; there should have been a "none of the above" or "other" choice.
49 • 2 • distro chooser (by Jake on 2025-07-22 09:46:25 GMT from United States)
I agree with you I don't want a windows or mac interface so I chose 'skip question'. What I prefer is a gnome2 style interface, which is why I use the Mate desktop.
50 • Slackware (by luvr on 2025-07-22 09:50:43 GMT from Belgium)
@37 Slackware was actually my first encounter with Linux, way back in 1995. I have been running Slackware ever since, sometimes as my daily driver, sometimes (like now) as an alternative option.
51 • Choice criteria (by Slappy McGee on 2025-07-22 12:10:29 GMT from United States)
@47:
1) What's the use case? My elderly parents need stability, while I like using the latest software and can fix problems if they arise.
2) What's the development model/philosopy? Rolling, fixed release, LTS? Is development governed by a community, (hopefully) benevolent dictator, or corporation? Will it continue if something happens to one developer?
3) Can I easily install the software/drivers I need? How hard is it if the package isn't offered in official repositories?
4) Community and support
With the exception of #1 there, are you sure you do all that when you decide to download a distro?
Once in a while I might consider the rolling vs stable thing.. but still go ahead an download the iso no matter. And the "philosophy" of a distro? Well... as long as it's not something way out there in Specialized Land, heck I'll try anything. That about drivers for your hardware, well yeah, but how do you find out unless you try it at least live? Do you go to their forums etc and ask? The community thing seems usefull.. but really, you can still look stuff up; info is everywhere, not just in a forum for the distro.
52 • @44 Malware on Arch (by GT on 2025-07-22 14:55:44 GMT from United States)
The recent malware found in the AUR had nothing to do with systemd, and it had absolutely nothing to do with Lennart Poettering. Painting an individual a as villain because you don't like the software they write is ridiculous at best and dangerous at worst.
53 • LMDE (by krokus on 2025-07-22 18:13:15 GMT from France)
I think it's a better idea to review LMDE, because everyone is trying Mint. The Debian edition deserve some light too !
54 • systemD and arch (by rhtoras on 2025-07-22 18:55:17 GMT from Greece)
@52 The problem with arch has nothing to do with systemD. OK but when did i say it has somethiong to do with systemD ? I JUST SAID that problems make it's appearance in distros where systemD is a priority and arch is no exception. Lennart Poettering destroyed linux... He is resposnible for a majority of bad incidents happening in the linux ecosystem. But to be honest it's supporters are something dangerous for the community. Making the hell looking as paradise is extremely dangerous. And this is a topic i am not willing to discuss rightnow. sysdfree.wordpress has all things covered and i am happy with void linux in the end of the day...
55 • Chrome OS Flex (by MattE on 2025-07-23 00:14:43 GMT from United States)
Chrome OS Flex is easier than any distro on the Distrowatch list. I install Chome OS for a client and they NEVER have a problem. Not true for any other OS or distro. It is a rolling release, prompts the user to reboot as needed. On the other hand, it's part of the big Google machine and mostly open source at best. With the Debian dev VM running, I can install anything Debian including GUI apps.
56 • distro chooser (by grindstone on 2025-07-23 01:10:59 GMT from United States)
Did the chooser test...came-up Void. Expected Spiral, maybe. Daily runner for (?) 6 years has been a homebrew minimal Xub-ish thing neutered where possible, but keep antiX core homebrew w/ fluxbox & DSL on Ventoy sticks for "in case". If someone gets busy per @15's insight, it needs Slackware and DSL as waypoints on the path. I use my machines hard--for actual number crunching-intensive stuff. Keeping things thin, and stability wins. Sometimes, it takes months to recall/rediscover all the things required for daily usage because, by the time I have to upgrade, the freaking Linux ecosystem has radically altered basic subsystems. PCL was once a friendly entry in the '90's for me and will always have respect. And almost nothing taught me as much as Slackware when life had time to read all those comments and keep-up on deps and build things. When life intervened and the machine had to be tool and not hobby, there could only be the Debian tree...
