this post was submitted on 09 Jul 2025
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

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I made the unfortunate post about asking why people liked Arch so much (RIP my inbox I'm learning a lot from the comments) But, what is the best distro for each reason?

RIP my inbox again. I appreciate this knowledge a lot. Thank you everyone for responding. You all make this such a great community.

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[–] sakphul@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 9 hours ago

For me it's openSUSE Tumbleweed on my Desktops/Laptops and openSuse Leap on my Servers. The killing Feature for me was the propper BTRFS integration with Snapper for seamless rollbacks in case I borked the system in some way.

One "downside" for me is the mix of Gnome Settings and Yast on my Desktop. But I like yast on my servers for managing everything (enabling ports in firewall, network config, enable autoamtic isntall of security updates, etc.). Also openSuse is not that common, so sometimes it is hard to find a solution if you have a distribution specific question.

Personally never looked to closely into openSuse Build Services (OBS). But I know some people who really like it.

[–] Azzk1kr@feddit.nl 3 points 10 hours ago

I've been using (X)Ubuntu for ages. I just wanted something that "just works". Tired of too much tinkering and there's plenty of (non commercial) support. Mixing it with i3 as my window manager.

Roast me ;)

[–] kaidezee@lemmy.ml 2 points 10 hours ago

Gentoo, because if it exists - compile it.

[–] Drito@sh.itjust.works 2 points 11 hours ago

Since I was tired of distro hopping I just use MX Linux.

[–] BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world 4 points 18 hours ago

Since I mostly use computers for entertainment these days I keep coming back to Bazzite. It’s fast, stable, kept up to date, reliable, and “just works”. I’ve created custom rpm-ostree layers to faff around, but it’s not actually necessary for anything I need.

I used to keep a second Kubuntu Minimal partition around but I realized I just don’t need it. If I wasn’t so happy with Bazzite, I would probably go with openSUSE or Endeavor.

[–] ragas@lemmy.ml 4 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Gentoo because it is as stable as Debian, less bloated than Arch, has more packages than Ubuntu, is rolling release, can mix and match stable, testing and unstable on a whim.

Even its one downside, compile times, is now gone if you just choose to use binary packages.

[–] kaidezee@lemmy.ml 1 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

And less stable than Arch, and more bloated than Ubuntu... If that is something you want for whatever reason! It is the most versatile distro in existance because it's literally anything you want it to be - clean and nice, or total chaos. What is there not to love?

Gentoo <3

[–] eruchitanda@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)
  • The fricking AUR

  • Nothing I don't _actually_ need

  • Pacman

  • Everything is the latest version available–ALWAYS.

  • ArchWiki

[–] Fleur_@aussie.zone -3 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Windows, plays fallout 4 out the box.

[–] rfr_Foglia@feddit.it 1 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Even Linux plays Fallout 4 out the box? Am I being ragebaited?

[–] Fleur_@aussie.zone 1 points 3 hours ago

Yes, but also I had to run through proton off steam and the modding process is less streamlined. I unironically have had a less complicated time running windows and dealing with its "special" features than running Linux and having a custom setup for every other game.

[–] Prismaarchives@lemmy.ml 1 points 17 hours ago

Arch, because I get to say that I use Arch. /s

[–] HouseWolf@pawb.social 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

EndeavourOS is the best because.

It's currently on my system and said system hasn't burst into flames yet, so I'm too lazy to change it.

[–] RageAgainstTheRich@lemmy.world 1 points 16 hours ago

Also, its space themed which makes it automatically the coolest.

[–] malwieder@feddit.org 4 points 1 day ago

Tumbleweed. Rolling release with automated testing (openQA), snapper properly setup out of the box.

Honestly the entire openSUSE ecosystem. Tumbleweed on my main PC that often has some of the latest hardware, Slowroll on my (Framework) laptop because it's rolling but slower (monthly feature updates, only fixes in-between), and Leap for servers where stability (as in version/compatibility stability, not "it doesn't crash" stability) is appreciated.

openSUSE also comes in atomic flavors for those interested. And it's European should you care.

With all that being said, I don't really care much about what distro I'm using. What I do with it could be replicated with pretty much any distro. For me it's mostly just a means to an end.

[–] fin@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I use debian cause it just works.

I was a Nix user (more specifically, nix-darwin user) but after being away from the computer for like one year (to study for the university entrance exam), I completely forgot how to use it and resulted in erasing the computer. Nix/NixOS is fun, but it was too complicated for me.

