The usage of Linux has increased over the period and it will gain more rise in the future because of its varsity, there are tons of Linux distributions available thanks to Linus Torvald making Linux kernel open source, which makes way for many organizations to make their operating system with the help of kernel some may see it as enterprise opportunities or some may see as testing, development environment, etc there is no limit in it here we are going to discuss the best distributions of Linux in their area. If you are new to Linux and confused over distro selection with your use case then this story will give the perspective on Linux distributions
There are some factors involved while selecting Linux such as package formats, desktop environment, and use case
There are some types of package formats such as Debien-based, Redhat-based, Arch-based, and more These packages contain all the files needed for a particular software application, along with metadata such as package dependencies and installation scripts. There are multiple package formats but .deb and .rpm are quite famous and used in various operating systems
Unlike Windows and Mac, Linux is by default a terminal-based operating system which means without GUI, although it's true that almost every Linux distro comes with a default GUI now, if you want you can change that with another GUI option, here I am referring Desktop environment just as GUI, in reality, it's much more than that there are few options in the desktop environment which are popular GNOME is one of them which comes with lots of OS by default also there are KDE, Xfce, LXQT, MATE, Cinnamon, Budgie, and Pantheon Each desktop environment has its visual style, default applications, configuration options, and performance characteristics. Users can choose a desktop environment based on their preferences for appearance, functionality, resource usage, and workflow.
Now, The major part with the above part you can customize your experience and development environment but with the proper selection of Linux distro you can save time, and get strong community support.
There was a time when Linux was only used for server purposes because of its strong and secure kernel and Redhat is especially known for its server which nowadays has lots of tools to introduce for server deployment but again Redhat is not free if you want something free then go for centos is also by the Redhat with limited feature, centos likely replaced by rocky Linux (also by redhat). Redhat has strong customer support. If you are looking for something in Debian OS and need a stable server instead of continuous updates and the latest features then go for Debian Linux, On the other side, you can select Ubuntu which has a massive community over Debian Linux. There are other Linux also which give the solid server like OpenSuse, Fedora.
If you are new to Linux and switching from another Operating system to Linux and you prefer the Desktop environment more over tools Then you need a familiar GUI like other OS Deepin Linux has the familiar GUI like Windows, for Mac elementary Linux has quite similar GUI But if you have no such expectations then simply go for Ubuntu which is user friendly and Linux mint a beautiful GUI and performance but I strongly recommend if you are on Linux and going to be developer then forget about GUI just get used any Linux.
A good Linux distribution for programming should provide a development-friendly environment that offers the tools, libraries, and resources you need for software development. It also needs to cater to the preferences and requirements of you as a programmer. Whatever your programming needs, here are some key factors we considered when looking for the best Linux distro for programming Package Management, Software Repositories, Programming Language Support, Development Tools, Libraries and Frameworks, Documentation and Community, System Stability, Customization, Desktop Environment, Security, Performance and Compatibility. Ubuntu and Linux Mint, a distribution based on Ubuntu, is regarded as the simplest and most user-friendly version of Linux among the several Linux variants available. Arch Linux is the Best Linux distro for Advanced Programmers but it's not user-friendly, Installing Arch is a pain in Assh so Manjaro is essentially a more user-friendly version of Arch Linux. It’s easy to operate, requiring limited effort to install. Fedora is a common suggestion for newcomers who want to try something other than Debian and Ubuntu-based distributions. Kali Linux (formerly BackTrack Linux) was built on the Debian operating system, designed for sophisticated penetration testing and security auditing — the perfect combination for cybersecurity programmers.
The contribution of UNIX to network and communication is extremely significant from the development of socket which later led to the internet and still going, there is a difference while using Linux for network if you are using it for tools then OpneSuse which comes with Yast tools which helps the Linux admin to maintain the network and for network engineers Options like OpenBSD, FreeBSD and NetBSD are there You can also try Slackware, SCO, Solaris, and SunOS.
Linux has the upper hand in the world of cloud computing. However, it is challenging to choose a perfect Linux distribution for a server or cloud with the abundance of distros available on the market Alpine Linux is the smallest Linux distribution in this overview. The base image size of only 2.67MB enables the developers to create micro containers for Java applications and thus reduce cloud costs significantly. Alpine uses musl and BusyBox instead of glibc and GNU Core utilities and doesn’t contain any unnecessary packages, Alpaquita Linux is a Linux distribution developed by BellSoft. The incentive behind a new Linux was a lack of solution optimized for Java deployment on servers and the cloud, which at the same time solved the drawbacks of the previous products. As a result, Alpaquita Linux.
Linux has an extensive range of open-source distributions, and a number of those distros have been developed primarily for cybersecurity uses. Linux forensics and pen-testing distros have been developed with pen-testers, ethical hackers, network defenders, and forensic investigators in mind. Kali Linux is by far the most widely used Linux distro in cybersecurity and security tests. Built on Debian, it provides a range of tools for pen testing, digital forensics, network analysis, ethical hacking, security evaluations, and more. also, there are ParrotOS offers a Security Edition that is in some ways the mirror image of Kali It’s user-friendly and manageable for beginners and is less resource-intensive on hardware than Kali. Black Arch is a pentest distro based on Arch Linux. It can be challenging to learn but boasts several advantages for those who make the effort.CAINE (Computer Aided Investigative Environment) is one of the top Linux computer forensic distros. It comes with many built-in forensic investigation tools.DEFT stands for Digital Evidence and Forensic Toolkit. It is a distro employed by the military, government officers, law enforcement, investigators, researchers, system admins, universities, and forensics specialists. The project is no longer actively maintained, but downloads can be found online.
When looking for a Linux Distribution for learners or students, a broad spectrum of determinants is considered. These include user-friendliness, stability, customization, and the availability of pre-installed applications to help them get off the ground with ease. Linux Mint is the ideal option for the start it Debian based on and comes with many pre-installed applications and also comes with three desktop environments.AcademiX GNU/Linux is another Debian-based Linux distribution developed specifically for education. You can also try UberMix, Ubuntu, Elementary OS, Mnajaro Linux.
HPC depends on factors such as specific software requirements, hardware compatibility, support preferences, and institutional policies. It’s essential to evaluate these factors carefully before making a decision we need a distribution that is easy to manage, easy to scale, and easy to trust. Stability and predictability trump all the glitz and glamor of desktop-focused distributions Debian and Ubuntu top, with RHEL and CentOS right behind also Rocky Linux is another option available which is RPM-based.
If you are looking for a Linux operating system optimized for running containers with minimal footprints, fast boot times, and a focus on security and stability then you should consider Alpine Linux is a lightweight, simple, and security-oriented Linux distribution. Fedora CoreOS is a relatively new Fedora edition, that came from merging two projects: CoreOS Inc’s Container Linux and Project Atomic’s Atomic Host. It is a minimal, monolithic, container-focused, and “automatically updating” operating system RancherOS is the small, Docker-focused operating system for running Docker in production. In RancherOS, every process (including system services such as udev and Syslog), is a container managed by Docker you can also consider Phantom OS, and Ubuntu Core.
The above details are completely collected from the internet, Reddit, Twitter, and discussion forums till April 2024 there are some things that you may disagree feel free to comment
