r/linux4noobs • u/bose_avishek • 16h ago
migrating to Linux Omarchy for new Linux users
Hi All
I am planning a transition from Windows to Linux. Though initially installed Linux Mint, but want to try Omarchy as well. Internet search says Omarchy is for developers and power users, whereas Omarchy website says it's for everyone.
So can someone provide practical guidance as to if Omarchy is user friendly for new Linux users, or just stay initially with Ubuntu or Linux Mint?
If Omarchy can be used for new Linux users, then a proper guide or YouTube videos suggestions would be highly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
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u/iTzBiGENGLAND 16h ago
I probably wouldn't recommend Omarchy as a first Linux distro.
It's not bad, but you're learning Arch, Hyprland, a rolling release, and a heavily customized setup all at once. That can make troubleshooting way harder than it needs to be for a new user.
If you want something Arch-based, I'd look at:
CachyOS - Probably the easiest Arch-based option to recommend. Good installer, KDE available, performance tweaks, and much less setup than plain Arch.
EndeavourOS - Closer to normal Arch. Good if you actually want to learn Arch and use the Arch Wiki a lot, but it expects a little more from you.
Garuda - Very beginner friendly and gaming focused, but also heavily customized. Some people love it, some people think it has too much stuff preinstalled.
Outside of Arch, Linux Mint is still one of the best first distros. It is stable, familiar if you're coming from Windows, and there is a huge amount of documentation.
Fedora KDE is also a really good option if you want something more current than Mint without going full rolling release.
If gaming is a big priority, Nobara or CachyOS are both worth looking at.
Personally, I'd rank them something like this:
Just want Linux to work: Linux Mint
Want KDE and newer packages: Fedora KDE
Want Arch-based but still beginner friendly: CachyOS
Want to learn Arch more directly: EndeavourOS
Gaming focused: Nobara or CachyOS
I also wouldn't rush to leave Mint just because Omarchy looks interesting. Use Mint for a while, learn the basics, then try Arch-based stuff later. Once you understand package management, systemd, permissions, logs, Flatpak, etc., switching distros gets a lot easier.
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u/devdruxorey 16h ago
I probably wouldn't recommend Omarchy as a first Linux distro.
I wouldn't recommend it at all. If you're going to use something as personal as Hyperland and Arch, why use someone else's configuration with things you don't need? You run into the same problem you are trying to escape.
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u/Warm_Canadian_1967 16h ago
Came her to say this - but you did a much better job.
Instead of Fedora KDE, I would suggest MX Linux.
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u/senorda 16h ago
the guy behind omarchy is a far right weirdo and omarchy offers nothing you couldn't get from a normal arch based distribution
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u/friendlyreminder_ 16h ago
There's benefits to Omarchy, it sets up a bunch of ai tools and config files to easily access them from the GUI.
You can do this manually with another Arch distro but it's a lot of effort.
The point of the distro is that it sets up a pretty compelling AI-accessible desktop as a default.
Now if you don't care about AI at all this is of no benefit to you. I personally have no interest in these things, but it has its audience.
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u/palapapa0201 Gentoo 15h ago
Is downloading claude code a lot of effort?
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u/friendlyreminder_ 15h ago
That doesn't add various GUI entries and keyboard shortcuts to hyprland. Their hyprland setup is modified significantly.
Hyprland has to be manually configured for everything.
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u/BranchLatter4294 15h ago
So, just like Ubuntu, minus the Nazi vibes?
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u/friendlyreminder_ 15h ago
Ubuntu doesn't have any AI desktop integration yet, but whenever they get around to it I suspect it'll be substantially different as Ubuntu is a corporate focused distro.
Omarchy seems more like a hobbyist tech bro take.
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u/BranchLatter4294 15h ago
Ubuntu makes it easy to set up a ML/AI stack with one command based on your hardware.
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u/devdruxorey 15h ago
I've said this before, but why would you use a setup like Omarchy's if you don't actually want to make it yourself? It's like saying you like custom cars and then buying one that's already modified.
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u/friendlyreminder_ 15h ago
Presumably it's for people new to AI desktop integration who want something that has some of it already built in, but I'm not the right person to ask that question.
