Ask HN: Go-to Linux distro for general use and development? I always went with Ubuntu because it was considered the "default" / "go-to" option, given I don't have the time or patience to keep trying different distros. In 2024, is there any other distro that "just works" and that you recommend for general use but also development? |
For conventional distros, I have loved openSUSE for a long time. The package manager is flexible and easy to use, there are nice GUI configurators for systemwide settings, the KDE implementation is very polished, and the rolling release is stable. People in my life who are technical and smart but not particularly interested in Linux as a hobby have done well with openSUSE Tumbleweed in the past.
I still use it for everything. I don't have time or inclination to switch. However I have been somewhat convinced to take a look at Nix (packaging) for some of the tools I use. But all my existing systems are fine. So likely when I next get a work machine (next week) I'll probably (if allowed) use Nix to install anything developer related over and above the stock image and supplied packages.
I recently realised that I've been using LinuxMint for about 12 years. I periodically use Debian as a rescue distro in one of my 3 root partitions.
(3? One root partition for the 'daily driver'. One root partition as the rescue distro if disaster strikes. And one more spare root partition if I happen to feel like doing some experimenting with a different distro on my actual hardware.)
Arch if you want something different but I’ve not used it much.