7 Linux distros you should avoid until you've mastered the command line

Mike Hill/Getty Images

In the decades since I started utilizing Linux, I've experienced conscionable astir every distribution ever created, immoderate of which were user-friendly and immoderate of which were not. In immoderate cases, I was determined to usage them conscionable for the bragging rights that I'd installed and utilized 1 of the astir challenging operating systems connected the planet. Other times, I conscionable needed thing to enactment retired of the box.

Also: 5 ways to usage the Linux terminal connected your Android telephone - including my favorite

If you're caller to Linux, you've astir apt travel crossed lists of distributions you should effort first, similar Ubuntu, Linux Mint, simple OS, and others. What you mightiness not person read, however, is simply a database of distributions you should debar until you've mastered the bid enactment and aren't acrophobic to bash a batch of things manually.

But what are those distributions? Behold! The list.

1. Linux From Scratch

Linux From Scratch (LFS) is the azygous hardest instrumentality connected Linux you'll find due to the fact that it's not a organisation per se. Instead, LFS is simply a acceptable of instructions for gathering your ain organisation from the crushed up. Sounds hard, right? It is. One of the reasons LFS exists (other than creating chill Linux distributions) is to assistance radical larn 3 important deep-dive concepts:

• Compiling the kernel
• Installing basal strategy software
• Configuring and installing hardware drivers

When you person a coagulated knowing of those 3 concepts, the sky's the bounds with what you tin bash connected Linux. On apical of that, erstwhile you decorativeness with LFS, you'll person a customized Linux organisation that you tin either usage yourself oregon administer to the world.

2. Gentoo

Gentoo Linux is the astir challenging of each the Linux distributions available. The crushed Gentoo is truthful challenging is that you person to compile everything from root -- from the OS to the apps. If you've ever compiled an app from source, you cognize however challenging dependency spirals tin be. You effort to compile App X, lone to find retired it depends connected App Y, but App Y depends connected App Z -- and truthful on. I've spent hours trying to lick dependency issues, and it's not fun. Imagine doing that for each azygous app connected a system. 

Also: 5 champion Linux distros for staying anonymous - erstwhile a VPN isn't enough

Until you consciousness similar you've mastered the fundamentals of Linux, don't adjacent deliberation astir Gentoo.

3. Arch Linux

Arch Linux gets the motion due to the fact that the installation process isn't astir arsenic user-friendly arsenic different distributions. Unlike immoderate of the forks of Arch (such arsenic Manjaro), determination is nary GUI OS installer, which means it's each handled from the bid line. That is not to accidental the installation is intolerable for newcomers. The developers person simplified the process somewhat, acknowledgment to the archinstall command. Instead of having to archetypal make an installation file, you tin tally the bid and reply the questions. 

Also: How to instal Arch Linux without losing your mind

Even with archinstall available, I wouldn't urge Arch to anyone caller to Linux.

4. Slackware

Slackware is 1 of the oldest Linux distributions connected the market. While Slackware is besides 1 of the astir unchangeable operating systems connected the planet, it lacks the modular fare of user-friendly tools and automated updates. Additionally, Slackware uses the slackpkg bundle manager, which requires cleaning up older packages earlier installing caller ones. The astir challenging facet of Slackware, however, is that it offers nary automated dependency solution (similar to Gentoo). This tin origin problems for caller users who are accustomed to utilizing an App Store for installing applications. 

Also: The 5 champion rolling merchandise Linux distributions - and wherefore you should beryllium utilizing one

Using Slackware involves speechmaking a batch of antheral pages (and different documentation) for things that different distributions bash automatically.

5. NixOS

If you don't caput configuring each azygous facet of your system, NixOS is simply a bully option. Beyond that, NixOS uses a unsocial bundle manager that requires you to deliberation astir however you privation each portion of your strategy to behave (such arsenic the UI, network, and security). Another challenging facet of NixOS is installing non-free software. Fortunately, NixOS has created the search.nixos.org tract that allows you to hunt for an app and presumption instructions connected however that app is installed. But for those unfree apps, you person to acceptable nixpkgs.config.allowUnfree = existent successful /etc/nixos/configuration.nix. 

Also: The 6 Linux distros I urge astir for gaming successful 2025

With a small effort, you tin get NixOS up and running, but it won't beryllium a locomotion successful the park.

6. Void Linux

Void Linux isn't based connected different distribution, arsenic it was created from scratch. Like galore of the distributions connected this list, Void uses a unsocial bundle manager (xbps), which is akin to Arch's pacman. To instal an application, you would usage thing similar sudo xbps-install -S git. One absorbing diagnostic of xbps is that it besides allows you to instal from source. To bash that, you would clone a repository (or download the source) and past build/install the bundle with the pursuing commands:

./xbps-src pkg PACKAGE
sudo ./xbps-src instal PACKAGE

Where PACKAGE is the sanction of the bundle to install. Void Linux does see Flatpak support, truthful you bash get a spot of user-friendliness determination (although without a useful GUI).

Also: I'm a Linux powerfulness user, and this distro made maine rethink what an operating strategy tin be

Another contented with Void Linux is that it doesn't usage systemd arsenic its system/service manager. For some, that's really a bonus, but those who are caller to Linux volition find that overmuch of the accusation connected the web is astir systemd. Finding documentation astir OpenRC isn't astir arsenic elemental (nor is that init strategy casual to use).

Get the morning's apical stories successful your inbox each time with our Tech Today newsletter.