The quest for the perfect Linux distribution: an ongoing journey

I read articles like these hoping they'd contain more interesting distributions that would challenge the status quo. Projects like GoboLinux, NixOS and such are far more alien from the average Linux distribution, which tend to be more alike than they are different. There's strong viewpoints behind them that are offering new looks at how we all could be doing things, even if they are merely one or two radical changes here and there.<p>On some level I think that people who try new things with Linux tend to get shouted down, usually with intense appeals to tradition -- and unless you're working on Fedora, chances are it won't see light of day. I actually view this as pretty unhealthy. It doesn't matter if these new hypothetical alien Linux distros are actually good or bad, what's important is that people are constantly trying new things for all of us to learn from.<p>If someone asks me about the 'perfect Linux distribution' and they only want to talk about the mainstream distributions, it means we're not dreaming big enough.

This SuSE Tumbleweed looks nice. In my opinion this is what most users actually want: A stable core system (kernel, cron, Gnome, bash, ...) and bleeding edge apps (Firefox, Thunderbird, ...).<p>For Debian and Derivatives this seems to be missing. At least Debian backports are not in widespread use.

I really want a distro that is minimal but also "just works." I like tweaking things as much as the next guy, but when I'm heading off to work and want to print a shipping label from my laptop quick, I really don't want to have to sit and read a manual to figure out why my printer isn't working. On the other hand, 90% of the time I'm at my computer, I'm just using Vim or a web browser, so running a full desktop stack seems like a waste.<p>The closest thing I've found to what I want is Debian Testing. I've heard good things about Gentoo, and while I think I'm more than capable of RTFM and doing it myself, and sometimes I enjoy doing it myself--other time, I really do want it to just work so I can get work done too.

Debian Unstable:<p>- apt-get / aptitude<p>- lots of packages<p>- rolling release<p>- big community<p>- committed to support Free Software

A note about Arch: most WMs and DEs have support for packages that allow configuration through a GUI, although the installation is all text. Configuration through editing text can sometimes be faster when you really know your system. As the author points out, running arch can really help you to get to know your system.<p>Also, it's been awhile since I was "new" to linux, but arch installation can be very easy if you follow the beginners guide on the arch wiki. Everything is spelled out plain and simple.<p>There is a graphical installer for a branch off of arch, known as Archbang. It's basically a live system you can boot into (with openbox) and install from there (still text based really, but a little more friendly). (Some arch users also fear the road of a GUI installer because it would make it easier for people with little understanding of linux to run arch, but that is a flawed philosophy. Arch can be for learning too)

Obviously there is no "perfect" Linux-Distro for everyone. I grew to like Fedora, but the perfect Distro to me would've been one I put together myself. And thats why we use Linux after all, isn't it? Because we can choose from so many flavors. That's also the conclusion the writer comes to- the article is more of a look at some popular distros, even if the title suggests something else.

I've been using Mint the past few weeks and it's been solid. I'll stick with it for the time being (but the new SusE sounds awesome and I've always preferred RPM over DEB).

Sabayon is a rolling release distro that is far easier for newbies than arch. Worth looking at.