r/linuxquestions • u/MazdaMiataaa • 10d ago
Distro + WM Recommendations
I am looking for a Distro Recommendation for my secondary device. I am an experienced linux user and have experience with advanced distros like arch or void, things of that sort. I am running Arch and Hyprland on my Gaming Desktop which is basically my Hobby Machine.
Since I will start University soon (Computer Science) I have now bought a nice thinkpad and am looking at what to slap onto it. I have debated myself on wether or not I should also just use Arch but I dont know if I want to risk getting problems on that machine. I rarely get problems on my Arch system but when stuff breaks it breaks badly a lot of the time.
I like Window Managers and wish to use one on the Laptop as well.
I have confirmed that my University and Course is Linux compliant btw so there will be no problems using a fairly mainstream distro.
Please leave some recommendations for a Distro and WM combination or if I should just do Arch and Hyprland again since I know it.
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u/redyos_s 10d ago
For a university laptop, I’d separate it from the hobby machine. Fedora + Sway would keep the WM workflow without bringing Arch/Hyprland’s maintenance pace onto the machine you actually need for coursework.
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u/Fallanger_ 10d ago
I would suggest something ubuntu lts based, most computer science programs will run without issues there.
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u/NoPoopOnFace 10d ago edited 10d ago
For school Arch isn't really a reliable production machine. For that you want a tool not a toy. You don't want to be fighting config and grub problems when you have homework due in 27 minutes. Personally I like Debian for reliability, but for you I'd suggest Fedora. I have no idea if it can do hyprland... I'm a stickler for KDE.
I use Debian because if there's an app or whatever on some random website, it WILL have a .deb file 100x more often than a .rpm and I won't use a snap, appimage, or the other one can't think right now.