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Flow chart for choosing a Linux distribution
(lemmy.ca)
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.
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.