The Linux ecosystem is vast and diverse, offering a multitude of distributions to suit every need and preference. With hundreds of distros to choose from, it’s a pity that most are rarely mentioned while the popular ones are constantly being regurgitated.

This thread aims to celebrate this diversity and shine a light on smaller projects with passionate developers. I invite you to pitch your favorite underappreciated distro and share your experiences with those lesser-known Linux distributions that deserve more attention.

While there are no strict rules or banlists, I encourage you to focus on truly niche or exotic distributions rather than the more commonly discussed ones. Consider touching upon what makes your chosen distro unique:

  • What features or philosophies set it apart?
  • Why do you favor it over other distros, including the popular ones? (Beyond “It just works.”)
  • In what situations would you recommend it to others?

Whether it’s a specialized distro for a particular use case or a general-purpose OS with a unique twist, let’s explore the road less traveled in the Linux landscape. Your insights could introduce fellow enthusiasts to their next favorite distribution!

  • @waz
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    2 months ago

    After using Linux regularly for a couple years, I did a Linux From Scratch build just for fun. I found it a really good way to learn all of the key pieces of Linux and understand a little bit better how they all work together.

    The way it’s setup, you get a choice to just copy paste commands and learn very little, or read the details and learn a bit more.

    I never really used it for anything other than education. Keeping it up to date and secure is almost prohibitively complicated, but I learned a lot from the process. I just looked at the project for the first time in a long time. It looks like they now have a section to track security vulnerabilities along with suggested changes to address them. Perhaps it could be viable as a distro, but I have no desire to go through the whole process again to try.