Free and open-source.
Receives regular software and kernel updates.
Avoids X11.
The notable exception is Qubes, but the isolation issues which X11 typically has are avoided by virtualization. This isolation only applies to apps running in different qubes (virtual machines), apps running in the same qube are not protected from each other.
Supports full-disk encryption during installation.
Doesn’t freeze regular releases for more than 1 year.
We recommend against “Long Term Support” or “stable” distro releases for desktop usage.
Supports a wide variety of hardware.
Preference towards larger projects.
Edit: I’m new to linux
Fedora, maybe?
Edit to make my point:
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It is free and open-source.
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Fedora has a rather fast release cycle. It offers new versions roughly every 6 months, along with regular package updates.
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Has been using Wayland by default since Fedora 25, so it aligns with your preference to avoid X11.
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Allows you to set up full-disk encryption.
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Doesn’t freeze its regular releases for more than a year.
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Supports a wide variety of hardware and aims to offer the latest kernel and drivers.
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It is a large project.
Also, not that it matters much, but it has a strong stance towards open-source software, not allowing closed software in its repositories. Although closed software can be installed by using RPMFusion
Hot take, Manjaro?
clearly the hive mind seems to think my choice in distro is akin to eugenics!
Off-topic, but how long have you been using Manjaro? I am genuinely interested, btw*.
NixOS seens to tick all the boxes
NixOS is, if you can cope with a custom “config” language that you will have to use everywhere, your perfect fit.
Updates? Just switch to nixpkgs unstable
No x11? Just don’t install it
Encryption? Just use the config options
LTS? If you really want to, just stick to the fixed release channels and have a month of support after next release.
Hardware? Enormous hardware support range, although I don’t recommend you run it on a Raspberry pi 3b. (it almost exploded)
Preference towards larger projects? Ooooh yeah its a… gigantic project. And also not to mention nixpkgs is H U G E
LTS? Use the fixed release channels
NixOS doesn’t have LTS releases, the regular releases every six months get replaced by the next release and support stops a month later. So you still have to update every few months.
Ubuntu LTS in contrast promises up to 10 years of support for old LTS releases.
Arch.
