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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Arch Linux. Always very up-to-date and the AUR is huge. No dealing with PPAs or snaps or flatpaks or appimages. Just paru -S any-software-ever-made. Also very streamlined (systemd for everything lol) and well documented. I tried NixOS for a bit but it was very inconvenient in comparison and I felt like it was impossible to tinker with or understand if you weren't good at Haskell. Terrible documentation.
For servers it's definitely Debian + docker.
Debian. Several reasons:
Linux Mint with Mate DE.
Linux Mint. Nothing beats your computer just working when you have shit to get done.
I use Debian with a patched version of motif window manager. The 90s never ended:
Garuuuuuda. Love it. Been running it for the past few years. The devs come off as assholes, but they're actually just German;)
NixOS everywhere (except for one server which I have yet to migrate from Rocky to NixOS)
Fedora on the desktop. I got my start on Red Hat Linux so I've stuck with it since.
For servers I use Debian. Lightweight, widely used, and gets the job done.
My laptop is on Manjaro and has been running flawlessly for years ...such a great experience with gnome 40+
My desktop is also on Manjaro, and things could not be more different. No Wayland, no animations in the gnome desktop, visual glitches since the last update ...guess it doesn't play well with Nvidia drivers. Anyone managing something decent with gnome+Nvidia?
Linux Mint, it just works
Ubuntu LTS wherever possible.
Been using NixOS for a couple months. It’s gotten easier to configure and change because of it, and new computers are super easy to setup because I can just change/apply the config and system wide changes will apply with one command!
Arch.
I've done a reasonable amount of distrohopping, but I always come crawling back because I've never found anything that can compete with the AUR.
EndeavourOS on my desktop, Red Hat and Ubuntu on servers(at work).
Xubuntu for over ten years now. It was the first thing I landed on when in a panic that my store-bought, WinXP -preinstalled PC was failing and I couldn't afford to be without it nor replace it. Even after being so grateful for it rescuing me, it's also taught me, and worked flawlessly for all I need from my computers since.
Using Arch Linux for over 12 years now.
I use primarily Fedora for desktop/dual boot and minimal Rocky for server. I mess with Arch and Manjaro when I'm feeling adventurous.
Fedora, because it just works and it ships recent software versions.
I also like Fedora Silverblue, and projects like ublue are very interesting in my opinion.
Could you explain what you find interesting about Silverblue ?
Updates can't really break anything, and if something would go wrong, I can simply boot on the previous image, which will still be there. They can also happen in the background, such that I don't even know it's updating. It just happens and never bothers me.
What's even more interesting is that you can rebase on another base image without having to worry. If I don't like it, I can just go back to the previous image. With ublue, you can even customize your own OS image.
I believe modern Android uses a similar concept. They use two partitions, and install an update to the other image while your phone is running normally. Then all you need to do is reboot, and you'll be on the new boot image.
Alpine is honestly my go to
Have been using Fedora for a year now. Had used Pop OS for about 6months before that.
I've used Mint since I started using Linux, and never had any major issues. I've therefore just stuck with it. I don't always have the time to tinker with my machine if something should break, and Mint usually just works when I need it, while still providing flexibility when I want it (and Timeshift to fix it when I break stuff)
I distro hop a lot. After using Majaro (gnome) for a long time I switched to Pop_OS for a long time. I switched back to Manjaro (Gnome) again, but after a week of use I've just downloaded Ubuntu.
I'm getting basic display issues that I've never got in another distro (including tails!) and it's generally annoying me. I'd rather use a distro that doesn't require troubleshooting on Day 1
Hanna Montana Linux as my daily driver. Endeavouros for work.
Fedora. I started my Linux journey 1 year ago with Pop!_OS, then switched to Endeavor OS, an Arch based distro for beginners because I felt limited due to the Ubuntu/Debian base. I liked Endeavor, but it was too easy to break and I had to reinstall it several times. Ichoese Fedora due to its stability while maintaing up-to-date packages. Fedora has been a great experience for a long time.
Fedora, I'm not a tech person by Linux user standards and I just need an OS that works
Linux Mint for desktops/laptops (Cinnamon if the hardware can handle it, MATE if it's a bit long in the tooth), and Debian for servers.
I've used several distros (yes, even Arch btw) through the years but I just keep finding myself coming back to the Debian-based ones. I guess I just feel most at-home with the way it has things set up, or something.
I tend to use Ubuntu most of the time - because I am familiar with it. Then again I have been using Linux for over 25 years and am a professional Linux Admin - so I am familiar with most of them!
I'm a forever Linux noob currently using Q4OS (Debian-based with TDE/KDE) because it is for a toaster with a small storage and I'm used to Windows.
Kubuntu for me. Ive been an on again off again user of either Ubuntu or kubuntu for over a decade now, but that might have to change here soon. The integration of snap is driving me insane, so I've been looking into arch distros recently
I'm using Fedora - was using Arch for a while, but realized I didn't want to put in the work to keep up with/migrate to the newest tech (Wayland, Pipewire) but I also didn't want to fall behind. Fedora has been great at integrating new tech without me needing to pay close attention or migrate to it myself.
I've felt in love woth Debian the moment I used it for the first time
I use EndeavourOS with Hyprland. I once use LinuxMint for a long time though, I love their stability and sane default but I just found Hyprland to be a perfecr DE for me. Alas Debian based distro currently unable to install Hyprland due to library and toolkit issues.
Arch Linux with KDE Plasma
Had previous experience on Linux Mint way back, then Ubuntu. Had Manjaro with XFCE for a couple of years before moving on to my current one.
Moving on to Arch, btw, wasn't my idea. Someone convinced me to let him have a go at converting my Manjaro installation to Arch. It was an interesting experience, but not one that we would want to go through ever again.
I'm currently using a mix of Arch and Fedora, but I've been starting to look in to NixOS.
These days I mostly use Manjaro, though I've been thinking of giving the Suse rolling release a try.
xubuntu. when this install gets too messy i'm probably going to try the minimal edition and install my old openbox or awesome wm configs.
Arch, nothing beats the availability and ease of installing packages from the AUR
Guix. It's awesome to know exactly what I have installed and be able to replicate it on other machines.