Video summary

I Tried Every Major Linux Distro So You Don't Have To (Here's What I Found)

Main summary

Key takeaways

Educational

Main ideas / lessons

  • There are many Linux distributions, but your choice should match your goal and experience level. The speaker frames distro selection around two beginner contexts:

    1. Casual switchers coming from Windows/macOS
    2. Career-minded learners aiming for a high-paying tech job (DevOps)

  • Linux Mint is best for casual users because it feels familiar and is easy to start using quickly.

  • Ubuntu Desktop is best for “daily driver” learning with career relevance because it aligns with enterprise usage (Ubuntu Server) and provides an accessible entry into terminal/production-like skills.
  • Fedora is a stable, enterprise-adjacent workstation choice maintained by Red Hat, giving exposure to the Red Hat ecosystem.
  • Some Arch-based “beginner-optimized” distros are criticized for bundling too much proprietary software and altering defaults that teach bad habits.
  • Arch Linux is presented as the “ultimate” path to real Linux proficiency—minimal by default, forces you to build/understand your system, and helps you develop genuine competence.
  • NixOS is treated as an advanced, niche option: define the OS as code, but it’s discouraged for most people due to low industry relevance and the need to learn a programming language.

Distro-by-distro recommendations (with the “why”)

1) Linux Mint — recommended for casual users

  • Goal: switch away from Windows/macOS smoothly.
  • Why recommended:
    • Extremely popular (cites DistroWatch page-hit ranking and its “used by millions” claim).
    • Browser-based distro testing is mentioned via DistroSea.
    • Familiar UI/UX (taskbar-like placement, start/menu style, app grouping, file manager familiarity).
    • “Foolproof” feeling for quickly getting started.
  • Positioning: best for users who want something that “just feels like home.”

2) Ubuntu Desktop — recommended for career-minded beginners

  • Goal: build skills that translate to job-relevant Linux usage.
  • Why recommended:
    • Ubuntu is widely used in enterprise via Ubuntu Server, so learning Ubuntu Desktop also gives overlap with server experience.
    • Ubuntu integrates with WSL, making it an “on-ramp” for Windows users.
    • Terminal experience on Ubuntu Desktop is framed as close enough to production/server workflows.
    • Includes essential apps out of the box and “works anywhere” (drivers, mic, webcam).
  • Tradeoff noted: UI differs from Mint/Windows (e.g., panel/taskbar placement), which can be “jarring,” but is manageable.

3) Fedora — recommended for a stable workstation experience

  • Goal: a robust desktop that still connects to enterprise ecosystems.
  • Why recommended:
    • Speaker’s own usage is referenced (running Fedora workstation for ~6 months).
    • Stable, elaborate workstation distro, with multiple flavors/spins.
    • Maintained by Red Hat (enterprise Linux provider).
    • Provides experience with the Red Hat ecosystem.
  • Suggested starting points:
    • Fedora Workstation
    • For Windows switchers: KDE Plasma desktop is suggested as familiar.

4) “Kashi OS” (unclear spelling; likely CachyOS) — popular Arch-based performance distro (but not personally recommended)

  • Goal: high performance via Arch-based optimizations.
  • Why it’s mentioned:
    • Highly ranked on DistroWatch page hits (speaker notes this could reflect traffic rather than verified users).
  • What’s claimed:
    • Performance-oriented approach (CPU-optimized package repository; compiling packages with optimizations).
  • Speaker’s critique / personal stance:
    • The speaker hasn’t personally needed extra performance tuning (workloads: coding, containers; modern devices).
    • Prefers going directly to Arch Linux instead.

