So we can clearly see the most popular distros and the reasons why people use them, please follow this format:
- Write the name of the Linux distro as a first-level comment.
- Reply to that comment with each reason you like the distro as a separate answer.
For example:
- Distro (first-level comment)
- Reason (one answer)
- Other reason (a different answer)
Please avoid duplicating options. This will help us better understand the most popular distros and the reasons why people use them.
Arch. I can’t live without the AUR at this point.
Seriously, I realize this every time I have to install something on my server (running AlmaLinux). Now I’ve manually set up a personal LURE repo for some software that I use.
Seriously, the ease of installing any and all programs from the main repo’s or the AUR is such an extreme advantage over all other distros!
And it makes keeping your system and programs updated a breeze.
It is nice to install much normally harder to install crap, but there are so little trusted devs on there, that i rather not install something than getting it from a untrusted source.
It is nice to play around, but i also switched from Windows to have a more secure platform
We cannot forget about the wiki, which is a great resource for not only the Arch distro, but for any Linux install.
Garuda
@InternetPirate Fedora it is has all the good and new stuff without being unstable. Will switch to Silverblue for an even more stable experience sometime soon.
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This is subjective, but after distro hopping, Linux Mint XFCE requires the least amount of post install configuration for my use case and personal preferences.
Also, they show a preference for flatpack over snap but don’t lock you in/out of either.
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We’re looking to create a comprehensive list of the most popular Linux distributions and the reasons why people use them.
I’m curious, do you intend to put up the results somewhere?
Fedora
Stable
Uses the latest tech in linux e.g wayland and pipewire.
Only FOSS software and repositories unless otherwise enabled
Cutting edge application releases so I get the newest toys after they’ve been decently tested
Applies patches for better programs work under Wayland (SDDM with git patches before long awaited 0.20.0 release).
Fedora
It is has all the good and new stuff without being unstable.
Manjaro
I don’t need to install anything manually because of how extensive the AUR is.
AUR is amazing
Rolling release model.
Nice default configuration. Good choice of gnome extensions and themes pre installed
more out of the box than what Arch comes with.
Gentoo
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Huge range of supported architectures
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This is the way
This is the way
Reproducibility is a blessing for both software development and daily use.
Backing up NixOS is very straight forward and easy. It’s kinda the same as docker-compose in that respect.
- Nobara
- Built for gaming
- Based on Fedora
- Stable and easy to set up
- Nobara
EndeavourOS
An installer of Archlinux with sane default but also has all of Arch Power
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Arch, BTW
The AUR
I was distrohopping for like a year or two when I first got into Linux desktop. As soon as I installed Arch for the first time that stopped. Now the thought of a distro pre-installing packages gives me the heebie jeebies. You don’t get to tell me how I sync with NTP servers!
I do real work. Dont have time to waste
Maybe don’t fiddle with your install non-stop then.
Isn’t that the reason to use arch? I remember last time I installed arch, about 5 years ago now I had to fiddle with everything just to get it working lol.
pacman goes brrrr
Great wiki
PKGBUILDs