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

submitted 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by nephew@lemmy.ca to c/linux@programming.dev

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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.

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[-] x00z@lemmy.world 44 points 6 days ago

Pretty decent, but there's a few things I think should be improved:

Logos !!!!!!!
Instead of having a chain of distros as an answer, make a nice group and don't point towards any one of them. I'm still trying to figure out if you have some sort of ranking going on.
The split after "Windows or Mac? -> Mac -> or " is weird and should probably be a question and differently phrased.
Immutability is misspelled and not explained. The gradient also makes it looks more special than the others (while it's just a difference). Maybe an asterisk with an explanation at the bottom would be better for this.
At one point you use "Please" instead of "Yes". I understand the joke, but people who could actually use this flowchart might not.
SteamOS is not a viable distro choice. (For now at least) I would suggest removing it until it actually becomes one.
"Are you a developer" has 4 answers but could be split into "Yes" and "No" with their own GPU questions.
White on yellow/orange is hard to read.
White on pink is readable but could be made easier to read.
Maybe a better font would great too
You could also add some Lemmy/Reddit/forum URLs where users could get Linux help.
You could also add some information like "Just looking for a Linux laptop? Buy System76" or something (I'm not up to date with decent Linux laptop vendors)

You are open to critique so I hope you don't mind this many points.

[-] nephew@lemmy.ca 19 points 6 days ago

Thank you.

I've made changes based on your input and will update the chart soon.

[-] Novocirab@feddit.org 8 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

One addition: On the right, "A computer from this decade?" — I think this can easily be widened to "A computer older than 15 years?" (swapping "yes" & "no", of course). The laptop on my lap is exactly 10 years old, wasn't high end back then, and runs OpenSUSE with KDE easily. Well, in all fairness, it's now got 12 GB RAM, but that's mostly for development purposes. Perhaps one could ask directly: "At least 8 GB RAM?"

[-] nephew@lemmy.ca 4 points 6 days ago

Good point. I'll add a note about RAM.

[-] miked@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 days ago

My 10 year old laptop runs Ubuntu well. Except for sound which I don't need anyways.

[-] tensorpudding@lemmy.world 17 points 6 days ago

It is impossible to please everyone with something like this but I personally think it strikes a good balance of opinionated and thoughtful. Thanks for making this.

[-] geoff@midwest.social 19 points 6 days ago

This is actually really thoughtful.

[-] AncientMariner@programming.dev 3 points 4 days ago

I do more gaming than anything else on OpenSuse TW. Am I alone?

Seriously underrated. Stable AF.

[-] muix@lemmy.sdf.org 8 points 6 days ago

I'd say NixOS is as minimal as arch

[-] hosaka@programming.dev 2 points 4 days ago

I guess it can go both ways, but I'd probably put nixos under minimal and experienced branch

[-] rirus@feddit.org 1 points 5 days ago

You can use NixOS minimal ISO or a live stick with GNOME/KDE and an installer like Ubuntu.

[-] unknown1234_5@kbin.earth 8 points 6 days ago

its really simple, use mint if you dont know what computers are, use fedora if you're normal, and save specialty/hobby distros for specialty/hobby stuff.

[-] MagicShel@lemmy.zip 3 points 4 days ago

What if I develop software all day long and just don't feel like an OS I need to fuck around with? I feel like Mint is great for anyone who just doesn't want to fuck around with their own computer. Every game I want to play works. Every productivity tool I want is there. Any software I develop works fine. Anything I want to serve on my local network works fine. I click the update once a week or so and it just works.

I feel like people scoff at Mint because you don't need to know anything about computers to use it, but that's actually a hell of a feature even if you do know.

[-] unknown1234_5@kbin.earth 1 points 3 days ago

you dont need to fuck around with other distros either for the most part, you just can.

[-] blackris@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

I am not too fond of this chart, because EndeavourOS (yes it is 99 % Arch, but beginner friendly) is missing and I think it overcomplicates things. This creates the impression that you need a specialist distribution fox task x, while you can, in reality user most distributions for nearly every task.

Still, this is a cool effort and a contribution to the fediverse, so still an upvote.

[-] derpgon@programming.dev 4 points 6 days ago

It is there: No, No, Bleeding Edge, No

[-] The_Sasswagon@beehaw.org 7 points 6 days ago

I like your approach in that they don't all just flow to the same 2 distros and there are multiple options at the end of most lines. It's also quite readable. I do think there's even more room to just try stuff out though, distros are not particularly rigid, certainly not when you're first trying them out and you don't know the differences.

I happily use MXLinux to game on new(not so new now I suppose) hardware, run a media box, and on a couple work/school laptops for example. It's just what I tried and felt cozy with after I got angry with windows and mint. I'm sure other distros are technically better for my uses but nothing I've tried has really been so much better to justify the switch.

[-] kbal@fedia.io 6 points 6 days ago

https://fedia.io/media/7a/1a/7a1a6e904a4945e28cc81e76f8913aba3a84538bf9169cd0ef7ff39fa4a58957.jpg

[-] sundray@lemmus.org 4 points 6 days ago

Very nice! (Not that you're taking requests, but I'd love to see something like this for home sever/self-hosting distros.)

