The most stable Linux distributions. Rating of the best Linux distributions: which is better

There are a huge number of versions of Linux. Over the past month alone, more than 300 distributions have been noted on the DistroWatch.com website, and in the entire history of Linux there have been about 700 of them. How to choose among this abundance?

Two main criteria to pay attention to:

1. Popularity of the distribution. The more popular your distribution, the easier it will be to find manuals for it on the Web. The large community means that you can easily get help on the distro's forums if you have any difficulties mastering it. Finally, the more widespread the distribution, the more apps and packages ported for it. It is better to choose popular solutions with ready base packages, rather than having to worry about assembling from sources in some exotic distribution.
2. The development team behind it. Naturally, it is better to pay attention to the distributions supported large companies like Canonical Ltd., Red Hat or SUSE, or distributions with large communities.

Please note that even the best distributions have analogues that are not much inferior to them. If you are somehow not satisfied with Lifehacker’s choice, you can try alternatives.

For those who have never used Linux - Linux Mint

New users who migrated from , should definitely install Linux Mint. Today it is the most popular Linux distribution. It is a very stable and easy to use system based on Ubuntu.

Linux Mint is equipped with an easy and intuitive interface (Cinnamon shell for modern computers and MATE for older machines) and a convenient application manager, so you will not have problems finding and installing programs.

Pros: simplicity, care for ordinary users. You don't need any specific knowledge to install and use Mint.

Cons: a large amount of pre-installed software that may never be useful.

For those who want the latest software - Manjaro

It is a popular Linux distribution based on Arch. Arch is an incredibly powerful and feature-rich distribution, but its KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) philosophy, contrary to its name, makes it too difficult for beginners. Arch can only be installed via the command line.

Manjaro, unlike Arch, has a simple graphical installer and yet combines powerful Arch features such as AUR (Arch User Repository) and rolling release. AUR is the richest source of Linux packages. If any application is on Linux, it is probably already in the AUR. So in Manjaro you will always have the latest packages.

Manjaro comes with a variety of desktop shells to choose from: functional KDE, GNOME for tablet screens, Xfce, LXDE and more. Manjaro, you can be sure to be the first to receive the latest updates.

Pros: AUR, thanks to which you can install any application without unnecessary movements. Always the latest software.

Cons: unique design of desktop shells. However, nothing prevents you from replacing it.

For home server - Debian

A home server can be useful for many purposes. For example, to store data and backups, download torrents, or arrange your own dimensionless .

Debian will take root well on yours home server. It is a stable and conservative distribution that became the basis for Ubuntu and many other Linux systems. Debian uses only the most trusted packages, making it good choice for the server.

Pros: stability and a large set of applications.

Cons: the need to manually configure the distribution after installation.

For Media Center - Kodi

If you want to set up your own media server, choose Kodi. Strictly speaking, Kodi is not a distribution, but a full-featured media center player. You can install it on any Linux, but it is best to choose the Ubuntu + Kodi combination.

Kodi supports all types of video and audio files. It can play movies, music, and organize your photos. Kodi will turn anyone into universal device for entertainment.

Thanks to extensions, Kodi can download media files via torrents, track new seasons of your favorite TV series, and show videos from YouTube and other streaming services. In short, Kodi does it all.

In addition, Kodi is very beautiful and optimized for control with remote control or Android devices. You can easily customize Kodi's interface with a variety of visual skins.

Pros: a huge number of functions and convenient controls.

Cons: standard interface may not be to everyone's taste, but it's easy to replace.

For Desktop - Kubuntu

The KDE graphical environment is ideal for use on the desktop, and Kubuntu is the most popular KDE distribution. Like many other distributions, it's based on Ubuntu, which means you won't have any application compatibility issues.

Kubuntu is beautiful, functional and easy to customize. Even novice users can easily handle it. It's a stable and polished system that provides all the features you need for a home desktop PC.

Pros: a large selection of packages, a wonderful set of KDE applications and a huge number of interface settings.

Cons: used in Kubuntu stable version KDE, which means that the newest features of this shell come here late. If you want to try out the latest KDE, KDE Neon is at your service.

For an old computer or netbook - Lubuntu

This version of Ubuntu is based on the LXDE shell, which is lightweight and resource-efficient. It is aimed at older or low-power machines. If you have a not-so-new computer or netbook lying around that can't handle Windows, you can do it by installing Lubuntu.

This Linux distribution is low power consumption system resources and can run on almost any configuration.

Pros: very fast and lightweight system. However, it supports the same packages and applications as its older sister Ubuntu.

