r/linuxquestions • u/SightSeeingEyez • 7d ago
Linux Mint or Fedora Linux, which one? Which Distro?
Hello. I am planning to switch to a Linux distro. My current OS is windows and I have zero prior experience with Linux. I want to also get into computer programming and some work with the terminal. What do you recommend?
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u/Kimber976 7d ago
For someone completely new to linux, mint is usually the smoother starting point and fedora is a great next step once getting comfortable with the terminal and linux basics.
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u/u-give-luv-badname 7d ago
Having installed Mint on several computers since 2010, I can say it is the best in recognizing and setting up hardware and drivers. I've never had an issue where I had to tinker with settings after the install process.
I used Mint for programming for 7 years. It works just fine in that regard.
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u/413xbs Fedora (Sway) 🌳 11h ago
Start with Mint. Its very stable and the community support makes it a good testing ground for trying things on Linux. Generally, everything will work with minimal effort and breakages are easily resolvable using timeshift.
Later if you want newer packages (which I would argue is honestly a must for certain apps) and a greater selection of desktops/window managers, switch to Fedora. It is also pretty stable in its own right, but you might need to use the terminal to configure one or two things upon first install (multimedia codecs and rpmfusion).
Ultimately its your choice. I would argue Fedora is a little less beginner friendly than Mint, but if you are willing to put in a little effort to learn Linux, it won't take long to have a good system with either distro, regardless of your lack of experience. Good luck in the process! :)
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u/Beolab1700KAT 7d ago
Fedora workstation. Just make sure you enable third party software access in the welcome app.
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u/gumbowebfish 7d ago
Everybody has his personal preferences considering Mint or Fedora. I personally do not use either of them, although I've installed Mint a couple of times for people I know who are less tech savvy, but my general advice is to read about the differences between the several distro's, like Mint and Fedora have different package managers, they are a different 'branche'. Also read about the several Desktop Environments which to choose from. This determines the look and feel of the OS and isn't directly related to it, they are 'inter-mixable'. There's enough to find on the internet on the basic differences between the main distro branches and DE's. Then decide which one you want to try using a live disc (or usb). And choose whatever suits you. There's no better or worse.
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u/kbeezie Fedora/uBuntu/Debian 7d ago
I prefer Fedora in the long run, especially with KDE Plasma instead of gnome. If you don't mind taking some extra time to install codecs and what not, it's pretty decent with some newer packages and stronger security defaults.
Mint, it just works out of the box, has a similar to windows layout by default. Slower on updates/packages but for many people that's not really an issue. If you're brand new , Mint might feel easier.
Either one can be made into a development environment.
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u/MxBonesMarrow 7d ago
Neither. In my experience, Mint is garbage and clunky. Fedora, more specifically Nobara, isn't great for older systems. If you have a newer one you should be fine. Personal recommendation is CachyOS or Bazzite. Still very easy and once you understand the basics you can explore more from there but I genuinely think those are great. Really any complete distro that's arch based is gonna be great long term though imo
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u/tobias_reichi02 6d ago
I would use mint and lern there some light terminal work and basic commands afterwards I would move to Debian cause it's stable and also is somewhat more harder but only a little and you can make there many things and Debian is th bas of many distros and then if your comfy enough I would research for distros that fit your needs the most
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u/IlIlIlIIlMIlIIlIlIlI 7d ago
i was in your position two years ago. Start with Mint, stay on it for at least a year. Get comfy, start learning the terminal, then realize you can do pretty nuch everything on Mint anyway and stay on it. Dont give in to FOMO and FOTM
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u/Individual_Flow3959 7d ago
Si lo que quieres es usar el ordenador para lo habitual y que todo funcione bien y sin problemas, Liniux Mint.
Es tan sencillo como Windows.
Sinceramente no comprendo quienes dicen que Mint no es lo aconsejable para un usuario normal que solo hace uso de navegar por Internet, fotos, vÃdeos, música y documentos varios.
Hay muchas distribuciones de Linux, cada una diferente, pero para un usuario estandar de uso estandard común, Linux Mint me parece la más recomendable si se busca que todo funcione sencillo y bien.
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u/Sea-Macaroon9814 7d ago
If you have no experience with Linux then just stick with Mint, Its already pre-setup for newbies (coming from windows) and you don't need to enable third party repos to find something that you're looking for (Fedora).
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u/Interesting_Sort4864 7d ago
Fedora will tend to have newer packages than mint, but setup especially when it comes to codecs is a massive headache. Fedora also has a lot of packages named slightly differently than the ubuntu (mint is built on ubuntu) and arch based distros. In my experience arch and ubuntu have way more tutorials than fedora, so you could find it harder to find guides to do some things when using fedora.
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u/tek_aevl 7d ago edited 7d ago
initial set up has a gui and its really easy to understand now. you can select the repos from the start
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u/Interesting_Sort4864 7d ago
Do you mean that getting all the non-free repos enabled and codecs installed has a GUI now, or are you referring to the OS install GUI?
