[sf-lug] Understandable to omit Debian from Best Small Linux Distros for 2024

[aaronco36 at sdf.org]

Previously at [1] I wrote...

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Perhaps appropriate to John S's intended Lubuntu install on the "Asus
Chromebook CB3-532-C47C with 2 gb of ram and a 16gb SSD" [2], there is a
recent LinuxConfig article entitled 'Best Small Linux Distros for
2024' [3],
...
...
On that LinuxConfig article's other distro recommendations, IMO, I
wouldn't necessarily recommend the fourth-ranked AntiX [4] or the
sixth-ranked MX Linux [5] :-\
The principal reasons for my negative recommendation of AntiX are 1) it
seems somewhat difficult to install for someone who has minimal experience
with Linux, 2) the various selectable Window Manager (WM) options can be a
bit confusing/offputting, and 3) the numerous layered right-mouseclick
menu options can also be a bit confusing :-(
AntiX's lightweight WM's _do_ enable speedier performance on low-end
hardware, though (again, IMO).
The principal reason for my negative recommendation of MX Linux is that
with XFCE, it is more of "midweight desktop environment" (its site even
states so at [5]) and thus may be slightly less suitable for that
lower-resource "Asus Chromebook CB3-532-C47C with 2 gb of ram and a 16gb
SSD".
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Additionally, re: Michael's expressed preference at today's Jit.si Meet
session for regularly installing "Debian -- The Universal Operating
System" ....

IMO, a Debian Linux distro installation can rate as a 2-level all the way
up to a 4-level, in an Ease-of-Installation scale of 1 (Very Difficult) to
5 (Very Easy).
For brief overview purposes, there is the useful "Choosing" section of the
Debian Wiki's 'DebianReleases' webpage[6].
On the one hand, one can choose an "accept-most-defaults" graphical
install using the current Debian 12 stable "Bookworm" and the install can
approach the relatively "quite easy" 4-level.

OTOH, one can also choose the Text mode Expert install option using the
current Testing "Trixie" as a relatively difficult 2-level install and
fill-in all the vast majority of installation options by oneself.
The "FAQ" section of the Debian Wiki's 'DebianUnstable' webpage[7]  even
states as much:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ quoting ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What are some best practices for testing/sid users?

The most important thing is to keep in mind that you are participating in
the development of Debian when you are tracking Testing or Unstable. This
means that you should know your way around Linux, Debian, and the Debian
packaging system.

There are a couple of things you can do in order to ease your life as a
testing/sid user such as ....[ten bulleted items]
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Just my own 2cents on this
-A


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UPDATED REFERENCES
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[1]http://linuxmafia.com/pipermail/sf-lug/2024q4/016061.html
[2]http://linuxmafia.com/pipermail/sf-lug/2024q4/016057.html
[3]https://linuxconfig.org/best-small-linux-distros-for-2024
[4]https://antixlinux.com/
[5]https://mxlinux.org/
[6]https://wiki.debian.org/DebianReleases/#Choosing
[7]https://wiki.debian.org/DebianUnstable/#FAQ
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