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.

  • pinball_wizard@lemmy.zip
    5·
    3 days ago

    I’m open to critique, as to making this chart as helpful as possible.

    The entire “New to Linux” section should probably just be “Mint” for anyone without an Nvidia graphics card.

    For newbies, live USB test and installer experience are key, and Mint is still unmatched.

    • sem@piefed.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      2·
      2 days ago

      Out of curiosity, is the live USB / install experience that different than kubuntu? I’ve never tried mint.

      • pinball_wizard@lemmy.zip
        3·
        2 days ago

        I’ve used both, and been very pleased with both.

        Mint stood out, last time I installed it, because every decision was easy and factual and about me (what time zone, what keyboard).

        I essentially just pressed “next” a bunch of times.

        Kubuntu was nearly that good last time I tried it, as well.

        Between the two, I generally recommend Mint primarily because it keeps the messaging simple and consistent with the community.

        Secondarily, because Mint doesn’t have Snap (and I consider Snap bad, in a way that new Linux users are unlikely to appreciate until much later.)

        • sem@piefed.blahaj.zoneEnglish
          2·
          1 hour ago

          Ah, gotcha.

          I’m not technical enough to understand the functional difference between flatpak and snap, but I know that snaps are centrally controlled by Canonical and thus I assume not as enshittification resistant as flatpak.

          But from the end user perspective, they can be a lot simpler to use than PPAs for random software. For me they’re kind of a guilty pleasure.