Best linux distros of 2020 for beginners, mainstream and advanced users

Особенности

Некоторые пакеты, такие как Bash, BIND, GCC, GTK +, Python, Qt, XFree86 и Linux Kernel, часто поставляются в нескольких версиях в некоторых дистрибутивах. Включение всех этих версий в таблицы могло бы разрушить их эстетические качества и вызвать путаницу. Следовательно, в таблицах указывается только «стандартная» версия. Единственным исключением является ядро ​​Linux (пакет «linux»); причина в том, что большинство людей, похоже, заинтересованы в том, чтобы узнать, какие опции ядра доступны в дистрибутиве, а не то, что является ядром по умолчанию.

Прежде всего, на главной странице публикуются новости о выпусках дистрибутивов Linux и BSD (как стабильные, так и разрабатываемые). В меньшей степени также публикуются интересные обзоры и интервью с разработчиками дистрибутивов (на английском языке).

Best Linux Distributions for Older Computers

If you have an old PC laying around or if you didn’t really need to upgrade your system – you can still try some of the best Linux distros available.

We’ve already talked about some of the best lightweight Linux distributions in details. Here, we shall only mention what really stands out from that list (and some new additions).

Puppy Linux

Puppy Linux is literally one of the smallest distribution there is. When I first started to explore Linux, my friend recommended me to experiment with Puppy Linux because it can run on older hardware configurations with ease.

It’s worth checking it out if you want a snappy experience on your good old PC. Over the years, the user experience has improved along with the addition of several new useful features.

Solus Budgie

After a recent major release – Solus 4 Fortitude – it is an impressive lightweight desktop OS. You can opt for desktop environments like GNOME or MATE. However, Solus Budgie happens to be one of my favorites as a full-fledged Linux distro for beginners while being light on system resources.

Bodhi

Bodhi Linux is built on top of Ubuntu. However, unlike Ubuntu – it does run well on older configurations.

The main highlight of this distro is its Moksha Desktop (which is a continuation of Enlightenment 17 desktop). The user experience is intuitive and screaming fast. Even though it’s not something for my personal use – you should give it a try on your older systems.

antiX

antiX – which is also partially responsible for MX Linux is a lightweight Linux distribution tailored for old and new computers. The UI isn’t impressive – but it works as expected.

It is based on Debian and can be utilized as a live CD distribution without needing to install it. antiX also provides live bootloaders. In contrast to some other distros, you get to save the settings so that you don’t lose it with every reboot. Not just that, you can also save changes to the root directory with its “Live persistence” feature.

So, if you are looking for a live-USB distro to provide a snappy user experience on old hardware – antiX is the way to go.

Sparky Linux

Sparky Linux is based on Debian which turns out to be a perfect Linux distro for low-end systems. Along with a screaming fast experience, Sparky Linux offers several special editions (or varieties) for different users.

For example, it provides a stable release (with varieties) and rolling releases specific to a group of users. Sparky Linux GameOver edition is quite popular for gamers because it includes a bunch of pre-installed games. You can check out our list of best Linux Gaming distributions – if you also want to play games on your system.

Linux Distros for Gaming

The times have passed were Linux distros were not suitable for gaming. However, times
have changed now, and gaming on
Linux has become very stable over the years. There are many distros in the market, and
there are few that are made
with the sole purpose of gaming. However, there are few options available that work as
great distros for gaming.

Steam OS

SteamOS is often considered as the best Linux distro for gaming. The Debian-based distro
is packed with the steam
application, and one can enjoy the advanced Linux desktop environment. Interestingly,
one can switch to ‘Desktop
Mode’ to use the distro beyond gaming, such as daily tasks.

Here are the minimum requirements to install Steam OS:

• Processor: Intel or AMD 64-bit capable processor
• Memory: 4GB RAM
• Hard Drive: 200GB
• Video Card: NVIDIA graphics card
• A USB port for installation, UEFI Firmware

SteamOS packs various pre-installed software and drivers as it is developed, keeping in
mind gaming experience. It
ensures that every game, including high-end games, runs smoothly without any glitches.
SteamIOS also supports
various graphic cards, controllers, and drivers. Gamers need not worry about
compatibility as it supports most
joysticks or gamepads. Players can also enjoy a vast collection of built-in games from
the Steam game store.

