Computers

The best linux distributions, according to hackers

63 linux distributions recommended in Hacker News comments over the past year, ranked by how many separate people recommend each one.

• Most recommendedUbuntu560 people recommend it
• Built to lastSUSE Linuxowners report a median of 28 years
• Least regretKnoppix65 recommend, 0 criticize

All linux distributions

• UbuntuA mainstream Linux distro that mostly just works on lots of hardware, suits beginners and offers long LTS support, though critics dislike Snaps and Canonical's direction.560recommend
• DebianA community-run, free Linux distribution recommended for rock-solid stability, curated trustworthy package repositories and painless in-place upgrades; critics say stable packages are old and bug fixes rarely get backported.552recommend
• NixOSRecommended for defining your whole system in a version-controlled config file, with reproducible setups and easy rollbacks, but documentation is poor and the learning curve is steep.454recommend
• Fedora LinuxA mainstream, beginner-friendly Linux distro that mostly works out of the box and balances stability with current packages, though frequent release upgrades occasionally break things.437recommend
• Arch LinuxA rolling Linux distro praised for up-to-date, near-upstream packages, excellent wiki docs and installs that last for years, though updates can break things and much is manual.362recommend
• Linux MintA beginner-friendly Linux distro that feels familiar to Windows users, works out of the box with no ads or nagware, though major version upgrades and display quirks can be troublesome.277recommend
• Asahi LinuxRecommended for running Linux on M1 and M2 Macs with great hardware, though newer chips lag behind and battery life, sleep and external displays remain weak.260recommend
• OmarchyAn opinionated Arch and Hyprland setup that installs in minutes and looks polished out of the box; critics cite vibe-coded security problems and politically charged funding.221recommend
• CachyOSAn Arch-based Linux distro with optimized kernels and packages that works out of the box, runs games well and suits Windows switchers, though critics doubt its long-term stability.200recommend
• Gentoo LinuxA source-based Linux distro praised for fine-grained USE-flag customization, easy patching and deep learning, though updates can break things and setup and tweaking eat time.151recommend
• Pop!_OSA beginner-friendly Ubuntu-based Linux distro with a good out-of-the-box experience, Nvidia driver support and smooth gaming, though upgrades and the new COSMIC desktop can be buggy.111recommend
• Alpine LinuxSmall, minimal Linux distribution people run on servers, containers, old hardware and desktops for its size and simplicity. Most common caveat: musl libc causes compatibility problems with some software.82recommend
• KubuntuPeople recommend Kubuntu as a Windows-like KDE desktop on Ubuntu that installs easily and suits beginners. Critics report slowness, freezes and a rough out-of-box look.70recommend
• KnoppixRecommended for booting Linux from CD, DVD or USB to rescue broken Windows PCs, try Linux and learn it without installing.65recommend
• Red Hat Enterprise LinuxRecommended for stability, long support lifecycles and enterprise support. Most common caveat: slow patching and difficult major-version upgrades.46recommend
• SlackwareLong-running, minimal Linux distribution that people praise for stability, simplicity and long-lived configs; critics say development has slowed and it is rough as a desktop.43recommend
• openSUSEFree Linux distribution people call stable, reliable and easy to recover, with btrfs snapshots to roll back updates. Critics say rolling updates sometimes break things and setup can be fiddly.43recommend
• Talos LinuxPeople recommend Talos Linux as a minimal, immutable OS for running Kubernetes, with little to configure or update. Critics say it is hard to tweak outside its supported environments.41recommend
• Void LinuxPeople recommend it as a fast, stable, simple rolling distro that avoids systemd. The common caveat is that it is niche and less polished for desktop users than mainstream distros.41recommend
• Aurora LinuxImmutable Fedora-based desktop that people call rock-solid and easy to live with, with polished defaults and automatic updates. Critics find its purpose unclear and say it breaks apps and extensions.36recommend
• EndeavourOSRecommended as an easier way to run Arch Linux, with a guided installer and stable everyday use, though some find the Arch base needs more maintenance expertise.34recommend
• DevuanDebian without systemd, with a choice of init systems; people run it daily with few problems. Critics say its init-freedom claim just means not systemd.32recommend
• Manjaro LinuxRecommended for an easy-to-install Arch-based Linux with up-to-date software and easy software installs. Critics point to update breakage and repository problems.30recommend
• Tiny Core LinuxRuns fast on old, low-powered PCs by loading into RAM; critics say the interface looks unpolished and downloads lack proper hash security.30recommend
• SUSE LinuxRecommended as an easy-to-install Linux distribution with a long history, especially in enterprise and European public-sector discussions. Critics say it is not mainstream and that it can be complicated to use.28recommend
• XubuntuPeople recommend Xubuntu as a free, lightweight Ubuntu desktop that runs well on old hardware and feels simple. Critics say it can be slow and hard for average users.28recommend
• openSUSE TumbleweedStable rolling Linux distribution with a clean KDE desktop, praised for snapshots and years of daily use. Critics say NVIDIA setups need extra work and gaming or codecs are weaker.27recommend
• Bluefin LinuxPeople recommend Bluefin as a polished, Fedora-based Linux desktop that works out of the box, with atomic updates. Critics mention a slow installer and pretentious marketing.26recommend
• AlmaLinuxFree RHEL-compatible Linux distribution that people run on servers, praised for stability and a ten-year support lifecycle. Critics say it is unsuitable for CERN, which needs x86-64-v1 binaries.23recommend
