[๖ۣۜSolace]

Hello fellow Linux User!🤝


If you're reading this thread, chances are you need help deciding which Linux Distro is for you.

Before we get started, I'd like to make one simple idea very clear. All distributions are relatively the same, and capable of performing the same tasks.

Essentially what makes one distro different from another, is the amount of pre-installed software that you'll be receiving with your distribution.

Let's take a look at a few distributions and see what's right for you.

"The Noob"

This is a series of distributions aimed towards migrating users (Usually from Windows).

The Noob 1 - Ubuntu

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Pantallazo_Ubuntu_11_10.png[/img]

Ubuntu is the most used Linux Distribution.

You can get it by clicking here.

The Noob 2 - Fedora

[img]http://168hours.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/fedora.jpg[/img]

Fedora is about as easy to install as Ubuntu, and uses .rpm packages instead of .deb packages.

You can download Fedora here.

The Noob 3 - Mint



Linux Mint is essentially a fork (source code has been borrowed) of Ubuntu. Now aside from the appearance, one of the things different about Mint, is that there is less bloatware (extra software) or spyware (yes, ubuntu spies on you).

You can download Mint here.

"The Intermediate"

The builds are focused more on specialized use with the Operating System, rather than everyday use and *nix learning purposes.

The Intermediate 1 - CentOS

[img]http://www.darkgovernment.com/images/Screenshot2.png[/img]

CentOS is mainly used for Server purposes, however just like every other distro, it can be used for just about everything.

You can download CentOS here.

The Intermediate 2 - Suse Linux

[img]http://www.pcc-services.com/articles/images/suse_kde.jpg[/img]

Suse linux uses .RPM packages, however debian packages can be converted and built to work on SUSE. Suse is however meant to be a day to day OS, I just felt it deserves it's intermediate position as it has a rather tricky install.
You can download SUSE here.

The Intermediate 3 - Debian

[img]http://on-disk.com/images/600pix-debian-gnome.jpg[/img]

Debian is a very stable distro, it probably belongs in the noob section, but seeing as it makes quite the excellent server, maybe it deserves it's place here.

You can download Debian here.

"Advanced Users"

You know what you're doing. You're comfortable and ready to dig through some source code, and be reliant on the command line.

Advanced Users 1 - Arch Linux

[img]http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/246/a/4/mydesk_arch_linux_by_satyriko-d2xxqt6.png[/img]

[img]http://damnlinux.altervista.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/ArchLinux_and_Awesome2_at_Work_by_nustyle.png[/img]

Arch Linux is my personal favourite distribution, it's quite tricky to set up as a first time user (it's done only using the command line), but offers superior customization and the most up to date software.

You can download Arch Linux here.

Advanced Users 2 - Kali Linux

[img]http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/971/screenshotfrom201303130.png[/img]

Now, Kali Linux (the new Backtrack) is essentially a Debian distro that has been modified to include literally hundreds of Hacking Tools. If you are a noob to Linux, please don't jump right to this distro because it "looks the coolest" or has tools "you can learn in a week".

You can download Kali here.

Advanced Users 3 - Gentoo



Gentoo is a Hacker's classic. This distribution forces the user to download and compile each piece of software he/she wishes to use, including the kernel. Be prepared to wait long durations if you choose Gentoo.

You can download Gentoo here.

Seeing as there are a billion posts per day on which distro one should use, and the simple answer is that "IT DOESN'T MATTER", hopefully this guide can answer a few people.🎉🎉🎉

[Gent]

While the effort is admirable, this will just become buried beneath all the crap in this section. We had a paid sticky for a while that was just pages of tutorials, but it's gone now because of how this forum is ran.

[Browzer]

It's a nice idea, but anyone who needs to ask 'which distro is for me' should just stick to Windows/OS X

[Gent]

It's a nice idea, but anyone who needs to ask 'which distro is for me' should just stick to Windows/OS X

The funny thing about OS X is it actually belongs in this section. It's the last true UNIX system left. I also don't expect many on this forum to have the ability/attention span to setup OSx86, which blows Linux and BSD out of the water in the difficulty department. Also, you must be new to this section. There are threads constantly posted asking which distribution one should use, and they all get the same responses. People here are entirely too reliant on others.

