Hey everyone! I'm a total newcomer to Linux and I'm really excited to dive into ricing my desktop to make it look cool. I've been leaning towards Arch since I've read it offers a lot of flexibility for customization, but I've also heard it comes with a steep learning curve and tends to break often due to its frequent updates. I have some programming experience in C++ and Python but I'm completely new to Linux. I plan to install it on an older HP laptop. I'm looking for recommendations on a beginner-friendly distro that allows for ricing, especially with setups like Hyprland. Would Linux Mint or Ubuntu be good options? Appreciate any insights!
5 Answers
While many people suggest Mint, keep in mind that its Cinnamon environment isn't the best for ricing. If you're looking for solid customization options, Fedora with KDE or Kubuntu might be better suited for your needs. KDE has tons of features you can tweak, so once you feel comfortable there, you might explore more advanced setups like Arch.
If you're considering Hyperland, keep in mind that it's not very beginner-friendly. I've seen an experienced developer struggle for hours just to get simple keyboard remapping working with it, so I wouldn’t recommend it unless you're comfortable troubleshooting. You might want to stick with distros that have Hyperland versions. I think EndeavourOS is one option, but check it out to see if it's the right fit for you!
Linux Mint is generally considered the easiest for beginners, especially if you're used to a Windows-like environment. It's pretty straightforward and should be a good starting place. If you're looking for something more gaming-oriented, Pop!_OS is also a solid choice, but it has a different aesthetic to get used to. If you're up for some tinkering, Arch is the most 'pure' Linux experience, but be cautious—it can break easily! My advice? Try running a few distros from a USB and see which one clicks for you! I have Mint for my home server and Pop!_OS for gaming, and both have their charm.
Try looking into KDE Plasma as it's very customizable and you can find plenty of distros that come prepackaged with it. KDE Neon is a good choice if you want to play around with KDE stuff out of the box! It might help you achieve the look you want without diving deep into ricing myths right away.
Honestly, the distro isn't the biggest factor for ricing; it's more about the window manager you choose. Tiling window managers can be a nice way to go, but if you're unfamiliar with them, they can be a bit confusing at first. i3 and Sway are both popular, but don't shy away from exploring stacking window managers like Fluxbox or Openbox either. They can also be customized extensively to look nice!
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