Pop!_OS Review: My First Linux Distro

In July, I decided to explore what Linux could offer me as a developer. At first, I had no clue what to expect, but after diving into countless YouTube videos, I started to see its appeal. Interestingly, some of my favorite streamers—who happen to be CS majors—also use Linux for gaming and coding.

The Rabbit Hole of Linux Distros 🐇

I quickly fell into researching all the different Linux distros. I was immediately drawn to Arch and Kali since they seemed powerful and “elitist” in a way. But I knew Arch was probably too complex for me as a first step. That’s when I found Pop!_OS—a distro that’s beginner-friendly and comes with features like the Pop!_Shop for easy app management.

Visual Appeal 🎨

Before I even got familiar with Linux itself, I was hooked by how customizable the desktops looked on Reddit. Unfortunately, my own creativity hasn’t really unlocked that potential yet. Still, I know once I get more comfortable, I’ll eventually switch to Arch and take customization to another level.

Usability: The Good and the Bad 🖥️

The Good

One of my biggest discoveries was just how useful the command line really is compared to Windows. It’s been game-changing for my workflow.

• Fully customize my terminal
• Efficiently navigate my files and code
• Streamline my development process

The result? Productivity boost! 📈

The Bad

Pop!_OS sometimes feels a bit sluggish on my ThinkPad T540p. It’s not the most powerful laptop, and I suspect all the extra user-friendly features weigh it down. It can get frustrating when I’m only running VS Code and a few browser tabs.

Final Verdict

“Overall, I’d give Pop!_OS a 7/10.”

As my first Linux distro, Pop!_OS has been a solid experience. I enjoy using it, but I know some of the positives come from simply being new to Linux. Once I get more fluent, I’m excited to jump to Arch Linux and really boss up.

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That’s my first Linux experience. Have you tried Pop!_OS, or do you recommend another distro for beginners?