Cons: LXDE's appearance won't be to everyone's taste, but it's a small price to pay for performance.

Alternative: .

For tablet or convertible - Ubuntu

Ubuntu is one of the most popular Linux distributions on the desktop. As of version 17.10, Ubuntu ends support for the Unity shell and migrates to GNOME. And GNOME looks quite good on devices with touch screens. If you have a tablet and want to try installing Linux on it, try Ubuntu with GNOME.

Large GNOME interface elements, customizable gestures and extensions will make Ubuntu great system for touchscreens.

Pros: Ubuntu is a widespread distribution, which means you can easily find all the software you need. In addition, most Linux sites are dedicated specifically to Ubuntu.

Cons: The GNOME shell is convenient, but at first it seems unusual.

For laptop - elementary OS

As the name suggests, this Linux version very simple. You won't have any problems mastering it. It runs easily on laptops and consumes battery slowly.

The interface of elementary OS is reminiscent of macOS, so it will be a pleasure to use for Mac fans. Animations, window decorations - everything here is so smooth and pretty that you can simply admire the system. However, behind the beautiful shell, elementary OS hides full Linux, supporting all applications necessary for operation.

Pros: beautiful interface, own indie app store.

Cons: The Pantheon graphical shell, although it looks stylish, is not very functional.

It's time to take stock as the year comes to an end. There have been many truly great and interesting releases in the Linux world, some distributions have received new versions, others have changed their development vector, and others have even started developing a new concept for their products. There are many accomplishments, but keeping track of them all is a difficult task, and perhaps even incomprehensible to some. However, here and now we have collected for you top 5 best Linux distributions for 2017 according to GitJournal. Naturally, our opinion is purely subjective and does not claim to be the ultimate truth, but nevertheless, if you want to add or refute something, write about it in the comments. You can also check out and.

The best Linux distributions of 2017

Manjaro Linux

No matter what anyone says, this distribution confidently takes the first place in Distowatch. In 2017, Manjaro quickly jumped to 3rd place, and perhaps in 2018 it will become the leader of this rating.

The Arch-like distribution is famous not only for its completeness and stability, but also for its responsiveness to beginners, as well as improved hardware support. It was thanks to all these nuances together that Manjaro began to enjoy popularity, which ultimately brought it to the leading positions of many of the top best Linux distributions.

Officially, Manjaro Linux comes with three graphical shells. It's fast XFCE, beautiful and feature-rich KDE, and elegant and sophisticated GNOME. But you can also use the community versions, which are on at the moment include the following graphical shells: Mate, LXDE, LXQT, Cinnamon, Budgie, DDE. There is also an assembly with the i3 tiled window manager, but this is for special connoisseurs.

You will find more detailed information about this distribution on the official resource. There you can also find links to download Manjaro images, or if you want, you can use the button below, which will take you directly to the download page.

Linux Mint

In the same ranking, Distroarch Linux Mint has been ranked first for many years now. But this is far from the only reason why this distribution is included in our top 5.

Mint is an Ubuntu-derived version of GNU/Linux (more precise than just Linux) that specializes in providing users with a user-friendly and efficient operating system. . That is, immediately after installation the computer will be ready for use.

Developers use and support their own graphical shell, Cinnamon, but Linux Mint is also available in other editions. For example, you can use versions with XFCE, KDE and MATE. There may be versions with other shells, but they are already being developed and supported by the community.

The distribution is great for work and simple home use, it has proper stability and does not require constant monitoring by users.

For the rest of the information, you can go to the official Linux Mint resource, as well as the developers' blog. There, among other things, you will find release announcements and changelogs. And to go to the download page, click on this button:

Ubuntu

What top would be complete without the orange giant. Ubuntu is the ancestor of hundreds of other distributions, and it is deservedly considered one of the best.

2017 was a turning point for Ubuntu. Just two months ago, Ubuntu 17.10 was released. A distribution that uses GNOME as its default desktop environment. Canonical decided to abandon Unity, which was a rather painful act for a huge number of fans. But is it all that bad? Yes, now Unity will not be used as a standard shell, but .

Custom GNOME in corporate colors and style looks quite nice. Many users note that given environment more convenient and practical. And again, there is the possibility of using other versions, as they say, choose as much as you like. The Ubuntu family has distributions with almost all known graphical environments, so you definitely won’t get bored.

We must not forget that, like previous distributions, Ubuntu is a fairly friendly system. Many people fell in love with this system, to say nothing, they even recommend this distribution, positioning it as “the most beloved.”

