What is the standard pick these days for a no-frills, stripped back, but still usable Linux distribution? One that doesn't start with much, but isn't boiling the ocean like Arch or Slack if you want to add more?
I used to like Xubuntu, but this was like a decade ago at this point.
I've been using Void Linux[0] for a few years now. It's philosophically aimed at being a minimal distro for power users.
Design choices:
* Rolling release
* Custom package manager: XBPS with binary package repository. It's pretty darn good IMHO.
* Minimal init process: runit
* LibreSSL (vs OpenSSL)
* User can choose standard library: Glibc or musl
* Prefer dash over bash in system scripts
You get the drift. The biggest change to a user is probably the use of XBPS as a package manager. The repository of pre-compiled binaries is pretty extensive, and the package definition scripts are dead simple. The entire collection of package definitions is in a repo on GitHub, so sharing your package definitions is also quite painless.
Their IRC channel on freenode (#voidlinux) is also pretty active with lots of knowledgeable and helpful people.
You forgot to mention they have a very sane package hirachy that always draws as few dependencies as possible. Many self proclaimed "minimalist" distros will immediately become bloated as soon as you install one package not in the base system.
I still go for a minimal Debian install, or even CentOS. Both still usable because you can add a basic DE if you like, and have something like FireFox if needed.
While regular Ubuntu switched back and forth between Gnome→Unity→Gnome, my Xubuntu install looks and works pretty much the same, except with less bugs than before, and even some new features that don't get in your way (e.g. better hidpi/color management support). At the same time you have first-class access to Debian packages, so you don't have to feel left out in that way.
I’d give Manjaro a try. It’s an arch based distro where they take care of setting up a desktop environment for you, while including a nice install experience.
After that, you’re basically in arch land, which is an excellent no-frills stripped back experience, with an unrivaled user-created package repository. Seriously, every time I have to install something on Ubuntu it drives me crazy to have to use whatever out-dated stuff they have in the repos, or to go hunting for a PPA. With arch it’s one command to install almost anything (assuming you’re using pikaur or the like for installing from the arch user repository).
I can’t say that has been my personal experience, and I feel like I use AUR pretty extensively, but I can see how that would be very frustrating if that’s been your experience with it.
I am often surprised at what’s available on AUR — my most recent discovery being a current version of dwarf fortress, which is kind of a huge pain to get working on Linux.
I know it’s not a Linux distro, but I find that OpenBSD is so essential that it’s easy to understand everything that is going on with your system at all times. Everything you need to know is in man pages, each daemon does one thing and one thing only, and there is basically no risk of leaving stuff running or open without your knowledge.
It’s not a great choice for desktops, but as a server it’s pretty cool.
I think puppy linux and tinycore are the lightest ones Ive heard of. Haven't tried either yet, I find mainstream distros like debian are still light enough for most old computers.
I used to like Xubuntu, but this was like a decade ago at this point.