Linux

NixOS or GNU Guix are your best options for advanced distributions. Guix is a much newer project so theres a lot of ways you can contribute.

A linux distro is a linux distro. It’s you, who invests the time to experiment and understand, who unlocks advanced features. There’s no shortcuts to learning Linux than to use it and read about it and install it many many times.

Have you at least tried to install Gentoo? Everyone has to think they can, and fail, at least once in their lives.

Similar to arch in what way? What about arch don't you like, you can look at other arch-based distros.

Most distributions have binary package managers anyways, so you won't struggle to find some.

My personal journey was Arch > Void > Gentoo > Arch > Nix > Void again > realizing there's nothing really like Arch and going back for good. Hope this helps!

What do you mean? Arch doesn't have you "compiling everything". It's a mostly binary distribution. The Arch repositories are binary, and more than a few of the packages in the AUR are binary as well.

I'm also not following "not doing anything during and after install" - what do you mean by after install in that sentence?

I'd love to help, but I can't figure out what your issue is. If you're looking for something like Arch, but faster and easier to set up, try Endeavor - it's basically Arch with a graphical installer and some neat extra tools.

I'd also suggest looking in to Void, since you don't appear to be afraid of the command line. You'll find it similar in approach to Arch, but everything is binary packages; there's no compiling unless you grab dev tools and pull the source from Github or Codeberg or whatever yourself.

What do you mean by “not doing anything during and after install” re Gentoo?

Your computer isn’t held hostage during compilation of that was your impression

Try Void

I like Void, it feels a little more like a BSD. But I’ve only really used it for experimentation, no idea what it’s like as a daily driver.

You could also try an actual BSD. OpenBSD has a very clear style and direction which I like but be careful when partitioning, they have their own ‘disklabel’ system. Updates are really streamlined with syspatch and sysupgrade.

NetBSD had a nice TUI installer. It may appear a bit less focussed on its aims but has a lot going for it: many supporter platforms, a friendly community, etc.

There’s also FreeBSD, DragonflyBSD, possibly more but I don’t have much experience with those.

not doing anything during and after install

You know that those of us who use Gentoo as a daily driver don't just stare there and watch things compile, right?

Maybe once during the initial install but on a modern system kicking off updates before bed and coming back in the morning to an updated computer isn't unusual (just read any news and postinst messages).

What do you need that Arch doesn't provide?

nixos is a personal love of mine.

Are you just looking for something new to explore or are there issues you have with Arch that you hope do not exist on other distros? Simply put what is it you are looking for?

What do you mean by "advanced Linux distro"?

If you mean starting at a minimal starting point and only installing what you need, then you may as well start off with a minimal Debian netinst, then add the stuff you want once you've got the minimal system installed.

use the chaotic aur repo for Arch

Automated building repo for AUR packages

https://aur.chaotic.cx/

It's not safe to use because it just compiles AUR packages. However, it's good practice to have your data like personal info, game saves etc. in a encrypted vault away from the devices you use everyday. Even my boomer parents get this, I tell them their NAS needs be open like a safe with their Yubikey.

parabola and void

Assuming your goal is to gain knowledge about operating systems

Try arch but without kde, gnome, xfce, lxqt... make your own DE, based on a WM of your choice. That way you'll gain lods of knowledge about how an OS interacts with the user and which applications do what.

After that, you would have to go for LFS or Tannenbaums Modern Operating Systems

What do you mean by "Like arch" exactly? What part of it would you like to keep in your next distro?

I've tried quite a few and have been on the debian train for ~5 years simply due to stability and usability

Artix, Void, Obarun.

Endeavour is a sane Arch, Fedora and Opensuse TW.

I spent so much time compiling my own stuff, it was horrible at times, hours and hours. Now I'm using MX Linux and that's it. LFS is fun to learn a lot of things nonetheless.

I have to shamelessly plug for Arch Linux here. I think Arch would be a great way to get into the more advanced side of Linux without quite delving into the complexities of LFS.

If you’re just looking to learn something new, why not try an immutable OS like Fedora Silverblue? It’s an easier install than Arch, obviously, but there’s lots of differences from a standard distro. There’s security upsides but also consequences to work around.

LFS and Gentoo, you have to compile, sure... but Arch? You don't compile the kernel on vanilla Arch, if you mean packages, then just get the *-bin versions.

Edit: misunderstood your post. What's wrong with Arch and Arch-based distros?

Opensuse Tumbleweed