In an increasingly competitive world, nothing more natural than variety and quantity of options. On the other hand, when you are faced with so many options to choose from, it is natural to have doubts. This is the case with Linux distributions.
Even worse when the subject is this… After all, what is a Linux distribution? Why are there so many? What is the best? Which are the most popular?
If you have questions like these, this article will clear it all up!
What is a Linux distribution or distro?
From the way the question was formulated, most people are led to deduce that “distro” means the same as distribution. You’re right if you thought so, Distro became popular in the middle, as an “intimate” way of naming the famous Linux distributions.
But what is one or the other?
Since Linux was created and throughout its evolution, two main aspects have characterized it: licensing being open source and shared or collective development, in which several programmers around the world collaborate on improvements, in corrections and in the creation of new resources.
It follows from these two facts that any programmer or group of them has the possibility of knowing their source code, altering it and distributing it in exactly the same way.
More than that, they can create resources or change the existing ones according to their interests and desires, or even to meet the specific needs of any people and this has been the most evident mark of the Linux.
Therefore, a Linux distribution or distro, is the combination of software and services to the kernel (kernel) Linux, in order to make it useful for specific uses.
With due proportions and particularities, this customization – if we can call it that – happens in many things that we know and do not is a Linux privilege.
This is the case of automobiles, for example, where you can have two models with different names, appearances and several other characteristics, but that share the same platform (engine, suspension, exchange, etc.).
There are now a number of operating systems that derive from what is popularly called Linux, but which actually emerged from its kernel or kernel.
Some don’t even bear your name anymore, and possibly the best known example, you carry in your pocket, which is the Android system of your smartphone, developed by Google and that, like Linux, is customized by different device manufacturers.
The freedom of access to the operating system code, as well as the possibility The ability to modify it and distribute it to anyone, all this accessible to all and to meet the most diverse interests, has made it possible to have as many Linux distributions as you want.
In fact, all this freedom, which allows the emergence and popularization of distros, is due to the fact that Linux is open source (open source) and, consequently, the distributions that originate from it, are also, since among the various characteristics of open source , is that you cannot create proprietary code from open source.
Why are there so many Linux distributions?
Indirectly and partially we have already answered the question, but it’s not just because it’s possible because the Linux kernel is open source. If that were the case, everything that is open and accessible to everyone should have numerous variations.
If we think about the origin of Linux, its creator had the proposal to create a free operating system different from what was the trend in the 90’s, when proprietary software already dominated the industry.
Especially in terms of end users, there weren’t many options beyond Windows, System 7 (MacOS), OS/2 and some less popular and affordable and all without exception, they were like the first Ford vehicles, that is, “any color you want, as long as it is black”.
In other words, zero flexibility. Users had to make do with what the software industry delivered.
But the door to ending that was wide open, with the release of Linux in 1991 and its open source both in less than two years. years later, in August 1993, the distribution that would become one of the most popular and used, Debian was released.
Created by Ian Murdock, then just a university student, whose purpose was to Although Debian was maintained freely, Debian showed the developer community around the world that anyone could create their own “flavors and colors” of Linux.
A variety of immense, to serve the most different purposes.
There are distros that were created to be used in personal computers. Others have features for managing hosting servers, as is the case with CloudLinux. There are those that are more suitable for scientific applications and we have even had some Brazilian distributions, especially Kurumin and Conectiva, which merged with Mandrake (a French distro), generating Mandriva Linux. Both have been discontinued.
The list of distributions and what their purposes or users are intended for, is very large and dynamic.
In 2022, the DistroWatch website, which contains a huge collection of information about Linux distributions, displays a list of the 100 most popular, but has already had lists with more than 300 different distributions!
Which is the best Linux distribution?
Although it is common to come across this question, there is no easy answer.
Actually, the correct thing is to return the question with others: What is the use? What is the user’s knowledge? What equipment will it be used on?
These and other questions aim to know the set of needs of those who will use the operating system, because with so many distributions, it is possible to choose the one that best fits with what the user does in his day to day and how advanced or layman he is in the subject.
Another point is that there are some subjective aspects that may please some in a given distribution and more to others, in a second, which is the case of graphical environments or Linux desktop environment and which, in short, is what brings together everything that the operating system has installed by default to work.
Simply put, it’s the set of applications, programs and services and how it’s organized and the interface that lets you access and use everything.
But it’s not just a matter of appearance and how easy it is. and intuitive is to use everything. Considering each distribution, it can mean choosing the ones that prioritize performance and are more suitable for older or even current hardware, but more modest.
Even knowing the difference between an LTS or Rolling Release distro, it can be relevant according to the user.
