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Linux.com Announces The Best Linux Distros for 2017 (linux.com)

Friday Linux.com published their list of "what might well be the best Linux distributions to be found from the ever-expanding crop of possibilities... according to task." Here's their winners (as chosen by Jack Wallen), along with a short excerpt of his analysis.
  • Best distro for sysadmins : Parrot Linux. "Based on Debian and offers nearly every penetration testing tool you could possibly want. You will also find tools for cryptography, cloud, anonymity, digital forensics, programming, and even productivity."
  • Best lightweight distribution: LXLE. "Manages to combine a perfect blend of small footprint with large productivity."
  • Best desktop distribution: Elementary OS "I'm certain Elementary OS Loki will do the impossible and usurp Linux Mint from the coveted 'best desktop distribution' for 2017."
  • Best Linux for IoT: Snappy Ubuntu Core "Can already be found in the likes of various hacker boards (such as the Raspberry Pi) as well as Erle-Copter drones, Dell Edge Gateways, Nextcloud Box, and LimeSDR."
  • Best non-enterprise server distribution: CentOS. "Since 2004, CentOS has enjoyed a massive community-driven support system."
  • Best enterprise server distribution: SUSE. "Don't be surprised if, by the end of 2017, SUSE further chips away at the current Red Hat market share."

Wallen also chose Gentoo for "Best distribution for those with something to prove," saying "This is for those who know Linux better than most and want a distribution built specifically to their needs... a source-based Linux distribution that starts out as a live instance and requires you to then build everything you need from source." And surprisingly, he didn't mention his own favorite Linux distro, Bodhi Linux, which he describes elsewhere as "a melding of Ubuntu and Enlightenment".


8 of 224 comments (clear)

  1. Interjection! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'd just like to interject for a moment. What you’re referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I’ve recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX.
    Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called “Linux”, and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project. There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use.
    Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine’s resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called “Linux” distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux.

  2. In the beginning.... by duckintheface · · Score: 4, Funny

    In the beginning, God created Debian. And He saw that it was good. But even good can be improved upon, so God created a help mate for Debian and He named that creature Ubuntu. And Ubuntu was fertile and multiplied and brought forth upon the Earth every distribution that crawled upon the land and swam in the sea below and flew in the air above. And God saw that it was good. Because people like to have choices and Linux is for people... and not just for corporations.

    --
    "He took a duck in the face at 250 knots." -- William Gibson, Pattern Recognition
    1. Re:In the beginning.... by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 3, Funny

      and then, in the era of Ian, ubuntu turned against The Lord and Mint was created. and there was much rejoicing (yay...)

      --

      --
      "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
    2. Re:In the beginning.... by johanw · · Score: 5, Funny

      And then the devil created systemd?

  3. Re:wonderfully confusing! by Quzak · · Score: 4, Funny

    If there is no 'o' in distribution, then there is no 'i' in distribution either.

    --
    Support your local school shooter, give them your firearms.
  4. Isn't it wierd how 99% of the world by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    manages to *get stuff done* with Windows ?
    And they don't spend a lot of *time* on their OS, they just somehow, god alone knows how, manage to live with the defaults in the OS ?
    and it doesn't bother them cause the have like, say, 50,000 things that are more important then worrying about some minor problem in an OS ?

    reminds me of joel on software: the real expert always leaves the OS/software at default as the real expert uses a lot of diff computers, and the default is the only thing that makes sense .....

    must be a corally for OS: the real expert uses windows cause a real expert is dealing with a lot of other people, and most of them are using windows, so it makes sense to learn what people are using.....
    course, you have nothing bettter to do then configure your os, cause god knows, RAM is so $ that it is worth hours of your time to make the OS run on less ram, hey, more power to you; most of you who do this, probably a lot better for society that you are doing this then , say, thinking about firearms and the people who you imagine have harmed you

  5. Korora / Fedora by erktrek · · Score: 3, Funny

    Started with Gentoo - awesome learning experience. Harder to maintain in a production environment especially if you're lazy like me.

    On the desktop went thru various distros - Ubuntu, SolydXK, Mint, Manjaro/Arch and am now using Korora/Fedora. Have been very surprised at how well Korora works - always avoided Fedora for whatever reason.

    Tried Elementary OS a few years ago and liked the look but the packages just weren't there and some things were broken. No doubt things are better but I've moved on.

    LXLE looks cool especially for older tech - I like the LXDE and LXQT DEs a lot - simple and old school windows-like.

    CentOS seems a little outdated for my tastes but it works well enough especially in environments that are fragile. Using Ubuntu LTS for most of my server stuff - for me it has been the easiest to maintain and keep current with a great range of compatible devices and packages.

    Haven't tried Parrot Linux yet but will check it out - have used Kali & BackBox.

  6. What? No Mint? by BrendaEM · · Score: 1, Funny

    Mint with Cinnamon is arguable the best Linux Desktop distro.

    --
    https://www.youtube.com/c/BrendaEM