Debian VS Arch Linux – Which is the better choice?
We compare Debian and Arch Linux. Maybe the two distros even have something in common that you haven’t seen before? Find out and be amazed.
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► Videos mentioned in this video:
Debian 12 Bookworm – My test:
Arch Linux in 2024 – My test:
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► Literature Recommendations for further education
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Desktop: Applications and Administration (English Edition):
https://amzn.to/457zTMu
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Server: Administration and Reference (English Edition):
https://amzn.to/43RGfi3
Linux Mint 21: Desktops and Administration (English Edition):
https://amzn.to/45dJIZy
Arch Linux: Quick Guide for Beginners (Linux for Beginners Book 2) (English Edition):
https://amzn.to/43Sl8w6
Linux Bible:
https://amzn.to/3DFSaov
Efficient Linux at the Command Line: Boost Your Command-Line Skills:
https://amzn.to/3OeNZoy
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I started as an Ubuntu user a decade ago and feel more comfortable around the Debian/Ubuntu and family side of things.
Arch is perfectly stable. I even still run it on a remote box. Everything just works, unlike the debian forks. So only go with those if you recommend them to someone who can't read – and if you aren't installing it for them.
Both have systemdeutschland though (and glibc). So I would still recommend Arch if you have Nvidia, but for everything else I would tell you to use Voidlinux. Alpine for simple servers. Be careful the void community is full of troons, and alpine's has emotionally unstable females.
If you have the stomach to configure the kernel though I would go with Gentoo. It's actually even easier than Arch, since when you need different compile flags you just have to set them, while on binary distros you have to compile it manually. The kernel though takes a bit to configure. I mean if you do it like I do, as in only have things in there you actually need. You could just as well just get the provided Gentoo config, or copy the one from Arch or whichever you like.
If you want actual security though, you would have to go with OpenBSD. It's my go to system for daily desktop usage. Don't use it for servers though, and don't let them fool you into thinking that pf is any good. It's shit.
Also keep in mind that "get woke, go broke" has been introduced to troonix. So it's only a matter of time until the product is so shit that nobody wants to use it anymore. I give it maybe another 10 years.
Honestly both are very good options. I prefer Debian because I really don't feel the need to have cutting edge stuff and prefer the stability. Also I'm a big fan of the free software movement, and have become suspicious of companies such as Red Hat and Canonical. Arch is community made too though, so that's not a factor in the choice between Debian and Arch. I like that they both exist.
I used to be a Ubuntu and Debian user but lately I started to feel the need to have more up to date packages so I switched to Arch. It really isn't all that bad. Its quite stable and I get the latest releases too.
Suse?
DEBIAN ….theres your answer!
It depends if you are an contemptuous, or not.
😄
I'm absolutely team Arch for the desktop. The stability issues of Arch are not that bad, perhaps it was unstable in the past but modern Arch is really stable with its updates and there's also the option of using Manjaro for a more stable Arch-based experience (which is what I personally recommend).
It's definitely not server material and never will be, but for a personal desktop computer the occasional upkeep is more than worth it in exchange for having the latest versions of every software and the convenience of the AUR is absolutely incredible.
Debian can be as up to date as any other distribution. Users wanting to use the latest software can simply switch to Debian Testing or, if they're feeling like living on the edge, they can use Debian Sid which is not all that different than running Arch.
Older hardware – Debian. If its not supported by the kernel, arch
I prefer Debian because Arch takes too much time and I want something that works more or less.