- cross-posted to:
- linux4noobs@programming.dev
- cross-posted to:
- linux4noobs@programming.dev
When I first began researching Linux, for my needs, I found the number of different Distros to be overwhelming. So I made this flow chart, with the intent to help new users find a starting point for choosing a distribution.
I’m open to critique, as to making this chart as helpful as possible.
EDIT: Chart updated based on suggestions in the comments.
You must log in or # to comment.
This is actually really thoughtful.
I’d say NixOS is as minimal as arch
I guess it can go both ways, but I’d probably put nixos under minimal and experienced branch
You can use NixOS minimal ISO or a live stick with GNOME/KDE and an installer like Ubuntu.
I do more gaming than anything else on OpenSuse TW. Am I alone?
Seriously underrated. Stable AF.
I am not too fond of this chart, because EndeavourOS (yes it is 99 % Arch, but beginner friendly) is missing and I think it overcomplicates things. This creates the impression that you need a specialist distribution fox task x, while you can, in reality user most distributions for nearly every task.
Still, this is a cool effort and a contribution to the fediverse, so still an upvote.
It is there: No, No, Bleeding Edge, No
I like your approach in that they don’t all just flow to the same 2 distros and there are multiple options at the end of most lines. It’s also quite readable. I do think there’s even more room to just try stuff out though, distros are not particularly rigid, certainly not when you’re first trying them out and you don’t know the differences.
I happily use MXLinux to game on new(not so new now I suppose) hardware, run a media box, and on a couple work/school laptops for example. It’s just what I tried and felt cozy with after I got angry with windows and mint. I’m sure other distros are technically better for my uses but nothing I’ve tried has really been so much better to justify the switch.
this didn’t work, what does it mean Windows or Macos background? i have neither :) i’m blocked at the second question
/s
its really simple, use mint if you dont know what computers are, use fedora if you’re normal, and save specialty/hobby distros for specialty/hobby stuff.
What if I develop software all day long and just don’t feel like an OS I need to fuck around with? I feel like Mint is great for anyone who just doesn’t want to fuck around with their own computer. Every game I want to play works. Every productivity tool I want is there. Any software I develop works fine. Anything I want to serve on my local network works fine. I click the update once a week or so and it just works.
I feel like people scoff at Mint because you don’t need to know anything about computers to use it, but that’s actually a hell of a feature even if you do know.
you dont need to fuck around with other distros either for the most part, you just can.
How did you make this?
I used Draw.io Desktop.
Very nice! (Not that you’re taking requests, but I’d love to see something like this for home sever/self-hosting distros.)
Do you want a home server --> yes --> debian
A nice idea, but the whole image could be replaced with “Just use Mint”.
If I want my GPU supported without having to use level not parameters to boot and without manually installed drivers, Mint isn’t going to work
(I know because I couldn’t tolerate the restrictions of bazzite which was the default for my machine, so I installed Mint 22.1, it wouldn’t boot successfully. I added the nomodeset (noModeSet) kernel parameter at the boot menu to get the computer booted, then had to download and install the drivers)
People on new high performance hardware might find that all difficult
New, high performance hardware is built with Windows in mind. It’s going to take some work to change that fact.
Whats the difference between Mint and Mint XFCE?
The different desktop environments. Really basically described as the interface, XFCE is a very lightweight one, whereas mint is MATE, and mint cinnamon is… cinnamon which are each different from each other (I don’t know I’ve never used them for long enough to find out)
XFCE stands for “extra fresh” mint.
Mate, the great thing about Linux is it isn’t just one thing. I love Mint, but I think it’s great that people who like different things can get what they like, too. In fact I want those folks not to use it. If everyone used Mint, it would just become another Windows (or maybe RedHat would be a better parallel).
Having options means everyone is pushed to improve. Consolidation means ossification.
That said, Mint rocks and people should use it—if they want.
Another Windows (XP) would a strong positive if we could get to that level of market dominance. It means OEMs and hardware makers will target that OS for compatibility. It means software devs will write software targeting that OS and tell people that they’re doing so. And it’s not about just writing for “Linux”, not even “Debian Linux”, but for “Mint” specifically. That way we have less stuff like Waydroid that’s definitely written for Linux, but not for Mint. Centralization and accessibility are incredibly important.
This is amazing! Great work!(InstallGentoo)
Next to ElementaryOS, similar is misspelled ‘simillar’. I’ll bookmark this since I plan on switching to Linux rather than to Windows 11. Out of curiosity, if SteamOS is ultimately just an immutable version of Arch Linux, is the immutability of SteamOS what classifies it as ‘beginner-friendly’? In terms of usability, in my efforts to customize SteamOS on the Steam Deck, I found the immutability to be a severe detriment to the user’s ability to install system packages to install basic functionality to replicate Windows features, such as Mint Stick (the only simple, GUI-based USB formatting tool I could find for Linux).
I’ve never used Arch, so someone may give a better explanation, but an analogy would be - Arch is like getting a box of LEGO, SteamOS is like getting a pre built model made from LEGO.
And yeah, immutability is usually considered more beginner friendly because you’re less able to break your system accidentally, and it’s lots more straightforward to roll back to a previously working system, too, when things do break.
As for installing stuff on Steam Deck, I think that’s by design, not an incidental flaw. It’s a big contributor to stability. On Bazzite, which is similar, you can install whatever you like…into a container. Only a subset of software is supported for more direct installation. Keeping everything else isolated in containers keeps the system stable.
You shall not advice to indulge in NixOS nor Gentoo. These take root in forbidden scripts, one must walk these depths of their own volition completely, clean of else’s influence. Us tell such atrocities exist and share the way we use them, but never condemn one to do so as well.
nix, I understand. But gentoo is superb for learning and those looking to learn. Wait were you just trying to entice people with the ‘don’t eat of the forbidden fruit’ stuff? I really don’t even know what the last line means though–surely there was a typo
There is no typo. I’m not telling not to use them, I’m telling not to recommend them. Especially on a chart that mostly targets beginners. The audience that wants to learn the ways of Linux to such an extent will find LFS eventually. Having distros that solve clearly non-beginner problems in a chart like this is harmful in my opinion.
I noticed Bassite is repeated on there a lot. They’ve been having a lot of marketing lately.
Is that some fishing supply shop?
Speech to text. I meant bazzite.
Yeah, it’s a joke
