Best Linux Distros That Programmers Can Choose

Nowadays, devices support various operating systems, including Windows, Android, macOS, and Linux. However, Linux is different from all of them because it is a combination of GUI and CLI approaches. That’s why many programmers always prefer Linux distros over any other OS. 

Although Linux distros are programming-centric operating systems, some programmers still need clarification about which Linux OS they should use. In this long- guide, we will list down the best Linux distros programmers can choose. But before that, let’s understand Linux distros:

What is Linux Distors?

Linux Distros is an operating system made from a collection of software including the kernel, softwares, a window manager, a desktop environment, and a package management system. It is a version of the LInux operating system containing the package with components like management tools, installation programs, and KVM hypervisor. 

Best Linux Distros Programmers Can Choose 

1. Fedora

Fedora is an open-source operating system developed by the Fedora project sponsored by Red Hat. This Linux distro focuses on innovation to integrate new technologies and work with the upstream Linux communities. Fedora’s desktop environment is GNOME, with GNOME shell as the default UI. However, it also includes various desktops such as KDE Plasma, i3, LXQT, MATE, and many more. 

Fedora contains six editions for personal use, IoT installations, and cloud computing since the release of Fedora 35. Fedora 37 is the latest version of this Linux distro which you can use for your personal computer. 

2. Ubuntu

Ubuntu is one the most popular and user-friendly Linux distro based on Debian. The default version of Ubuntu comes with various tools, including LibreOffice, Thunderbird, Firefox, Rhythmbox, and many more. This Linux distro has the LTS (Long Term Support) release within the six months release cycle. 

Hence, Ubuntu releases updates in April (22.04 Jammy Jellyfish) and October (22.10 Kinetic Kudu) every year. Ubuntu has three editions: Server, Core (IoT and robots), and Personal use to fulfill every requirement. 

3. Debian 

Debian is a fantastic Linux distro popular because of its stability and open-source support. This Linux distro is one of the oldest OS of Linux kernel, and now various operating systems, including Ubuntu, Pop!_OS, and Zorin OS, are based on Debian. Debian offers more than 50 thousand free packages and utilities to simplify your work. 

Moreover, Debian comes with pre-installed utilities like Firefox, Evolution mail, LibreOffice, GIMP, VLC media player, K3b, Evince, and many more. This Linux distro is undoubtedly the best suitable for servers because of its immense features. 

4. openSUSE

openSUSE is an open-source RPM (Red Hat Package Manager) based Linux distro developed by the openSUSE project community. The openSUSE project community also developed various utilities and tools, including YaST, openQA, KIWI, Snapper, Open Build Service, OSEM, and many more. openSUSE is a great example of how a community-driven project can be good.

Although openSUSE is best for desktops and servers, you can also use it on PPC or ARM computers. openSUSE contains over 1 thousand open-source utilities and tools. This Linux distro has two versions: openSUSE Leap and openSUSE Tumbleweed. If you are an experienced user, you can go for openSUSE Tumbleweed because it is a rolling release version of openSUSE. 

5. Arch Linux

Arch Linux is an open-source distro that provides higher control and optimization options over the system. The default install of Arch Linux is minimal but don’t worry because you can configure and tweak the system accordingly. Arch Linux has Pacman as the default package manager, mainly developed for this Linux distro. 

This Linux OS has a rolling release model, which means you will not get the major release of the new version. Arch Linux is a minimalistic and lightweight OS, which makes it the perfect operating system for programmers. 

6. CentOS

CentOS is another famous Linux distro which is a stable and easily manageable platform developed from RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux) sources.  This Linux OS has a fantastic security architecture having the Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) system. 

CentOS also uses the stable software version because it has a long release cycle, so you don’t need to update the applications regularly. It has two versions: CentOS Stream and CentOS. CentOS Stream is the upstream version of RHEL that delivers all upcoming minor Red Hat updates. 

7. Manjaro

Manjaro is an open-source Linux distro that can be best-suitable if you are looking for a simple version of Arch Linux. This Linux OS provides different desktop environments, including Xfce, KDE, and GNOME. 

Many beginners prefer Manjaro to switch from Windows to Linux because it offers simple, minimalistic, and user-friendly features. This Linux distro also has the rolling release model, which means you don’t need to reinstall the complete OS to keep it up-to-date. Moreover, Manjaro contains the Arch utilities like ABS or Arch Build System.

8. Pop!_OS

Pop!_OS can be your first choice if you want to switch from Windows to Linux. This Ubuntu-based Linux distro has COSMIC, the customized GNOME desktop environment. This Linux OS is developed by System76, a Linux computer manufacturing organization in America. 

Pop!_OS offers excellent support from both Nvidia and AMD GPUs, so you can set this OS for gaming purposes. However, it is not a community-driven OS, but you can view, contribute and modify the source code. 

9. Kali Linux

Kali Linux is the best suitable OS for penetration testing and other digital forensics approaches. It is a Debian-derived operating system with more than 500 penetration-testing utilities such as Nmap, Armitage, Metasploit, Wireshark, sqlmap, John the Ripper, Aircrack-ng, Burp Suite, and many more. 

Kali Linux is mainly developed for cyber security experts,  white-hat hackers, and penetration testers. Although there are various penetration testing-based operating systems, Kali Linux differs from all because of its immense features and utilities. 

10. Raspberry Pi OS

Raspberry Pi OS is a Unix-like OS based on Debian for single-board computers. This distro is highly compact, and you can optimize it for the ARM CPUs with Raspberry Pi. Raspberry Pi OS has LXDE as the default desktop environment, including Openbox and other amazing themes. 

This OS has the PCManFM file manager and Chromium as the default web browser. Moreover, Raspberry Pi OS also has some beginner IDEs, including Greenfoot, Mu Editor, and Thonny Python IDE. 

Wrap Up

So this was all about the 10 best Linux distros programmers can choose to sharpen their skills. We have included various types of Linux distros which are useful for beginners, intermediates, and experts. If you are a beginner, please go for Ubuntu or Pop!_OS because these provide a more user-friendly environment. However, Ubuntu and Pop!_OS have some significant differences that many users don’t know. So you can check out our guide to learn more about the difference between Ubuntu and Pop!_OS. We also recommend you choose the Linux distro wisely, or else you may get issues while performing any task on your system.