Gentoo or Linux from Scratch are the "smartest" in that they necessitate the highest understanding of UNIX to install and run normally. Gentoo requires a lot of configuration and compilation on the user's side, while Linux from Scratch is exactly what it sounds like.

Debian, Slackware, and BSD are fairly vanilla UNIXes that require some prior knowledge of UNIX to really begin using well. I'd say Debian is a bit more accessible than Slack and BSD.... Slack is very BSD-like but has the advantage of being Linux, so it runs on more machines and can handle more applications with less trouble. Arch has more packages available, but it's also less stable.. Another advantage of Slackware is that the install disks come with a very large software library and an internet connection isn't required to finish installation, and every major release is very stable and secure out of the box.

Debian has about twice as many packages available as Slackware does, but Slackware is more vanilla and minimalistic, so it runs faster and gives the user more control. Debian can automate more things, but Slackware is set up in a way so that it's very easy to make it do exactly what you want with no surprises. Redhat is maybe somewhere between Slack and Ubuntu.

Ubuntu is an easy-mode version of Debian and Mint is an even nicer version of Ubuntu. They're geared towards people who want to replace Windows with Linux. It's very easy to manage for most tasks, but it has more bloat and does some non-standard things. For normal desktop users, it doesn't matter so much, but if you plan to do development or manage a server, you're better off with Debian.

But anything one Linux distro can do, the others can probably do, too. In the end it boils down to what appeals to you and what design choices you agree with more.

i use windows 10

I got a kali and ubuntu duel boot.

which one is smartest?

Ubuntu is required for classes. SliTaz for personal. I should really switch tho.

I've been using Kali for year and a half. It doesn't look so sexy (it has GNOME), but can support all other WM. In the end, it's just debian with bunch of tools pre-installed. I found Kali pretty fast and usefull as someone who participates in CTF Events actively.

i used a light-weight openbox (WM only) solution at first, then i switched to xmonad (WM only) that i enjoyed for two years, and then i decided to try out a more heavyweight desktop environment with compositing and the like so i went with xfce. i set up a bunch of keyboard shortcuts to have the main tiling features that i liked from xmonad and have been using it ever since. it looks super nice, works very smoothly, and doesn't require much maintenance.

been using mac os exclusively since the summer though since desktop's on the other side of the country

I used to have xfce de which I was pretty happy with.
Right now it's i3 wm with xfce terminal. I recommend it, it's pretty neat.

arch is really cool, what WM/DE do you roll with?

@schutzekatze
@cody

I'm about to do a dry run with OpenSuse Tumbleweed for a couple weeks. I'm currently sitting on an Antergos install because I'm too lazy for Arch anymore.

ubuntu

arch 

mint!!!

(best for coding for my small skills)

ubuntu

Fedora

windows vista

arch on my desktop

xubuntu, on a vm