More so, it is a perfect distribution for both newbies and advanced users. Apart from
having all things
pre-installed, the intuitive user interface makes it easy for one of the most
user-friendly distributions. The
SteamOS is free and open-source and has vibrant community support. However, one must
remember that SteamOS is not
suitable to run on old computers. Users must have high-end hardware to support steam.

Manjaro

Manjaro is a distribution based on Arch Linux — a distribution designed for developers.
While Arch is specially
designed for advanced and experienced users, Manjaro, on the other hand, is created,
keeping in mind the newcomers.
It is one of the most beginner-friendly distributions and one that keeps in mind gaming.

The minimum hardware requirements for Manjaro are as follows:

• 1 GB RAM
• 1 GHz Processor
• 30 GB free space on the hard disk
• USB Drive
• Internet Connection

Interestingly, the user interface offers various built-in GUI applications. Linux is
attracting more gamers than ever
before, and one good reason is the Manjaro distribution. Ten years back, players would
think twice before taking
down the Linux road as it wasn’t user-friendly and had the lack of games on the Linux
platform. However, now we look
at a completely different scenario as more and more distributions are offering a game
friendly interface.

While SteamOS is considered the number one option for gaming on Linux, the latest
iteration of Manjaro is also
gaining a lot of attention from gamers. Steam comes preinstalled on Manjaro, and it also
offers wide-ranging
hardware support. To even make it more user-friendly, Manjaro comes with a hardware
detection tool. It also comes
with pre-installed graphics drivers for both AMD and Nvidia graphic cards. One can
easily switch between Linux
kernels on Manjaro.

With so many features, Arch-based Manjaro has gained a loyal user base and hopes to
double it with efforts towards
making gaming fun and easy on Manjaro.

Счетчик популярности дистрибутивов

Сайт DistroWatch подтверждает, что счётчик популярности дистрибутивов на страницах — это «простой способ уточнения популярности дистрибутивов Linux, и других бесплатных операционных систем среди посетителей этого сайта. Счётчик показывает, что это — не сколько пользуются дистрибутивом, не какое качество, и не счётчик использований для измерения рыночной доли дистрибутивов. Они просто показывают количество раз, через какой дистрибутив заходили чаще на сайт, ничего больше».

Блог PCWorld написал, что «количество посещений страницы на DistroWatch даёт некоторое представление о том, какие дистрибутивы привлекают наибольший интерес на данный момент, конечно, но такие меры не могут быть приняты, чтобы оценить, кто на самом деле использует то, что предпочтительнее всего».

По состоянию на 2-й квартал 2017 года DistroWatch обслуживает около 17 миллионов страниц более чем 920 000 уникальных посетителей в месяц. Основная индексная страница просматривается примерно 120 000 — 130 000 посетителей в каждый рабочий день и 110 000 — 120 000 посетителей по выходным дням, а посещения страниц, посвященных отдельным дистрибутивам, существенно различаются — от примерно 800 до 4000 просмотров страниц в день для основных дистрибутивов Linux (Mint, Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora) примерно до 20 в день для некоторых из менее известных и региональных дистрибутивов. Большинство посетителей приезжают из США , за ними следуют Германия, Великобритания, Италия, Франция, Бразилия, Канада, Россия и Польша.

Последние дистрибутивы

Дата	Дистрибутив • Версия
30/09	HardenedBSD • 1100056.6
29/09	Nitrux • 1.0.16-1
28/09	Haiku • R1-beta1
28/09	FreeBSD • 12.0-ALPHA8
28/09	Manjaro • 18.0-beta7
28/09	Xubuntu • 18.10-beta
28/09	Ubuntu Studio • 18.10-beta
28/09	Ubuntu MATE • 18.10-beta
28/09	Ubuntu Kylin • 18.10-beta
28/09	Ubuntu Budgie • 18.10-beta
28/09	Ubuntu • 18.10-beta
27/09	ubuntu • 18.10-beta
27/09	Kubuntu • 18.10-beta
27/09	SmartOS • 20180927
27/09	Robolinux • 10.1
27/09	Clonezilla • 2.6.0-7
26/09	KDE neon • 20180925
25/09	Fedora • 29-beta
24/09	Lite • 4.2-beta
24/09	Archman • 2018.09 «Budgie»

История

Рисунок 1 — Ладислав Бондар, создатель Distrowatch

Впервые веб-сайт DistroWatch был опубликован 31 мая 2001. Идея начиналась с очень простой таблицы, сравнивающей 5 основных дистрибутивов, и диаграммы, сравнивающей лишь несколько параметров (цена, версия, дата выпуска) и версий нескольких пакетов (Kernel, KDE, Gnome, XFree86, Apache). Пытаясь сделать его более всеобъемлющим и полезным, Ладислав Бондар продолжил добавлять новые дистрибутивы, параметры и пакеты до тех пор, пока таблица не достигла приемлемого состояния по части предоставляемой информации. На этом этапе он решил предоставить таблицу на обозрение для всемирного сообщества Linux и перевёл её из электронной таблицы в документ HTML. Впервые страница была упомянута в LinuxToday и на многих других сайтах по всему миру.