You can get acquainted with this system in more detail on the official Russian-language website. You can also read the article:. And the beautiful orange button below will take you directly to the download page:

Arch Linux

Perhaps it’s worth starting with the fact that this distribution is definitely not for beginners. Arch Linux is not user-friendly, and many may have difficulty installing and configuring it. However, if you can still do this, as a reward for your efforts you will receive a stable, virtually indestructible system for home and work.

As already mentioned, installing Arch is quite complex. It is worth remembering that it is reproduced using console commands and configs, which you will edit throughout the installation. Naturally, all these commands, their sequence and nuances are available in the official documentation. By the way, it is even in Russian. In the Installation guide you can find answers to all your questions. There, the installation and configuration process is literally described point by point, following which you will certainly come to the result. However, it is worth saying that you should first try installing this system on virtual machine, and only then to the real one. This way, at least you won’t waste time restoring your PC in case you make a mistake somewhere.

The Arch Linux philosophy implies that the user must independently control the operation of his PC. This means that logically the system should be more difficult to use. But no matter how it is. Using this distribution, you will very quickly master the basics of Linux administration. You will learn the necessary commands, learn how to work with the terminal and settings, and, in principle, you will be ready for any surprises. And although everything looks complicated and incomprehensible at first, you will soon begin to understand how your system works.

It’s also worth noting here regarding graphical shells: you are free to install absolutely any environment, because installing this distribution is comparable to assembling a constructor. At a certain stage, you only need to select the one you need, and then, based on this, continue installing the system.

More information can be found at

Probably every computer owner has gone through this difficult “quest” at least once - choosing a Linux distribution. I dared to use the word “owner” because the article will focus on working with free software, in particular, operating systems of the Linux family, as in some other cases - when the user, in principle, does not have the right or theoretical opportunity to control what exactly what he has installed and what it does - he is only partly the owner of his computer. However, this is a philosophical question.

From a practical point of view, in such difficult moments, someone else’s experience – successful and not so successful – comes in very handy, helping to make up one’s mind and overcome uncertainty. In due time similar reviews helped me a lot, and now I gratefully want to give back to the community. I will be happy if my experience is useful to someone.

How I ended up on Linux Mint

I guess you could call me experienced user Linux. I can’t say exactly how long the penguin has been living alone on my desktop - approximately, about 15 years. (15 years, Karl!) Before that, I used operating systems from the Microsoft family, but when Windows XP came out, I realized that “it was time to get out.” Linux wasn't that friendly back then, and we had to struggle with simple things like sound and inter-pixel anti-aliasing. And it’s probably easier to say which distributions have not been on my computers.

Good old KDE. Taken from here http://asisaid.com/linux/ss-1.html

Of the graphical environments, I always preferred KDE, which, after Windows, seemed bewitchingly beautiful. But one day there was a revolution in KDE. Came Plasma and with a roar it covered the usual “expirience”, collapsed itself and stubbornly refused to get up. Moreover Plasma I didn't come alone. They came with her aconadi, strigi, nepomuk. Each of them was busy with his own business: for now Plasma fought with the screen, others tried to overcome hard drive. The once beautiful interface with original three-dimensionality and translucency has been replaced by a dull flat grayness. In a word, I had to “get out again.” And we, KDE users, rushed in droves towards our ideological enemy - Gnome. We just started to settle in, bam! - and there is a revolution.

And what a blessing that there were guys who created something simple and beautiful - Cinnamon. It so happens that in recent years I have been a constant user of Linux Mint, created by a team that is directly related to the Cinnamon developers.

Everything was fine (one cannot say that it was wonderful), until my Sarah (or Serena - I’m already confused about these names) happily broke down while trying to renew her nature.

The investigation of the disaster led to the official website, where the news hit me: this is not an entirely exceptional phenomenon, and a remedy has been found to avoid such repetitions - attention! drum roll... - recovery points! We’ve arrived... I remember how we mocked the Microsoft people when they came up with this thing, and now... in 2018... And this feature is called the “star” of the new release!

Looking again

I wondered: have I been stuck on this distribution for too long? Maybe it's worth joining the progress in the field of user interfaces? In the process of research, I completely accidentally found out that my beloved Linux Mint did have quite a few security problems: within a month, about official pages spread " hushed up» release. Plus Cinnamon no, no, and he’ll ask: I fell, would you please restart? And although this has never led to data loss, you agree, this is a reason to consider alternatives.