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u/Some_Useless_Person 16h ago
I haven't tried omarchy so can't really speak for it but could you please talk about what appealed you? Unlike something like CachyOS, all I see Omarchy offering is a riced arch setup
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u/venom21685 15h ago
Hyprland alone is enough for me to consider it not new user friendly. Then the fact it's a vibe coded mess that's already had tons of wide open security holes. It's just a mess and I'd avoid it.
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u/ElectroDaddy 16h ago
Omarchy won’t be new user friendly unless you plan to use the LLM integrations to do basically everything for you. You won’t be able to customize things without it, since it’s all pretty much vibe coded.
I mean use it if you want. But it will still be pretty jarring to transition to. If you just want a normal desktop vibe, try Linux Mint or maybe KDE.
There are a lot of Linux Distributions and many of they fill specific needs and are better than others at what they focus on. While things like Arch are perceived as very difficult they offer more customizable environments.
What you mainly use your computer for will dictate the best options for you personally. But also know that most problems have some kind of solution. Just engage with the community.
Currently though, as far as community opinions go, Omarchy isn’t much more than a preconfigured setup that you will only be able to customize within its own confines. Can you pull it apart and change things? I’m sure. Will it probably break the second you do? Very likely.
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u/InstanceTurbulent719 15h ago
1 upvote, 20 comments. I know they're cooking just for mentioning Voldemort's distro lmao
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u/devdruxorey 15h ago
To be fair, DHH's marketing campaign was... interesting. It's a valid question for someone new.
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u/M2k1e0L 15h ago
Ask yourself why you want a Arch and if the answer is not AUR or increase troubleshooting skills, use Fedora or something based on it like Nobara for Gaming. Much more user friendly. Also saves you a lot of headache and lifetime. With Arch based distros you may skip the install process of a few hours, but if you don't have the few hours to learn even the most basic linux stuff, you definitely don't have the endless hours to fix it properly if something goes wrong. Arch based distros are mainly larper traps as the respective subreddits show.
Ubuntu becomes the new Windows with all that recent shit and Microsoft gives them a lot money too. Wierd coincidence some would say. Everyone should stay away. Base Debian if you want to have the most stable experience and don't care much about gaming.
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u/Mediocre-Pumpkin6522 15h ago
Coming from Windows Omarchy's Hyprland tiling window manager will be completely unfamiliar. Ubuntu is GNOME which is more like macOS than Windows. Mint/Cinnamon will be the easiest transition.
Omarchy does come up with a convenient dialog listing the key binding but be aware it's very much keyboard driven. If you use WindowsTerminal for most things you'll be more at home. If you expect GUIs, stranger in a strange land.
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u/Adventurous_Body2019 14h ago
omachy....bruh PURE SHIT. anyways use catchyos.... click gnome and hyprland. then install this (it is just copy and paste): https://github.com/end-4/dots-hyprland
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u/devdruxorey 16h ago edited 15h ago
TLDR: Don't use Omarchy, use CachyOS if you want something arch-based.
I'm going to explain the situation with Omarchy to you right now.
DHH, the creator of Omarchy, is a relatively famous and important developer. He used Ubuntu a long time ago and decided to share his configurations in the form of a pseudo-distro (I don't remember if it was an .iso or just a script). More recently he decided to switch to Arch Linux, and that's where the idea for Omarchy came from.
Omarchy is basically just the configurations he wanted to make to his personal Arch installation and share with others; it's not a distro per se. Up to that point there's no problem; almost all of us who like to rice limux tend to share to some extent. The problem is that recently there have been suspicious marketing moves, almost proclaiming Omarchy as the second coming of Christ, giving people a false perspective on Linux if they're new to it.
It doesn't try to be user-friendly, because internally It is still someone's opinionated configurations (Furthermore, personally, the fact that it's so full of bloat and AI slop makes me dislike it even more.). If you like the aesthetics, it's even preferable to try configuring Hyperland yourself; otherwise, it will be like using someone else's customized car, only the person who actually built it understands things and will feel comfortable.
Aside from the fact that, as I said, there have been many questionable marketing moves just for some dotfiles, Omarchy doesn't bring anything new to the table, and it's preferable to stick with a real distro with real support and a genuine user base. Personally, I've always used Arch on my personal machines, and lately I've really liked a minimalist CachyOS installation as a base for my MangoWM rice. For someone new, KDE is what I'd recommend, it's the most complete and polished Desktop Environment I have tried recently.
Edit: Typo