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!

  • ___@l.djw.liEnglish
    4·
    2 months ago

    That sounds like true freedom, and also like something I wish deeply that I had time and energy to make my daily driver - I’m a purist, but I’m also a pragmatist and i can feel the burnout already.

    Respect for using it as a daily driver - even for a personal only machine, that’s a pretty high bar, especially long term.

    • Dario
      1·
      2 months ago

      I appreciate your comment. You know, I have a typical x86-64 system and I need a proprietary firmware for my graphics card. You can use Parabola GNU/Linux-libre with proprietary software although this use case is explicitly unsupported. My rationale for using it this way is that at least I know that no non free software is supposed to slip by unnoticed. I try to stay purist to a pragmatic extent. My residential gateway that is also my home server and personal cloud runs completely on free software, wireless firmware included, with LibreCMC - no non free software there. My home computer, a typical x86-64-based system, has the usual bunch of stock non free firmwares inside and a firmware for my graphics card loaded by the kernel. I also play proprietary video games in an unprivileged container. Everything else is free software.