The number of Linux distributions is huge. There are probably hundreds of them - and these are only public ones, not internal corporate ones. This number is not accidental; they have different paradigms, different traditions, different sets of preinstalled programs. A newbie who wants to make a choice of Linux distribution may be confused or confused. wrong decision. Calmly! I already know where to go and I’ll show you the way!

One of the criteria for choosing a distribution is how actively you want to participate in the birth of the operating system on your computer. And the inevitably correlated criterion is how much time you can spend on this exciting event. I needed to restore the functionality of the system “here and now” (naive), so I naturally did not look towards such constructors as Arch or, especially, Gentoo.

Selecting a Linux distribution 2018

1. Ubuntu

The first thing to start with in such cases is “ main stream", African Ubuntu.

Most popular among developers four years ago. Taken from https://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/developers

The first impression is delight! It’s not just us who are greeted by clothing, and any user will evaluate the system primarily by appearance. Everything in Ubuntu is made by highly professional designers. Window shades, fonts, three-dimensionality and blur - everything delights the eye. However, as you get acquainted with the system, a lump of bewilderment and disappointment grows.

It starts with little things: modal windows with error messages do not close, when you try to add an icon to the dock panel, it is added twice, etc. But the main thing is that after Cinnamon a strange thought comes that you are being bullied. Windows do not fit into parts of the screen in tiling style, it is impossible to configure an individual image for each folder in the browser; in general, its capabilities are greatly reduced. The idea of ​​embedding the top menu of programs into the top drag bar may be interesting and promising, but it is implemented in such a way that it is not convenient to use this design feature. I was thinking of forcing myself to use Ubuntu at least for a while, fortunately tiling It works from the keyboard, but the blow came from an unexpected direction.

The window cannot be closed with an error.

The thing is that I use my own keyboard layout. I have my own xkb files, with switches already installed and configured, etc. - I don’t need anything from the system. So, Ubuntu is the only distribution in my entire life that dared not let me work with my layout. Okay, it was not possible to use the Menu key, (although the output xev showed that everything was fine), so Ubuntu periodically forcibly changed the layout according to its own understanding. Yes, this doesn’t even exist in Android!

If I try to find one word to describe my recent actions in Ubuntu, then the most successful thing will be “escape”! I was relieved when I said goodbye to her. I simply don’t understand how people can work in this system.

2.Xubuntu

Xubuntu is a subset of Ubuntu with the Xfce desktop environment. The prevailing idea of ​​it as “backward” or “outdated” is not true: it uses Gtk 3, like Gnome, Cinnamon, etc. It is also not true that Xfce is a working environment for weak machines. Well, that is, yes - Xfce is not demanding on resources, but this is just a consequence, not the root cause. Xfce is a unique environment with its own history and army of users. And with its own traditions.

Be that as it may, it didn’t work out with Xfce either. Everything is good, everything is classic. But... not like in Cinnamon. It's like you're stuck in the 2000s. And installing a modern theme with material design didn’t change the situation: everything works, but I don’t want to work.

At this point, the understanding comes that Cinnamon is the only solution. I did not consider the once beloved KDE and options based on the outdated Gtk 2 library with unclear prospects.

Okay, let's say I want Cinnamon, but don't want Linux Mint - what would be my choice of Linux distribution?

3. Debian

Well, let's go down the distribution branches down to the roots, to the ancestor. His Majesty Debian. I once spent many years on this distribution, is it time to return?

No, it didn't come. Although I like everything about Debian: unix-way; no attempts to hide everything “under the hood” from the user, as is done in Ubuntu, in order to simplify his life, but in fact complicate it; excellent system installer, possibly the best. But... I spent several hours trying to get WiFi working, which worked perfectly during installation. I tried everything I could: disabling IPv6 in all places where it can be disabled, assigning it to the interface short name... Next, more out of curiosity - installation testing branches. The most curious thing is that during the network installation with WiFi everything is fine.

Debian is a system aimed primarily at servers and similar serious use. And the servers do not connect via WiFi - they use twisted pair cables, optical fibers... The wait for a WiFi fix can be very long. In addition, Debian turned out to have such an old and obsolete Cinnamon that further searches would have been continued even if WiFi was working.

4.Arch

But time is running out... What if it’s Arch? Or maybe we can deceive the villainous fate once? If you really dive into WiFi connection from command line, so why be shy... Moreover, I already had experience installing Arch and had extremely pleasant impressions. But time... Just off the top of my head, what you need to learn or remember: commands and principles of working with another package manager (not difficult, but it will take half an hour); what will happen to firewall? - Ubuntu ufw I understand it won't happen again IPTables?- just out of principle, I won’t do this on my home PC; libraries for correct rendering of fonts with support for inter-pixel anti-aliasing ( Cairo-Pango-what-else...); and so on...