These are examples of criteria that must be considered in the evaluation that each user makes of the different distros and thus, choosing the best one, is something that has an individual component important and, therefore, prevents us from making an unbiased and honest list of those that are the best.
In fact, the set of reasons for choosing a distro is the same that prevents us from saying if Window or Linux is better.
Which distros/distros are most popular?
There is no gauge or index that is exactly reliable. With so many distributions and even so many different ways to obtain each one, it is impractical to obtain precise numbers regarding the use of each distribution.
What exists are estimates, such as the popularity list of the aforementioned DistroWatch, based on views of the information of each of the distros listed on the site.
As it is impractical to make a ranking, we are going to approach some distributions with an essentially empirical basis, that is, resulting from our experimentation with over the years, in how long each one has been, as well as in the work that goes into each distro, after all, the “useful life” is also an important issue, since it is not reasonable to have to change distros, because it was “abandoned” by its developers.
The order in which the distros are listed below has nothing to do with importance, popularity or quality.
Another point worth noting , is that our purpose is not to indicate “A” or “B”, but to comment on some options that are interesting, those that are almost consensually well evaluated and that have a relevant historical and technical role.
The eventual absences, for obvious reasons, do not mean that they are not as good alternatives as any other. others, but like any list, there will always be excluded names and that in the case of Linux distributions, it is not difficult to find out why so many are out.
Last, but not least, we favor oriented distros to the home user and who usually have more difficulties in migrating from other operating systems and at the same time, have a more generic profile. The exception is Red Hat, due to its importance in the entire evolution of Linux.
Ubuntu
Ubuntu is one of the longest-lived distributions of all, since it has been around since 2004. But it’s not the fact that it’s old that makes it popular, but some of the aspects that characterize it.
It is maintained by the South African company Canonical, which was born together with Ubuntu and whose role is to disseminate free software as a means of helping people. This concept is present even in the name, which in the local dialect can mean “humanity with others” or “I am the that I am for what we are“.
In addition to the social character, what the distribution is as an operating system, having been one of the first to break the stigma that Linux is a system only for experts. From installation to daily use, ease has always been a high point and has proved to be a good choice of operating system for desktops.
With over time, specific versions emerged for certain purposes, as Ubuntu Server as the name suggests, is intended for servers and even for the Internet of Things (IoT).
The time it has been on the market as a reliable and quality alternative in terms of distribution, despite the emergence of many alternatives that have been even better evaluated by the community, make Ubuntu still one of the most popular Linux distros today.
Pop!_OS
Created by the North American hardware manufacturer System76, Pop!_OS, is a distro based on in another distro, Ubuntu and which was initially intended to be supplied with the custom computers created by it, but which can be downloaded and installed like most other distributions.
Some who defend Pop !_OS, justify its choice because it emphasizes aspects that have been criticized in the latest versions of Ubuntu, such as the desktop environment, called Cosmic, for example.
But it’s not just aesthetically that Pop!_OS differs from the system from which it originated. The set of tools and resources has received constant improvements and news, demonstrating a greater concern on the part of the developer to improve the system.
The level of customization of the system is quite high compared to other distros that use Gnome and the options for accessing everything are varied, which means that the set of keys or mouse movements to access anything are always more than one.
Two aspects that those responsible like to emphasize, are privacy and security.
The first goes against what most companies do and which is to try to collect as much as possible from users, under the justification of providing an ever better experience.
As for security, by default all your data is encrypted so that if your computer is stolen or lost, its contents cannot be read other than through the system.
Finally, although Pop!_OS is not one of the least c consume resources and, therefore, is not the most suitable for older or more modest hardware, it is also not the most demanding.
Red Hat
Just as Ubuntu has been an important choice in desktop distros and the name Red Hat is practically synonymous with enterprise Linux distributions . It was a pioneer company in creating a distribution that served what was most important in terms of IT within an organization.
But one point caught our attention, which was the focus on the support that was needed, mainly at a time when Linux wasn’t as popular as it is today. And for this support, sort of against other distros, Red Hat offered paid versions.
As a result of this expertise, a good part of the distributions oriented to application servers, Web servers and corporate environment in are generally based on Red Hat. Examples of derivative distributions that are widely adopted on servers, especially web application servers, are CentOS and CloudLinux.
Fedora
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This distro has the same origins as Red Hat, but with a focus on desktops.
Born in 2003, due to the disconnection with the Red Hat project, Fedora is maintained by the community , as has been usual in many of the existing distributions, but it has sponsorship from Red Hat.
Since its creation it has been highly popular and has a high rate of adoption by users, as it is a stable distribution , reliable, with good performance. It is not one of the simplest and easiest distributions to use and it is recommended that those who install it already have some familiarity with Linux environments.
