What Linux distribution you use and why?

[Jimmy Hoke]

I run Ubuntu 22.10 on my laptop, with the kubuntu dekstop.

 

I use Ubuntu LTS on all my servers.

[Strobel]

Now on Arch Linux using KDE on the ZEN kernel. Because Manjaro impressed me and is based on Arch, got into it, needed the full flavor.

 

[Niiisse]

Happily running openSUSE Tumbleweed!

[thedylanarts]

I use Fedora 38 on my main PC, but I am in the middle of a school season and I am going to add another M.2 to my system so I can dual boot Arch.

 

I use Fedora 37 on my laptop and I plan to keep it there until they iron some issues with F38 out.

 

I use Ubuntu on all my servers because it is stable, simple, and most server software has it listed on official support, although I am starting to do more container work, so I may switch my entire server box to Fedora Cloud in the future.

[Sarra]

Running KUbuntu 22.04 on my server, with a second running in a VM on my old server, with Win 10 Pro as the host.

 

Steam OS on my Deck.

 

KUbuntu looks great, and I really like how KDE Plasma looks and runs, it's been a dream. Ironically, I use Sweet theme, so it has more of a Mac OS flair in the UI, I can't stand Mac OS.

 

I've got a Debian 12 VM as well, but I have not done much beyond setting it up in a basic way

[ctyoung02]

I don't use Linux on my main machine (yet), but I currently have an old laptop (6th gen Core) on Fedora 38 on KDE. I spent a few months a while back experimenting with different distros and DEs. Started with Ubuntu then got into Fedora, realized Gnome isnt quite my bag then tried Cinnamon and ultimately KDE. Thing is, what with the current controversy with Red Hat, I kinda wanna switch it up again. Maybe Arch?

[plop28]

On 6/14/2023 at 5:41 AM, Synergiance said:

I use Slackware on my desktop and laptop. It's a solid distro that never fails me. It doesn't do anything I don't explicitly tell it to, and it will run continuously until I shut it down, sometimes many months later.

same here, Slackware 15 stable on my desktop and current on my laptop (need kernel 6.1.X)

both are really stable ! i'm using KDE

 

I learned Linux with Slackware (20years ago) and wanted since latest 15 release to go back to it ! But I also like Arch and Manjaro. I use Debian daily at work on VM. 

I also use a Windows 10 22H2 for gaming.

 

[Szynek]

Used many distros, and the only one that was truly stable most of the time was openSUSE. However, last time I daily-drove Linux desktop was almost a decade ago.

 

Simply put, back then for me Ubuntu (and everything Ubuntu-based) either broke after some update, or broke after I tried to fix something using one of the dozens conflicting tutorials. The advantage of openSUSE was always the fact, that repository operations were stable (never had any dependency problem), plus it was kind of monolithic, and not derailed into dozens different forks. On the top of that, there was good *singular* documentation and easy-to-use cohesive GUI to configure the system.

 

That said, maybe it's different nowadays (just installed latest Ubuntu LTS, ant it already looks interesting); I'm not 100% sure how Snap/Flathub works just yet, but if the packages are finally actual singular apps, common for all the distros and separate from distro's core (so removing app X will NOT destroy your OS because of dependencies), then good for Linux.

[Telan]

Ha, nine years after original post this is still going.

Desktop is running W10 (for now...) but laptop is running Manjaro KDE. It's some HP random-number-for-model-number system that was a testbed for a few things. One, make sure it'll boot without too many problems. Two, it's close to SteamOS on my Deck and I'm getting more used to how it works every time I start the thing. Three, I wanted a distro that wasn't Ubuntu, because as someone said nine years ago, it's bloated, and that rings even more true now. Four, I have a Framework 13 reserved, and I wouldn't dare disrespect it to the point of putting Windows on it. Five and last, as soon as 10 is no longer supported, I'll be moving my desktop to Linux, so I needed a distro to get learning on (that again, wasn't Ubuntu. I almost went to Mint, but I REALLY wanted Arch and I couldn't tell you why).

