Debian is a good option but I’d actually recommend Fedora. It’s been very stable for me.

I am responding to you as well as n00bs, or the curious, at large. Debian is your answer, or, fedora and suffer gnome. Following is how I do it.

Debian trixie

Above link is the net installer, download it, burn it to a USB nub, boot to it - be connected when you run it. Think about whether you want to allow root (I do, certainly) and how you want your partitions formatted. I use ext4 for my / (root) partition with noatime and discard and XFS for /home with noatime. Ridiculously fast with an nvme drive. Hot damn. I have 32GB of ram so I do not create a SWAP partition. I can suspend just fine.

When you get to package installation and you’re presented with desktop environments, whatnot - uncheck everything (arrow, spacebar) except system utilities near the bottom…continue the installation, grub options will probably be: no, yes, and if you are not dual-booting, no. Continue to reboot

after reboot…

You will be in a tty, nothing but black screen and a login prompt, it’s cool. Login as root, install sudo and aptitude (apt install sudo aptitude), following, run visudo. Add your uname below root near the bottom. If you’re the only one using this machine add like this: <your username> ALL=(ALL:ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL ctrl+x to close, y, then enter. logout.

Log in as your user. I have a script I run now that installs the apps I use on my desktop - I do not use Gnome or KDE or a desktop environment, but, openbox, instead, for a zillion reasons. Productivity, responsiveness and customization to name a few.

Here is the script:

#!/bin/bash
# Check root
[ "$(id -u)" -ne 0 ] && { echo "Must run as root" 1>&2; exit 1; }

# Install packages
echo -e "\e[1mInstalling packages...\e[0m"
[ "$(find /var/cache/apt/pkgcache.bin -mtime 0 2>/dev/null)" ] || apt update  
apt -y install xorg openbox lxpanel thunar thunar-archive-plugin intel-microcode claws-mail polkitd xinit intel-media-va-driver-non-free
apt -y install curl feh bat lsd unclutter numlockx wget whois mesa-utils mesa-va-drivers mpg123 alsa-utils ffmpeg bc jq libnotify-bin mc lshw lsof ncal ncdu inxi psmisc s-tui sed cpufetch dfc sysstat tar unzip zip x11-xserver-utils htop apt-utils at preload pwgen usbutils vnstat xpdf oxygencursors gpicview jpegoptim libimage-exiftool-perl
apt -y install tango-icon-theme keepassxc lxappearance obsession scrot gvfs-backends arandr menu menu-xdg mesa-utils pnmixer bogofilter bleachbit gifsicle
apt -y install geany geany-plugins claws-mail-bogofilter lynx alacritty claws-mail-fancy-plugin claws-mail-pgpmime claws-mail-tools claws-mail-pgpinline claws-mail-vcalendar-plugin
apt -y install rsync xscreensaver gpicview xscreensaver-gl xscreensaver-gl-extra fd-find libxml2-utils starship pulseaudio
apt -y install meld mintstick ips tldr mpv net-tools neverputt gnome-characters mpv gparted bsd-mailx pkexec xclip gsimplecal
apt -y install hwinfo iftop imagemagick acpi lm-sensors python3-pexpect preload pwgen s-tui sensible-utils catfish iotop pithos
apt -y install xdg-user-dirs-gtk xdg-utils xdotool unzip usbutils util-linux vym yelp zenity zip silversearcher-ag galternatives 
apt -y install planner libreoffice libreoffice-gtk3 xfce4-screenshooter smartmontools screenfetch gimp obsidian-icon-theme orage gmrun synaptic yad zim bashtop grc duf

Save it as a file, make it executable (chmod +x) and run as sudo: sudo ./NAME.sh

When it’s done you’re fabulous. Log in to the emptiness of openbox by issuing: startx at the command line. Right-click and find the menu.

