Linux Distribution Difficulty Chart

Beginner-friendly Intermediate Hard mode Ubuntu Based on Debian Pop!_OS Based on Ubuntu elementary OS Based on Ubuntu (LTS) Mint Based on Ubuntu Zorin Based on Ubuntu Solus [Independent] Garuda Linux Based on Arch EndeavourOS Based on Arch Manjaro Based on Arch MX Linux Based on Debian Fedora Based on Red Hat OpenSUSE [Independent] Arch (Independent) – DIY Gentoo (Independent) – DIY Slackware (Independent) Linux From Scratch (Independent) – DIY Qubes OS Based on Fedora – security NixOS (Independent) – DIY

A tier-list-style chart shows Linux distributions arranged from beginner-friendly to hard mode, with Tux illustrations above each column. It jokes that some distributions are easy because they are based on Ubuntu or Debian, while Arch-based and independent systems—especially Linux From Scratch—require increasingly more technical skill. The meme is shared by Linux users when discussing distro difficulty and the stereotype that Arch and DIY distributions are for advanced users. EN: A tier-list-style chart shows Linux distributions arranged from beginner-friendly to hard mode, with Tux illustrations above each column. It jokes that some distributions are easy because they are based on Ubuntu or Debian, while Arch-based and independent systems—especially Linux From Scratch—require increasingly more technical skill. The meme is shared by Linux users when discussing distro difficulty and the stereotype that Arch and DIY distributions are for advanced users.

• @gentoomemes / 20433 2026-03-23