Linux basics: what you need to know
While Linux distributions tend to be free (like all the ones on test here), this is our equivalent of a buyer’s guide – after all, your choice will consume the commodity of time
There’s nothing stopping you trying Linux today. Most distributions are free to download, and although we installed each on bare metal for our tests, they generally run as well in a virtualised environment or from a thumb drive as they do from an SSD. So, if you want to try before you buy, there’s no need to sacrifice your boot drive until you’re sure that Linux does what you need.
Distributions can be separated into families. Of these, the Debian family, which includes Ubuntu, Zorin and Raspberry Pi OS, is the largest – but that doesn’t necessarily mean it should be your go-to. Fedora emerged from the code behind Red Hat Linux, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux in turn draws code from the Fedora project.
Does the family matter? Unless you spend a lot of time typing commands through the console, where conventions differ between distributions, it doesn’t really matter which family you choose. However, if you use Red Hat Enterprise Linux at work, even only in passing, it probably makes sense to opt for Fedora at home. If your work has picked Ubuntu, then that or another Debian-based distro makes sense at home.
Kernels
It’s a similar story where the kernel is concerned. Think of this as the core of Linux, the link between the hardware and the processes that run above it (such as the desktop environment). The kernel varies between distributions, and is determined by the production team’s development cycle and policies. However, what may appear to be an outdated kernel isn’t necessarily cause for concern. Rocky Linux, for example, still uses the 5.14 kernel when the latest release is 6.6.4, but Rocky is based on Red
Hat, where accommodations are made to implement any necessary updates without switching out the kernel until the next full-point release.
The Linux kernel underpins a broad sweep of operating systems, including Android – the world’s most populous OS – and here, the specific build differs between handsets. What constitutes the best choice of kernel for one device doesn’t necessarily apply to all the others, and it’s worth bearing this in mind when considering the desktop, too. Concern yourself more with the security of your operating system and the developer’s ability to deliver timely updates and patches, and less with the code at its core, of which you’ll be largely ignorant in daily use.
Desktop environment
A more obvious differentiator, and the one that will have the greatest impact in your daily use, is the desktop environment. While macOS and Windows each have only one native desktop environment, Linux distributions are frequently available with one default or preferred environment, and a selection of alternatives. The openSUSE installer, for example, may put KDE at the top of a list of options, but as that list also contains Gnome and Xfce, it’s up to you which you choose, and whatever you end up with will have no bearing on the underlying operating system.
The way these work can vary significantly, and switching from one to another can be as confusing as migrating from Android to iOS and vice versa. If you already use Linux at work or home, and want to do the same in the other, it’s worth picking the same environment, even if the underlying operating systems are mismatched. We go into more detail about desktop environments on p85.
If you already use Linux at work or home, and want to do the same in the other, it’s worth picking the same environment
Support
Finally, consider support. How often is the OS updated, how long will your chosen build continue to receive patches, and is it easy to upgrade to the next edition when it reaches end of life? Does it have an active user base to which you can reach out with problems, and are answers readily available online?
In a business context, perhaps the most important question is the availability of service contracts, whether through the developer itself or a third party. If not, running your business on “free” software might actually end up costing you more than using a paid-for alternative.