Linux Distributions
The Many Flavors of Linux
A Linux distribution or distro is a Linux operating system put together with a specific purpose or style. Usually most distros today are distinguished by the package manager. This course is focus primarily on the Debian-based distributions which include PopOS, Linux Mint, and Ubuntu. These distros are usually easier for first-time Linux users to set up and maintain. They are also more widely supported by hardware manufacturers such as those who make graphics cards and produce games. Stream, for example, only officially supports Ubuntu (although people have gotten it to work with many others).
Linux Distribution Timeline (local) Linux Distribution Timeline (remote)
Debian
Debian is currently the mother of most other popular Linux distributions today and includes Ubuntu (the most popular Debian-based distro), Linux Mint, PopOS, and dozens of others.
Arch
When the time is right you should explore other distros as well, notably Vanilla Arch to learn the inner workings of Linux as you do the installation. Right now it is the best option for those who really want to understand Linux while still having a distro with strong software package support. Arch is world-renowned for the Arch User Repository approach to package management, organization, and distribution. Arch is also very much the coolest Linux distro to have once you are ready for it.
For those looking for an Arch that is a bit more built for them EndeavorOS is the most promising and respected while Manjaro is still used by many despite the many disastrous fails the its parent organization and technical team have survived.
Manjaro is generally a very bad beginning distribution for many reasons chief of which is its relative (and surprising) instability. It may seem good a start but the stories of people having serious problems are well documented. In one case clicking the update button bricked thousands of people’s machines and Manjaro’s official response was no response leaving the forums filled with frustrated beginners who were being condescendingly told they should have run the upgrade from pseudo-tty instead of clicking “Update”. Manjaro as an organization is also downright unethical in many of its corporate practices and has repeatedly demonstrated its focus on profit above the needs of its users and community. Obviously people will make their own decisions from their own experiences, but there are a lot of blogs and videos from people echoing these experiences and conclusions.
Gentoo
Gentoo is a Linux distro that requires everything to be compiled from source. Make absolutely sure you have a very powerful CPU if you go this route or you will be waiting around forever just to get a minimal install running.
RedHat
You should also get some experience with Fedora or CentOS since they are based on RedHat, which is now owned by IBM. In fact, RedHat’s CEO is now IBM’s President. Even if you hate it understanding how to use and support RedHat systems is a mandatory skill when working for most large enterprises.
Suse
Suse Linux is very close ties with Microsoft and could very well come a very tightly integrated provider of Linux to Azure cloud. No matter what you might think of Microsoft of Azure there is a strong change you will need to know and support it during your career if you choose a Linux-based occupation.
Raspian
Raspian is the Linux distribution specifically made for the Raspberry Pi.
Kali
Kali Linux is well known in the pentesting community. While there are other pentesting focused distributions it is by far the most well known (and best marketed). While Kali is a good one-size-fits-all security distro most professional pentesters will usually customize their own Arch distros instead only putting the tools they want and need instead of using the very bloated Kali distro.
Parrot
Parrot is another pentesting security distro that is preferred by many over Kali among those who do not mind the bloat from such distros.
People often confuse Linux From Scratch as a distribution. It’s not. It’s a book, one that tells you how to make a Linux distribution, well, from scratch. Those working with very small embedded devices will find this useful.