Linux users like to argue about which distros are best, especially on Reddit.This can be either generally or for a particular use case, such as on laptops.I wanted to look at some of the "worst" distros and see if they were really as bad as some Reddit users claimed.
Kali Linux You are most likely not a pentester Close Kali Linux is a distro based on Debian that includes a lot of popular security and penetration testing tools.It was even a favorite of a former editor of mine.The advantage is that it's all included in one distro instead of having to download components from other sources.
It's also more broadly popular among the Linux base, currently ranking at number 33 on DistroWatch's rankings (though these reflect web page hits and not necessarily downloads).The problem is that even though it ships with all of these tools, it's easy to shoot yourself in the foot unless you know what you're doing.Even more concerning, older versions of Kali Linux ran as root by default.
Even if you're not a security researcher, it's easy to see why this was a bad idea.Using a live version of Kali seemed pleasant enough.I would use something else as a daily driver, but since it was based on my favorite Xfce desktop, I found it serviceable.
If you do use security and penetration testing tools, use them only on a machine you own or have permission to scan.Manjaro An easy way to run Arch, btw Close One of the easiest ways to get geek cred is to install Arch Linux.You start with a bare console and build it up into a usable system, however you happen to see it.
"I run Arch btw" has become a meme in the Linux community because it seems like a way to prove that you have the technical mettle to handle a distribution where you have to install and configure everything by yourself.Arch is also famous for its rolling release distribution model.You install it once, and then you run the pacman package manager to keep everything updated.
Manjaro attempts to make this easier.You can download and install it just like a regular Linux distro.This saves time when you just want to get a system up and running.
I can see how Manjaro would get some hate over this from Arch users who had to earn their system.Manjaro has a live environment.It was perfectly serviceable.
Debian and Ubuntu are my primary distros, but this is something I could see myself using as a daily driver if I had to.Slackware A distro stuck in the '90s Slackware is one of the oldest Linux distros still in wide use, being around for over 30 years.It was founded by Patrick Volkerding in 1993 out of frustration with one of the popular early Linux distros, Softlanding Linux System, or SLS.
Volkerding was annoyed with the large number of bugs, as was Debian founder Ian Murdock around the same time.While Slackware is actively developed, some of its design choices seem stuck in the '90s.The bootloader is still LILO, while most distros have long since moved on to GRUB.
The release of new versions has also slowed.These choices seem to be how Volkerding wants it.The last version of Slackware was released in 2022, four years ago as of August 2026.
The default package manager also lacks automatic dependency resolution.I've had prior run-ins with Slackware.It was the second distro that I installed on a hard drive.
It doesn't seem to have changed much from the last time I tried it.The installation program is text-based.That doesn't bother me, being a child of the '90s, like Slackware.
If you wanted something more technical, I would probably recommend Debian or Arch.If you insist on doing things the hard way, it's better to have more current software.Void Linux A distro trying to be different Close Void Linux is a relative newcomer to the world of Linux.
Like a lot of distros, people seem to either love it or hate it.One person on Reddit listed it as one of the worst Linux distros: "Imagine a distro where nothing works properly." That seemed a bit harsh, so I decided to find out if that was true.I managed to download a live version.
I was able to set it up in a virtual machine and it booted.That worked properly, at least.I was able to run some common apps like a Firefox web browser.
I was able to navigate to the HTG homepage.So the network and the display system worked properly.Void Linux is one distro that doesn't use systemd, the init system that launches all processes.
systemd was controversial when it first emerged because it was a major change in the way Linux systems handled processes.A lot of furor was over systemd's size as well as its ties to Red Hat.There were also early concerns about reliability.
Void Linux uses runit to handle processes.I only had limited time to spend with Void Linux, but it's something I could see myself digging into.The Xfce environment was already familiar, as it's my favorite Linux desktop.
I like lightweight Linux systems so exploring it could be a fun weekend project for me.The "worst" distros aren't that bad.What I learned through my adventures in Linux is that even the "worst" distros are good for certain people.
That's the pleasure and the advantage of Linux.If you don't like the distro you're on, you can switch to something that better suits your style.
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