5. Manjaro

And then I remember about Manjaro - a relatively recent thing, essentially ready-made sets of Arches already prepared according to standard recipes, and compatible with it in terms of AUR.(But only by AUR!) Yes, there is also Cinnamon. Okay, let's go look at the version, sources, list of current problems... Yes, that's the list that dissuaded us.

But if we consider real alternatives to Cinnamon - not the glamorous Gnome, KDE or Xfce, but the brutal Awesome, Openbox or i3 (would you like xmonad?) - then Manjaro is definitely number one on the list.

6. Ubuntu Cinnamon

There is a Cinnamon option for Ubuntu, there was even an article on . After wandering around the forums, I noticed that people everywhere specify different PPAs to install Cinnamon. Which one is official? But he’s not there! There is one guy who downloads the majority and promises to post updates as soon as possible. I don’t understand, the performance of my computer will depend on one single volunteer maintainer?

7. Linux Mint

And I download Linux Mint again. This time "Tera" or something like that. Cinnamon will be there latest version, With official support on the developer side, and software running in a giant ecosystem of users. After downloading, I will not forget to check checksum ISO image and I will hope that the guys from the Linux Mint team have learned from the experience with hacking their forum and ridiculous security problems will not be repeated in the future.

I broke myself and, without prejudice or irony, took a fresh look at the idea of ​​recovery points. Business is business. A computer, as a working tool and source of income, must always be guaranteed to be in full working order. AND back-up data is an integral part of professional workflow. Well, in addition, now we will do back-up software part - this will only increase the reliability of the system.

I worked in the new Linux Mint for about three weeks before the idea of ​​writing this article occurred to me and I must say that I feel very strong progress: Cinnamon never crashed (!), WiFi stopped interrupting (however, this is true for everyone distributions based on the new Ubuntu Bionic Beaver), many small improvements throughout. Of course, there is room for improvement, and there are places that irritate me a little, but the overall feeling is one of lasting delight!

Why Linux Mint?

“With all the wealth of choice, there is no other alternative”

As a result, having an initially negative prejudice towards Linux Mint and having the freedom of choice, after researching alternatives, as a desktop system... I again chose Linux Mint with the Cinnamon desktop environment.

It’s too early to write off the classic start menu and taskbar into the archives of history. Yes, we need to come up with ideas and move forward. It's clear that the guys from Gnome and Ubuntu understand this and make great efforts to invent something new. They are inspired and act very boldly, constantly risking losing some of their users. But they haven’t succeeded yet. And removing the taskbar and start menu is not correct - a replacement paradigm simply does not exist yet.

The aesthetics of the visual images that we have before our eyes is of great importance. The importance of the beauty of our surroundings is greatly underestimated. This is my belief. And the beauty, grace and aesthetic harmony of the graphical component of the operating system - what our eyes are riveted on during long working hours every day - are no less important than the appearance of our city or the decoration of our room. This is where Cinnamon is perfect. (After some tweaking, though). No, Ubuntu's interface is also very good, but Cinnamon is superior.

By default, the flattest, most ‘material designed’ scheme is installed.

Having tested several systems, I will allow myself to take a risk by giving advice to everyone who, for one reason or another, is worried about choosing a Linux distribution for home use in 2018. Use Linux Mint with Cinnamon. Don't waste time looking for other options - there are none! Well, any untrained user with a sufficient understanding of the computer structure and what it does can handle the installation.

Installing Linux Mint is not difficult.

Is Linux Mint Cinnamon enough?

I am picky, and I set up my system a little differently, so my installation recipe is somewhat different from what regular users they do (or don’t do) and what you can read about on the Internet. fstab, swap fight for umask, xsession, the appearance of graphics and the kerning of letters for the Russian font - this is not a complete list of what I do not ignore on a freshly installed system. And one day I will be happy to share my experience. But that will be a completely different story.

Several windows for clarity.

I sketched out a few windows to give at least a small visual idea of ​​the system. (You can see them in the picture above.) Don’t be confused by the English labels of the menu items: during installation, you can select Russian (or one of dozens of others) - and everything will be in your native language. I just feel more comfortable in English (especially for help files), and therefore at the installation stage I indicated it so that in the future the system would download all the documentation for me in English.

This is how difficult and controversial the choice of Linux distribution turned out to be in the summer of 2018.

There are no alternatives, but you hold on! Good luck and good mood to everyone! And more joyful meetings in the world of free software!