Разработан и поддерживается Ладиславом Боднаром (Ladislav Bodnar) — гражданином ЮАР, родом из Чехословакии, и живущем в Тайване. Свою первую попытку установки операционной системы Linux он осуществил в апреле 1999. Linux — это великая вещь и этот сайт просто небольшой вклад для тех, кто получает от него удовольствие. DistroWatch имел большое число активных помощников — среди них Роберт Стори (Robert Storey) — первоначальный автор книг-путеводителей и активный обозреватель дистрибутивов Linux, и д-р Зу Вень Тао (Dr Zhu Wen Tao) — член Китайской академии наук (Chinese Academy of Sciences) в Пекине.

Первоначально Боднар также создал DistroWatch Weekly (DWW). В ноябре 2008 года, Боднар решил уйти с поста редактора DistroWatch Weekly. Ладислав сказал, что он всё равно продолжит владеть сайтом, в то время, как проектом DistroWatch Weekly будет владеть Крис Смарт. По состоянию на 9 августа 2015 года, DistroWatch пожертвовал в общей сложности $44175 на различные проекты с открытым исходным кодом с момента запуска программы пожертвований в марте 2004 года.

Михаил Шигорин

Рисунок 2 — Михаил Шигорин (Alt Linux)

Баннер DistroWatch был разработан MadHunter’ом с MadPenguin.org.

Best Linux Server Distributions

For servers, the choice of a Linux distro comes down to stability, performance, and enterprise support. If you are just experimenting, you can try any distro you want.

But, if you are installing it for a web server or anything vital – you should take a look at some of our recommendations.

Ubuntu Server

Depending on where you want it, Ubuntu provides different options for your server. If you are looking for an optimized solution to run on AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform, etc., Ubuntu Cloud is the way to go.

In either case, you can opt for Ubuntu Server packages and have it installed on your server. Nevertheless, Ubuntu is the most popular Linux distro when it comes to deployment on the cloud (judging by the numbers – source 1, source 2).

Do note that we recommend you to go for the LTS editions – unless you have specific requirements.

Ubuntu Server

Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a top-notch Linux platform for businesses and organizations. If we go by the numbers, Red Hat may not be the most popular choice for servers. But, there’s a significant group of enterprise users who rely on RHEL (like Lenovo).

Technically, Fedora and Red Hat are related. Whatever Red Hat supports – gets tested on Fedora before making it available for RHEL. I’m not an expert on server distributions for tailored requirements – so you should definitely check out their official documentation to know if it’s suitable for you.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server

Suse Linux Enterprise (Image: Softpedia)

Fret not, do not confuse this with OpenSUSE. Everything comes under a common brand “SUSE” – but OpenSUSE is an open-source distro targeted and yet, maintained by the community.

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server is one of the most popular solutions for cloud-based servers. You will have to opt for a subscription in order to get priority support and assistance to manage your open source solution.

CentOS

As I mentioned, you need a subscription for RHEL. But, CentOS is more like a community edition of RHEL because it has been derived from the sources of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. And, it is open source and free as well. Even though the number of hosting providers using CentOS is significantly less compared to the last few years – it still is a great choice.

CentOS may not come loaded with the latest software packages – but it is considered as one of the most stable distros. You should find CentOS images on a variety of cloud platforms. If you don’t, you can always opt for the self-hosted image that CentOS provides.

Other Options

You can also try exploring Fedora Server or Debian as alternatives to some of the distros mentioned above.

If you are into programming and software development check out the list of

Best Linux Distributions for Programmers

Interested in learning and practicing cyber security? Check out the list of

Best Linux Distribution for Hacking and Pen-Testing

Linux Distros for Privacy

Security and privacy play a vital role in the era of computers and digital data. More
often than usual, we come
across computer systems unknowingly exposed to hackers. Therefore, it is essential to
have a distribution that is
secure and offers privacy. More so, Linux OS is commonly used on servers that store
data, and it is a must that the
distribution must be powerful, robust, and secure to keep it safe from hackers.

