What does distro mean?

distributions or distros for short, are usually complete operating systems that bundle: the kernel, a DE, an init system, a package manager, a filesystem, a shell, and any additional custom features that the developers wish to include.

Think about it this way, on Windows or Mac the version of the operating system you get is the only one that exists. You may like the operating system as a whole and may even be able to customize it but if there's something about the system ththethat you take issue with or just wish was different you have no power to change it.

Distros offer choice! Maybe you like the way one system works overall but you just wish it had one little missing feature or that it looked slightly different. Distros are big changes, like swapping to a different car entirely, but they can be changed in smaller ways too. Something we'll focus on in Customization.

How do I pick a distro?

Like cars, distributions typically focus on either a philosophy, function, or aesthetic.

Here's a quick overview of some of the most common distributions:

The Big Three

Debian

Debian is maybe one of, if not the oldest distro still in use today. It's built around the concept of stability with packages rarely receiving updates and entire system updates happening only every 2 years.

Though it's typically touted as being stable the reality is a little more complicated. Debian is old and frequently lacks both more recent packages as well as packages in general. It's presentation is outdated and it's often slow as well due to a result of said slow update schedule. Ironically, despite it's importance historically Debian is actually used far less than it's derivate.

Ubuntu

Ubuntu is functionally Debian. How is this possible?

Ubuntu is a fork of Debian and like we mentioned in the kernel section, a fork is simply a tweak whether large or small of an existing piece of software. Distros also experience this and when they do they're referred to as downstream. What this means is that they are in part delayed because they rely on the upstream that they're based on, in this case Debian.

For a long time Ubuntu was the de-facto recommendation for new users because of it's polish, ease-of-use, and simple installation process. As time has progressed though Ubuntu has had several controversies and has also experienced an increase in bloat which is why it has seen a sharp decline in regards to being suggested for beginners. This combined with how old Debian is means that Ubuntu also typically doesn't showcase the best of Linux either.

Really Ubuntu now exists mostly as a server distribution, being used by big companies to host data.

Mint

Mint is another Debian downstream with a similar reputation as Ubuntu as being approachable, user friendly, and incredibly simple. It's often compared to Windows but in truth it suffers from many of the same problems as other Debian based distros and is better not used in the modern day. It also looks rather outdated which makes it unliked by new users.

Arch

If Debian is all about stability then Arch is all about being bleeding edge.

Arch like we mentioned in kernel is a rolling release distribution, and as a result receives updates nearly everyday.

It's extremely lightweight and fast but it has a significant learning curve. Debian is assembled for you so when you install it it comes with all the system components and basic apps that you need to function out of the box.

Arch does none of this. It expects it's users to be familiar and comfortable with Linux to the degree that they know what sorts of services, libraries, packages, and drivers they need to install and tasks them with installing them themselves. It offers the most freedom and flexibility but you have to earn it by understanding and respecting the difficulty and time required to properly configure it. And because Arch has a rolling release model it means that in the event that a package doesn't resolve properly or an important service gets updated and breaks something you need to have ways of rolling back and fixing the state of your computer. This additional maintenance often drives away new and experienced users so it's not for everyone.

NOTE: The installation process has improved somewhat with things like the archinstall script but using it still requires understanding lots of moving parts that beginners won't be comfortable with. If you can make peace with some compromises it is a very competent, powerful operating system and most users once they have some experience should try it at least once to see if they'll like it.

CachyOS/EndeavorOS

CachyOS and EndeavorOS are downstreams of Arch so they operate on Arch's base but attempt to make both the installation and daily use of Arch more beginner friendly. The average user will still need to know enough to pick choices in things like DE's or filesystems that meet their needs but they do significantly close the gap and are solid choices for anybody that wants to jump in to the deep end early. CachyOS in particular has it's own fork of the kernel and focuses on gaming so it's used by lots of users that are migrating from windows and are looking for a somewhat simple but modern approach to Linux gaming.

SteamOS

The base Valve uses for their operating system actually happens to be a modified Arch that uses the KDE Plasma DE. It has some serious limitations though including being an Immutable DIstro.

Fedora

At their core the average user is seeking a middle ground between being fast, powerful, and modern and being easy-to-use and stable. Fedora is that middle ground. It doesn't have rolling releases but it updates every 6 months instead of every 2 years like Debian. And it's packages are also up-to-date on top of having more packages in general.

It is secure but it comes with minimal bloat which is great for new users who may have felt overwhelmed with Windows but want to retain having lots of features. It also has multiple versions that all use different DE's such as:

• GNOME
• KDE Plasma
• Cosmic
• Cinnamon

And some Tiling Window Managers too!

In general Fedora is the best beginner option, it has almost everything that new users will want and expect while being secure and fresh looking as well. It respects users without overcomplicating things and has a fantastic installer.

Fedora Variants:

Because of how useful Fedora is it generally has the most forks. Popular gaming distros like Bazzite and Nobara are essentially just Fedora with minor changes and some gaming compatibility adjustments made ahead of time.

Other Options

There are dozens of distros and this guide is ultimately aimed at new users so the following will be a short breakdown of some of the less common choices for Linux users that want something different that may not have already be covered; be warned, many of these are difficult to setup or work in ways that seem unconventional and foreign to even those that have some experience.

Rolling Releases

Most of the remaining alternative distros like Arch are rolling release. And even though they often work well enough there's typically little reason to pick them over Arch if it's the model of update scheduling that you want to use anyway.

openSuse Tumbleweed and Slowroll

Compared to Arch these are the most comparable, relatively easy installations, mostly all the packages the average person needs are available, and Slowroll is more stable than the average rolling release which you may appreciate if you want to use something that isn't Fedora (though I'd still recommend using Fedora over this especially if you don't want to use the newest packages anyway).

