what benefits does arch have over say debian or ubuntu
Posted by Responsible_Star5210@reddit | linux | View on Reddit | 32 comments
I have used both and find no reason to use arch over debian I just want why everyone is saying use arch from my experiences I find debain much better but part of the reason I don't like arch is because I have only used it in the steam deck (yes they did switch from ubuntu to arch recently) because that does have wired oddities and needs extra steps for sudo pacman to work but in my opinion not having .deb is the worst part
c_creme@reddit
the aur is 🆒?
plasticbomb1986@reddit
for arch and rolling release: vulnerabilities and bug fixes getting to the users faster.
iHarryPotter178@reddit
No benefit.. Only downside 😎...
bonchokey@reddit
We love outdated software and incompatibility with current gen hardware apparently.
iHarryPotter178@reddit
Outdated software is better than alpha software... And now you can basically use flapak, app image to get all the latest apps..
bonchokey@reddit
A lot of people don't like Flatpaks/App Images for many reasons though.
iHarryPotter178@reddit
Not liking vs having a working computer... Arch will break.. 100%...So it's stupid to use it..
bonchokey@reddit
I have used Arch for years and never once has it broke. I've modified my grub, installed any package I want, updated any time I want, nada. I understand it's a risk but that has yet to happen to me so my opinion is based on that.
iHarryPotter178@reddit
I used too.. It broke after 6 months and right before my exam... It was the worst experience...
bonchokey@reddit
Ouch yeah that's brutal, realistically though you should probably avoid updating or anything in crucial moments like that. It's not Windows and it doesn't force you to update lol, I haven't heard of it breaking without updating or fucking around with stuff yourself.
iHarryPotter178@reddit
I didn't update.. Everything worked the previous night.. Next day it would not start.. 😢
bonchokey@reddit
Sorry that happened to you man, if I did have school or work to do on my machine I would be hesitant to run Arch too. Admittedly I've never used vanilla arch, I've only used SteamOS, CachyOS, and Manjaro. That could play a factor, I'm not all that invested on Arch supremacy or anything. Arch based distros have simply been the only ones where I am allowed to do what I want to do and I have yet to see the consequences.
iHarryPotter178@reddit
Yeah.. I learned the lesson to never use arch on my important machine..
skcortex@reddit
Hardware incompatibility with Ubuntu?
bonchokey@reddit
Features on new hardware yes like using FSR4 natively.
iHarryPotter178@reddit
There are custom kernel for Ubuntu.. And you can even use latest kernel from Ubuntu repo..
FattyDrake@reddit
Depends on the hardware. For something like drawing tablets, most of the problems I see folks having would be solved by using Fedora instead of Ubuntu.
archontwo@reddit
My only real beef with Arch, which is not really a design choice, it is just what happens when you set things up this way, is the double edged sword that is the AUR.
Sure some packages are genuinely the best way to install things but there is no guarantee that in a few years time it will even be the best way or updated.
It is the same reservations I had about Ubuntu PPAs, which in paper sounded like a great idea. In practice often lead to a massive problem down the line with dependency hell.
Don't get me wrong. Flatpaks have this issue too but a least they run isolated so are oblivious to host changes even when not maintained.
But ultimately it is all down to what suits your time and effort. I spent decades in twiddling with Linux from compiling my own compilers, to building my own X Server. I was much younger and eager then, and while I cherish the experience of living on the edge, I really have no desire to re-live it anytime soon.
Soham_656@reddit
Arch has latest packages and new features which are prone to break. Regarding your second issue, you can always use distrobox or AUR to get deb apps in Arch.
LurkingDevloper@reddit
There aren't really any benefits, just trade-offs.
Debian and Ubuntu prioritize ease-of-use. This means that packages you pull will have many more dependencies for maximum functionality. Arch prioritizes minimalism and user choice, so packages will generally only have the dependencies they need to run.^(This does not apply to the AUR!)
Arch also uses a rolling release delivery. This is in contrast to Debian or Ubuntu that typically have their stables come out in 2 year intervals. This means you always have more up to date packages, but it does also mean your system is more likely to encounter errors.
Ubuntu and Debian also have significantly more direct vendor support, as virtually everyone has a
.debto give you. But, Arch users will usually have some kind of port for you in the AUR if not the main repo.Lower-Limit3695@reddit
Adding on Arch lacks mandatory access control like app armor or selinux. Ubuntu and Debian comes with it set up out of the box and both come with ufw by default.
not_ethan_ho@reddit
“i use arch btw”
ArtlessAnarchy@reddit
AUR and the availability of niche packages. No need to build and one command away. (Just read PKGBUILDs and look at the source)
ingmar_@reddit
I find your lack of punctuation disturbing.
missionhawk@reddit
I think most people will say that pacman (+the AUR if you validate the packages before installing) as a lot more soctware then .deb. I however cannot say anything usefull about that part. Other reasons are the having the latest updates of a package. So if you use a hyper new hardware, the driver will already be in Arch(-based) systems, while systems with later updates will not yet. Same for newest functions for packages. This is mostly a personal thing, if you don't care for bleeding edge, then this is not a big reason for you.
Lastely and my personal reason. Using Arch, and I mean full Arch and not a derivative distro like SteamOS, is very empty. This makes me fully in control of all design and system choices (exept init system, then you have to go to Artix). This means that I can make the system completly how I want it to be and makes ricing (not really my thing) even bigger. And I now know a lot better how my system works, then when I would just use a pre build distro with a DE. It forces you to learn. So then it also becomes a hobby.
TLDR; Arch has newer packages and you can build it from the ground up
neoneat@reddit
I mean it's 2026 why the hell I still need to see stupid lazy ass question like this after almost 20 years of social network.
mishrashutosh@reddit
I love both Arch and Debian. True community based distros that aren't beholden to their parent corp's limitations and aspirations. Arch scratches my itch to try newer software versions while being relatively stable. Debian is rock solid and pretty much idiot proof. I have put Debian with unattended-upgrades on my parents' and some other elderly relatives' PCs. Zero issues. I just need to check in every 2-4 years and upgrade to the next major version. I also use either Debian or Alma on servers.
Last_Champion_3478@reddit
Rolling release and being on the bleeding edge and also the lore of being able to say I use arch btw
bonchokey@reddit
Steam deck has never been Ubuntu gang. The primary reason is people want to have the up to date software and kernel especially with current gen hardware now using advanced upscaling and things like that. Instead of waiting months or years to get an update, you can choose to update to current at any moment. I've only used Arch and Fedora and much prefer Arch since I wasn't even able to get NordVPN to work.
mtlnwood@reddit
If you are happy with what you have, then you are not missing anything. If you find that you need more apps you use to be on the very latest version and your ubuntu repository doesn't have it forcing you to compile your own etc then Arch could give you those things with more regular updates.
If you are like most users and you do the OS update every now and then never knowing what is changing and whatever has changed didn't impact you then take the win of ubuntu. Things will be more stable and you wont from time to time be wondering why an upgrade is not working or how to recover something.
matsnake86@reddit
You can use deb packages on any distro nowadays Just by using distrobox.
Anyway. Arch Is a Rolling release distro. Packages are Always up to date. Debian updates every 2 years. Except for Security patches that grt backported.
Angar_var2@reddit
latest package versions and potential instability vs older package versions and better stability