As an open-source and free operating system, Linux has fostered numerous distributions over the years, expanding its reach to embrace a vast community of users. Whether for personal computers or enterprise environments, Linux ensures every group finds something appealing.

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These distributions cater to technically skilled users, offering a strong foundation for development, system management, and customization.

This guide highlights 11 Linux distributions and aims to explain their target audiences.

1. Debian

   Debian is celebrated for being the origin of popular Linux distributions like Deepin, Ubuntu, and Mint, which offer reliable performance, stability, and excellent user experiences. The latest stable release is Debian 12.4, an update of Debian 12, commonly referred to as Debian Bookworm.

Please note that Debian 12.4 does not represent a new version of Debian Bookworm but rather an update of Bookworm with the latest updates and software additions.

Security fixes addressing prior vulnerabilities are also included. If you already have a Bookworm setup, there’s no need to reinstall; simply upgrade via the APT package manager.

The Debian project provides more than 59,000 software packages and supports various PC types, with each release covering a wider range of system architectures. It balances cutting-edge technology with stability.

Debian offers three key development branches: Stable, Testing, and Unstable.

Debian Stable

The Stable version, as its name implies, is highly dependable and fully supported for security updates, though it may lack the newest software applications.

Nonetheless, it’s suitable for production servers due to its stability and reliability and also suits relatively conservative desktop users who prefer having the latest software packages. Debian Stable is typically what you would install on your system.

Debian Testing

The Debian Testing version is a rolling release that provides the latest software versions not yet included in the stable release. It represents the development phase of the upcoming stable Debian release. It often encounters instability and might frequently break.

Additionally, it doesn’t receive timely security patches. The latest Debian Testing release is Trixie (the development codename for Debian 13).

Debian Unstable

The Unstable distribution is the active development phase of Debian. It serves as an experimental platform primarily for developers actively contributing to the code until it moves to the ‘Testing’ stage.

Overall, Debian is utilized by millions of users thanks to its rich package repository and the stability it provides, particularly in production environments.

2. Gentoo

   Gentoo is a distribution tailored for professional use and experts who consider the packages they work with from the start. This includes developers, system and network administrators. Thus, it’s not suited for beginners in Linux.

Gentoo is recommended for those seeking a deeper understanding of the inner workings of the Linux operating system.

Gentoo comes with a package management system called Portage, also native to other distributions such as ChromiumOS and Calculate Linux, which is based on Gentoo and backward-compatible with it.

It is Python-based and based on the ports' collections concept, which are sets of patches and makefiles provided by BSD-based distributions like OpenBSD and NetBSD.

[ You might also like: A Beginner’s Guide to Gentoo Linux Installation ]3. Ubuntu

Created and maintained by Canonical, Ubuntu is one of the most popular Linux distributions worldwide, enjoyed by beginners, intermediate users, and professionals alike. Ubuntu was specifically designed for newcomers to Linux or those transitioning from Mac and Windows.

By default, Ubuntu ships with a GNOME desktop environment along with everyday applications such as Firefox, LibreOffice, and image editing tools like GIMP, music players, and video players such as Audacious and Rhythmbox.

The latest version is Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, codenamed Jammy Jellyfish, which brings numerous improvements and new features including updated themes, polished icons, enhanced support for Snap packages, and fractional scaling functionality for high-resolution displays.

Ubuntu serves as the base for several other Linux distributions. Some examples include Lubuntu 22.04 LTS, Kubuntu 22.04, and Linux Mint 21.

Because of its user-friendliness and sleek interface, Ubuntu is ideal for desktop users and newcomers exploring Linux. They can begin with default apps as mentioned earlier while gradually gaining a better grasp of Linux.

It’s worth noting Ubuntu Studio, aimed at multimedia production. It caters to creatives interested in careers in graphics, photography, audio, and video production.

4. Linux Mint

   Linux Mint is a widely popular community-driven Linux distribution based on Ubuntu that has stood the test of time, offering one of the most elegant and user-friendly distributions appreciated by desktop users and professionals alike.

Despite controversy surrounding the latest release – Mint 21 – removing snap support by default, Mint remains a stable, powerful, and exceptional Linux distribution.

To enable snap support on Linux Mint, run these commands:

<code>$ sudo rm /etc/apt/preferences.d/nosnap.pref
$ sudo apt update
$ sudo apt install snapd</code>

Built on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, Linux Mint 21 is available in three desktop editions – Cinnamon, XFCE, and MATE editions. Mint no longer supports 32-bit versions and is only available in 64-bit.

Underneath, Linux Mint 21 runs on Linux kernel 5.15 with new enhancements such as improved support for AMD Navi 12, Intel Tiger Lake CPU, and NVIDIA GPU. Additionally, the general UI has been refreshed with polished icons, new themes, high-resolution background images, and a refined taskbar.

New features include Warpinator, a file-sharing program within a local network, and fractional scaling for HiDPI displays to ensure sharper and clearer images. Other applications for daily use include Firefox, LibreOffice, Audacious Music Player, Timeshift, and Thunderbird.

If you’re looking for a fast and stable Linux desktop for routine tasks, listening to music, watching videos, and gaming, Mint is the go-to distribution.

Linux Mint 21 is a long-term release and will receive support until 2027. We have an article on how to install Mint 21 on your PC.

5. Red Hat Enterprise Linux

   Abbreviated as RHEL, Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a Linux distribution designed for enterprise or commercial purposes. It’s one of the leading open-source alternatives to proprietary systems like Microsoft. Red Hat is often the preferred choice for server environments due to its stability and regular security patches enhancing its overall security.

You can set it up on physical servers, virtual environments like VMware, Hyper-V, and also on the cloud. Red Hat excels in containerization technology through OpenShift PaaS (Platform as a Service), a hybrid cloud environment built around Docker containers managed by Kubernetes.

Red Hat trains and certifies system administrators through specialized courses such as RHCSA (Red Hat Certified System Administrator) and RHCE (Red Hat Certified Engineer).

When efficiency, security, and stability are crucial, RHEL is the ideal distribution to choose. RHEL is subscription-based, with the subscription renewed annually. You can purchase licenses under various subscription models such as Linux Developer Workstation, Linux Developer Suite, and Linux for Virtual Datacenters.

Traditionally, Red Hat and RHEL-based distributions like CentOS Stream, Rocky Linux, and AlmaLinux have used yum or dnf package managers. Now, all the latest releases use DNF as their default package manager. RHEL is distributed using two main repositories – AppStream and BaseOS.

The AppStream repository (Application Stream) provides all the software applications you wish to install on your system, while the BaseOS provides applications solely for the core functionality of the system.

Additionally, you can download and try out Red Hat 8 and Red Hat 9 for free through the Red Hat Developer Program.

6. CentOS Stream

   **Cent

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