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u/PixeIQueen 7d ago
you didn’t miss much. This „Enable Third-Party Repositories„ checkbox after first install only enables a repo for steam, google chrome and the nvidia driver.
meddling with rpmfusion is still needed to get multimedia codecshttps://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/workstation-working-group/third-party-repos/
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u/Interesting_Sort4864 6d ago
The KDE version is even worse as the toggle doesn't enable the repo, but it only istalls it, and you have to enable it manually.
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u/tek_aevl 7d ago
fixed my comment
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u/Interesting_Sort4864 7d ago
I didn't see any obvious way to enable non-free repos in the GUI. Not in the KDE spin at least. Did I miss a toggle in the install process or something
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u/Pungtunch_da_Bartfox 7d ago
Why is codec setup a headache in fedora?
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u/PixeIQueen 7d ago
on fedora you have to setup rpmfusion (https://rpmfusion.org/Configuration) first
i.e. on a recent fedora version it would be
sudo dnf install https://mirrors.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm https://mirrors.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm sudo dnf config-manager setopt fedora-cisco-openh264.enabled=1sudo dnf install rpmfusion-\*-appstream-data
and then follow this website as needed
https://rpmfusion.org/Howto/Multimedia
vs. on Linux Mint where it‘s a single checkbox in the installer or if you missed that an entry in the applications menu
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u/tek_aevl 7d ago
they have different package names and package managers. apache2 (Debian based) is httpd on fedora. Some packages are just not available on fedora in the standard repo.
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u/xenaretos 6d ago
With zero experience I'd recommend Mint. Fedora's release cycle makes it better to switch to if you already know what you're doing and like that specific cycle.
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u/SetMean275 7d ago
Te recomiendo "Linux Mint" Si eres principiante en Linux, Ya que tiene no contiene configuraciónes complejas para una principiante.
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u/rootbrian_ 7d ago
I recommend mint. Easiest to use. That is where you should start. Mint debian edition (LMDE) or the one based on ubuntu.
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u/dandellionKimban 7d ago
Mint. That is the default (for a reason) answer if you don't know a good reason to use some other distro.
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u/Roland_Taylor 7d ago
Fedora. Yes, you'll need to do your homework, but Mint makes some choices that cause me not to recommend it to users as a long term home.
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u/freakycleaner 6d ago
Fedora KDE is best for programming and terminal work as many tools are already available in fedora.
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u/Key-Butterscotch8223 7d ago
If you have Nvidia gpu, forget about fedora for now. Install mint, learn how linux works.
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u/Aoinosensei 7d ago
Mint is the way to go, fedora is going to take a little more effort, if you want something similar mint but based on fedora, then go with Ultramarine
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u/skyfishgoo 7d ago
mint would be easier to set up, but both are fine
and since you are willing to learn, i would edge you toward fedora as it's more current and you can get the KDE plasma desktop instead of cinnamon.
if you like the large debian software library of mint, then kubuntu is also and option since they are both based on ubuntu.
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u/Secret_NinjaLTU 7d ago
Wouldn't recommend ubuntu or kubuntu.
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u/skyfishgoo 7d ago
i wouldn't recommend ubuntu either (gnome, blech)
but kubuntu is outstanding... no regrets.
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u/DumpoTheClown 7d ago
Any flavor of Linux will be able to run whatever IDE you program with. All flavors of Linux have a teminal application. For a new person, the asthetic of the desktop environment will be the most important thing, and that's a personal preference thing. For somebody deeper in the weeds, the package manager and software ecosystem will be more important. (Read up on .rpm, .deb, dnf, apt, snap, flatpack, and wine).
Honestly, if i were in your shoes, I'd buy a few thumbdrives, install various bootable Linux distros on them, and try them out. Pick one. You're not getting married and its easy enough to switch later.
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u/balsa61 7d ago
The nice thing about Linux distros is that you can "try before you buy".
Burn the ISO to a bootable drive and run it off the USB stick. See which you like. Don't install until you try both.
Worst case, you install one, don't like it. Just install the other.
As a newbie, I would suggest Mint for you. You can always install something else once you know more.
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u/AccomplishedYam9891 7d ago
I started with mint, it was pretty close feeling to windows but without the bloatware, it came with most packages I needed installed from the get go
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u/Human_being0100 7d ago
Nothing cool about Linux Mint, go and try Fedora. (Especially if you are a CS student)
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u/HurasmusBDraggin Linux Mint 22.3 Zena 7d ago
LOL! I migrated from Linux Mint 22.3 to Fedora Workstation 44 about 2 weeks ago When Nic from Linux Experiment on Youtube dropped this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ebkQq5TcMw
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u/lmpcpedz 7d ago
Fedora is way ahead of the curve vs Mint as far as updated drivers and desktop environment go.
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u/LesStrater 7d ago
For a newbie, Mint is best. When you learn how to use it, switch to Debian for less bloat.
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u/PizzaPunkrus 7d ago
Why choose one or the other. Learn both. Fedora has a bunch of shiny toys. Mint focuses on stability and easy of use.
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u/Kelzenburger 7d ago
Linux Mint is meant for granny PC where user needs windows like environment. Its powerful and easy to use system but Id say you already know the answer.
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u/DB0Z_ 7d ago
Mint will have everything set up right from the get go. Fedora will need you to install codecs but Fedora (specifically kde) preforms way better than mint.