Best Linux distro
- Thread starter jpoveda
- Start date
Well, I suppose it would depend on what you want out of your linux.
Ease of use? Ubuntu.
Power? Slackware.
The bleeding edge updates? Probably Debian.
Small footprint (for ancient computers), then DSL might be your program of choice.
Tailored to your specific needs? Slackware or LFS.
See, there is a reason why there are so very many distros out there.
Ease of use? Ubuntu.
Power? Slackware.
The bleeding edge updates? Probably Debian.
Small footprint (for ancient computers), then DSL might be your program of choice.
Tailored to your specific needs? Slackware or LFS.
See, there is a reason why there are so very many distros out there.
Why Slackware?
How about power + accessibility and developing ? Which distro would you recommend?
If you want to learn Linux, then Slackware is the way to go. It concentrates more on the command-line than the more user-friendly distros like Ubuntu and Fedora.
If you are programming, then go with the OS and software you are programming for. If you are or want to get comfortable with the command-line, then I have no problem recommending Slackware.
If you just want an OS that will load and do most of the thing Win XP did without paying for it, then Ubuntu works well for me.
I'm not saying that, but if you intend on writing for Win, then for testing/troubleshooting you might want to have Win available, no?
Some languages are less dependent on the OS than others, but a writer always wants to test their code in the intended platforms, lest some unforeseen effects occur.
pane-free
Member
IMHO, "better" and "most used" are not necessarily mutually inclusive. Choice and individual preference easily distinguish what GNU/Linux has over the dominant OS. Many learn with a distro such as ubuntu or LinuxMint or PCLinuxOS then gravitate toward a more challenging one like Slackware or Gentoo or Crux because, to them, the journey is more important than the destination. I count myself among those footloose sojourners.
I began learning Linux with the Jaunty Jackalope. But Debian-based distributions like antiX and aptosid are now more to my liking. The command line being the true power of any Linux distro, I find the package handling, dependency resolving capabilities and well-stocked repositories of Debian to be fulfilling. Couple this with scripts like smxi, which won an award for its developer, and the whole resource base of Debian is hard to beat.
Listening to that of a different drummer are the Slackers (bless them!). Much can be learned, as Dngrsone stated, from installing and working with a Slackware-based distro like Salix-13.1.2-xfce. It is a great learning experience, especially when the forums are so helpful. One must remember that Slackers are a different breed, traditionally, however or risk getting your precious ego bruised. Show a little humility at first and most will be more than helpful.
At heart, I am and will remain a performance freak. As such, the Desktop Environments LXDE and XFCE (until it, too, becomes as bloated as Gnome and KDE) appeal to me, no matter what the distro or its heritage. For example, the new Fedora-14-LXDE spin is enjoyable to use, if a little different than to what I have become accustomed; and LinuxMint-9-LXDE and peppermint One are both appealingly quick to me as an individual. PCLXDE, on the other hand, is just plain FUN to use !
IceWM and Rox are Windows Managers that attract me, too, because of their simplicity of functionality
As I try to show here, many things must be taken ito consideration when looking to choose a distro. Each distro is a whole and some parts may appeal while others repel. Find your own combination and form your own preferences. Keep an open mind and . . .
Enjoy the journey!
I began learning Linux with the Jaunty Jackalope. But Debian-based distributions like antiX and aptosid are now more to my liking. The command line being the true power of any Linux distro, I find the package handling, dependency resolving capabilities and well-stocked repositories of Debian to be fulfilling. Couple this with scripts like smxi, which won an award for its developer, and the whole resource base of Debian is hard to beat.
Listening to that of a different drummer are the Slackers (bless them!). Much can be learned, as Dngrsone stated, from installing and working with a Slackware-based distro like Salix-13.1.2-xfce. It is a great learning experience, especially when the forums are so helpful. One must remember that Slackers are a different breed, traditionally, however or risk getting your precious ego bruised. Show a little humility at first and most will be more than helpful.
At heart, I am and will remain a performance freak. As such, the Desktop Environments LXDE and XFCE (until it, too, becomes as bloated as Gnome and KDE) appeal to me, no matter what the distro or its heritage. For example, the new Fedora-14-LXDE spin is enjoyable to use, if a little different than to what I have become accustomed; and LinuxMint-9-LXDE and peppermint One are both appealingly quick to me as an individual. PCLXDE, on the other hand, is just plain FUN to use !
