I've been using Linux since around 2017 or 2018, and I've spent the last six months on Debian Trixie. My laptop gets used mainly for work tasks and occasional GIMP, and I mostly play small, 2D games like Dwarf Fortress or Stardew Valley, so gaming performance isn't really a concern. My laptop has a Ryzen 5 5500U with integrated graphics and no dedicated GPU. I don't customize my desktop much, as I'm mostly using it for average daily tasks. Given my experience level, do you think transitioning to Arch would be too much for me, or would it make sense to try something like Manjaro or EndeavourOS first?
2 Answers
The ArchWiki is your best friend when getting started with Arch. It has everything you need to know, so just be ready to invest some time and patience into learning. Since you've been using Linux for a while now, I think you have a good foundation to start with Arch if you're really interested. Just be prepared for some hands-on experience.
Honestly, the only thing you really need to know about using Arch is to bring up that you use it at every chance you get! But on a serious note, it sounds like you're just a bit curious about it. I found the install process surprisingly smooth. You're going to deal with different packagers, like Pacman and the AUR, and frequent updates can make it feel like you're beta testing sometimes. However, I've never had a catastrophic failure during my experience.
I've had a long-standing curiosity about Arch, and I think the idea of crafting my own desktop setup is too exciting to pass up. But I get nervous about breaking my laptop since it's my only machine.