5) “Omar-chi” (likely Ultramarine Linux) — explicitly advised NOT to use

  • Background / positioning:
    • Built on Arch and includes an “Oh My Zsh”-style polished workflow for terminal aesthetics and productivity demos.
  • Major criticisms:
    • Why Arch for beginners? Arch is described as historically less stable; beginners should start with more stable distros (Mint/Fedora/Ubuntu).
    • Over-bundling and proprietary bias:
      • Includes AI/dev tooling, many GUI apps (e.g., an emphasis on bundling a video editor “by default” even if most people don’t need it).
      • Includes commercial apps/services (1Password, Spotify, Dropbox, NordVPN).
      • Includes a Windows VM (the “point is to get away from Windows” critique).
      • Includes creator-related products (speaker identifies the creator as DHH and references “Hey” and “Basecamp”).
    • Teaches bad command-line habits:
      • Allegedly changes tmux default key bindings, which the speaker frames as a dangerous practice for someone aiming to be competent on real servers (mismatched keybinds could matter in high-stakes environments).
  • Verdict: “skip it”; better path is directly to Arch Linux.

6) Arch Linux — recommended for the best “real Linux proficiency”

  • Goal: become genuinely skilled by building and understanding your system.
  • Core argument:
    • Arch is minimal (“blinking cursor”), forcing you to configure what you use.
    • Requires effort, but results in full control and deep understanding.
  • Recommended learning progression:
    • Start with something like Ubuntu, then once comfortable (speaker references completing their course), move to Arch.
  • Professional credibility logic:
    • The speaker implies that someone who truly built/encrypted an Arch setup from scratch demonstrates a baseline skill.
    • If someone says they installed Arch “by using Arch E” (likely “archinstall”), the speaker reads this as less hands-on understanding.
  • Resources advantage:
    • Arch Wiki is praised as one of the best Linux documentation resources.
    • Even for other distros, the speaker says they personally consult the Arch Wiki first.

7) NixOS — advanced option; recommended not to use in most cases

  • Goal: reproducible, “OS as code” system management.
  • What makes it special:
    • Entire OS is defined/configured as code.
  • Reasons the speaker usually discourages it:
    • Low industry relevance in general.
    • Learning requires a complete programming language.
    • Speaker reports (from hearsay) that documentation/community learning experience can be difficult.
  • What changed the speaker’s perspective slightly:
    • Speaker cites that France plans to replace Windows with a hardened configuration built on NixOS—increasing perceived legitimacy.
  • Final recommendation:
    • “99% of the cases: no—don’t use it.”

Method / learning path presented (implicit “instructional” progression)

  • If you want the simplest switch from Windows/macOS:
    • Install/use Linux Mint first for familiarity and quick onboarding.
  • If you want career-relevant Linux experience as a beginner (daily driver):
    • Use Ubuntu Desktop so you also gain overlap with Ubuntu Server expectations.
    • Treat terminal usage as preparation for production-like workflows.
  • If you want stable workstation + enterprise ecosystem exposure:
    • Use Fedora Workstation (optionally KDE Plasma if coming from Windows).
  • Avoid certain “Arch-based beginner polish” distros if they:
    • Bundle too many proprietary/commercial apps,
    • Alter core defaults in ways that create mismatch with real professional workflows (e.g., tmux key bindings).
  • To become highly proficient (hard mode):
    • After building skills with a beginner-appropriate distro and their course,
    • Move to Arch Linux and configure it thoroughly yourself,
    • Use the Arch Wiki to solve issues and learn deeply.

Speakers / sources featured

Speaker / persons

  • Mischa (channel host; senior DevOps engineer, nurse earlier in career, and career coach)

Sources / websites / tools referenced

  • DistroWatch.com (popularity/ranking via page hit maps)
  • DistroSea (browser-based distro testing)
  • Arch Wiki (key resource praised)

Organizations / companies referenced

  • Red Hat (maintains Fedora; enterprise Linux)
  • Canonical (creator of Ubuntu; enterprise services)
  • France (government) (cited as planning Windows replacement using NixOS)
  • Developer/creator named “DHH” (connected to “Hey” and “Basecamp”; referenced in critique of Ultramarine)

Original video