IceWM and Rox are Windows Managers that attract me, too, because of their simplicity of functionality
As I try to show here, many things must be taken ito consideration when looking to choose a distro. Each distro is a whole and some parts may appeal while others repel. Find your own combination and form your own preferences. Keep an open mind and . . .
Enjoy the journey!
Well, yeah. Ill prefer to develop on a Linux distro and then port it and test it on Windows or OSX or whatever...
I have not used Arch myself, but I understand that it is a good distro.
Distro Watch is a good resource for rating, comparing and downloading nearly any distribution out there.
Distro Watch is a good resource for rating, comparing and downloading nearly any distribution out there.
pane-free
Member
I don't recommend, just point =>
As with distros that have fanatical advocates (as does Arch), there must be something good about them. I just do not know that distro. But I suspect it has to do with customizability. CTKarch is the minimal, most easily customizable version, I think.
One lady I respect swears by Crux, but I have not reached that point yet. (Don't know if I want to!)
Another linux distro that comes to mind in this regard is Gentoo. I've heard good things about the new Sabayon, a gentoo-based distribution, too (lol) --
My thing is performance first, then installing the packages I want. Base or minimal install distros allow this most readily, although these criteria do not preclude something like CrunchBang. CrunchBang (#!) is now based on Debian, which is why I finally decided to try it. I like it a lot and it works well on laptops.
It came to me that you are probably looking for something like Zenwalk. Read this before you decide -- http://polishlinux.org/linux/zenwalk/. Only you can make the choice, however.
Best wishes!
EDIT: Linux From Scratch (LFS) or a core distro offering like Zenwalk or antiX offers could be what you want, too.
As with distros that have fanatical advocates (as does Arch), there must be something good about them. I just do not know that distro. But I suspect it has to do with customizability. CTKarch is the minimal, most easily customizable version, I think.
One lady I respect swears by Crux, but I have not reached that point yet. (Don't know if I want to!)
Another linux distro that comes to mind in this regard is Gentoo. I've heard good things about the new Sabayon, a gentoo-based distribution, too (lol) --
My thing is performance first, then installing the packages I want. Base or minimal install distros allow this most readily, although these criteria do not preclude something like CrunchBang. CrunchBang (#!) is now based on Debian, which is why I finally decided to try it. I like it a lot and it works well on laptops.
It came to me that you are probably looking for something like Zenwalk. Read this before you decide -- http://polishlinux.org/linux/zenwalk/. Only you can make the choice, however.
Best wishes!
EDIT: Linux From Scratch (LFS) or a core distro offering like Zenwalk or antiX offers could be what you want, too.
Last edited:
Troncoso
VIP Member
Any reason for this? Just curios?
TrainTrackHack
VIP Member
Arch is very good, old rig in the sig is perfectly usable with Arch on it, runs things like Firefox/LibreOffice absolutely fine. It being very lightweight is the main reason for me liking it so much; for a "heavyweight" distro I've been a big fan of Fedora but I haven't used it for a year because I'm having trouble with it on my current laptop and dual-monitor setup.
This article might help you to decide what is the best linux distro for you
DMGrier
VIP Member
I have been home from deployment for two weeks now and I have done a test run on Ubuntu (have had installed for a year now), Linux Mint, Fedora and Puppy Linux.
In my eyes the winner hands down is Linux Mint, it uses a lot of the same packages from Ubuntu or Debain but it has a lot of originality behind it to though. Some things also seemed to be more stable on there too and last but not least a very attractive U/I.
The only one that kind of seem to appeal other then what is listed and I did not test drive, to me was the latest openSuse for the fact that it is running the gnome 3.0 shell where as Ubuntu is still using the older gnome shell.
In my eyes the winner hands down is Linux Mint, it uses a lot of the same packages from Ubuntu or Debain but it has a lot of originality behind it to though. Some things also seemed to be more stable on there too and last but not least a very attractive U/I.
The only one that kind of seem to appeal other then what is listed and I did not test drive, to me was the latest openSuse for the fact that it is running the gnome 3.0 shell where as Ubuntu is still using the older gnome shell.
Last edited:
salvage-this
Active Member
^ Ubuntu just updated their design in the beta of 11.04. I am not sure if it is Gnome 3.0 or if they just decided to get a fresh look.