This will be for a physically small i5 laptop for various programming fun. The candidate linux should be easy to install, and provide a large selection of CLI programs.
Is MX or antiX in the running?
Well, NixOS is pretty easy to install using their graphical installer and it has one of the largest package repositories. It has basically everything you could need.
Maybe Endeavor? It’s easier to install than plain Arch, and you’ll have access to pacman’s repositories. If that’s not enough you also have access to the AUR, which is… well… the AUR.
Also doesn’t Endeavor go with something besides systems?
Systemd? No it looks like Endeavor uses systemd. Since Arch uses systemd, it would be a pain in the arse for them to switch it out, I guess
Yeah, systemd can root itself pretty deeply, it is just its nature. I am only a little against systemd. I run Debian 12 and it uses systemd.
Alma being red hat will support pretty much everything. You would still need to install it with yum.
There’s a version of Debian whose desktop environment is just the CLI. (I learned the “fun way” at first boot whilest helping a friend install Linux on their machine). It was certainly a lightweight, fast, & easy installation, I’ll say that! Lol!
I am running Debian 12 on another machine.
I’m using Void for quite some time, and I’m enjoying it very much.
I believe any Linux can be “CLI Linux” as Linux is designed CLI first. Do you have an end goal? You can either not install a desktop or just stop and disable your display manager
The purpose I have in mind for the system will be a place to code, C, python, and some BASIC if I can find a nice CLI one. I have installed MX linux, and will probably keep the window manager as installed but just use a lot of terminal emulators.
Sounds like a decent setup. Good luck