I like apt for its syntax, I like yay for it’s speed and ease compared to pacman.

Pacman has absurd option syntax, I think to deliberately make it feel exclusive. If the first thing you need to do is create a bunch of aliases or a crib sheet for basic things then it’s a terrible user experience.

I use Linux since 2004 and have a lot of experience with all kinds of different package managers. I use all these actively on different systems right now and I like them best in this order:

flatpak > apk > paru / pacman > portage > apt

Used to prefer portage over everything, but as I got older, with 2 little children, etc. I just don’t want to use source-based stuff intensively any more. Nowadays, I prefer to just install my sheit and have it work.

Nix, 100%

Kubuntu comes with Apt, and from time to time I use Nala too.

homebrew, because I’m mac guy.