Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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I had a dream about windows and have decided to setup Linux on my laptop. What distro should I use? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I used Ubuntu once a few years ago but had compatability issues so I went back to windows. Not a great programmer but I'd like to learn. I'm not looking to do much gaming beyond DOOM2 and factorio. Mostly looking for privacy and a way to get back into programming (I have this pipe dream of learning Assembly). I'm not to particular on UI, I can use whatever.

Edit: https://distrochooser.de for anyone who stumbles upon this post with the same question

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Don't overthink it. You're not likely to pick the best first distro for you out of the gate, because the best distro for you depends on a whole pile of factors. Like -- what hardware do you have? Did you win the hardware lottery and you just by chance have a fully working setup with libre drivers out of the box? In that case, you could use most anything and be up and running without much difficulty. Have some device that needs proprietary firmware or just a third-party, closed source driver? Might want to start on one of the more beginner-friendly distros, like Mint or PopOS. These won't give you a great view of the possibilities of Linux, but they will get you up and running fast.

Best approach is to take a guess, install it, try it for like a week, and if you're more angry at the end of the week than you were at the beginning, try a different distro.

Popular first choices are Ubuntu, Mint, Pop_OS or Elementary, I'd recommend trying Kubuntu as the UI is the most similar to Windows and it has a different development team than mainline Ubuntu. There are annoying things about Ubuntu that are less awful on Kubuntu.

Red Hat was bought by IBM a few years ago and they're quickly moving to kill off everything that made the Red Hat ecosystem cool and useful for end users, so tbh I'd avoid Fedora or anything Fedora based. There's a risk you'll get comfy and then have the rug pulled out from under you.

Canonical, Ubuntu's parent corporation, is drawing closer and closer to Microsoft and I honestly don't trust that, especially with some of the decisions they've been making around software management, but using Ubuntu will get you ready to try Debian, which is the cool and community-oriented distro Ubuntu based itself off of.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

This. The best distro is the one you stick with. AND you're gonna bounce off from the first one soon enough. You might come back to it later, but just pick one and go for it.