When comparing Hardened Gentoo 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 Hardened Gentoo is ranked 36th. The most important reason people chose ArcoLinux is:
Unbelievably fast for ArcoLinux with XFCE, Openbox, I3.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Supports custom hardened kernels
Your only real options for a widely supported hardened distro are the Red Had distros (Red Hat, CentOS, Fedora) of which Fedora is your best bet for a desktop , or Gentoo. You can make a hardened kernel in Gentoo while stripping unnecessary features, creating a much smaller attack surface, and using in-kernel mitigations others don’t.
Pro Comprehensive hardened guide in wiki
From SELinux to PaX to AppArmor to.... The wiki has got you covered.
Pro Fully customized kernel that prevents server-side malwares with SSO mechanisms
Out of CentOS /RedHat/Fedora a hardened kernel is very easy to make.
Pro Best defense against NOP-sled malwares, even with ROP/COP mechanisms
Out of CentOS/RedHat/Fedora/OpenSUSE/Slackware/FreeBSD/Mandriva and Arch, only Gentoo can best protect you against NOP-sled malwares, even with ROP/COP mechanisms.
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 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.
Con No single ISO
Con Forums are not very friendly or helpful