57 • Settling on a distro (by fenglengshun on 2025-07-23 01:49:47 GMT from Indonesia)
I used to just distrohop. I outright find it to be a relaxing activity, sometimes. What made me settle down was eventually finding something comfortable enough that it's a hassle to switch to something else. That was Bazzite. I've since find some things dislikable about it, but I still find it a hassle to find something else, especially on my ROG Ally and with the shared housing's congested wifi.
Honestly, just keep trying something new until you find something really agreeable with you.
58 • LMDE (by Keith S on 2025-07-23 02:29:09 GMT from The Netherlands)
I would like a review of Mint LMDE. I have used Mint in the distant past, and tried it briefly a few months ago, but I frankly dislike the Ubuntu feel it has. (I used Ubuntu Studio for a while years ago, but as I recall it was very brittle and broke easily. Haven't tried it since because audio is good enough on almost any vanilla distro these days.)
Daily Linux driver has been MX Linux for a few years now, and antiX as a backup. Great tools, mostly stable, everything I need. OpenBSD is the awesome bestest of course but I couldn't recommend it to anyone who is afraid of learning the command line or how to download packages.
59 • distro hopping like a frog (by forest kiwi on 2025-07-23 04:33:11 GMT from New Zealand)
Since moving to Linux, starting with "just looking" circa 1998 to full adoption and not looking back around 2008... I have tended to find a distro and stick with that, while furiously testing dozen upon dozen ISOs as other distros got released.
In the early days that was Mint and Cinnamon, now more Manjaro and KDE Plasma. I strongly agree with one poster above who said total bliss would be Mint KDE rolling (and based on Debian, not 'buntu).
60 • lmde vs mint (by Dave on 2025-07-23 05:25:09 GMT from Australia)
I guess a review of LMDE would be good, because Mint is popular enough for many many other reviews, so good to test something different.
In some ways I like of idea of LMDE becoming the actual version of Mint, the only thing I don't like is old Debian packages. Now if it were a rolling release, or slow roll based on Debian, that would be something.
61 • @60 Debian, rolling: Debian-testing (by Jan on 2025-07-23 07:54:25 GMT from The Netherlands)
@60 Mint Debian, but in a rolling version.
That is already available by Debian-Testing?
There is a weekly update of several Debian-Testing (rolling) versions of Debian-13, I have tested a few in Live-Ventoy-USB, Look pretty well to me.
https://www.linuxcompatible.org/story/debian-gnu-linux-13-trixie-testing-20250721-live-images/
62 • debian testing (by Dave on 2025-07-23 08:56:07 GMT from Australia)
@61 I know what you mean, unfortunately I've found debian testing is not very stable. I realise exactly how that sounds :-D but for comparison I found Arch quite stable, it's rolling nature is the intended use case. Debian testing is intended for, well testing, same with Fedora Rawhide - I found both to be quite buggy.
I was thinking more of a "supported" rolling, like Arch of Opensuse Tumbleweed. I've always wanted a Debian like this, but a Linux Mint like this based off Debian would be cool too.
63 • Debian (by Slappy McGee on 2025-07-23 11:56:23 GMT from United States)
I installed Debian yesterday, for the first time in years (can't remember the last time I tried.. probably 10 years ago or so). I've had Debian derivatives, but this is plain old Debian this time.
It's changed. The whole process of installation and set up has changed from a struggle to just plain easy and satisfying. It's Debian 12.11, "stable."
I highly recommend it, as it's pure Debian and not messed with (for the good or not so good) by distro makers who want to make it easier etc; that's no longer needed.
64 • @62 Rolling distro (by Jan on 2025-07-23 13:58:07 GMT from The Netherlands)
Thanks for this informative remark (about Debian-Testing as a rolling distro).