If you look at all kinds of tops and ratings, you will notice that the share of Linux users is steadily growing. This is, of course, due to people’s interest in this topic. Fascinates many Open Source, others find Linux distributions more stable and convenient compared to other operating systems, and some even pursue only experimental goals. In general, as they say, it comes down to taste... And yet, sometimes, due to the variety of all these GNU/Linux-based systems, it becomes very difficult to choose. And that's why I'm pleased to present to you a list of 10 Stable Linux Distributions for home use . They are, in my opinion, the best suited for installation on home PCs. Before we get started, I recommend checking out.

10 Stable Linux Distributions for Home Use

Debian

Firstly, it is worth mentioning that this is just a selection, but not a distribution by place (from best to worst or vice versa), in other words, all distributions presented in this top are approximately equally suitable for home use. The same applies to the old Debian, which for years remained the standard of stability for many Linux devices.

The distribution is famous for the fact that it uses only proven, stable versions of the software. This approach allows you to avoid any unpleasant incidents, and this is why Debian is so valued.

Almost all popular DEs can be used as a graphical environment. There are a variety of variations available in the community repositories, including XFCE, GNOME, KDE, MATE, and even Cinnamon. By the way, you can choose the shell during installation. Fortunately, the developers took care of this too.

Linux Mint

Ubuntu

As you may have already understood, GNOME is used as the main desktop shell. However, the version with Unity has not sunk into oblivion. Influenced by the community, which promises to be an excellent option for those users who are not ready to give up this wonderful graphical shell.

Elementary OS

“A fast and open replacement for Windows and MacOS” - this is exactly how this product is positioned operating system developers. At the core, of course, Ubuntu distribution. But this does not prevent Elementary from being one of the most unusual and at the same time convenient Linux distributions. The authors of the project develop and maintain their own graphical environment - Pantheon. It is notable for its appearance (similar to a Mac) as well as its speed.

IN lately this distribution has acquired its own army of fans. People not only financially support developers (which motivates them to make their product better), but also actively communicate with them, directing their efforts in the right direction. By the way, Elementary has its own applications, developed, again, within the project. And it's really interesting.

To download the distribution for free, you need to select “Other amount” in the “Pay what you want:” column and enter 0 there.

Deepin

Quite recently released new version this system - . There I briefly described all the main features and capabilities of this distribution and its updated version. It is worth noting, by the way, that Deepin has a set of its own software, as well as . This software is not available on other systems, so if you want to try it all out, you definitely need to install this distribution.

OpenSuse

Of all the previously listed Linux distributions for home use, this one, perhaps, stands out in that it is not a fork of the same Debian or Ubuntu. It uses a completely different package manager, and it is for this reason that the work in the system is somewhat different from the usual type of interaction in Debian-based (and Ubuntu-based) distributions. One of the biggest advantages of this system is the YaST control center. It gives you complete control over every aspect of OpenSuse (including system updates, application installations, and configuration).

The distribution is available in two main editions: Tumbleweed And Leap. The first is a rolling release, the essence of which lies in the updates that the Tubmleweed version receives in a timely manner as it is released. Leap is a stable version, software which is updated much less frequently. Thanks to this, the distribution really gains stability in operation, and eliminates the appearance of some errors that could be relevant on a rolling distribution.

Regarding graphical shells, it is worth saying that in present moment OpenSuse is available with KDE and GNOME. , and it is for this reason that the distribution's developers use and support them. Overall, OpenSuse is a great Linux distribution for home use. Many people stop at it, believing that no other distribution has such stability and completeness.

Manjaro

To tell the truth, this distribution is one of my favorites. Why is this so? As they say, subjectivity is to blame. For me personally, Manjaro is synonymous with stability, beauty, and, finally, ease of use. Arch-like variations are really easy to operate, configure and update. With one single resource (I'm talking about AUR), you can install almost any software without wasting time adding repositories or downloading installation file manually via browser.

Antergos

Another arche-like Linux distribution for home use, which is making its way to the top of various ratings. It should be regarded as the twin brother of Manjaro, which, for all its similarities, is more similar to its parents (on Arch Linux). Yes, indeed, Antergos is more similar to Arch, and even uses its repositories, while Manjaro downloads updates from its own.

Like Arch with Manjaro, this distribution can connect to the AUR and use that repository to install packages. The whole trinity is very similar in use, but there are also differences, which most often lie in the changed design (In Archa it is completely default). Otherwise, the distribution is very stable and is perfect for use at home.