A computer with weak security is just a welcome call for all hackers. Therefore, it is
necessary to have the most
secure Linux distribution.

Tails

If we tell you that some of the most popular whistleblowers and hackers use Tails for
communication, then you might
wonder why? One of the biggest reasons is that it provides anonymity and ensure complete
privacy. It is one of the
best systems for safe and secure web browsing.

Tails is a bootable Linux distribution that can keep you safe while browsing the web.
Users can easily use a USB
image to boot Tails into almost any computer. Tails maintain anonymity by forcing that
all internet connection
travels through the Tor network. The Debian-based distro makes it impossible for anyone
to trace you.

While, one might guess that the interface must be complicated, but in reality, it is a
clear and user-friendly
interface. If privacy and anonymity are your primary goal, then there is no better than
Tails. More so, the best
part of Tails is that it stores all on RAM, and hence, there is no trace.

Debian

Image Credits: mrneilypops / Deviantart

Well, Ubuntu’s based on Debian – so it must be a darn good distribution itself. Debian is an ideal choice for both desktop and servers.

It may not be the best beginner-friendly OS – but you can easily get started by going through the official documentation. The recent release of Debian 10 Buster introduces a lot of changes and necessary improvements. So, you must give it a try!

Wrapping Up

Overall, these are the best Linux distributions that we recommend you to try. Yes, there are a lot of other Linux distributions that deserve the mention – but to each of their own, depending on personal preferences – the choices will be subjective.

But, we also have a separate list of distros for Windows users, hackers and pen testers, gamers, programmers, and privacy buffs. So, if that interest you – do go through them.

If you think we missed listing one of your favorites that deserves as one of the best Linux distributions out there, let us know your thoughts in the comments below and we’ll keep the article up-to-date accordingly.

Bonus

While the above were the various Linux distros for various categories, Linux even has
something for kids. If you feel
your child has a developer or hacker in them, then try one of the distributions
specially designed for kids.

Ubermix

Ubermix is excellent to start for kids to learn Linux and understand how it works. In
today’s computer world,
learning Linux could be of great importance. There are very few distributions that are
specifically designed for
kids. You need not look any further than Ubermix, as it has it takes to learn Linux.

The best part of it is that it is easy to set up and use. Frankly, it is a good start for
adults who want to jump
into learning Linux. The Linux distribution comes with touch support to make it more
attractive for children to use.
It is even a great tool for teachers that want to introduce Linux to kids.

Ubermix takes no longer than five minutes to install and comes with pre-installed
applications. It is a powerful
distribution for kids and teachers.

The above are the top ten Linux distributions that cover a wide range of industries. Our
list of top ten includes all
segments, be it development, ethical hacking, gaming, privacy, anonymity, and more.

There are hundreds of other distros both paid and free, but these are the most popular in
their respective verticals.
Linux users are growing by the day, and our list offers an excellent way for them to
choose the best distribution to
suit their needs.

Best Linux Distro for Advanced Users

Once you get comfortable with the variety of package managers and commands to help troubleshoot your way to resolve any issue, you can start exploring Linux distros which are tailored for Advanced users only.

Of course, if you are a professional – you will have a set of specific requirements. However, if you’ve been using Linux for a while as a common user – these distros are worth checking out.

Arch Linux

Image Credits: Samiuvic / Deviantart

Arch Linux is itself a simple yet powerful distribution with a huge learning curve. Unlike others, you won’t have everything pre-installed in one go. You have to configure the system and add packages as needed.

Also, when installing Arch Linux, you will have to follow a set of commands (without GUI). To know more about it, you can follow our guide on how to install Arch Linux. If you are going to install it, you should also know about some of the essential things to do after installing Arch Linux. It will help you get a jump start.

In addition to all the versatility and simplicity, it’s worth mentioning that the community behind Arch Linux is very active. So, if you run into a problem, you don’t have to worry.

Gentoo

Gentoo Linux

If you know how to compile the source code, Gentoo Linux is a must-try for you. It is also a lightweight distribution – however, you need to have the required technical knowledge to make it work.

Of course, the official handbook provides a lot of information that you need to know. But, if you aren’t sure what you’re doing – it will take a lot of your time to figure out how to make the most out of it.