Void

Unlike openSuse, Void actually does something unique in that it has a different init system in the form of OpenRC. If you're someone who cares deeply about the philosophy behind software and not just it's practical capabilities and applications you might find this appealing but otherwise, Void is arguably as difficult as Arch is and doesn't have variants that make the experience easier for users either. It's fast but doesn't have parallel downloading for packages (a standard feature in nearly every modern distro), which means that during multiple installations Void is only able to install one package at a time and this makes initial installation or updating lots of packages at the same time VERY painful. It also has less packages than Arch AND openSuse which means relying on more unofficial repacks or using alternative forms of packages. Unless you know what you're doing, a hardcore enthusiast, or someone that really has a problem with SystemD there is no reason to pick this over Arch.

Artix

Artix is a downstream except unlike CachyOS or Endeavor it just keeps the rest of Arch intact while substituting SystemD with other init systems. It exists mostly as a protest of using SystemD but doesn't really do anything else and because it uses a different init system requires patching every package to work with it. It tries to serve a good cause but overall is more of a pain to use than anything else and I can't see it surviving longer than a few more years until it stops being worked on entirely.

Hacker/Privacy Distros

Because hackers often require privacy anyway I'm bundling both here for brevity and for the sake of cutting down on unnecessary sections.

I lack general familiarity with these distros and truthfully they only really exist either for hackers who are practicing pentesting (essentially trying to hack into a system as an exercise) or people who may have ulterior motives online, like using the dark web to buy drugs or view CSAM. They are not aimed at the general public and can be generally ignored. The two that represent each most prominently are:

1. Kali Linux

Distro based on Debian, comes with hacking tools built in.

OR

2. TailsOS

TailsOS is unique in that you don't actually install it, you use the distro by plugging in a Live-USB, a tool that normally is meant for installation. You do whatever it is you need to online (hopefully just buying drugs), and when you unplug the flash drive and reboot the OS is gone and everything that you've done is erased with it.

Honorable Mention

QubesOS is a distro that does similar things to TailsOS except that it can be installed permanently and runs entirely within a container which makes it a great developer tool. Genuinely recommended for those that want to do very specific work.

Truly Unique Distros

Unlike most of the distros that we've discussed, this section is for those that offer something unlike existing distributions and that don't depend on another popular distro as a base.

NixOS

NixOS is unlike any other distro that exists. In a typical distribution you run a command that tells the computer to what to install and then the computer installs it. Most system tweaks happen with simple terminal commands and config files exist really just for the occasional one-off service or two.

Nix takes an entirely different approach, with declarative packages. In a declarative system, you have config files that dictate everything that the computer has or does and you add programs or make changes by writing into the config file and running a rebuild command.

This initially has an immensely steep learning curve because it's essentially re-learning how to use an operating system. But the advantages of this are that because everything is a config file, you can also then make one file that has all your preferences and packages listed and load them on any new computer you setup or alternatively can do fast setups of your personal computer in the event you need to reset.

Nix is also an Immutable DIstro, which means that when you install new programs or update your computer you are replacing and installing everything at once. This is not only actually pretty much as fast as how regular computers work but also means that your computer can never break from having conflicting Dependencies. And it means that your computer doesn't build up big amounts of cache or temp files either.

Additonally, Nix actually has the most packages of any distro and that's before including flakes (essentially user created packages). It has more than every other disto combined.

That being said, NixOS is an advanced distro and on top of having spotty documentation has terrible error messages. Meaning if something breaks or doesn't work it's difficult to understand why. But once you do have things set up, there's essentially no work on your part ever again.

Gentoo

Gentoo takes Arch's philosophy but doubles down on it by making you configure nearly the entire system. This was big when computers needed maximum optimization and relied on squeezing out as much performance as possible but with modern computers and the state of the average Linux distro this has fallen by the wayside. It mostly serves as an enthusiast project and is NOT recommended to new or experienced users unless you desperately crave micromanagement.

Linux-from-scratch

Linux-from-scratch (or LFS) is the logical extreme of both Arch and Gentoo.

In Arch you pick system components individually, kind of like shopping at the grocery store for ingredients to cook at home.

Gentoo is like being someone who gardens because you want organic or cheap produce but still going to the a store for most else. It's a little more work but for some it's not too much extra work and can be very valuable. Especially if you have dietary needs or can't afford as much shopping.

LFS is like making every ingredient you use by yourself, churning your own butter, aging your own cheese, milking from a cow and butchering and preparing the animal yourself. It is incredibly labor intensive and has virtually no benefit. The only kinds of people that use LFS are those that do it as an advance hobby or because they want to learn Linux on a very advanced level. DO NOT USE IT.

BSD

Those that have used Linux long enough know that there's a smaller, even more niche community centered around a project called BSD.

It was actually created not long after Linux was but had some very notable changes.

For starters, BSD is a complete operating system. Unlike Linux which is the combination of many parts BSD has everything built in which gives a feeling of completeness and unity that Linux doesn't really typically achieve. But unlike Linux, BSD lacks major software support and has less mainstream software than even Linux has.

BSD users tend to fall into a few camps:

1. Developers: devs typically don't daily drive much software so the tight knit integration of BSD is actually ideal and can often be a preference.
2. Proprietary software: when a company needs a very specific operating system, whether they want it to be minimal or to be unable to be broken into (like game consoles), they typically turn to BSD because it requires less upkeep and allows for products to be closed-source. The OS used by on Sony's PlayStation actually happens to be BSD
3. Highly specialized applications: space agencies and military primarily use BSD because of the same reasons as companies like Sony but with an extra emphasis placed on how difficult it is to break or disrupt them. This makes them ideal for industries where any variation can mean injury or death.

Some users may try BSD briefly but for general computing it is insufficient for anything of substance.