One of the things that seems to characterize most Linux users is that ‘we all like to move on’.
That might mean waiting for a new release of our favourite distro, or using a rolling release, or looking to change distros.
If we are going to change distros that might mean
better fit to our hardware
provides some desperately needed software
philosophical issues like systemd or rolling
provides some new mental challenge
If we are looking for a challenge, it is important to do it in small steps. ie changing straight from Mint to Gentoo would be too big a step, and likely to lead to frustration and abandonment.
Would anyone like to try and produce a list of distros in order of increasing mental challenge?
Nice easy steps please, no big jumps!
or
maybe we could group them… easy, moderate, difficult, and expert.?
If I want easy, then I use my Windows pc!!!
LFS uses the same packages that any other Linux, just takes a lot longer to put the packages
all together!!!
I can contibute a list for non-systemd users. Something like this…
MX/ sysvinit
Peppermint Devuan
Devuan
Antix
Artix
Chimera
Void
Slackware
Hyperbola
GUIX
Gentoo /OpenRC
LFS
You have the full range there from beginners to experts
So have you reversed the order? Ubuntu is hardest?
I did not think about DE variants
Your short list is welcome… we do not all have experience spanning that range… i went out of my way to get it for non-systemd
No doubt others will love (or hate) ubuntu. But for me the limits on the desktop and sidebar were the killers when showing clients. Comments were its not like windows or not like mac, visually difficult. But like everything you get used to it.
Ok ubuntu also comes now in cinnamon and mate desktop but never bothered going back.
Did think of adding puppy but apart from running direct from usb never got much further, my attempt to istall on hard disk failed.
I already did some extended research on Manjaro.
Most people actually see it as a fiiting production system.
Although sporting a rolling release model it seems (using the stable branch) they didn´t seem to have encountered any diffuculties, even after some years of usage.
Hi Rosika,
I have not used Manjaro. I think at about the same position as Arch… harder than Debian, easier than Gentoo.?
Lets see what others say
Regards
Neville
If I understood everything correctly it should be easier for the average user to use and (above all) install Manjaro.
Arch is supposed to be quite a hassle when it comes to installing.
Manjaro comes with …
Key features include intuitive installation process, automatic hardware detection, stable rolling-release model, ability to install multiple kernels, special Bash scripts for managing graphics drivers and extensive desktop configurability.
It provides a graphical installer.
All in all it should be simpler to use and install than Arch.
Seeing no-one wants to bite the bullet… I will try and do a draft systemd list
Mint
LMDE
MX/Systemd
Peppermint/Debian
.....
Ubuntu (and variants)
......
Debian
Solus
......
Fedora
OpenSUSE
Manjaro
......
Arch
.......
Gentoo/Systemd
That leaves several important distros in Limbo.
Who can place PopOS, Magiea, Garuda, Endeavour, …?
My rows of dots indicate a big step in difficulty.
" Linux is one of the most complicated OS in the history of OS "
Nice quote… it means you really need to learn something to use Linux properly. You learn by working your way down our list.
Regards
Neville
I would add NixOS to that list. Maybe same level as Arch. NixOS is interesting but limited to Systemd only.
My opinion on Manjaro: don’t bother, go to Arch if interested. Arch has installer also now. Haven’t tried it (the installer) because when I used Arch it was too unstable. Maybe my own fault because a lot of playing with AUR can make Arch more unstable.
Thanks @ihasama for providing your opinion on Manjaro.
That´s good to know. Quite some progress there, it seems.
I´m using Arch as a virtual machine and I´m constantly collecting more and more experience with it this way.
But what to do if some package you need isn´t available in the official Arch repos.
Aren´t you more or less forced to resort to AUR then
Yes, AUR is handy but I found it to cause problems if you need a lot of packages from there. It’s not something other distroes doesn’t have, like ppas on Ubuntu.
Gentoo’s overlays are a really elegant solution to this problem. They even managed to deal with the problem of when two overlays contain the same package.
