When comparing GNU Guix vs ArcoLinux, the Slant community recommends GNU Guix for most people. In the question“What are the best Linux distros?” GNU Guix is ranked 23rd while ArcoLinux is ranked 31st. The most important reason people chose GNU Guix is:
A method which works across languages and provides a reproducible programming environment.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Can setup a shell which has exactly the defined libraries available
A method which works across languages and provides a reproducible programming environment.
Pro Can always roll back to a safe state
Guix creates new profile generations for each operation. If anything goes wrong, a simple --roll-back gets you immediately back to the previous, working, generation. Because it is a purely functional package management system, generations don't affect each other, so you're back to the exact same state as before : still working.
Pro Can create independent packages
Guix pack creates packages which do not need Guix to be run.
Pro No side effects when building packages
Guix is a purely functional package management system. This means that the act of building a package does not have side effects, such as destructively updating or deleting files that may be used by other packages.
Pro Can build containers right-away, from docker to tarballs
See guix pack --help and here.
Pro Easy to add your own packages
The clean and declarative syntax makes it easy to define new packages by using an existing one as an example.
Pro Doesn't require root privileges
Normal users can install packages on a Guix-enabled system, or even run their own Guix instance if the system isn't Guix-enabled.
Pro Easy to install
Unbelievably fast for ArcoLinux with XFCE, Openbox, I3.
Pro Community support is great
Need to install Discord on cell phone and computer. Fastest way to receive help. Community is mostly European on Discord so getting help at midnight may be a challenge.
Pro Helps you to become a Arch Linux user
Pro Blazingly fast!
Startup time, shutdown time, everything in between.
Pro Easy to isntall desktop environments
Thanks to the manuals provided by the developers it is really easy to install more than 10 different desktop environments that'll work at the same time!
Pro Easy to install, handles system memory well, and a great way to learn Arch Linux
Incredibly fast, easy to install, tons of software pre-installed and easily installs more.
Pro XFCE, Openbox and I3
Finished Product with almost every tool a experienced user will use.
Pro Easy to install NVIDIA Drivers
Has option to install NVIDIA proprietary drivers. Runs great.
Pro Learning bash script
The fastest way to reload any Linux desktop is a script that will install all your favorite apps. Keep this file on a USB stick Update for any distro from Ubuntu, Fedora, or even Arch Linux back to your favorite apps in minutes.
Pro Efficient use of Memory, Easy to Install, Amazingly Fast
OpenBox on Arco Linux is AWESOME!
Cons
Con Updates take a long time
It's gotten better over time but both updating Guix itself and updating the installed packages can take a long time.
Con Cannot handle filetypes that have different semantics across different versions
While the functional approach that Guix takes is great for sandboxing binary artifacts of packages, it seriously lacks any power in handling configuration files or user data. It's difficult to upgrade and downgrade files where semantics and syntax can change between versions.
Con Small development team
Con Multiple types makes new user confused
Due to multiple types, new user might get confused and leave this all along.
Con A bit bloated
It is a bit bloated to many web browsers, text editors out the box. A simple customize menu's for all 3 desktops would have been nice.