Slackware

Image Credits: thundercr0w / Deviantart

Slackware is one of the oldest Linux distribution that still matters. If you are willing to compile or develop software to set up a perfect environment for yourself – Slackware is the way to go.

In case you’re curious about some of the oldest Linux distros, we have an article on the earliest linux distributions – go check it out.

Even though the number of users/developers utilizing it has significantly decreased, it is still a fantastic choice for advanced users. Also, with the recent news of Slackware getting a Patreon page – we hope that Slackware continues to exist as one of the best Linux distros out there.

Linux Distros for Developers

When it comes to developers, there is no better operating system than Linux. While most
distros are good to work
with, several distros are specifically designed to serve the needs of developers and
programmers. We will look at
Arch — the most popular Linux distro for developers.

Arch Linux

Arch is one of the most potent Linux distros. It is one of the best-suited distros for
developers and allows complete
freedom to configure. Users must note that it requires a bit of a learning curve, and
everything has to be installed
manually. The Arch does not come with a lot of pre-installed software, and programmers
can choose to configure and
install packages per their requirement.

The minimum system requirements to install Arch is as follows:

• A x86_64 (i.e. 64 bit) compatible machine
• Minimum 512 MB of RAM, but for better performance, it is good to have 2GB of RAM
• 1 GB of free disk space, but it recommended to have 20 GB for efficient usage.
• Active internet connection
• USB drive
• Knowledge of the Linux command line

Also, the distro is only for advanced users, as programmers must follow a set of commands
at the time of
installation. It is by far the least user-friendly distros as its primary foundation is
to allow programmers to
tweak the system as to their requirements. One of the major perks is that it does not
come with unwanted packages
that take up the disk space.

The Arch was developed with an idea to keep things simple and minimalist. Arch may seem
complicated for new users,
but it is best for programmers that enjoy using a clean distribution with no clutter.
The distribution certainly
favors experiences users rather than newbies. There was a user-friendly Arch version
dubbed Antegors, but it was
later discontinued.

More so, as it is specially developed for programmers, it uses the rolling release model
instead of significant
releases. The distribution is continually updated. The distribution comes with a Linux
Kernel and a package manager
called Pacman. The system comes without a graphical interface and uses have to choose
the required components, and
hence, it is often referred to as the personalize OS.

Some of the significant benefits of using Arch Linux are the massive potential for
customization of the system,
regular bug fixes, and zero maintenance.

Linux Distros for Servers

While Windows and macOS are leading operating systems for common use computers, Linux commands the stats for the most
popular web server OS. But which distro to use is an age-old question, as nearly all
Linux distributions are capable
of turning into a server. But that does not mean that one should take up that notion.

Indeed, certain distributions make for an efficient server OS. The reason Linux powers
the majority of supercomputers
is because it simultaneously offers freedom, stability, and security.

CentOS

CentOS is one of the most popular distributions for web servers. It is a community
offshoot of the enterprise version
of the discontinued Red Hat Linux. CentOS’s primary focus is to provide stability
instead of providing regular
updates. Therefore, CentOS offers security updates for almost ten years since the
release of the version.

The minimum system requirement varies on the CentOS version a user plans to install.

• For 32 bit operating systems — 512 MB RAM (minimum)
• For 64 bit operating systems — 1024 MB RAM (recommended)
• Recommended System: 4 GB+ RAM to enjoy the complete functionality

One of the main reasons for its use in servers is because it is highly reliable. As a
result, CentOS does not make up
for a good distro for the daily use of computers. But on the other hand, one can enjoy
the packages of Red Hat Linux
for free as they are fully compatible with CentOS.

CentOs is the community edition derived from the sources of Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
Therefore, one can enjoy the
enterprise-level system for free as CentOS is an open-source distro. On the downside,
the number of hosting
providers using CentOS has reduced significantly, but still, it is an excellent distro
for internet servers.

Even though CentOS does not pack the latest software packages, it is still one of the
best picks when it comes to
stable distros. It does come with the popular RPM and Yum package management. More so,
it has an active community,
and one can always find support from the broader tech industry. In simple words, it is a
free version of the Red Hat
Enterprise Linux.

Debian

Well, Debian is undoubtedly one of the best distros as even the most popular distros
such as Ubuntu is based on
Debian. Although it is not the best distro for a beginner, it is an ideal choice of the
distro for both servers and
desktops.