[goatedpenguin]

Everyone in here is talking about what distro they use is because they have specialised needs for what they are doing, I highly discourage "distro hopping" and instead stick to one distro that is your cup of tea and build on it, if something doesn't work try to fix the issue instead of switching distros(this is a big mistake many beginners do), also if you see a distro has something that one distro doesn't try to find ways on how to port it to your distro it is both very rewarding and will help you learn more about linux. The distro I use is vanilla arch linux its a great programming distro with many packages(AUR) and one that is good for tweaking and day to day use 

[goatedpenguin]

wait wtf this post is nine years old,  

[capntack]

In almost all cases, I run Proxmox (Debian based) as my bare metal server OS, and Debian as the OS for any virtual machines or LXCs. Tho I will use different distros when the situation calls for it. 

 

For my daily driver PC, I've been using Pop!_OS for about four months now (Windows previous to that) and have been very happy with it so far. Most the games I want to play work with little to no tweaking unless they don't have compatible anti-cheat. (Really, as long as EVE Online runs I'm happy.)

 

My laptop is a dual boot Pop and Windows 11. Mainly so I have a bare metal Windows option for a few pieces of hardware (i.e. Steel Series headset) to update their firmware and such as their software suites don't work on Linux. 

[twirlingQuark]

I use Fedora for my daily driver because (a) I'm used to Red Hat derived Linux and (b) it generally goes fast and doesn't crash and (c) I really like Cockpit. My only issue with it is that updates and upgrades come too often.

 

Work makes me use their MacOs laptop, which is fine, but I'd prefer it if I didn't have to switch OS's. 

[Bitter]

Ubuntu in the form of XUbuntu for my daily laptop, started with it ages ago and liked the simple streamlined and resource light interface because I was using very dated hardware that needed all the help it could get and XFCE did that for me well.

I've been using Kubuntu more lately though and since they've really cleaned up KDE and I'm using newer hardware now I might switch, it's much 'nicer feeling' than XFCE. It's been forever since I used Gnome, back in Ubuntu 7 or 8 but I didn't care a lot for it then and just sort of forgot about it, then they came out with Wayland or Mate or something and I've just steered clear of regular Ubuntu since.

[Antares23]

I use Fedora. Because It's the one that works the best for me. I didn't really wanna spend time troubleshooting, and Fedora was the less painful experience (my GT710 cause most distro to boot to a black screen, so I have to install them with basic graphics mode, when I can actually manage to boot to a desktop)

I also like it because it's more up to date than Ubuntu and I just generally found Fedora to be more stable.

It also give you a stock Gnome experience which I like more than the customized one on Ubuntu.

Also tried Manjaro: even tho the gpu work out of the box, it's too unstable, the packages from the AUR tends to break the system way too easily, Debian: couldn't manage to make my GPU work (even under basic graphics mode with the new non free firmware repo in Debian 12, it just won't work) and I just don't have the time to troubleshoot it

 

Basically, I just want the less painful and most straight forward setup process, install it and forget it.

[Total Epicnessᴭᴺ]

Server: Debian server

Stable and barebones which is needed for maximum performance on my RockPro64.

Personal: AlmaLinux

Took a class that exclusively used AlmaLinux and taught me RHEL so it's only natural that I dualboot this.

[igormp]

Another arch btw user here

 

Also use arch in my personal laptop. Servers and other embedded devices are a mix of centos (I should really migrate to Alma or Rocky), ubuntu, debian, alpine or just plain buildroot.

For work I sadly have to use MacOS, but gotta pay the bills, so eh.

[Berinejo]

Manjaro here as it was the first distro I downloaded on an old gaming pc a few years back and its what I'm comfortable with. I just use my rig for general purpose stuff like gaming, photo editing and YouTube viewing. With KDE it has a nice look and feel similar to windows and with it being based on arch I have a powerful tool with the  AUR that allowed me to use my Logitech g29.

