This post is here to help you start your adventure with Linux. It's not a complete guide to Linux or all the various types of Linux systems (known as "distros"), and it's not officially supported by Linux Questions (LQ).
Before you jump into learning Linux, you should first figure out if it's what you really want:
- Linux is different from Windows.
- There are important things to know before making the switch to Linux.
- There are also several good reasons to switch to Linux.
Of course, the best way to know if Linux is right for you is to give it a try.
It's important to understand that there isn’t a single “best” Linux distro for everyone—what works best for you may not work for someone else. Asking for the “best” on a forum isn’t always helpful since most Linux users have already found what suits them.
Keep in mind that many people have asked this question before. A simple search can bring up many discussions about it. If you're searching for beginner-friendly options, you could look for lists like “Best Beginner Linux Distros 2018”, which often highlight the same user-friendly options. However, what’s good for others may not be ideal for you personally.
- Avoid unofficial copies of paid versions of Linux—a better option is to go for the free versions that are available. For example, Red Hat has Fedora, and SUSE has OpenSUSE.
- Stay away from security-focused distros, as they aren’t meant for everyday use and can be risky for beginners. Check out the Kali Linux sticky thread for more information.
- Don’t get discouraged if your first distro choice doesn’t work. Keep trying different distros until you find one that does.
1. Skill Level
There are distros for everyone, from beginners (like Linux Mint and ZorinOS) to experts (like Slackware). Even if you plan to use an expert-level distro eventually, it's wise to start with a beginner-friendly one to get comfortable first. You can find updated lists of beginner distros at Distrowatch.
2. Age of Your Hardware
Linux distros vary in size. If you have a modern computer, you can run larger distros without issues. If your hardware is older or less powerful, look for "lightweight" distributions. For very old systems, consider minimal distros made for low-resource machines, like antiX or Puppy. Check each distro’s website for their requirements.
Note: Different desktop environments might also affect the performance of the distro.
Also, check whether your hardware uses UEFI or BIOS for booting. This can impact the installation process, so make sure you choose a distro that works with your system's setup.
3. Graphical Environments (GUIs)
The graphical environment isn’t technically part of the operating system, but it’s included in most desktop distros and is a crucial choice for beginners. They range from feature-rich (like KDE and Gnome) to faster, more minimalist options (like Fluxbox and Openbox).
Heavier desktop environments offer many features and a sleek interface, while lighter options are faster and customizable (though they might need manual setup). You can narrow down your choices by searching online or watching videos that showcase different environments.
Remember, if you don’t like a desktop environment, you can always change it until you find what works best for you.
4. Terminal/Command-Line (CLI)
While learning the terminal isn’t necessary for using desktop Linux, you may find it useful for certain tasks. Don’t worry—it’s easier to learn than it sounds and can be quite powerful. You can find plenty of tutorials online to get started, and different terminal applications are available, though the default one is usually sufficient.
5. Server or Desktop
A desktop distro is great for everyday tasks like web browsing and document editing and usually comes with a graphical user interface preinstalled.
In contrast, server distros are built for hosting services like websites and usually don’t come with a GUI, as it’s not needed for their tasks. A good understanding of the command line is necessary for managing a server.
Note: You can install a desktop environment on a server distro and vice versa, but it’s better to use a distro designed for your specific needs.
6. Release Model
You might wonder about the difference between a Fixed and Rolling distribution. Fixed distributions don’t change often—updating only for bug fixes and security—which makes them stable and ideal for beginners, especially the Long-Term Support (LTS) versions.
Rolling releases receive frequent updates and always offer the latest software, but they may be less stable. Some distros blend these two models, preparing for a new stable release occasionally.
Next Steps
After you narrow down your options, visit the websites of the distros you’re interested in. You’ll learn more about their features and how to download and install them. Many sites offer helpful tutorials and support forums. Ask yourself questions like:
- What will you use the distro for?
- What style do you prefer: modern or simple?
- How powerful is your hardware?
- Does your system use UEFI or BIOS?
- Do you need a special version for things like multimedia or office work?
- Would you prefer a stable version with LTS support or a rolling version?
- Are you comfortable making tweaks, or do you want something that works right away?
- Do you want a desktop or server distro?
- Are you planning to dual boot with Mac or Windows?
If you still can’t decide, consider downloading and testing a few distros. It’s a good approach to compare them directly.
Testing/Trying
You can test different Linux distros without installing anything on your hard drive. The best way is to download and create a Live CD or Live USB for the distro (check the distro's website for guidance). This allows you to see if it works with your hardware and if you like its desktop environment and package manager.
Note: If the distro doesn’t support persistence, any changes you make won’t be saved after you reboot.
Another way to test distros is using VirtualBox, which lets you run Linux in a virtual environment on your main operating system (like Windows or macOS) without affecting your current setup. Many tutorials exist for this, and you can find pre-installed distros on OSBoxes for easy testing.
Here are some tools for creating bootable flash drives and CDs:
- K3b (Linux)
- ImgBurn (Windows)
- Rufus (Windows)
- Unetbootin (Windows, Linux, Mac)
- Etcher (Windows, Linux, Mac)
Installing
Once you’ve decided on a distro, visit its website for installation instructions. Most people don’t find their perfect distro on the first try, so be open to testing several (this is called "Distro-Hopping"). Some users stick with multiple distros as they each have something different to offer.
If you have questions or run into problems, “Just Do A Search.” Chances are someone else has faced the same issue. If that doesn’t help, Linux Questions can be a great resource. Don’t hesitate to experiment; you’ll learn even more by fixing issues. Just remember to back up your data regularly, and remember that if necessary, you can always reinstall.
Good luck on your Linux journey!
Before you jump into learning Linux, you should first figure out if it's what you really want:
- Linux is different from Windows.
