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What to try in a linux distro ?
(lemdro.id)
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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).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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It sounds as you want to evaluate different Linux Distributions.
DE/GUI is a good one, terminal commands is a bit useless since the vast majority of Linux systems use Bash as default.
This is what I would look into on a new distro:
UI - What DE or WM is it using, what is the default config like, and try to learn from that. How is the terminal prompt configured (the default Ubuntu and Debian prompts are terrible, I allways change them)
Package Manager - how does it work, what software is available?
Unique software - Does the distribution include some tools, applications or games I haven't heard about? If so, what do they do, and how do they work.
This gives me a feel for the distribution and how to use it.
I disagree that the UI/DE/WM is a good way to evaluate a distro. One could make any distro look and feel like any other.
In my opinion one should look primarily at three factors:
From there just choose either Debian or Arch and install the UI you want with the DE/WM
@ccdfa
My $0.02 worth. I run Kubuntu (Debian) and Manjaro (Arch) both with KDE Plasma. KDE has done such a great job. I often forget which distro I'm running. It's usually me inadvertently running apt commands on the Manjaro box and saying to myself, oh yeah that's right
@stoy @kalvo
How do you like Manjaro? I am on normal arch with kde and I love it. Manjaro's own repos scare me.
@ccdfa
I like it quite a bit. I've been using it for about 2 years; one machine as a every day work station that I use for everything and a laptop with a cracked screen that I use as my Jellyfin server. I have no issues at all with the repos but that is the one area I know the least about. Since you mentioned it, I think I do some learning this week.
Nice! Good luck!