Fedora

And this distribution is famous for the fact that it is on it that all the new products in the GNU/Linux world first appear. It represents a kind of testing ground for Red Hat. Before you add anything to your commercial distribution Linux RHEL, the company is implementing this in Fedora. Many people might now be asking, "If this is just a test version for a commercial distribution, doesn't that mean that there is no stability here, and that Fedora will be simply terrible as a Linux distribution for home use?" And to such people I will answer: no, it doesn’t mean that. Although this distribution is the first to receive all updates, it still remains very, very suitable for use at home. What can we say, Linus Torvalds himself (the creator of the Linux kernel) used (or still uses) Fedora as his main operating system.

Of course, it is worth understanding that like all other Linux distributions, this one is not without its drawbacks. You shouldn’t expect anything out of the ordinary from it, however, I repeat, Fedora would be an excellent choice for the home.

The distribution comes in three main editions: Workstation, Server And Atomic. Also available on the official resource are options with a wide variety of graphical shells. This includes KDE, LXDE, XFCE, and even Cinnamon. For home, in general, the “Workstation” or Workstation option is suitable. Therefore, I recommend paying attention to it.

Ubuntu Mate

I highlighted this edition as a separate paragraph not because I have nothing more to add here. Ubuntu MATE- this is truly something amazing, it can be regarded as a separate Linux distribution with its own development team (however, this also applies to some other distributions from the Ubuntu family). The version with mate stands out from the rest because of its special approach. Own design style, color scheme, and most importantly, stability of operation. Many people note the last point when they say why they chose Ubuntu MATE.

The distribution is quite universal. Although it is based on the MATE graphical shell, the developers have added enough functionality to customize this shell into something similar to other graphical environments. Thus, in Ubuntu 17.10 the ability to configure the system for Unity was added. This was done to help some fans survive the transition of the main edition to GNOME. Other design options are also available here, and you can familiarize yourself with them by installing the distribution kit on your hard drive or virtual machine.

It is worth noting the speed of MATE, which users are simply delighted with. The system is fast and undemanding, which makes it possible to install it even on weak PCs and laptops.

Conclusions

So, I presented to you my subjective top 10 Linux distributions for home use. In my opinion, these are the versions that are most suitable for use at home. Of course, you may disagree with this; there are always controversial points. Still, if you didn’t find what you were looking for here, I recommend that you check out other top Linux distributions. Perhaps you will find something there that suits you better. And that's all for now.

10 Linux distributions for home use

Yes, 2018 has just begun, and talking about the best distributions now is at least illogical. But why don’t we make a top list of distributions that would do great this year? Many beginners already enter queries into search engines, such as: "Best Linux distributions 2018"; or "Top best Linux distributions 2018". Actually, why not write about it? Why not rank Linux distributions that would be great for users? In general, in order to keep up with trends, I decided to write my own top of the best Linux distributions 2018.

7 Best Linux Distros of 2018

• Personal experience using the distribution (and I have worked with many of them)
• User reviews about a particular distribution
• Distro rating (popularity) on Distrowatch

Also, among other things, this top will be slightly different from the others. I will highlight 7 categories, each of which will have one winning distribution. I’ll say right away that I picked up this idea from a friendly resource - Losst. But I won’t exactly repeat that article (which you can also read), but I’ll try to do something of my own.

Best distro for home use: Manjaro Linux

It's quite funny that this is already the second top Linux distribution, with Manjaro taking first place. But, as I already said, this rating differs in its approach. Here, each category has its own winner, and, based on the factors listed above, we can safely conclude: Manjaro is a great candidate for a home distribution.

Best Linux Gaming Distro 2018: Ubuntu

It might be strange to talk about games and Linux in the same paragraph. But no matter how it is, a wide variety of new gaming products have been available on Linux for a long time. Of course, Linux gaming is not developing as actively as, for example, mobile gaming. But there is something to see here too. The same “flagships” online games, such as Dota 2 or CS:GO, are also available on Linux. That is why I decided to include this category in this article.

When talking about the interaction of a Linux distribution with games, one must always take into account a number of factors. The key one will be the performance (number of frames or FPS) in a particular game. And although all Linux distributions are based on the same kernel (accordingly, the hardware is also supported approximately the same), Ubuntu has necessary components and access to settings that can play a key role in gaming performance. And all kinds of life hacks that are on the Internet are aimed primarily at Ubuntu.

And this Linux distribution is perfect would be better suited for old computers. It can also be used on laptops, because the LXDE shell used in it consumes very little energy. The developers position this distribution this way: a lightweight, energy-efficient Linux distribution for older PCs.