In the recent past I tried Suse TW, both in KDE and Gnome. I had no positive experience.
In the KDE version I installed some KDE-apps, they seemed to disappear in a bottom-less pit, they were detected as installed but nowhere to be found for starting up.
In the Gnome-version I installed some extensions, to enhance the Gnome UI. After a Gnome update some extensions were broken (unusable).
Both problems had some (old) internet reports, so it was not my own exclusive experience.
Concerning Arch I read several messages about breaking because of bleeding edge, so for my knowledge-level not a good idea to use.
As I prefer distros with a more-persons/big/stable management and community, not so much rolling distros remain.
65 • Rolling Release model (by picamanic on 2025-07-23 18:07:03 GMT from United Kingdom)
@62,@62: Rolling versus Rolling. Some [many?] here have found that Arch-based distros are among the most unstable and insecure, and have attributed this to the Rolling Release model, amongst other things. However, I have found that Void Linux, that also uses a Rolling Release model, is by far the most stable that I have used, over many years. It must come down to the care that is employed in adding packages and versions to the repositories.
There aren't many distros that use the Rolling Release model, perhaps because it is difficult to get right.
66 • Settling down with one distro (by Jeffry on 2025-07-23 23:59:34 GMT from United States)
I like distro hopping. however, I have specific use based distros. My recording studio runs Ubuntu Studio not the LTS version. My laptop varies, durrently it's Tuxedo OS, but I have a love for Fedora based distros like Nobara, and Arch distros like Artix and Catchy. My first love was Mandrake so I also find myself rotating Open Mandriva, Magiea, and Rosa.
67 • Rolling releases (by Dave on 2025-07-24 00:50:44 GMT from Australia)
@65 The experiences of many are probably correct. A lot can come down to hardware and use case. I avoided the AUR altogether, which I think avoids many issues. My needs were pretty standard (if there is such a thing) but that isn't everyone's circumstance.
I've heard positive things around Void, and you're probably right, it's more down to care taken which will vary from distro to distro. I imagine it would be hard to get right.
More than being bleeding edge, what I like more about rolling releases is there aren't "versions" (and codenames, I hate codenames) there's just the latest. I do like recent packages at least, especially for desktops.
68 • Debian Testing (by Hank on 2025-07-24 08:49:06 GMT from Germany)
Yes, Debian Testing is not very stable.
For anyone wanting latest versions on Debian sid is the better option.
It is not a rolling release, not really for inexperienced users.
From a long term antiX siddite.
Update it daily where possible. Update problems usually clear in a couple of days.
Keep a backup, that should be a standard no matter which operating system is used.
Is generally more stable than some distributions, buntu comes to mind, it was not a positive experience for me.
69 • LMDE: the best Mint (not counting Peppermint OS) but the worst Debian (by Linux Musk (flavour, not Elon) on 2025-07-24 09:07:50 GMT from The Netherlands)
If you don't want to deal with the hassle of installing Debian, just let Spiral Linux do it for you.
And if you really want de-Snapped Ubuntu, why? But also, just use Pop OS.
Other honorable mentions, if for some reason the above don't do it for you:
Neptune OS (Debian)
Sparky Linux (Debian)
Astra Linux (Debian)
Pardus (Debian)
Tuxedo OS (Ubuntu)
Robo Linux (Ubuntu)
Bodhi Linux (Ubuntu)
Linux Lite (Ubuntu)
There is really never any reason to touch either LMDE, MX Linux, AntiX or Q4OS, or Linux Mint, Feren OS, Zorin OS or Elementary OS.
70 • Debian installing (by Slappy McGee on 2025-07-24 12:34:23 GMT from United States)
"If you don't want to deal with the hassle of installing Debian..."
@69 As pointed out in @63 Debian is not a "hassle" to install now. They've changed it dramatically. Calameres (sp?) does the job same as with other "user friendly" distros.
