I read in the manjaro forum that the preparations for the first immutable (Manjaro Summit) are underway. Maybe this will be one of the distros 2025
1 Like
Indeed. Searched it a found a testing thread:
Yes thats it. I am very curious
Has anyone reading this thread actually tried out âManjaro Immutableâ yet?
If so, any comments, thoughts? Is it usable enough to use for basic terminal and simple Web browsing? If so, that may be âgood enoughâ to snag it, but of the various Arch Linux derivatives, in the past Iâve not done very well with Manjaro, whereas, surprisingly enough, EndeavourOS has worked GREAT for me - Iâve actually kept it around for a couple of years already, and 3-4 months ago I added CachyOS to my collection and itâs also been very good; maybe Manjaro has also improved sufficiently to give it another look - but Iâm eager to hear at least a few comments, both pro and con; otherwise I have a LOT of already solid distributions; half a dozen installed, numerous others on removable media.
1 Like
My smaller tests before ~ 2 months was very positive. No crashes, no problems installing programs, etc.
Of course only in a VM but everything went as expected.
1 Like
Thanks @toadie, thatâs encouraging! Has anyone had the âcourageâ to actually INSTALL âManjaro Immutableâ yet on a system, whether a âprimaryâ system or a spare âtestâ system?
Toadieâs success is encouraging, but itâd be nice to hear from a few others too.
1 Like
My only device where I could install it bare metal is a bit old for a distribution like Manjaro. There is currently Archcraft with Openbox on it.
I will not touch my main computer 
1 Like
Iâve been testing EndeavorOS and CachyOS. While there are aspects of CachyOS which I like, I have to say that Iâm really impressed by EndeavorOS. Iâm actually thinking of switching to it for my daily driver. (Iâve been on LinuxMint for a few years now.) It seems very solid and just feels ârightâ. My one experience with Manjaro (a couple years ago?) was not a positive one.
1 Like
IronRod both of these Arch based systems are good.
Iâve been testing both and I am quite happy with them.
1 Like
Nothing wrong with sticking to Archcraft if itâs running well on older hardware. Openbox keeps it light and snappy. If youâre already on an Arch base, youâre not missing much by avoiding Manjaroâespecially if your experience wasnât great.
EndeavourOS is a nice middle ground: minimal, but still user-friendly. Still, no need to fix what isnât broken, especially if itâs not your main box.
1 Like
Article Updated for 2026:
This update adjusts the recommendations across all experience levels. Zorin OS and elementary OS are now featured in the beginners section, replacing Manjaro.
Manjaro was removed because it has become increasingly complex and buggy for newcomers, and so it is better suited for more experienced users.
New! CachyOS joins the Experienced Users lineup as a performance-tuned Arch-based distro.
Void Linux earns a spot in the Experts category for its independent, minimal design, while NixOS moves up as a Notable Mention for its declarative, reproducible model.
3 Likes
Greetings, @hydn! I just read your 2026 update on your Best Linux Distro - now Best Linux Distro (2026) and I noticed that two of the distributions I believe deserve mentions DID get added as an addendum to the previous lists - MX Linux and antiX Linux.
While I wonât toot any more on MX Linux, though I think it is one of the most solid middle weight distributions around, I will continue to make an issue about antiX. I simply canât understand why itâs not among the top five in the âold system, low poweredâ, lean resources category and hereâs why: none of the top five you list can run on systems as old as what antiX can handle. It takes low resources seriously enough that it leaves off many resource consuming applications by default, though it does have a simple package installing tool for those who CAN handle more resources. Moreover, it has better support for both newer AND older devices, with standard provisions for ancient Version 5 kernels, long term support Version 6 kernels, and plenty of forum comments and posts (Iâve made a number of them myself) about installing cutting edge Xanmod or Liquorix kernels for those who can run the newer stuff, so itâs both extremely lean, yet very customizable and scalable, so itâs fantastic for a geek like me. On my older hardware, I DO run those older kernels, so for example on my Dell Inspiron 5558 I can actually still run UNSUPPORTED Version 4 kernels, Version 5 and Version 6 kernels and Iâve used that system to test all three of these. On a newer Lenovo Thinkpad 14 Gen 3 laptop, I have to run at least a V6 kernel to support my WiFi, but there a 6.1, 6.6, 6.12, or even the very newest TEST Linux kernels run on this distribution and the newest laptop, so I give antiX top marks in scalability as well as lean efficiency; Iâve been an active testing and moderator to ensure that all of these traits are included, and in most of the releases over the years, the founder mentions several of us, including me, as testers and promoters of antiX, so here I am again, testing and promoting antiX on this Best Linux Distro (2026) comments page.
Regarding some other distributions, I see that my comments have been received too; Cachy OS got promoted and Manjaro Linux got demoted; I genuinely hope that Manjaro will get more serious about cross system testing and get back in the leading roles, but as of right now, Cachy OS and Endeavour OS stand apart when it comes to Arch-based systems.
All in all, you do a great job, and I thank you for listening to the comments youâve seen and Iâm confident that youâll continue to explore the systems and the alternatives. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for the detailed feedback @Brian_Masinick I really do appreciate insights from someone whoâs actively tested and extensively used antiX over the years.
Youâre absolutely right about its strengths: antiX runs on hardware that most modern distros simply canât touch, and the kernel flexibility (from older V4/V5 kernels all the way up to 6.x, Xanmod, and Liquorix) gives it a level of scalability that stands out in the lightweight category.
The only reason it didnât move into the top five beginners category is because that section is aimed at beginners who want something lightweight but also familiar out-of-the-box. antiX is incredible for efficiency and older systems, but it leans more toward users who donât mind a bit of tinkering. For pure low-resource performance, it absolutely deserves the recognition youâre giving it, and your case for elevating it is a strong one. This is why itâs featured here:
I also agree with you on the Arch-based space right now. CachyOS and EndeavourOS have pulled ahead, while Manjaroâs recent reliability issues make it harder to recommend to newcomers.
Your feedback is, however, noted, and I will reevaluate during the next update. .
2 Likes
As always, I value and appreciate your reasoning and points of view, and Iâm glad that you also have respect and interest in mine too. Weâre both about the same general things, but we have widely different backgrounds, so thanks again for your great work and attention to many interesting topics, many of which I wouldnât know at all without the excellence of you and our wonderful, diverse community!
1 Like
Your point is well taken because many beginners are sometimes moving from older Windows 10 systems. Will for now edit that notable mention section as well.
1 Like
I love how respectfully you treat each other!
1 Like
Updated:
AntiX â a highly efficient Linux distribution based on Debianâs Stable branch. This lightweight distro pairs well with older or low-power hardware.
The challenge I have next year is: out of these 5 Linux distros⊠Zorin OS, Ubuntu, Pop!_OS, Linux Mint, and elementary OS, which is the least beginner-friendly and why? 
Interesting. I spend a lot of time on a German forum that is very Linux Mint-heavy. I find what I read there off-putting. So many problems, and yet Mint is recommended time and time again.
I canât get to grips with any of your beginner distros, but if I had to, it would be Ubuntu.
Thatâs not because of your selection, but rather my expectations and experiences.
Iâm just not the target audience
1 Like
Debian is the most suitable distribution for beginners, but if there is someone who likes Linux Mint but not Ubuntu, I recommend LMDE. Debian provides the convenience of choosing the desired desktop environment even during installation.
1 Like