When comparing NixOS vs ArcoLinux, the Slant community recommends ArcoLinux for most people. In the question“What are the best Linux distributions for misanthropes?” ArcoLinux is ranked 15th while NixOS is ranked 55th. The most important reason people chose ArcoLinux is:
Unbelievably fast for ArcoLinux with XFCE, Openbox, I3.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro State of the art package manager
Atomic non-destructive upgrades / rollback of a system upgrade / declarative reproducible system configuration / unprivileged installation of packages / transparent source or binary deployment.
Pro Minimal
You can start with a minimal environment and add packages and software to suit your needs as you go along.
Pro Reproducible system
NixOS is configured using the Nix package manager, allowing your system to be replicated and kept in sync across multiple machines. Great for keeping a laptop and desktop in sync.
Pro Robust
Packages don't break after a NixOS upgrade as they are prone to with other distros (especially Arch).
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 Documentation is not good
A lot of the documentation of various functions is buried on the source code, their respective manuals, or non-existent. The documentation, the conventions, and the scattered toolchain really made searching for stuff easily missable.
Con A configuration change might end up bricking your system
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.