[a whole chicken]

On 1/8/2013 at 1:28 PM, puunakki said:

So the topic says it all, what Linux distribution you use and why?

I have been a Linux user for quite a while now, and have gotten used to use Ubuntu as my primary system. I also use Ubuntu in both of my servers, fileserver and general server (www, mumble etc.), and in my laptop.

I do test other distributions quite often in my test pc, but none has convinced me to switch off from Ubuntu. The Unity desktops ease of use is just superb, and I can perform my day to day tasks like a baws!

If I had to do serious working with my pc, and have like bazillion monitors, I would prefer something like Gnome 2 as my desktop environment.

I use arch with KDE on my server and Laptop. I use it because I like the customization and control I have over the OS. I also enjoy the low system usage that arch has. I enjoy the way KDE looks and feels, and I think their mascot is kinda cute.
 

I keep windows 11 on my desktop for gaming.

[ioletsgo]

I personally use Arch Linux for more long term, however if I want something quick and dirty I oftentimes resort to EndeavourOS, which makes installing and configuring Arch Linux a breeze, even for more complicated setups like Dual Graphic setups (ala Gaming Laptops).

[ioletsgo]

On 7/15/2023 at 11:45 AM, HonkHOnkGoose246857 said:

I use arch with KDE on my server and Laptop. I use it because I like the customization and control I have over the OS. I also enjoy the low system usage that arch has. I enjoy the way KDE looks and feels, and I think their mascot is kinda cute.
 

I keep windows 11 on my desktop for gaming.

Tyson Tan did an amazing job designing Konqi, as usual. I'm really happy that the open source community has someone so talented thats also so willing to lend their hands to projects that typically wouldn't think twice about having a mascot.

[PCGamer2727]

I use Arch Linux on my main workstation and have EndeavourOS on my laptop.

 

That being said, there aren't all that many current Linux distros that I haven't used or at least tested.

[Inception9269]

Am wanting to get some feedback, as well as suggestions for other distros that I should look into. Gonna be a bit of a lengthy post. Also as for my hardware, using a 7800x3D cpu, Asrock X670E motherboard, and 3080 ti gpu.

 

Lately I've been searching how and low for linux distros to install and use on a gaming machine that I use every day. My luck with Linux seems to go all over the place, since I started using it nearly 2 years ago. Some times I'll have good installs, then some times I'll have bad or even terrible installs, even with distros that previously worked for me. EndeavourOS I consider my favorite, and I've had the best luck with that one, but even that one seems to be at odds with me from time to time. I've used it off and on for at least 6 months total, and while I do like it, I'm honestly kind of tired of using it, and like I said my luck with installs for some unknown reason really varies.

 

Garuda linux was my 2nd preferred distro, but that one I haven't been able to successfully install and use for a good while now. I hate their insanely bloated and stylized Dragonized KDE iso, so I always went with the KDE-lite iso, but in all the times I tried to install it these last couple of months, that iso does not want to boot and install. Just yesterday I went the route of installing the Gnome iso which installed just fine, but with Gnome being a DE that I legit hate I installed the KDE one afterwards, and things seemed fine at first, but for some reason when I launch certain games (even something as basic as Town of Salem) my system would just lock up entirely, with me having to power cycle my pc to get out of it. I ditched Garuda and just went back to Windows.

 

Before Garuda, I tried to use Opensuse Tumbleweed, with that distro being one that I always fancied and want to use, but every time I install it and uses it my system is just randomly prone to freezing and locking up, mainly when logging in or going to restart the pc. Both before and after that I made attempts to install GloriousEggroll's distro Nobara, with me preferring that distro (when it does work) much more than Fedora, but when it comes to his KDE iso that one is quite literally a coin toss on whether or not it will work. So many times I've had installations that would either fail, or literally brick themselves after installation, when going through the first steps on his welcome screen (such as updating the system). Only three times have I ever successfully installed his distro, and each one was full to the brim with bugs.