Now, openbox uses 3 files: autostart, menu.xml, and rc.xml and it gets better from there in your terminal with a functional .bashrc, .bash_functions, and .bash_aliases. You will likely edit ~/.profile as well to include any bin directories

# set PATH so it includes user's private bin if it exists
if [ -d "$HOME/bin" ] ; then
    PATH="$HOME/bin:$PATH"
fi

# set PATH so it includes user's private bin if it exists
if [ -d "$HOME/.local/bin" ] ; then
    PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
fi

if [ -d "$HOME/.local/share/scripts" ] ; then
    PATH="$HOME/.local/share/scripts:$PATH"
fi

Of course I have tweaked-out files replete with functionality and customizations. This is a set it and forget it desktop that will remain bullet-proof on Debian. Nothing is free, esp functionality you want/demand - it’s your box on Linux, you will create it.

I usually install the liquorix kernel, as well, like this, from a terminal, as a regular user:

curl -s 'https://liquorix.net/install-liquorix.sh' | sudo bash

If you do that, reboot after installing. It’s a modified kernel for desktop use, makes things a little faster, easier. I have a game that plays smoother after I install it and boot to it.

People ask for easy set-and-forget Linux distributions all the time completely ignoring the fact that the OS they are typically coming from, WIndows, is definitely not. It’s a haughty demand, actually, especially when there are a zillion ways to get set-and-forget in Linux.

Now, the above script will install a wicked desktop, but, you must edit ~/.config/openbox/autostart and put what you want started when you login in there; for example, I use the lxpanel, unclutter, numlockx, and some other stuff, following are some of those entries:

sh ~/.fehbg &
unclutter &
numlockx &
lxpanel &
#orage &
pnmixer &
#redshift &
(sleep 4s && ~/bin/fastcompmgr -o 0.4 -r 12 -c -C) &
(sleep 4s && ~/bin/frank) &
(sleep 15s && xscreensaver -no-splash) &

In my ~/.config/openbox/rc.xml file I have some handy keybinds:

<keybind key="A-F2">
   <action name="Execute">
     <command>gmrun</command>
   </action>
 </keybind>
 <keybind key="W-p">
   <action name="Execute">
     <command>planner</command>
   </action>
 </keybind>
 <keybind key="W-e">
   <action name="Execute">
     <command>x-text-editor</command>
   </action>
 </keybind>
 <keybind key="W-f">
   <action name="Execute">
     <command>thunar</command>
   </action>
 </keybind>

IN ~/.config/openbox/menu.xml I have completely customized it and it’s fabulous - you don’t need an app to do this, just open the file…

Behold, my menu; I get to it by hitting win+z (rc.xml file entry)

Here is my menu entry for scrot, that I rarely use because the functions are bound to keys in rc.xml:

<menu id="scrot" label="Scrot" icon="/usr/share/icons/Dracula/apps/scalable/screenie.svg">
      <item label="click and done" icon="/usr/share/icons/Dracula/apps/scalable/screensaver.svg">
		<action name="Execute">
		<execute>
		scrot -q 100 '%Y-%m-%d_$wx$h_%X.jpg' -e 'mv $f ~/scrots/'
		</execute>
		</action>
		</item>
		<item label="delay 5" icon="/usr/share/icons/Dracula/apps/scalable/shotwell.svg">
		<action name="Execute">
		<execute>
		scrot -q 100  '%Y-%m-%d_$wx$h_%X.jpg' -d 5 -e 'mv $f ~/scrots/'
		</execute>
		</action>
		</item>
		<item label="Select Area" icon="/usr/share/icons/Dracula/apps/scalable/shutter.svg">
		<action name="Execute">
		<execute>
		scrot -q 100  '%Y-%m-%d_$wx$h_%X.jpg' -s -e 'mv $f ~/scrots/'
		</execute>
		</action>
		</item>
		<item label="screen with 20% thumb" icon="/usr/share/icons/Dracula/apps/scalable/silicon-32.svg">
		<action name="Execute">
		<execute>
		scrot -q 100  '%Y-%m-%d_$wx$h_%X.jpg' -t 30 -e 'mv $f ~/scrots/'
		</execute>
		</action>
		</item>
</menu>

That will get you started - there are so may helpful and useless tutorials out there, you will find a good one.

Additionally, I am a terminal user because it’s fast and beautiful, esp alacritty and kitty. You may customize each, check this out:

Or, this:

I get that not everybody likes to use the terminal as much as I do but I would be remiss if I neglected to bring it up, for its amazing functionality. The bash functions and aliases I use are handy and fast bring me wicked function, I even type: wc to get a gorgeous weather report.

