20 Best Linux Distros For Developers

Best Linux Distros For Developer from Coding compiler blog. Linux is an open-source software to use and its friendly environments make individuals and business people use Linux. It is also a choice for the one who is actually looking for a very secure OS other than windows. It also supports many cloud services.

For beginners, it is really easy to use, when all the software is very much friendly to the experienced developers and system admin. Here in this blog, we will discuss the 20 best Linux distros available in the market.

What Is Linux Distro?

Linux Distribution is often shortened as “Linux Distro”. It is basically an operating system that is made up of a collection of software. It is open-source software which is made up of Linux kernel.

Why Is Linux Best For Development?

  1. It is a free one
  2. It’s very easy to install
  3. It’s simple to use.
  4. It is highly customizable.
  5. You can create a web server very easily. 
  6. There’s a huge community. 
  7. It is robust

Linux Benefits for Development

  • It is open-source software free to use.
  • It is highly secure
  • When it comes to terminals it is really good
  • It supports the lower end system and its drivers
  • Easy to customize
  • Updates are made often

Related Article: Linux Admin Interview Questions

Best Linux Distros For Developers

Here is the list of 20 best Linux distros for developers.

  1. Ubuntu
  2. Pop!_OS
  3. Fedora
  4. CentOS
  5. Debian
  6. Kali Linux
  7. OpenSUSE
  8. Manjaro Linux
  9. Arch Linux
  10. Gentoo
  11. Solus
  12. Puppy Linux
  13. Raspbian
  14. elementary OS
  15. Gentoo
  16. NuTyX
  17. Red Hat Linux
  18. MX Linux
  19. Zorin OS
  20. Linux Mint

20 Best Linux Distros For Developers

Let’s discuss about each of the Linux distro with features and system requirements.

1) Ubuntu

Ubuntu is one among the tools in Linux and is strongly recommended for Linux newbie’s, as it’s extremely accessible. 

Released every six months, and guarantee five years of security and general maintenance updates. Whereas the quality releases are supported for one year alone.

Features of Ubuntu

  • Most Popular one
  • Very accessible for novices
  • Security and stable
  • It is great for underpowered PCs

Ubuntu System Requirements

  • RAM: 1 GB
  • CPU: Pentium M 1.0 GHz
  • Disk Space: 9 GB
  • Display Resolution: 1024 x 768

Website: https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop

2) Pop!_OS

The main purpose of this particular OS is to provide faster navigation and a convenient workflow in an organization. It is secure and very helpful for creative professionals.

Pop!_OS Features:

  • Automatic Window Tiling
  • New Application Switcher and Launcher
  • Flatpack support is added
  • Improved hybrid graphics support

Pop!_OS System Requirements:

  • 64-bit x86 architecture
  • 4 GB of RAM recommended
  • 20 GB of storage

Website: https://pop.system76.com/

3) Fedora Linux Distro

Fedora offers everything as a pre-installed one. The main thing is it can’t support all the hardware’s external things and has to be added for that.

Fedora Features:

  • Many pre-installed games
  • Stable, but don’t have preinstalled drivers for all kind of hardware’s
  • Have to install Steam and Wine manually
  • XFCE Desktop Environment

Fedora System Requirements:

  • 2 GHz or more processor 
  • 1GB RAM or more
  • 10GB disk

Website: https://labs.fedoraproject.org/en/games/

4) CentOS Linux Distro

It is an Enterprise version of Red Hat Linux. It focuses mainly on stability rather than providing frequent updates. It is super-reliable the level of security is high and also it often provides us information about the maintenance updates.

CentOS Features:

  • Built for stability
  • Ideal for a server
  • Not so great for daily desktop usage

CentOS System requirements:

  • 2 GB RAM
  • 2 GHz or Higher Processor
  • 20 GB Hard Disk
  • 64-bit x86 System

Website: https://www.centos.org/download/

5) Debian Linux Distro

An open-source OS that has a set of basic programs and utilities that make your computer run. 

Debian Features: 

  • More emphasis on security
  • Java friendly
  • More user-friendly
  • You can run Debian on anything.

Debian System Requirements:

  • Minimum RAM: 512MB
  • Recommended RAM: 2 GB
  • Hard Drive space: 10 GB
  • Minimum 1GHz Pentium processor

Website: https://www.debian.org/

6) Kali Linux

It is a Debian-based Linux distro that specifically caters to the likes of network analysts & penetration testers. Offers a secured environment and avoids us to stay away from hackers.

