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.
It could certainly be simplified.
New to Linux > No > Do you value your mental health and sanity > No > Arch.
Hmm. The enterprise linuxes missing as usual.
“new to Linux” is not accurate.
I’ve been using Linux since kernel 1.2.13. I chose a “noob friendly” desktop OS because the last time I used a gui on Linux was Xfree86 in 1995ish with the modeline hell; even while helping build, support, defend and maintain AT&T Unix and enterprise Linux, we were all back to w98se because of the non-fuckery GUI experience.
With w10 dying, I finally needed to kill win7 at home, and I’m back with the “noobie” Linux version.
Point is, I’m no noob. I’ve been on Linux enough that when I went back to a GUI after 30 years, I just wanted a non-fuckery (and SLSA-observant) GUI to work with. Because life’s too fucking hairy to fuck with the GUI and other ancillary shit, some days.
Too much focus on Nvidia, AMD is da wae!
EDIT: Seriously though, the chart is convoluted. If you like to game, you will always end up with Bazzite or Nobara. In theory you could also add SteamOS, right?
Still cannot really decide which distro to try sometime soon. There is so much information out there, much of it opinionated.