[–] kittenroar@beehaw.org 1 points 19 hours ago

Ubuntu because they provide kernel live patching and they fix issues quickly and my system doesn't go down if I procrastinate in doing system updates

[–] data1701d@startrek.website 11 points 1 day ago

As with others, I love Debian Stable.

Most packages have sane defaults, and it's so stable. It's true that it sometimes means older software versions, but there's also something to be said for behavior staying the same for two years at a time.

If hardware support is an issue, using the backports repo is really easy - I've been using it on my laptop for almost a year with no problems that don't exist on other distros. If you really need the shiniest new application, Flatpak isn't that bad.

It also feels in a nice position - not so corporate as to not give a darn about its community, but with enough funding and backing the important stuff gets maintained.

[–] jaykrown@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

Linux Mint because it's extremely simple and has caused me no issues for over a year. It's the best distribution to get someone who is afraid to switch from Windows or MacOS to understand that using Linux can be just as easy.

[–] monovergent@lemmy.ml 31 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Debian. Truly the universal operating system. Runs on all of my laptops, desktops, servers, and NAS with no fuss and no need to keep track of distro-specific differences. If something has a Linux version, it probably works on Debian.

Granted, I am a bit biased. All of my hardware is at least 5 years old. Also came from Windows, where I kept only the OS and browser up to date, couldn't be bothered with shiny new features. A package manager is already a huge luxury.

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[–] Matriks404@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago
[–] theacharnian@lemmy.ca 1 points 23 hours ago

LMDE because I get the robustness of Debian stable and the quality of life goodies of Mint.

[–] Pirate@feddit.org 4 points 1 day ago

OpenSUSE tumbleweed: Up-to-date, unbreakable due to Btrfs+snapper, very secure defaults (firewall), based in Germany. It works perfectly on my Thinkpad, so I couldn't ask for better.

[–] TheCynicalSaint@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 day ago (4 children)

Fedora is quite unremarkable, no issues of late. Or ever, for that matter. It's glorious.

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[–] besmtt@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago

Bazzite.

Super easy install and setup. Ready to start installing games at first boot. Just a wonderful OS to use.

[–] Guenther_Amanita@slrpnk.net 29 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Fedora Atomic because I don't fucking care what package manager and whatnot sits underneath.

I just wanna relax in my free time and not worry about all this fucking nerd stuff.

Touching grass > Troubleshooting a broken system

[–] swab148@startrek.website 17 points 1 day ago

Arch users here, just touched grass for the first time. Felt like bloat, had my lawn paved.

[–] WILSOOON@programming.dev 68 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (3 children)

Arch is the best, the arch wiki is massive, pacman is just amazing, no nvidia drivers bullshitting, and rolling release has only broken one thing once, life under the arch is pretty great

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[–] menemen@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I use Kubuntu. It is defintly not the best Distro. I am just used to it and too lazy to get used to another distro. My days as a distro jumper lie 15 years back...

Tbh though, I might switch to Debian stable whenever Trixie comes out.

[–] Photuris@lemmy.ml 17 points 1 day ago

Fedora, because it just works, it’s familiar, and I’ve got things to do.

[–] utopiah@lemmy.ml 18 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (6 children)

Debian stable.

Everybody think they are a special snowflake who needs bleeding edge, or a specific package manager or DE or whatever. Truth is 99.99% do not. They just like to believe they do, claim they do, try it, inflict self pain for longer than they need, convince themselves that truly they are, because of the pain, special.

Chill, just go with stable, it's actually fine.

Edit: posted from Arch, not even sarcasm.

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[–] bbleml@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

NixOS. I've gotten so used to the declarative nature of NixOS, that I simply cannot go back to a "normal" distro anymore.

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[–] theshatterstone54@feddit.uk 2 points 1 day ago

It isn't. I'm on PopOS 24.04 Alpha 7 (soon to be Beta 1), because of COSMIC (and because I was having some bugs with Fedora a few months back).

I recently wanted to tinker with a piece of software that wasn't packaged, and I couldn't compile it because of outdated libraries. I could return to Fedora specifically to tinker with it but as an ex-distrohopper, I know it isn't worth the effort.

Even though Fedora or some version of it will likely be my forever distro, I will stick to PopOS for now because I can't be bothered to distrohop and back up months' worth of files, including game saves and a ton of stuff in my Downloads directory.

Mint Cinnamon. All my hardware works, and it can do the few things I require my work PC to do. It even remembers things like my default audio device - something Ubuntu refused to do for years.

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