Which Linux Distro to choose?

After migrating to Nextcloud, I’ve been thinking about switching back to Linux as my daily driver operating system. I used Linux for years before eventually returning to Windows.

My current Windows 11 setup works flawlessly. Development is done in an Ubuntu-based WSL, and my most used software, Firefox, Thunderbird, VS Code, and LibreOffice (after recently switching back from Office 365), is all available on any Linux distro. So, technically, I could make the switch.

But the choice of Linux distros is overwhelming. I’ve used them all – Ubuntu, Fedora Silverblue, NixOS, and Alpine – on either desktop, server or both. Something declarative like NixOS sounds great, but I’ve found that adding software outside the repos can be cumbersome. An atomic system like Silverblue is tempting, as it provides a safety net when I inevitably break something. Ubuntu is always an option, but I’ve never loved apt and prefer something more lightweight, like Alpine’s apk, especially when uninstalling things.

Currently, I’m leaning toward Alpine, running most applications as Flatpaks or in Docker containers. But is musl a problem?

Too many choices, but I’m determined to align my tech with my ideals and leave the Microsoft world behind.

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