- There are important things to know before making the switch to Linux.
- There are also several good reasons to switch to Linux.
Of course, the best way to know if Linux is right for you is to give it a try.
It's important to understand that there isn’t a single “best” Linux distro for everyone—what works best for you may not work for someone else. Asking for the “best” on a forum isn’t always helpful since most Linux users have already found what suits them.
Keep in mind that many people have asked this question before. A simple search can bring up many discussions about it. If you're searching for beginner-friendly options, you could look for lists like “Best Beginner Linux Distros 2018”, which often highlight the same user-friendly options. However, what’s good for others may not be ideal for you personally.
Things to Avoid
- Don't pick a distro just because a friend or family member recommends it. Consider their advice, but make sure to do your own research, especially since they may not understand your needs fully or be available to help you.- Avoid unofficial copies of paid versions of Linux—a better option is to go for the free versions that are available. For example, Red Hat has Fedora, and SUSE has OpenSUSE.
- Stay away from security-focused distros, as they aren’t meant for everyday use and can be risky for beginners. Check out the Kali Linux sticky thread for more information.
- Don’t get discouraged if your first distro choice doesn’t work. Keep trying different distros until you find one that does.
Things to Consider
Note: The following suggestions do not cover everything about Linux distros. They’re meant to give you some ideas as you start your research.1. Skill Level
There are distros for everyone, from beginners (like Linux Mint and ZorinOS) to experts (like Slackware). Even if you plan to use an expert-level distro eventually, it's wise to start with a beginner-friendly one to get comfortable first. You can find updated lists of beginner distros at Distrowatch.
2. Age of Your Hardware
Linux distros vary in size. If you have a modern computer, you can run larger distros without issues. If your hardware is older or less powerful, look for "lightweight" distributions. For very old systems, consider minimal distros made for low-resource machines, like antiX or Puppy. Check each distro’s website for their requirements.
Note: Different desktop environments might also affect the performance of the distro.
Also, check whether your hardware uses UEFI or BIOS for booting. This can impact the installation process, so make sure you choose a distro that works with your system's setup.
3. Graphical Environments (GUIs)
The graphical environment isn’t technically part of the operating system, but it’s included in most desktop distros and is a crucial choice for beginners. They range from feature-rich (like KDE and Gnome) to faster, more minimalist options (like Fluxbox and Openbox).
Heavier desktop environments offer many features and a sleek interface, while lighter options are faster and customizable (though they might need manual setup). You can narrow down your choices by searching online or watching videos that showcase different environments.
Remember, if you don’t like a desktop environment, you can always change it until you find what works best for you.
4. Terminal/Command-Line (CLI)
While learning the terminal isn’t necessary for using desktop Linux, you may find it useful for certain tasks. Don’t worry—it’s easier to learn than it sounds and can be quite powerful. You can find plenty of tutorials online to get started, and different terminal applications are available, though the default one is usually sufficient.
5. Server or Desktop
A desktop distro is great for everyday tasks like web browsing and document editing and usually comes with a graphical user interface preinstalled.
In contrast, server distros are built for hosting services like websites and usually don’t come with a GUI, as it’s not needed for their tasks. A good understanding of the command line is necessary for managing a server.
Note: You can install a desktop environment on a server distro and vice versa, but it’s better to use a distro designed for your specific needs.
6. Release Model
You might wonder about the difference between a Fixed and Rolling distribution. Fixed distributions don’t change often—updating only for bug fixes and security—which makes them stable and ideal for beginners, especially the Long-Term Support (LTS) versions.
Rolling releases receive frequent updates and always offer the latest software, but they may be less stable. Some distros blend these two models, preparing for a new stable release occasionally.
Next Steps
After you narrow down your options, visit the websites of the distros you’re interested in. You’ll learn more about their features and how to download and install them. Many sites offer helpful tutorials and support forums. Ask yourself questions like:
- What will you use the distro for?
- What style do you prefer: modern or simple?
- How powerful is your hardware?
- Does your system use UEFI or BIOS?
- Do you need a special version for things like multimedia or office work?
- Would you prefer a stable version with LTS support or a rolling version?
- Are you comfortable making tweaks, or do you want something that works right away?
- Do you want a desktop or server distro?
- Are you planning to dual boot with Mac or Windows?
If you still can’t decide, consider downloading and testing a few distros. It’s a good approach to compare them directly.
Testing/Trying
You can test different Linux distros without installing anything on your hard drive. The best way is to download and create a Live CD or Live USB for the distro (check the distro's website for guidance). This allows you to see if it works with your hardware and if you like its desktop environment and package manager.
Note: If the distro doesn’t support persistence, any changes you make won’t be saved after you reboot.
Another way to test distros is using VirtualBox, which lets you run Linux in a virtual environment on your main operating system (like Windows or macOS) without affecting your current setup. Many tutorials exist for this, and you can find pre-installed distros on OSBoxes for easy testing.
Here are some tools for creating bootable flash drives and CDs:
- K3b (Linux)
- ImgBurn (Windows)
- Rufus (Windows)
- Unetbootin (Windows, Linux, Mac)
- Etcher (Windows, Linux, Mac)
Installing
Once you’ve decided on a distro, visit its website for installation instructions. Most people don’t find their perfect distro on the first try, so be open to testing several (this is called "Distro-Hopping"). Some users stick with multiple distros as they each have something different to offer.
If you have questions or run into problems, “Just Do A Search.” Chances are someone else has faced the same issue. If that doesn’t help, Linux Questions can be a great resource. Don’t hesitate to experiment; you’ll learn even more by fixing issues. Just remember to back up your data regularly, and remember that if necessary, you can always reinstall.
Good luck on your Linux journey!