I've never really used Linux before, but I'm eager to dive in! After watching PewDiePie's video and browsing r/unixporn, I'm super excited about personalizing my setup. I'm a software engineer with some basic terminal skills, but I wouldn't say I'm a pro. I primarily want to use Linux for web browsing, Discord, Spotify, single-player gaming, and coding. I'm considering Arch with Hyprland, but I'm curious if that's too tough for a beginner or if it's stable enough to avoid constant breaks. I also want to dual boot with Windows for necessary applications and multiplayer gaming. Here are my specs: Ryzen 5 3600, Radeon RX 5700, and 16GB of 2999MHz RAM. Would you recommend going with Arch, or are there better, customizable alternatives?
6 Answers
You can try Arch if you're ready to read the wiki and take your time learning the ropes. If you're looking for a gentler introduction, there are Arch-based distros like CachyOS that can give you a feel for the system without the full commitment of Arch right away.
Honestly, just don’t jump straight into Arch. It can be a lot for someone new.
Consider checking out CachyOS with KDE. It’s quite customizable and built on Arch, so it's less overwhelming. Once you feel more confident with Linux, you can always give Arch a try. I went from Bazzite to Fedora and now I'm really enjoying CachyOS!
CachyOS or Endeavour might be good choices too. If you’re set on Hyprland, look into Kool's scripts; they simplify installation on Arch as well as Debian. It can make the config process much easier!
Ask yourself if you’re ready for a learning curve. If so, go for it! If you think it might be too much, sticking with Windows isn’t a bad choice.
You can achieve similar customizations on any distro, not just Arch. If you choose Arch, just stick to the install guide and you should be alright!
That sounds like a solid plan! I think transitioning slowly is a smart way to handle it.