The system requirement to install Debian is as follows:

• 512 MB RAM
• 10 GB HDD
• 1GHz Pentium 4 processor
• Installation Media — USB

It is a known fact that most Linux users are developers and programmers, and therefore
are undoubtedly open-source
enthusiasts. As a result, Debian is often considered as the best option.

More so, the Debian distros are often considered to be tested regularly. The stability
that the distribution packs
offers developers peace of mind. But one must note that Debian is ideal for programmers
that have experience of
using Linux. Newbies should opt to use either Ubuntu or any of the other above-listed
beginner distros.

A few of the main reasons to use Debian are the robust development platform, the
availability of packages, and the
simplified Debian package management. Debian distro’s upgradability is one of the main
reasons it is an excellent
choice of the operating system for servers. Upgrading to the next stable release is very
easy, and one can do it
leveraging apt-get package manager. The good part of it is that everything is well
documented, and one has to follow
the instructions.

Another plus of Debian is its security. Each of the packages is thoroughly tested before
releasing it. Releases come
every two to three years, and the active community is ever ready to fix any bugs.

More so, Debian is one of the stablest distributions as it has been around for a very
long time. Apart from that, the
powerful distro offers a wide range of software packages. Users can easily reconfigure
packages in case the default
configuration does not feel suitable. Beyond that, Debian’s biggest plus is that it is
free and open-source.

Linux Distros for Hacking

Linux is often synonyms to developers and hackers. It is a known fact that most hackers
worldwide use Linux due to
its easy configuration capacity. There are no operating systems that can even come close
to Linux’s ability to
exploit systems. One reason for its vast popularity is because the source code is
available freely.

Kali Linux

While Linux is a commonly popular operating system for hacking, Kali Linux is the king of
the arena. Without a doubt,
one of the main reasons most people want to use Linux is to learn ethical hacking. Often
each OS gets tied to
specific tasks, and so does Kali Linux that is linked to hacking.

There is no better distro than Kali Linux for ethical hacking purposes. Frankly, there is
no other distribution that
can match Kali Linux. The distribution comes with a bunch of useful tools that one can
use to ethical hack systems.
The devices are categories in various verticals such as wireless attacks, stress
testing, web applications,
vulnerability analysis, exploration tools, and more.

The minimum system requirements to install Kali Linux are as follows:

• 20 GB free disk space
• RAM for i386 and amd64 architectures, minimum: 1GB
• USB boot support

Kali Linux is based on the Debian Testing branch, and therefore most of the packages are
imported from the Debian
repository. In the previous versions, updates were not delivered in a not so trustworthy
manner. However, in the
latest release, it has partnered with Offensive Security and Cloudflare to make sure
that all updates are
distributed reliably.

One of the most significant advantages of Kali Linux is that it can be installed on
various systems such as
Chromebook, Raspberry Pi and BeagleBone, and more. More so, with the arrival of Kali
NeHunter, users can use it on
Android smartphones. Some of the benefits of using Kali Linux are regular rolling
updates, tried and tested hacking
tools, tremendous learning resources, and robust Debian base.

Kali Linux has always been free to use and supports multiple languages. It comes with
over 600 penetration and
security testing tools and highly customizable.

Globally, it is the most widely used distribution for penetration testing. The number of
built-in penetration tools
makes it most convenient for ethical hackers. Apart from being an advanced penetration
testing platform, it is also
offers learning scope for young ethical hackers. More so, it has an active community and
provides decent
documentation.

Best Multi-purpose Linux Distribution

There are certain Linux distros which you can utilize as a beginner-friendly / advanced OS for both desktops and servers. Hence, we thought of compiling a separate section for such distributions.

If you don’t agree with us (or have suggestions to add here) – feel free to let us know in the comments. Here’s what we think could come in handy for every user:

Fedora

Fedora offers two separate editions – one for desktops/laptops and the other for servers (Fedora Workstation and Fedora Server respectively).

So, if you are looking for a snappy desktop OS – with a potential learning curve while being user-friendly – Fedora is an option. In either case, if you are looking for a Linux OS for your server – that’s a good choice as well.

Manjaro

Manjaro is based on Arch Linux. Fret not, while Arch Linux is tailored for advanced users, Manjaro makes it easy for a newcomer. It is a simple and beginner-friendly Linux distro. The user interface is good enough and offers a bunch of useful GUI applications built-in.

You get options to choose a desktop environment for Manjaro while downloading it. Personally, I like the KDE desktop for Manjaro.