I’ve installed arch Linux and liked it, but lfs and Gentoo would be too time consuming compiling everything and not doing anything during and after install. Are there any distros like arch that don’t have me compiling everything?
NixOS or GNU Guix are your best options for advanced distributions. Guix is a much newer project so theres a lot of ways you can contribute.
Guix isn’t a Linux distro but it’s definitely unique and probably for advanced users! :)
lol I didn’t know Hurd was still a thing
They mean ‘Guix System’. Just like there is ‘Nix’ the package manager and ‘NixOS’ the distro, there is ‘Guix’ the package manager and ‘Guix System’ the distro.
Similar to arch in what way? What about arch don’t you like, you can look at other arch-based distros.
Most distributions have binary package managers anyways, so you won’t struggle to find some.
There isn’t anything about arch I specifically don’t like, I’d just like to see if there’s anything that’s better in a certain criteria I don’t yet know of.
There are lots of good distros. The question is a bit too vague for useful answers.
You could always try NixOS.
Arch may not be particularly easy to use, but it’s a simple system, in that you can build a mental model of your entire setup with a fraction of the effort and time that you’d need to expend with other systems. It gives you the standard Linux experience without fuss, or handholding.
Nix, however, gives you several capabilities that other systems won’t, but you’re paying for that through its learning curve.
Just enable flatpaks or install Pop_OS! and use only flatpaks.
Exactly. If it is the rolling nature op does actualy like perhaps opensuse tumblweed is a good one to try?
What’s the purpose? Which application do you have running on Linux that you think you need to compile everything, configure everything, and that will only run on an “advanced” distro?
Is it some high specialized clustered distributed high performance, high availability computing application where you need your own kernel tweaks in?
Or are you just a distro hopper, tinkering just for the sake of it and for imaginary bragging rights? If it’s for learning, try to establish a specific real goal and learn how to reach it.
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I like Void, it feels a little more like a BSD. But I’ve only really used it for experimentation, no idea what it’s like as a daily driver.
You could also try an actual BSD. OpenBSD has a very clear style and direction which I like but be careful when partitioning, they have their own ‘disklabel’ system. Updates are really streamlined with syspatch and sysupgrade.
NetBSD had a nice TUI installer. It may appear a bit less focussed on its aims but has a lot going for it: many supporter platforms, a friendly community, etc.
There’s also FreeBSD, DragonflyBSD, possibly more but I don’t have much experience with those.
The FreeBSD handbook is amazing for this! IMO the best guide out there for an operating system
Have you at least tried to install Gentoo? Everyone has to think they can, and fail, at least once in their lives.
This comment feels like an XKCD quote.
NixOS! I can’t for the life of me figure this shit out. It just won’t click for me but I get the advantages so I wanna use it so bad
I completely agree with this, I want to use it so badly but I think the documentation and other video tutorials aren’t explaining it in a way that clicks for me, maybe?
Try Void
What do you mean by “not doing anything during and after install” re Gentoo?
Your computer isn’t held hostage during compilation of that was your impression
Until it hangs because I tried to play Classic Doom.
What do you mean by “Like arch” exactly? What part of it would you like to keep in your next distro?
I’ve tried quite a few and have been on the debian train for ~5 years simply due to stability and usability
What do you need that Arch doesn’t provide?
OP is probably complaining about AUR packages needing to be compiled most of the time. In that case, use the chaotic AUR. If you don’t trust it, then compile the software from the AUR yourself.
My personal journey was Arch > Void > Gentoo > Arch > Nix > Void again > realizing there’s nothing really like Arch and going back for good. Hope this helps!
You don’t really compile anything during or after install with arch linux unless you find something on the AUR that needs to compile? If so, just look for <package_name-bin>.
Otherwise, a really nice system is NixOS.
Another is GNU Guix.
Are you just looking for something new to explore or are there issues you have with Arch that you hope do not exist on other distros? Simply put what is it you are looking for?
use the chaotic aur repo for Arch
Automated building repo for AUR packages
It’s not safe to use because it just compiles AUR packages. However, it’s good practice to have your data like personal info, game saves etc. in a encrypted vault away from the devices you use everyday. Even my boomer parents get this, I tell them their NAS needs be open like a safe with their Yubikey.
The AUR itself only got malware like once or twice. If you don’t trust binary blobs from some strangers then why do you trust my advice?
I don’t think there is much of a point switching away from Arch if you like it but as others suggested already NixOS seems like what you are searching for.
