7 Linux distros you should avoid until you've mastered the command line
Published on: 2025-08-07 11:45:00
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In the decades since I started using Linux, I've experienced just about every distribution ever created, some of which were user-friendly and some of which were not. In some cases, I was determined to use them just for the bragging rights that I'd installed and used one of the most challenging operating systems on the planet. Other times, I just needed something to work out of the box.
Also: 5 ways to use the Linux terminal on your Android phone - including my favorite
If you're new to Linux, you've probably come across lists of distributions you should try first, like Ubuntu, Linux Mint, elementary OS, and others. What you might not have read, however, is a list of distributions you should avoid until you've mastered the command line and aren't afraid to do a lot of things manually.
But what are those distributions? Behold! The list.
1. Linux From Scratch
Linux From Scratch (LFS) is the single hardest take on Linux you'll find because it's not a distributi
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