[-] DesolateMood@lemmy.zip 6 points 6 days ago

Do you want a home server --> yes --> debian

[-] Everyday0764@lemmy.zip 1 points 4 days ago

this didn't work, what does it mean Windows or Macos background? i have neither :) i'm blocked at the second question

[-] TwilightKiddy@programming.dev 4 points 6 days ago

You shall not advice to indulge in NixOS nor Gentoo. These take root in forbidden scripts, one must walk these depths of their own volition completely, clean of else's influence. Us tell such atrocities exist and share the way we use them, but never condemn one to do so as well.

[-] FailBetter@crust.piefed.social 3 points 6 days ago

nix, I understand. But gentoo is superb for learning and those looking to learn. Wait were you just trying to entice people with the 'don't eat of the forbidden fruit' stuff? I really don't even know what the last line means though--surely there was a typo

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[-] FailBetter@crust.piefed.social 3 points 6 days ago

This is amazing! Great work!(InstallGentoo)

[-] Shadow_Glider@piefed.blahaj.zone 1 points 5 days ago

How did you make this?

[-] nephew@lemmy.ca 2 points 5 days ago

I used Draw.io Desktop.

[-] Zedstrian@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

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).

[-] PolarKraken@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

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.

[-] BigTrout75@lemmy.world 3 points 6 days ago

Phew! Made it to my distro.

[-] Endymion_Mallorn@kbin.melroy.org 3 points 6 days ago

A nice idea, but the whole image could be replaced with "Just use Mint".

[-] psud@aussie.zone 3 points 4 days ago

If I want my GPU supported without having to use level not parameters to boot and without manually installed drivers, Mint isn't going to work

(I know because I couldn't tolerate the restrictions of bazzite which was the default for my machine, so I installed Mint 22.1, it wouldn't boot successfully. I added the nomodeset (noModeSet) kernel parameter at the boot menu to get the computer booted, then had to download and install the drivers)

People on new high performance hardware might find that all difficult

[-] Endymion_Mallorn@kbin.melroy.org 1 points 4 days ago

New, high performance hardware is built with Windows in mind. It's going to take some work to change that fact.

[-] Canconda@lemmy.ca 5 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Whats the difference between Mint and Mint XFCE?

[-] jqubed@lemmy.world 7 points 6 days ago

My understanding is XFCE is a lighter-weight desktop environment than the Cinnamon desktop environment used in the standard Mint distribution. That makes XFCE better suited for older or lower-resource hardware.

[-] Skunk@jlai.lu 6 points 6 days ago

XFCE stands for "extra fresh" mint.

[-] The_Sasswagon@beehaw.org 5 points 6 days ago

The different desktop environments. Really basically described as the interface, XFCE is a very lightweight one, whereas mint is MATE, and mint cinnamon is... cinnamon which are each different from each other (I don't know I've never used them for long enough to find out)

[-] MagicShel@lemmy.zip 4 points 6 days ago

Mate, the great thing about Linux is it isn't just one thing. I love Mint, but I think it's great that people who like different things can get what they like, too. In fact I want those folks not to use it. If everyone used Mint, it would just become another Windows (or maybe RedHat would be a better parallel).

Having options means everyone is pushed to improve. Consolidation means ossification.

That said, Mint rocks and people should use it—if they want.

[-] Endymion_Mallorn@kbin.melroy.org 3 points 6 days ago

Another Windows (XP) would a strong positive if we could get to that level of market dominance. It means OEMs and hardware makers will target that OS for compatibility. It means software devs will write software targeting that OS and tell people that they're doing so. And it's not about just writing for "Linux", not even "Debian Linux", but for "Mint" specifically. That way we have less stuff like Waydroid that's definitely written for Linux, but not for Mint. Centralization and accessibility are incredibly important.

[-] djsaskdja@reddthat.com 2 points 6 days ago

Hmmm didn’t even realize OpenSUSE Slowroll was a thing. Kind of an intriguing idea. I looked into and read somewhere it’s in the experimental stage. Is that still true or is that outdated information?

[-] crazyminner@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 5 days ago

I noticed Bassite is repeated on there a lot. They've been having a lot of marketing lately.

[-] Damage@feddit.it 2 points 5 days ago

Is that some fishing supply shop?

[-] crazyminner@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Speech to text. I meant bazzite.

[-] Damage@feddit.it 1 points 5 days ago

Yeah, it's a joke

[-] justlemmyin@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago

Do people really use garuda? It has such a very specific uhh look to it.. Must be a niche?

[-] Glitch@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 6 days ago

I did for a while, but the garish theme does get old fast. Certainly not stable enough for my taste

[-] pishadoot@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 days ago

Yup. Was super unstable for me. I could get over the aesthetic if it worked well for gaming as claimed, but it was just a hot mess. After several reinstalls in a month I just ditched it.