Kali Linux Features:

  • More pre-installed testing tools
  • Multi-language support
  • Offers secure environment
  • Adherence to the File system Hierarchy Standard 
  • Open source, free to use

Kali Linux System requirements:

  • A minimum of 20 GB disk space
  • RAM for i386 and amd64 architectures, 
  • 2GB or more hard disk recommended
  • CD-DVD Drive / USB boot support/ Virtual Box

Website: https://www.kali.org/

7) OpenSUSE Linux Distro

OpenSuse is often known as polished distros, which offer a very clear desktop environment for users. It’s reliable and fast, the UI is also very friendly.

OpenSUSE Features:

  • Very polished distro
  • Nicely secure
  • Can create your own version of the OS
  • Efficient usage for admins and developers

OpenSUSE System Requirements:

  • Pentium* 4 1.6 GHz or higher processor
  • 2 GB physical RAM 
  • 40 GB  Hard disk recommended
  • Supports most modern sound and graphics cards
  • Display resolution 1024 x 768 
  • DVD drive or USB-Stick for installation

Website: https://www.opensuse.org/

8) Manjaro Linux Distro

Manjaro which is based on Arch Linux, frequent updates are made and have everything preinstalled. So you can easily access them without much effort.

Manjaro Features

  • A very light weighted one.
  • It has a list of pre-installed software and emulators
  • Have to install the steam manually.
  • XFCE desktop environment
  • Updates are made o a regular basis

Manjaro System requirements

  • At least 1GHz processor
  • At least 1GB RAM
  • At Least 30GB storage
  • ATI, NVidia or Intel GPU suitable for games and HD

Website: https://sourceforge.net/projects/mgame/

9) Arch Linux Distro

A popular Linux distro when it comes particular for developers and the people who have access to their old systems and want to take of many old versions. It makes the coding to be very clean and correct.

Arch Linux Features:

  • Massive potential for customization
  • For advanced users
  • User-friendly flavors
  • Make things looks very simpler

Arch Linux System Requirements:

Arch Linux is optimized for i686 and x86-64 microprocessors, so you need:

  • An i686-based or x86-64 computer
  • 128 Mbytes RAM minimum

Website: https://www.archlinux.org/download/

10) Solus Linux Distro

Solus is a one of the best Linux distros for developers which helps them to keep a track on development and often provides updates. It really helps to handle the complex situation effectively.

Solus Linux Features:

  • Offers lot of customization
  • Straight forward installation procedure
  • Rolling release
  • Offer maintenance updates

Solus Linus System Requirements:

  • Dual Core 2.0 GHz+
  • DirectX10 Compatible 3D Card 
  • 11 GB hard disk space

Website: https://getsol.us/download/

11) Puppy Linux Distro

Puppy Linux makes uses of the JWM and Openbox window managers by default. It makes the usage of system resources simple.

Puppy Linux Features:

  • It is built to be fast
  • It has some basic apps
  • Reliable on your old computers

Puppy Linux System requirements

  • RAM:  256 MB
  • CPU: 600 Hz Processor

Website: https://puppylinux.com/

12) Raspbian Linux Distro

Raspbian which is also based on Debian optimized for the Raspberry Pi hardware. It consists of a set of basic programs and utilities that make your Raspberry Pi run. It has more than 35,000 packages; pre-compiled software bundled in a nice format for easy installation on your Raspberry Pi.

Raspbian Linux Features:

  • Improved performance
  • Elegant desktop environment
  • Lots of existing packages

Raspbian Linux System Requirements:

  • 8Gb class 4 SD card
  • A USB Micro power supply 
  • A memory card reader
  • Ethernet for connectivity
  • HDMI monitor 
  • RS485 to USB converter for RS485 sensors
  • 40 pin FRC cables

Website: https://www.raspbian.org/

13. Elementary OS

Elementary OS has a set of pre-existing essential apps, which can be easily integrated with any kind of app center. These app centers avail you with the facility to add new programs whenever you want to add something new. 

