Which Linux distribution is right for a workstation?

Question

linux

Good day.

I decided to switch to Linux on the desktop completely. Now Linux "lives" in a virtual machine and I constantly use it for work (Java programmer), on a Windows 7 host (which is already EOL). In a Gentoo virtual machine. I have experience with FreeBSD on servers.

Computer configuration: Ryzen 1700, 48 Gb RAM, GTX 660, HDD 1 Tb + SSD 1 Tb (NVMe)

Please advise the distribution kit for the following requirements:
1. Programming in Java. Docker.
2. Games (mostly what's on Steam). What will not start in wine / proton - figs with him. So the ability to install a driver for a video card is necessary.
3. The ability to customize everything that is possible. The choice of WM is required (now I live with i3wm and am very satisfied, I don’t want to leave it)
4. Binary-based (preferably with the ability to build from source if necessary). Using Gentoo got tired of compiling software all the time.
5. Rolling release. Easy upgrade process.
6. Popular, with an active community so that you can ask for help in solving some problems.

An independent search showed that, as far as I understand, Arch Linux is suitable for these requirements. Are there any other distributions that fit my needs and are worth paying attention to?

Answer 1

The question is, why are you not satisfied with the current state of affairs?
as a host - windows 7, to run everything that linux cannot do or access to equipment in
the virtual machine, the desired OS is spinning, a few for experiments
The gentoo USE feature is unlikely to be surpassed by anyone.
ps If you want linux on the host, then use lxc containers and virtualization to the fullest, choose a new container for any Wishlist, you can almost always do this, you may need more disk space (try zfs as a file system for the host if you have ssd, then you won’t notice the overhead for it, but online deduplication will solve the problem with space when using the same containers)

Answer 2

A distribution kit is nothing more than a set of software that is installed out of the box. So take your pick. If you want without problems - Ubuntu/Kubuntu, gentoo like - https://www.calculate-linux.org/ .
I myself sit with Windows and WSL 2 + dockers for development is enough for my eyes.

Answer 3

Debian. Satisfies all requirements except this:

5. Rolling release.

(partially covered by backports). Which is not needed for a working machine. If this is not clear, then Linux has not grown up yet.

Answer 4

ubuntu server. then put the desktop to taste
Or ready - Linux Mint

Answer 5

Well, what does Genta not like? Well, with the exception of games, of course - games in linux are something beyond. A normal game will still not start, but for a ten-year-old game, VB with Windows is enough.
Binary-based with the ability to build does not happen. It happens either binary-based or source-based with the ability to install binary packages - like in Gent and FreeBSD. Binary-based is only binary-based, even self-assembly by hand is contraindicated for it, because it breaks the list of installed software.
The Calculate Linux advised above is a "Russian Genta", a Russian-language Gentoo-based distribution approved by the Ministry of Communications. Moreover, it can be controlled both by specific cl-based utilities (cl - this is from the word Calculate), and by ordinary Gent ones.

echo "FEATURES="getbinpkg" >> /etc/portage/make.conf/custom

and genta stops building the package from source if the build options of your machine and the host where it was built do not differ.
But I once ran into a jamb when, after rebuilding glibc, the binary packages refused to run and now the first thing I enter is disabling getbinpkg :)

Answer 6

For WORKSTATION RHEL Desktop/Workstation only!

Answer 7

>Which Linux distribution is suitable for a workstation?
standard answer - which one YOUR system administrator chooses