I installed Debian 12.11 with Mate. Straightforward and easy, unlike the old days with Debian.
71 • Debian Delay or Arch Adventure (by forest kiwi on 2025-07-24 20:41:52 GMT from New Zealand)
Good that Debian themselves have made installation more human-friendly. On my journey I came to a point where the delays for new versions of software in Mint, which was waiting for Ubuntu, which was waiting for Debian to 'arrive', got to the point of Windows users getting newer software for originally Linux apps that got ported over! Mint itself is exemplary, superb, brilliant; but running 2 major versions behind on software?
So I went over to the rolling adventure country called Arch. Not pure Arch, as that requires a double PhD in Computer Science, 40 years Unix basement experience and four sainthoods for patience, but I settled on Manjaro. I think that in 4 years I have had three minor package anomalies, easily fixed, so no big "stability issues".
One of the big papercuts is printer management - Manjaro struggles and fights, Mint instantly finds and correctly configures. I had a rather dramatic example a few months back where I went to a site and Manjaro was groping around blind even when being led, but Mint found 80 printers in 2 minutes - all by itself.
Plasma 6.3 is better than the first KDE Plasma (4), but there are still some things you cannot easily customise. Cinnnamon is mature, XFCE now works, MATE is very dated, and for me Gnome is an unusable interface disaster. I use KDE Plasma, Cinnamon and XFCE across several machines. I keep at least one Mint for printer circus situations like the one I mentioned.
The diversity in Linux distros is cool as each one of us can find a journey that suits out needs.
72 • Settling down with one distro (by ned on 2025-07-24 21:10:35 GMT from Austria)
For me it's Devuan - have it running hassle-free on my computers ever since it split off from Debian.
73 • Linux distro developers should join forces (by Debian is good for me, too on 2025-07-25 10:08:09 GMT from Italy)
As for me, while I've been a Debian enthusiast for years, I appreciate the fact there's still plenty of choice. However, very minor distros should face the need for a more sensible approach to Linux as a whole. Wasting time in creating "a Debian, plus two themes minus a WM and a bunch of wallpapers", while they could work to simply optimize some very long unmaintained but useful tools, is not a good move nowadays.
Please, create new distros if you actually know they're needed, otherwise make something different.
74 • distros (by qwerty1234 on 2025-07-25 16:03:20 GMT from United Kingdom)
Nothing on Openindiana/Solaris?
75 • One distro (by Roger on 2025-07-25 18:32:42 GMT from France)
I am using Linux Mint Mate for years, started in 2006 with Barbara and never left it.
Yes ones and a while test others but stay with them and support them.
I have one copy of Ubuntu Mate just to keep an eye on Mate so when Mint ever dropped Mate I can switch.
Never liked Cinnamon, I simply don't want it.
76 • Choosing a Long Term Distro (by RHoagland on 2025-07-25 21:32:43 GMT from United States)
@51 "With the exception of #1 there, are you sure you do all that when you decide to download a distro?"
You entirely ignored the first part of my post. The question wasn't about downloading, but how would you pick one to stick with?
77 • Debian distros (by Keith S on 2025-07-26 00:03:16 GMT from United States)
Frankly the only one of the many distros listed in @69 that I've tried is Sparky. I might try some of them at some point, but I'm very content with what I've been using for several years now. I don't understand the reason for the hate of those listed at the end. Too popular maybe? In any event, MX Linux and antiX have great tools that are easy to use and not found in many other distros. That alone makes them worth considering for people looking for a long-term home.
As for knocking smaller distros as is done in @73, again, why do some feel the need to regulate what others do with their time? Should all Linux developers just give up and start working on Fedora or Debian or Ubuntu? (Which one, by the way? Who decides that?) Is the goal total Linux domination of personal computers? Hate to break the news, but that's never going to happen. Be happy that it's available at all, and for free, so you don't have a binary choice between bad and worse.
Number of Comments: 77
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