• Rocky LinuxA free, RHEL-compatible Linux distribution people use as a stable server OS and a CentOS replacement; critics say early releases were rough and not always ready.22recommend
• Nobara LinuxFree Fedora-based Linux distribution with Nvidia drivers preinstalled that people say works smoothly. One critic notes it is maintained by one person.21recommend
• Damn Small LinuxRecommended for reviving old, slow computers and recovering files from broken Windows machines, running well from CD. Critics fault the developer's conduct and question its size advantage over Ubuntu.18recommend
• MX LinuxPeople recommend MX Linux as a light, snappy Debian-based distro with handy snapshots and good Xfce and KDE editions, especially on older hardware.17recommend
• elementary OSRecommended as a polished, beginner-friendly Linux desktop with a macOS-like look and smooth battery life. Critics say it is too limiting and lacks macOS features like global menus.15recommend
• Puppy LinuxA small, fast Linux distro that boots into RAM and runs from a USB stick or CD, which people remember fondly as a way to learn Linux on older hardware.14recommend
• Universal BlueFree Linux operating system images built on Fedora Atomic, praised for easy custom builds, image-based resilience and low maintenance.14recommend
• Red Hat Enterprise LinuxEnterprise Linux distribution recommended for servers and for businesses willing to pay for support. Common caveat: major version upgrades often break scripts.11recommend
• Chimera LinuxRecommended for a fast package manager, quick boots and a good desktop experience; the main caveat is that some software is not musl compatible.11recommend
• LubuntuPeople recommend Lubuntu as a light Linux desktop that runs well on older laptops and stays stable. One critic says MX Linux or antiX suit old machines better.11recommend
• Azure LinuxFree Microsoft Linux distribution that people say helps with security audit compliance and runs lightweight, though critics say it is tuned for Azure rather than general use.11recommend
• SlaxRecommended as a small live Linux distro for booting and rescuing files from USB or CD. Critics say its XSLT syntax adds nothing over standard XSLT.11recommend
• antiX LinuxFast, lightweight Debian-based Linux that runs well on old hardware and avoids systemd. Critics call it rough and say it uses more memory than expected.10recommend
• openSUSE AeonPeople recommend it as an immutable Linux desktop with Btrfs snapshots and Flathub apps. The most common caveat is fighting the system in edge cases.10recommend
• ArmbianFree Linux distribution for ARM single-board computers, with broad board support. One critic notes it lacks support for some newer boards and is not designed to roll over like Debian.10recommend
• Fedora WorkstationFree, stable Linux desktop that newcomers find easy, with GNOME and Flatpak support. Some critics report bugs and install image problems.9recommend
• openSUSE KalpaPraised for an immutable btrfs root that avoids broken partial upgrades, plus polished KDE and stable daily use. Critics say it still feels rough and alpha-stage.9recommend
• Debian SidDebian's rolling unstable branch, favored for fast upstream updates and access to Debian packages, and used on desktops for years. Caveat: things can break, and fixing them takes Linux knowledge.8recommend
• Artix LinuxPeople recommend Artix Linux as an Arch-based distribution that lets you choose your init system and stays at the bleeding edge. The most common caveat is that the bleeding edge can hurt stability.7recommend
• PureOSFree, FSF-endorsed Debian-based operating system for phones and desktops, valued for privacy and containing no proprietary software. Critics say it lags on software releases and stability.7recommend
• GoboLinuxLinux distribution that installs many versions of the same software side by side without conflicts, with a filesystem layout that separates programs cleanly. Critics note weak documentation.7recommend
• Kali LinuxFree Linux distribution that people run in virtual machines, on portable hardware, and remember fondly from their university and gaming days.7recommend
• GNU Guix SystemFree, declarative Linux distribution similar to NixOS, with reproducible whole-system config. Critics find it niche and its Scheme errors hard to debug.7recommend
• SUSE Linux EnterpriseEstablished commercial enterprise Linux that people recommend as a Red Hat alternative for secure, high-quality deployments. Main caveat: it is a paid commercial option.7recommend
• CentOSFree Linux distribution people ran on servers for its long security update support. Common caveat: the shift to CentOS Stream and IBM ownership made many distrust its future.7recommend
• KDE neonPeople recommend it for the latest KDE Plasma desktop and a polished overall feel. Critics report update problems, including painful dist-upgrades that break software.7recommend
• PizlixPeople recommend it as a memory-safe, Linux-like operating system built with Fil-C that already works well enough. Commenters note it is still rough.6recommend
• FloppinuxFits a full Linux system on one 1.44MB floppy, with a tutorial. One critic reports it would not boot on a 486 DX2.6recommend
• Ubuntu GNOMEPeople recommend it as a free Ubuntu edition with the GNOME desktop that feels pleasant to use. The most common caveat is that some things did not work correctly out of the box.6recommend
• Ubuntu MATEA free Ubuntu-based Linux desktop with the MATE interface, valued for a stable experience with few UI changes. Critics say some bugs have never been fixed.6recommend
• Garuda LinuxRecommended for gaming and as a stable daily distro for beginners, with a console-like experience and a snappier interface.6recommend
• Mageia LinuxStable free Linux distribution that people switch to from Windows, praised as a solid European alternative to Arch-based distros. Caveat: package versions can be old.5recommend
• KISS LinuxA minimal Linux distribution that people recommend for its simple design and its influence on other minimal projects.5recommend
• Arch Linux ARMArch Linux for ARM devices, and Asahi Linux first shipped on it. Praised as smooth even on passively cooled hardware. Main caveat: some repositories are out of date.5recommend