The Verdict
Key Linux distros
Before we get to the rankings, we’d like to say that all five of the distros on test here are key distros; a title they’ve earned for having made a positive impact to the Linux ecosystem at a profound level.
Slackware, the oldest surviving Linux distro, is a shining example. Those who know how can use it for anything. That said, the distro isn’t for just anyone. It comes with a steep learning curve, which severely impacts its usefulness on the desktop.
Then there’s OpenSUSE, which isn’t much younger than Slackware. However, it is the distro’s recent tumultuous history that makes it lose out over its peers, like Fedora, more than anything else.
Fedora trumps OpenSUSE simply for being the more mainstream of the two. We’ll not go into the merits of DNF versus ZYpp, but it’s a lot easier to find help and support for the former than it is for the latter.
Both Fedora and Ubuntu are rock-solid, easy-to-use distros that would work well on the desktop or any kind of server. However, Ubuntu edges out because of its readiness for proprietary software, which, ignoring the demerits of using non-open source software, just makes it more practical for first-time Linux users.
Debian, too, isn’t as much of a practical option over Ubuntu for pretty much the same reasons. Those who know how can tune it as a desktop or a server. But in a head to head with Ubuntu, it doesn’t offer the same level of convenience.
No matter the use case, Ubuntu can serve it well, thanks to its installation options and dexterity, software availability and support options.
All things considered, we’re awarding the top spot to Ubuntu. It might not have the same number of years under its belt as some of the other stalwarts in this roundup, but it has used its time well. It has built on the experience of its peers, adopting their strengths, while discarding their weaknesses, to craft a distro that works on everything from the desktop to the server, and from IoT to the cloud.