Top 10 Most Popular Linux Versions in the World

The purpose of this article is to help the new Linux users choose the most suitable operating system in a growing number of Linux versions. It lists the 10 most popular Linux versions. They generally are regarded as the most widely recommended in the world.

1. Ubuntu
Home: http://www.ubuntu.com/
Source: Isle of Man
Desktop: GNOME
Type: Beginners, Desktop, Server, Live Medium, Netbooks
Processor architectures: i386, powerpc, sparc64, x86_64
Releases based on: Debian
Pros: Fixed release cycle and support period; easy for beginners to learn; rich documents, including official and user contributions.
Disadvantages: lack of compatibility with Debian
Package Management: Advanced Package Tool (APT) to use deb package

2. Fedora
Home: http://fedoraproject.org/
Source: USA
Desktop: GNOME, KDE, LXDE, Openbox, Xfce
Type: Desktop, Server, Live Medium
Processor architectures: i686, powerpc, x86_64
Releases based on: Independent
Pros: a high degree of innovation, outstanding security features; large number of support packages, strictly abide by the Free Software
Disadvantages: Fedora's priorities purpose tend to favor the enterprise applications, rather than desktop usability
Package management: YUM and the RPM Package Manager

3. OpenSUSE
Home: http://www.opensuse.org/
Source: Germany
Desktop: Blackbox, GNOME, IceWM, KDE, WMaker, Xfce
Type: Desktop, Server, Live Medium
Processor architectures: i586, x86_64
Releases based on: Independent
Pros: comprehensive, intuitive configuration tool, a lot of software support, excellent web site architecture and exquisite Document Library
Disadvantages: Desktop installation and graphical tools are sometimes seen as "bloated and slow"
Package management: YaST graphical and command line utility and the RPM Package Manager

4. Debian
Home: http://www.debian.org/
Source: Global
Desktop: AfterStep, Blackbox, Fluxbox, GNOME, IceWM, KDE, LXDE, Openbox, WMaker, Xfce
Type: Desktop, Live Medium, Server
Processor architectures: alpha, arm, armel, hppa, ia64, i386, m68k, mips, mipsel, powerpc, s390, sparc64, x86_64
Releases based on: Independent
Pros: very stable, excellent quality control, more than 20,000 softwares; support more processor architectures than any other Linux version.
Disadvantages: Conservative - because of its support for many processor architectures, the latest technology is not always included; cycle slowly.
Package Management: Advanced Package Tool (APT) and DEB packages

5. Mandriva
Home: http://www.puppylinux.com/
Source: Australian Australia
Desktop: JWM
Type: Desktop, Old computers, Live Medium, Netbooks
Processor Architecture: i386
Releases based on: Independent
Pros: easy to learn, support for dozens of languages, live CD
Disadvantages: lack of a comprehensive marketing strategy,
Package management software: Rpmdrake URPMI use RPM package, "SMART" available as alternative

And the 6 - 10 are:
Mint
PCLinuxOS
Slackware
Gentoo
CentOS

Was this helpful? 0 0 Comments

You're reading Top 10 Most Popular Linux Versions in the World .