[Browzer]

The funny thing about OS X is it actually belongs in this section. It's the last true UNIX system left. I also don't expect many on this forum to have the ability/attention span to setup OSx86, which blows Linux and BSD out of the water in the difficulty department. Also, you must be new to this section. There are threads constantly posted asking which distribution one should use, and they all get the same responses. People here are entirely too reliant on others.

I wasn't talking about Hackintosh setups, I was talking generally about going out and buying a Mac or Windows machine, why do people use Linux for the sake of feeling like a hacker?

[Gent]

why do people use Linux for the sake of feeling like a hacker?

Because 15 year olds have the constant need to impress their other prepubescent friends with green on black terminals and it's not Windows. I know you weren't talking about Hackintoshes, but who in their right mind would actually pay for a Mac? You can get the same, or better hardware for cheaper. The OS is technically free, but it's not like $30 is a lot for an OS.

[Browzer]

Because 15 year olds have the constant need to impress their other prepubescent friends with green on black terminals and it's not Windows. I know you weren't talking about Hackintoshes, but who in their right mind would actually pay for a Mac? You can get the same, or better hardware for cheaper. The OS is technically free, but it's not like $30 is a lot for an OS.

Not even going to get into the "Mac's are overpriced" argument, it's not the section for that, and I'm tired of discussing it with people who can't see past the general opinion that anything Apple is automatically bad.

[Gent]

I never said anything Apple was automatically bad; I said they're over priced. I love OS X as a system. Apple has done an amazing job with it. I just don't see the point in dropping $2k on hardware that I can buy elsewhere for cheaper and run the same software on.

[Im gone brah]

Really good tutorial/introduction. I'm sure it will help out someone.

[๖ۣۜSolace]

Thanks guys ^^
I do agree, OS X does deserve it's place here as it's a BSD Fork, however I didn't include it as this was Linux specific.

It would be great if this was kept ed relatively to the top of the section, as questions that has been asked and answered thousands of times will overflow this thread.

[webspider]

I feel like threads like "What is the right distro for me" are pretty much useless. It's not like you have to choose one distro and stick to it forever. Most distributions are free and open source so you can just switch your system daily if you want to and do it as long until you find a good one. Just test a few distribution and see if you like it. If not, get another one.
Also there are way more distributions than the major ones that you listed.
This is not meant to be offending towards you.

[Gent]

I do agree, OS X does deserve it's place here as it's a BSD Fork

No it's not. The XNU kernel only uses a bit of the FreeBSD code.

The Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) portion of the kernel provides the POSIX API (BSD system calls), the Unix process model atop Mach tasks, basic security policies, user and group ids, permissions, the network stack, the virtual file system code (including a filesystem independent journaling layer), several local file systems such as HFS/HFS+, the Network File System (NFS) client and server, cryptographic framework, UNIX System V inter-process communication (IPC), Audit subsystem, mandatory access control, and some of the locking primitives. The BSD code present in XNU came from the FreeBSD kernel. Although much of it has been significantly modified, code sharing still occurs between Apple and the FreeBSD Project

Apple's OS is actually derived from NeXTSTEP. The irony is XNU stands for "X is Not Unix".

[DpzFAsq4UEK8]

Your screenshot of Fedora doesn't look like a default fedora install.
Default fedora install looks like this:


Also, current default Debian install with gnome desktop environment looks like this:
[img]http://sabza.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/debian-desktop-screenshot.png[/img]

[Loki123]

Your screenshot of Fedora doesn't look like a default fedora install.
Default fedora install looks like this:

Also, current default Debian install with gnome desktop environment looks like this:

none of those images in the OP's post are with the "default" install.. 🤝
except maybe Ubuntu and Mint.

[moosa666]

i would go with cent os but if ure a beginner go with ubuntu