Which Linux OS is the best?
Which Linux OS is the best?
I’m leaning toward PHP and Java right now, mainly because I want to develop websites
1070GTX with R3600 16GB RAM and 3700MHz clock is performing well at around 750/250 Mbps. That sounds solid!
Have you looked into Gentoo, perhaps the most customizable distro; or considered Slackware, the most UNIX-like and perhaps the most stable distro, once set up as a server? I was at it quite a while before going to Slackware stable. It was a goal because, originally, I wanted to learn UNIX but solaris and oracle legal bs got in the way. Which brings me to Clear OS, the Intel-designed distro which, not surprisingly, works the best with Intel hardware. I shy away from Oracle because of its M$-like philosophy when taking oveer Sun (and Sun's ZFS file system). Also, Clear OS apparently is not out of alfa even though it is claimed to be. Bottom line it is unproven in extensivity and could therefore be considered a specialty distro, much like Kali. Maybe keep it in the background as a goal while learning the basics and it may be ready when you are. Hardware-wise, i THINK YOU HAVE NO LIMITAITONS. Sabayon could be what you are looking for.
Top choices for getting started with Linux include Slackware, Gentoo, and Arch. For general desktop or laptop use, MX Linux is ideal. If you're aiming for a sysadmin role, Red Hat and Debian GNU/Linux are strong options. Systemd-based systems differ significantly from traditional Unix in both approach and atmosphere. For deeper understanding, consider testing on a non-Linux Unix-like system such as BSD or OmniOS. This helps contextualize your experience and provides a useful benchmark for comparison.
No one knows the main differences between those operating systems. It’s possible to switch easily between them depending on what you need.
The main distinctions lie in the default desktop setup, available repositories, package manager specifics, package age, repository size, and dependency management. Gentoo runs as a source-based distribution, meaning all components are built from raw code. Regarding dependencies, most distros automate this process, whereas Arch-based systems like Manjaro leave it to the user’s preference. The two most popular desktop environments are KDE Plasma and GNOME (with many alternatives), while you can explore more options via the Arch Wiki link provided. If switching distros, consider setting up a separate partition or spare drive for important files. You can mount your home directory using fstab, but changing desktop environments or their versions may lead to complications, so starting fresh each time is advisable.
To secure a position in Linux, familiarize yourself with three distributions (from most to least common in enterprises): RHEL (Red Hat / CentOS), Ubuntu, and OpenSUSE. It’s best to learn Linux in your preferred way rather than fixating on one specific OS, as it’s prevalent in business settings. All distros share many similarities, so understanding the fundamental principles of Linux is more valuable than mastering particular tools. The key goal for a career in Linux is obtaining Red Hat certifications such as RHCSA or RHCE. If you’re starting out, don’t stress about Red Hat—just focus on learning Linux and enjoying the process. Earning cloud certifications can also be beneficial, especially since many Linux roles today involve DevOps tasks like automating workflows, setting up CI/CD pipelines, and managing platforms. Even if your work is on-premises, a cloud certification helps as it equips you with transferable skills across environments.
Consider trying Gentoo, though it will require significant learning to get it running. (It's actually quite solid.) You might have wondered why, but I think it’s worth exploring. Linux can seem confusing at times—especially since the kernel, userland, and desktop come from different groups compared to Solaris or BSDs, where everything fits together more cohesively. It can also be somewhat unstable when contrasted with OpenBSD, and the community isn’t always predictable. But it’s perfectly okay to experiment with as many systems as you can find. Just keep your focus broad rather than narrow.