@kaia Old Miktex user here, with a minimal install that pulls in packages as they are requested.

Professor: we'll be working in a shared Latex document via git, this is mandatory, please make sure it compiles before making changes.

Me: So what packages does the document need? It doesn't work with texlive-base (1,5GB).

Prof: I'm using Xelatex-full (4,5GB) and it works fine. Everyone should just use that, so that there are no conflicts.

Other person: I would like to use XYZ, which doesn't come with Xelatex.

Prof: You can do the same with these five packages, just read up on it.

I still have that install on my poor uni laptop.