Linux Distro List for Ian
Below you will find a list of some distributions I'd recommend. Now a distro doesn't nessicarily mean you're tied into a desktop envorinment. Many of these support many different ones out of the box.
Super quick definitions of basic terms for linux os setups:
Distro (distribution) -> The whole package. The kernel, package manager (software getter), and anything that is default and/or pre installed for that distro (for some this is as little as humanly possible)
Desktop environment -> the GUI. File manager, widgets, login screen, task bar, etc. Some are more fleshed out than others. Pick your poison.
Window manager -> the app within a Desktop environment that controls how windows are positioned and drawn. Layout and management of windows. All that jazz. You can run these without a DE to keep things super light weight and only bring the peices you want. This is my preferred way to run things these days but it's totally a preference thing. Many prefer a fully fledged desktop.
Pop!_OS
https://system76.com/pop/download/
Pop!OS Cosmic is the one I typically recommend if you want to start out with something plug and play, but extremely well designed and still powerful. Because it's Ubuntu based it's super stable and you won't have many issues getting stuff running. System 76 makes their own hardware to sell so they have it in their best interest to keep it well maintained. It's a little bit Mac like in how you navigate, but honestly most modern OS UI's are similar these days anyways. They keep it lean but pretty. I'll add if you like Cosmic you can use their desktop environment with other distros.
Arch (btw)
If you wanna be a hot hacker big boy Arch is the way. It can be dense and stuff will for sure break at some point. But they have a CLI installer now that makes installing super easy. And you can run a lot of popular desktop environments on arch to make it more beginner friendly. Powerful, extremely current, but not for the feint of heart.
I personally run Arch except for on my server these days and it's what I'm the most comfortable with. It's a bit to wrap your head around but once you get it you feel like a god.
Arch based distros
There's a variety of Arch based distros that shave of some of the more obtuse sides and heavy lifting to various degrees. They give you the benefit of the bleed edge and current-ness of Arch without as many of the headaches and density.
CachyOS
https://cachyos.org/ I don't have personal experience with Cachy but I've heard good things. Gamers like it because it's built to lean into performance. It's popular and very well maintain.
EndeavorOS
https://endeavouros.com/ I've used Endeavor a couple times before just to get Arch up and running quickly. They have a lot of the most popular desktop environments available and it's also very popular and well maintained.
Omarchy
https://omarchy.org/ This isn't so much a distro as it is a very well thought out and very opinionated (by it's own admission) packaged set of configs and installs for Arch. If you want to dip your toes into the world of tiling window managers this is a great way to do it. It's put together and maintained by DHH (the guy who created Ruby on Rails and he co owns 37signals) and it's popular so it's not going anywhere. And even if it did it's just Arch and config files so you can take what you like and leave.