Garuda Linux is fantastic , it is my primary desktop for home. I have installed the swaywm version. Garuda uses BTRFS and Snapper. The system automatically backs everything up for you. Snapshots allow you to rollback whatever you want. Yes its based on ArchLinux, but Garuda has there own dev team and make sure everything just works. I really love Garuda Linux , especially there sway version and wayFire version. If you have more questions or need help just ask away.
I use Debian and have used Arch previously. I don’t have very good experiences with BTRFS from the past and bleeding-edge may or may not be a bit buggy as an experience. Maybe I will give it a try one day.
What are you using now?
I like the fact that Garuda uses the Calamares installer. I have Arch on a few computers/servers and I haven’t always been able to stick the landing on installation the first time around. I don’t install operating systems for a living so the easier the better.
I already use btrfs on my Arch installs and it seems fine for general desktop use, so I wouldn’t be too nervous about that aspect of Garuda if you have a good backup policy.
I’ve been using Garuda Dragonized for over a year. It’s been no problem at all, runs well and is obviously Arch behind the Garuda additions (which are few and pretty much optional to use). It’s a simple way to start using Arch.
They do provide some useful stuff -
garuda-updateis helpful enough and the maintainers are active, typically getting package fixes out on the day issues are identified.But yeah, it’s basically Arch. If you like Arch you’d like this, if you don’t like Arch you won’t. If you don’t want stuff pre-installed you won’t like the dragonized edition.
I’ve used pretty much every distro under the sun since I started using Linux as my primary desktop in 2001. I’m actually running Garuda now on my laptop and main desktop machine and love it.
I think Garuda is rock solid stable (it’s Arch so of course it is). I haven’t found a software package not available easily.
Give it a try. If you don’t like it then try something else. Thats what makes Linux so great. There’s so many choices.
Was thinking of all the distros I’ve run over the years. I know this isn’t a complete list and not in any particular order…
- redhat
- centos
- MX Linux
- Linux Mint
- PCLinuxOS
- Mandriva
- Gentoo
- Debian
- Ubuntu
- OpenSUSE
- Arch
and now Garuda.
