Linux Distributions

[Sharlenwar]

Here is a question for all of you out there in techie land. I have been looking over the various Linux distributions and have found the one that best suits my needs. Or at least I think I have. Here are my questions:

Have you used Linux?
How long?
What is your favorite distro and why?
How do you use your Linux machine?

I for one am looking for a flavour of Linux that allows me to run a web/ftp/email server from home. I am into gaming and will be looking at potentially using Linux as a platform to develop in.

Anyways, I'm curious as to what everyone here thinks about Linux, and what you recommend? I have asked many people, and it is interesting to see the responses.

[srachit]

I have used linux for about a year now.
I have used only 2 distros, CentOS and Ubuntu. I cant decide which I like better between them as I still use both on a daily basis.
I use my linux machine for everything and anything.

[tourmaline]

I've used linux off and on for 15 years or better. I've used debian, slackware, redhat, suse, freebsd. Always for web/database/mail server or as a router before the days of cheap and plentiful consumer routers. For my current linux needs, I use ubuntu. I like the debian style package manager. In the past, my only beefs where with package managers and setting up security. Some distros would be wide open security wise, some would be locked so tight. I have bad memories of redhat and it's package manager of old, but that was years ago. From then to now, I think most distros are pretty friendly overall (based on the purpose), but I use a maintenance release of ubuntu, then upgrade packages I'm most using to cutting edge.

[Jackolantern]

I've used Linux, but have been pretty locked in to Windows due to school. Most of the websites and applications I need supposedly support it. However, some explicitly don't support it, and many more implicitly don't.

Once I don't need to access my school software anymore, I am definitely changing to Linux as my main OS. I don't really play any PC games, and most of what I do would really work better on Linux (development, that is).

I will likely go with Ubuntu, simply because it is so popular and it is typically considered as a target platform for pretty much any package release. However, I do know that a lot of people are becoming uncomfortable with Ubuntu due to several perceived directions the organization is taking, so I will likely see where things are when that time comes.

CentOS would likely be the OS I would use for any servers. I am not sure why it is so popular for servers, but it definitely is for what is likely a good reason.

[srachit]

I've used Linux, but have been pretty locked in to Windows due to school. Most of the websites and applications I need supposedly support it. However, some explicitly don't support it, and many more implicitly don't.

Once I don't need to access my school software anymore, I am definitely changing to Linux as my main OS. I don't really play any PC games, and most of what I do would really work better on Linux (development, that is).

I will likely go with Ubuntu, simply because it is so popular and it is typically considered as a target platform for pretty much any package release. However, I do know that a lot of people are becoming uncomfortable with Ubuntu due to several perceived directions the organization is taking, so I will likely see where things are when that time comes.

CentOS would likely be the OS I would use for any servers. I am not sure why it is so popular for servers, but it definitely is for what is likely a good reason.

Which university do you go to? I find it weird that your university would encourage windows over linux (considering you are in CS like myself). My university propagates the use of linux, 3/4th of our labs are linux based and one of the early classes (a small 2 unit class) we take is completely based on teaching us different tips and tricks in linux.

[tourmaline]

ICentOS would likely be the OS I would use for any servers. I am not sure why it is so popular for servers, but it definitely is for what is likely a good reason.

CentOS is based on redhat, which is perceived to be more enterprise class. I think this is also where repositories and package managers com into play, where redhat repositories may see more updates geared in the enterprise direction. Maybe a more stable kernel as well? I'm curious if there are any shell differences that may make command-line management more pleasant.

Before Ubuntu came along, I settled with the Debian style linux, which ubuntu is based on. So if ubuntu takes an unfortunate direction, debian is still debian.

[Jackolantern]

Which university do you go to? I find it weird that your university would encourage windows over linux (considering you are in CS like myself). My university propagates the use of linux, 3/4th of our labs are linux based and one of the early classes (a small 2 unit class) we take is completely based on teaching us different tips and tricks in linux.

It isn't that the classes are specifically aimed at Windows. It is the software where you turn in your homework, get assignments, etc. Although I do attend all in-person classes, we have a handful of systems we use, and many of them do support Linux well, including the 500-pound gorilla, Blackboard, which is used by close to a majority of colleges now. If you don't use Windows, good luck explaining to your professor that it was a technical issue that kept you from turning in an assignment that was due after class hours. Using Windows is basically insurance with common university applications

[srachit]

Is these assignment submissions etc CS assisgnments? All my uni's CS assignments can only be turned in using linux, they tell us we can program on windows but to make sure it works on a linux system because it is going to be submitted and tested on a linux system.

I think I use blackboard aswell, but my uni has its own version(or its licensed?) its at ted.ucsd.edu. Is it the same thing? It works perfectly for me over linux as well.

[Xaos]

I'm sure its specific and varies by department, and could even vary by teacher.

[hallsofvallhalla]

Used it for some time. I actually just bought another VPS tonight with CentOS. Installed Nodejs and Apache in about 2 minutes and got web server up.

I also like Ubuntu. That is what is on my Raspberry Pi's