Elementary OS Features 

  • A Good Looking one
  • Smart designed and looks great
  • Excellent desktop environment
  • The acceptation of preinstalled apps is very less

Elementary OS System Requirements:

  • Intel i3 or comparable dual-core 64-bit processor
  • 4 GB RAM
  • SSD – 15 GB of free space.
  • Good Internet connection
  • Display resolution: 1024×768 

Website: https://elementary.io/

14. Gentoo Linux Distro

Gentoo helps users to build a customized Linux kernel to their particular hardware. It offers very fine control of memory usage and services when compared to other distributions.

Gentoo Features:

  • Customizable
  • Gives a very good control on services
  • Error notifications
  • Efficient functionality utilization

Gentoo System Requirements:

  • i686 or later CPU specification
  • 512 MB memory
  • 2.5GB Disk space

Website: https://www.gentoo.org/

15. NuTyX Linux Distro

NuTyX – A unique Linux distro offers high-level flexibility. It provides an excellent operating system for beginners who can put more efforts by themselves to master the OS.


NuTyX Linux Features:

  • Unique installation coding
  • Simple method for porting
  • Flexible on managing software
  • Very powerful with simple commands

NuTyX Linux System Requirements:

  • A base system with approximately about 385 Mb is needed.

Website: https://www.nutyx.org/en/

16) Red Hat Linux Distro

Red Hat Linux is a top-notch platform for both developers and also for businesses. It is open-source software in which you can scale the existing application. It even supports cloud-based applications too.

Red Hat Linux Features:

  • Control over compliance
  • Handles complexity effectively
  • Multi Platform supports
  • Deploy on Native Os

Red Hat Linux System Requirements:

  • 6GB of disk space is recommended
  • 2GB of RAM
  • One core processor

Website: https://www.redhat.com/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux

17. MX Linux

MX Linux – One of the best Linux software makes use of the resource correctly & efficiently. It also offers a higher level of user experience.

MX Linux Features:

  • Very Fast and reliable
  • Offers a user-friendly environment
  • Its light in weight 
  • Good selection of bundled apps

MX Linux System Requirements:

  • At least 2GB of RAM
  • MX is available for both 32-bit and 64-bit systems
  •  Live DVD or USB 

Website: https://mxlinux.org/download-links/

18. Zorin OS

Zorin OS is one of the best tools for a developer that offers different layout facilities for those who think out of the box and also a custom utility to connect with your android devices.

Zorin OS Features

  • Efficient software store
  • Offers Rich notification 
  • Very fast and reliable
  • Easy to integrate with Google
  • Alternate one for windows users

Zorin OS System Requirements

  • RAM: 512 MB
  • CPU: 700 MHz Single Core
  • Disk Space: 8 GB
  • Display: 640 × 480 resolution

Website: https://zorinos.com/download/

19. Linux Mint

Linux Mint it’s great for new Linux users, a lot of facilities the software will provide you when switching from Mac or Windows. Offers better support for proprietary media formats which \allows you to play videos in all the formats.

Linux Mint Features:

  • Good for beginners
  • Good media support
  • Impressive customization options

There are three main starter flavors of Mint, each of different use on desktop environments; the top-most layer will allow you to change the appearance of windows and menus. Currently the most popular one is Cinnamon, but there is more basic one like MATE, or Xfce to choose from.

Linux Mint System Requirements:

  • 1GB RAM (2GB recommended).
  • 15GB of disk space (20GB recommended).
  • 1024×768 resolution

Website: https://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

20) Deepin Linux Distro

Deepin is a Linux distro based on Debian‘s stable branch. It offers multiple features for the desktop applications that make the user interface more friendly. Offer a very secure and safe environment for developers. Unified design style to make the users have a more reliable environment.

Deepin Features:

  • Very fashioned and efficient one
  • Fast and reliable
  • It offers a new page layout
  • Unified interface style
  • Full disk encryption

Deepin System Requirements:

  • Intel Pentium IV 2-GHz processor 
  • 2 GB RAM recommended
  • 10 GB of free disk space

Website: https://www.deepin.org/

Final thoughts:

When it comes to the development side, often the software used is with a high level of convenience. The software’s should be easy to access and in the same way it should provide a high-level of security.

When it requires to be ported then it should offer the maximum level of compatibility as of the software’s it was previously utilized. Above discussed where the top distos in the market which are utilized for development purpose.

If you are a fresher and looking for an opportunity in the software industry, try to master any of these Linux models, this will obviously help to set a good career growth in the software field.

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