For those who are adept at games, the developers have dedicated a little more attention to drivers for video cards and aspects that are important for those who do not want to play a good game.
MX Linux
MX Linux is a desktop distro based on Debian and was the result of the cooperation of two development teams from two others: antiX and MEPIS Linux.
It uses XFCE and allows for good customization, as the native visual aspect is not its best feature. On the other hand, like most that use the same desktop environment, it does well on machines with weaker or older hardware.
By the way, the amount / variety of customization tools, is indeed a aspects that differentiate it, making it a great system for those who like to leave everything their own way. It is even possible to generate an ISO file that can be booted from the customized result.
The work of installing packages or even drivers is another system concern, which in some distributions is the that drives away users coming from Windows or MacOS.
It is an option for those who are sympathetic to the qualities of Debian and XFCE, but have difficulties in “purism” and in the few solutions via graphical interface for some questions of the first, making it necessary to resort to command lines.
Debian
Enter all the distributions we still have today, it is one of the oldest and today it is supported by people and organizations around the world.
The Debian Project is responsible for maintaining and updating the one that at for a long time, it is one of the most popular among all distributions.
The main concern of Debian is to keep old and stable versions, giving priority to security and the functioning of the systems. This feature has made several successful distributions based on Debian, the best known of which is certainly Ubuntu.
Although it is exceptionally stable, secure and reliable, it is not the best option for lay users or not very adept at configurations via the command line.
OpenSUSE
Also a very old version that was born in Germany as an alternative within the university environment and which at the time was named SuSE Linux. A decade later, a well-known company in the field of network and internet technology, Novell, acquired SUSE and opened the project to global collaboration, as has always been characteristic of many distros, and from then on it became OpenSUSE, with “open” is open in English.
If most of the distributions we have are based on two large groups that have their origins in Red Hat and Debian, OpenSUSE represents a third way or alternative.
It is an operating system that has a good infrastructure of repositories for installing whatever is needed on the system, a proprietary, innovative and uncomplicated management system (YaST) to control everything in the environment and provides a good end-user experience.
Tumbleweed (rolling release) and Leap (LTS) versions available.
Linux Mint
It has been appearing in recent years as one of the ones with the highest number of downloads, which suggests that many people use this Irish distro and which in the words of its developers aims to be “a modern, elegant and comfortable operating system, which is powerful and easy to use”.
In fact, as soon as you install Mint, through a simple and quick process, what you have on the desktop, reminds a lot of those who are familiar with Windows.
It’s not exactly the same nor does it intend to be, but users who migrate from Microsoft’s system should not be surprised by the change.
In aesthetic terms it has been refined in its latest versions and is characterized by stability and run well on many devices.
Zorin OS
Another example that has its origins in Ubuntu and that has as one of its proposals, to be easy for those who are starting in the Linux world, Zorin OS has an environment that resembles Windows and many similar programs.
It comes with a complete office suite and It even has a version intended for old PCs s – Zorin OS 16.1 Lite – and, therefore, with more modest hardware.
The PRO version allows the user to choose between XFCE and Gnome desktop environments, but it is paid, but possible from using a desktop standard and proper to have a layout similar to that of MacOS, Windows 11 or Ubuntu, an expanded set of applications and productivity software and even technical support.
Manjaro
Among all the most popular, it is the newest. The first version available is only 2011, but the short time on the market was not an obstacle for Manjaro to reach the status of one of the most popular today.
The points that probably explain its success, is the simple, almost minimalist look and for using as a basis for development another previous distro that was very well regarded by users, which was .
Among the most important features, there is the simplicity of use, which makes it an excellent choice for those who are going to use Linux for the first time and full control of the hardware by the operating system.
Elementary
Another of the most recent options and that appeared at the same time as Manjaro, Elementary intends to be the open source replacement for Windows and MacOS, but with superior performance and a robust privacy policy, which is a factor of excellence these days.
It inherits the same qualities of dist Debian-based ones like stability, but goes further in security aspects. It also combines a modern, light and low maintenance aesthetic.
Among the most current distros, it is the one that most resembles Android systems, which should be a point of comfort and ease for those who wants to migrate from other systems and does not want to have adaptation problems.
Conclusion
The Linux universe is capable of producing a very large number of alternatives for distributions, each oriented to a set of needs. Finding the one that is suitable for your demands, as paradoxical as it may seem, can be difficult due to the number of alternatives available, but at the same time very simple, after all for the same reasons that we choose different clothes, cars and everything else in our lives, why should the operating system always be the same?
