Looking for a good distro for use on a USB stick - eviltoast

I have some USB sticks, and I want to use them as portable Linux USBs. However, I am stuck on which distro will function the best. Here are my possible options:

  • Fedora KDE Spin (installed directly to the USB)
  • Fedora KDE Spin (in live mode, but with persistence)
  • Fedora Kinoite (installed directly to the USB)
  • EndeavourOS

I do have a USB3 flash drive, but I would like something suitable for USB2 speeds, if that will give okay speeds. I would also prefer to use a Fedora distro, however if troubleshooting Fedora is as easy as Endeavour, then I don’t mind.

I will also be installing other programs (Steam, LibreOffice, etc.) onto the USB after I install the OS.

  • Guenther_Amanita@feddit.de
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    15
    ·
    1 year ago

    From what I’ve heart it isn’t recommended to use an OS persistently on an USB-stick. Not is it slower, the constant read and writes may damage it, since it isn’t made for that.

    Please correct me if I remembered it wrong.

    • kylian0087@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      12
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      In the basis you are right. But nowadays a good large USB stick shut be able to handle it fine over a long period. I would recommend to put the cache and temp directory’s on a memory drive. that way you do not constantly stress out the USB.

      On the other hand nowadays their are USB cases for M.2 SSDs. this would eliminate the entire problem.

      • treadful@lemmy.zip
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        1 year ago

        On the other hand nowadays their are USB cases for M.2 SSDs. this would eliminate the entire problem.

        I had no idea this was a thing. Looks like you can get little 2230 (W: 22mm, L: 30mm) drives too so it’s not like it has to be some super long thumbdrive or dongle setup.

        I love the idea of moving my OS from PC to PC with me. Always configured how I like it. I don’t know how well it’ll work in practice, with real world performance or hardware changes between PCs, but I might have to give it a shot.

        Thanks for the tip.