I left a lot out for you to find. Linux is amazing, as most of us know, but it requires you to work with what is available, or, create it yourself. What is available, however, is amazing and will more than fit your needs. As far as folks complaining about specific apps, please. If blender doesn’t do it for that function you need then don’t use blender, find another way, or stick to windows and make the best of it. Or, change your expectations.

As far as system snapshots, backing up, stuff like that - there are a zillion ways. I keep it simple and rsync my ~ to a USB nub. Fast and reliable and I’m not adding a bunch of supporting nonsense or overhead to my system. I use firefox and install it with another script:

#! /bin/sh
sudo install -d -m 0755 /etc/apt/keyrings && wget -q https://packages.mozilla.org/apt/repo-signing-key.gpg -O- | sudo tee /etc/apt/keyrings/packages.mozilla.org.asc > /dev/null && echo "deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/packages.mozilla.org.asc] https://packages.mozilla.org/apt mozilla main" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mozilla.list > /dev/null && echo '
Package: *
Pin: origin packages.mozilla.org
Pin-Priority: 1000
' | sudo tee /etc/apt/preferences.d/mozilla && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install firefox

This system can do anything and most of it with keybinds. Most of the apps I use daily can be customized to great affect, as well the desktop. If you want tiling it’s easy enough to install cortile or the like and have at it. Put an entry for it in your autostart file.

There is a bit more I do like add this to ~/.profile to autostart from startx: [ "$(tty)" = "/dev/tty1" ] && exec startx

Debian stable. It’s been here for 30 years, it’s the largest community OS, it’ll likely be here in 30 years (or until we destroy ourselves). Any derivative is subject to higher probability of additional issues, stoppage of development in the long run, etc.

If you’re extra lazy, Ubuntu LTS with Ubuntu Pro (free) enabled. You could use that for 10 years (or until Canonical cancels it) before you need to upgrade. Ubuntu is the least risky alternative for boring operation since it’s used in the enterprise and Canonical is profitable. The risk there is Canonical doing an IPO and Ubuntu going the way of tightening access like Red Hat did.

I use Debian with XFCE but I don’t game

Fedora Workstation has been really good in my experience. The available software is shockingly up to date and I haven’t run into much breakage of any kind in the year or so I’ve been using it across 2 systems (despite my best efforts every few months when the urge to tinker hits me). I do occasionally run into issues caused by the default SELinux policies, but they’re not especially difficult to work around if you’re comfortable using the terminal.

I do share your sentiment about the AUR - I definitely miss it at times. That said, Flatpaks and the fact that pre-built RPMs are so commonplace have both softened the blow a lot.

I came here just for advertising Linux Mint once again. 👍

Could some of the instability issues you have on arch could come from what you are installing from AUR?

I use AUR for a few things and it is a great resource but the packages are maintained by users and can cause issues.

I update those packages carefully, remove them if I am no longer using them and reconsider which ones i actually need installed in the first place.

While doing this I have only had a handful of issues pop up while updating and usually there is a recent thread describing the issue and how to fix it after a quick search.

I’ve had the same issues with Endeavour, sometimes you get buggy software and need to roll back. I do a full system backup once a week and update once or twice a day (I like updating frequently as it makes it obvious which package broke your system). When I get a bad package I just restore from backup but exclude /home. Then from there I install packages one at a time until I find that bad one and then just ignore it for a while. It really hasn’t been too bad. I don’t think you’ll find anything like the AUR if you start distrohopping. Debian is the king of set it and forget it, but it might be a shock to go back older packages of everything.

tldr; look into fedora silverblue maybe ?

Been using Linux almost 30 years, went from Redhat to everything else, and now I’m back on Redhat to stay. Fedora KDE for a nice, boring, up to date, and bulletproof OS.

Debian. Solid as a mountain.

Set it and forget it, eh?

Any distro you like, as long as you stop futzing with it.

Seriously… they’re breaking because you change things. Linux machines stay up for years without issue. Stop breaking the install.

One of ublue’s offerings are probably best. Immutability is great for resiliency and updates are easily rolled back if something were to go wrong. Bazzite is great for gaming, otherwise checkout Aurora and Bluefin.

Maybe immutable distros like fedora silverblue ?