 

Just yesterday I decided to give an immutable distro (BlendOS) a shot, since I wanted to try something new, and figured that surely I'd have no problems with an immutable distro, but sure enough just transferring a large file (a few gigs) from one of my drives to my documents folder caused my entire system to lock up and freeze. Also the distro does nothing to tell you how you're supposed to update your system, with the only software it was allowing me to install in the terminal being flatpaks.

 

I have no interest in Debian/Ubuntu based systems, especially since I use newer hardware, and don't want to be 6 months to a year or even longer downstream.

[PCGamer2727]

18 hours ago, Inception9269 said:

Some times I'll have good installs, then some times I'll have bad or even terrible installs, even with distros that previously worked for me.

The reality is that most distros can do the same thing.

 

The key to success with Linux is finding a distro you like and then sticking with it to fix the issues.

 

If you distro hop every time you hit a problem, you will end up forever unsatisfied.  You might find a distro that doesn't have the problem you are facing out of the box but it will just have different problems.  Almost all problems are fixable.

 

I am on many different Linux forums and I often see people moving from one to the next getting increasingly frustrated as they move across each trying to find one without any problems.

 

As a side note, why are you doing so many installations of the same distro?  There is very little reason to reinstall Linux once it is installed unless you have lots of machines or you do a lot of testing.

[Inception9269]

53 minutes ago, PCGamer2727 said:

The reality is that most distros can do the same thing.

 

The key to success with Linux is finding a distro you like and then sticking with it to fix the issues.

 

If you distro hop every time you hit a problem, you will end up forever unsatisfied.  You might find a distro that doesn't have the problem you are facing out of the box but it will just have different problems.  Almost all problems are fixable.

 

I am on many different Linux forums and I often see people moving from one to the next getting increasingly frustrated as they move across each trying to find one without any problems.

 

As a side note, why are you doing so many installations of the same distro?  There is very little reason to reinstall Linux once it is installed unless you have lots of machines or you do a lot of testing.

Like I said, EndeavourOS is usually the one I go to most, but I've really been wanting to try other distros. I used EndeavourOS for a good week or 2 this past month, but ran into issues where I was having major issues with certain games, so I went back to Windows.

 

Awhile before I used Endeavour, I was using Nobara, which I was successful in installing, but I had such a bug ridden experience that it pushed me to EndeavourOS. One thing I forgot to even try though until after it was gone was switching from Wayland (which it had selected by default) to X11, since those problems could have been attributed to me using Wayland.

 

Distros such as Opensuse Tumbleweed I really want to use since it's a rolling release distro, but is more stable than Arch, with it not lagging behind in terms of updates like fixed release distros like Ubuntu and Fedora. Like I said though, even when I did the install and was then updating my system afterwards my pc was freezing up. When I'd try logging out or restarting the system, the whole thing would just freeze. Those kind of problems were not because of anything I did.

 

Also not sure what you mean by "so many installations of the same distro" The only one I attempted to install multiple times the other day was Nobara. And that was me attempting to do so with different isos of it, to see if I can find one that would work. For his KDE versions, he has one that comes with Nvidia drivers preinstalled, and one that comes without. I first used the one that had them, and that installation failed me many times. The one without the Nvidia drivers I was able to install, but with the post installation welcome screen that prompts you to update your system, as well as installing the Nvidia drivers, while that iso was able to get installed just fine, updating it and installing those drivers completely bricked it somehow. And this wasn't me messing with the terminal, but by simply going through the prompts that the distro itself gives you. His distro, as much as I like it when it works, has always been problematic for me. Prior to him upgrading his distro to be based on Fedora 38, I could not get it to install. After he released his Nobara 38 I was able to install it and use it just fine, until the bugs got too bad (which pushed me to Endeavour). And now I'm back to not being able to install his distro, and when I can, it falls apart.