LXLE is based on Lubuntu, but unlike its predecessor, it has a nicer design and a pack of pre-installed applications. These little things make this distribution a leader. It will be especially relevant in 2018, because with the release of Ubuntu 18.04 LTS a new version of LXLE will appear. Yes, yes, developers prefer to use LTS releases as a basis. I think this is the right decision.

This distribution is really great for use on old and low-power machines. In his arsenal he has not only the necessary software. However, LXLE has special utilities to improve performance. With their help, you can truly feel the speed of the operating system.

As before, this Linux distribution is available for download on the official website. Use the button below to go there.

And for the umpteenth time, Linux Mint appears as the best Linux distribution for beginners. I think it's stupid to dispute this. It was possible, of course, to find something similar and push it into the top purely for the sake of “non-standard”. But this is not the best approach, because that other distribution will not be as good as Mint.

In short, not a distribution kit, but a fairy tale. Actually, it is for this reason that this distribution is installed in all kinds of companies and organizations (as Windows replacement, for which you don’t want to pay). Using Linux Mint is easy and simple; you can get used to the design and arrangement of elements in a couple of hours.

The most beautiful Linux distribution of 2018: Deepin

Oddly enough, Deepin is also frequent guest various tops and ratings. As you can see from the screenshot above, the developers pay special attention to appearance. For those who don’t know, I’ll explain: Deepin uses its own graphical shell - DDE. The authors of the project independently develop and support it.

It's worth noting that what you see in the screenshot is not the only desktop "style" that is available in the shell. With a few simple manipulations, you can instantly turn a Mac-like interface into a Windows-like one. Tempting? I know that it’s not, and yet, for users who are just switching to Linux, this will even be useful. They won’t have to get used to it for long and look for some system elements. Everything will be available in almost the same places (but there are still minor differences).

However, you will learn the most information about Deepin on the official website. So hurry up and get there. And the button below, by the way, can help you with this very well:

Best Linux distribution to learn: Arch

Do you want to learn Linux? Do you want to understand how everything works there, study what the system consists of, get a feel for how the system works and learn how to customize it completely for yourself? Arch Linux will be a great choice for you. By choosing this distribution, you kill two birds with one stone: you get excellent, stable and functional system; and learn to work with it, slowly understanding all the nuances and aspects of its use.

However, don’t think that everything is so easy. Pain and agony (especially if you are a beginner) will overtake you at the installation stage. You will have to use various checklists and manuals to set the base of the system. Then you will need to install the graphical shell itself, and then the driver. But this still needs to be configured, because after installation a bare shell with a standard set of applications and default design will be waiting for you. In general, the first installation and development will take a lot of time, but as a reward, you will receive the most valuable thing - knowledge. And based on them, you will be able to solve some local problems that will arise less and less often.

Another very an important advantage This system is its stability. I don’t know if this is due to the fact that the user does and installs everything himself, but when I assembled Arch for the first time, this system lasted me quite a long time. This was exactly the case until I took it down myself. It became boring, absolutely no errors or bugs. It worked cleanly and quickly, although I went to Arch to constantly fight him. But apparently it wasn’t fate, because I did everything right from the beginning.

However, despite everything, I really understood how the system works. What packages does it consist of, what to do in a given situation, and how to fix it various errors. This experience was useful to me when using other distributions (especially Arche-like ones), and now I can safely say: it was one of my most best experiences working with Linux.

The most unusual Linux distribution of 2018: Solus

Why the most unusual? Yes, it’s very simple: this is a fairly new distribution that is not based on any other. That is, if the same Deepin is related to Debian, and Manjaro is related to Arch Linux, then Solus is a purely innovative project that is not based on any other distribution.

But not only for this reason, I included Solus in the top best distributions of 2018. Among other things, it is also being developed with its own graphical shell. I believe that this project really deserves attention, especially in 2018. According to the same distribution list, Solus has already reached 6th place, and now its popularity is only growing. It is quite possible that when you read this article, the distribution will already be in 5th or 4th-3rd place.

The distribution itself, in addition to the basis of the graphical shell (whose name is Budgie), can be used with GNOME. Both versions, as well as all the necessary information, are available on the official website.

Conclusions

Well, this is what I think it should look like top best Linux distributions 2018. If you disagree with something, write about it in the comments. If you agree, then write too, perhaps you would like to see some other categories and distributions.

As always, I will only say that like most materials, this top is subjective. I still put a bit of my opinion into it, and if you are faced with a choice of distribution, remember this.

Best Linux distributions 2018