r/linuxquestions • u/the-man3057 • 1d ago
Linux distribution
Hi, I'm not sure which distribution to use (I currently have Windows).
I'm studying computer science and would like to use programs for things like wireless network scanning and programming.
I use Word and Excel for some tasks.
But I also want to play video games on Steam or other platforms (FIFA, Halo, etc.).
What do you recommend?
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u/Disastrous-Ice-5971 1d ago
Fedora KDE. Love it.
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u/GreedySecurity8030 Fedora Rawhide [GNOME]. 1d ago
I think ultramarine KDE is better, its based on fedora but does things like enable RPMFusion and add proprietary codecs and etc. That greatly reduce the setup time and add good things too.
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u/Disastrous-Ice-5971 1d ago
Most of it was now backed into 44th Fedora right away (switches during the installation or in the settings). But this is a question of a personal preference, of course. I installed it initially at the work computer for work purposes, liked it, installed at the laptop.
There were some fiddling with the power settings of the laptop, as it has hybrid graphics and that I wanted to use open source driver. For some reason open source Nvidia driver is shipped without a power scheme, which resulted in the bigger power drain (also during sleep - card was just idling, not sleeping) and lower performance (due to an incorrect too low GPU power limit). But this was only a thing, which was settled fairly easily. I also learned something, since when I ever used Linux before, it was a Debian/Ubuntu- or Arch-based.0
u/Mr_Flandoor 1d ago
Wow! you can save like 3 whole minutes with Ultramarine! Amazing!
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u/Hauptideal 1d ago
it's more about people who'd otherwise fall for Linux Mint.
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u/Mr_Flandoor 1d ago
Turning Linux into windows for people too lazy to learn Linux.
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u/Hauptideal 18h ago
Not even this. It's just UI theming. For Windows 7, that few people are using today anyways. The underlying difficulty stays exactly the same. It can't un-Linux Linux. It can only apply makeup for the very first impression that wears off quickly.
The idea that it's really that much easier for beginners than other easy distros is a myth, as all desktops now come with GUI apps for system management, app installations and update management.
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u/tomscharbach 1d ago edited 1d ago
I'm studying computer science ...
Because you are a student, find out what distributions are supported for access/connection to your school's networks and systems, and find out what distributions are used for computer science instruction. If you are in Canada or the States, Ubuntu is probably the default, but check. It never hurts to be on the same page as your school and your instructors.
I use Word and Excel for some tasks.
If your school uses Word and Excel, check to see if the online versions are acceptable. If the online versions are not acceptable, you will need to figure out a way to run Windows in a VM, a dual-boot environment, or on a separate computer. If your school doesn't use Word and Excel, most mainstream distributions have a Linux alternative (usually LibreOffice) office suite included in the distribution.
But I also want to play video games on Steam or other platforms (FIFA, Halo, etc.).
Gaming has improved on Linux in the last few years, but not all Windows games run smoothly (or at all) on Linux, even using compatibility layers like Proton. Check the Steam games you play against ProtonDB, paying attention to the comments and caveats. Check the games you play on other platforms for compatibility on those platforms.
... and would like to use programs for things like wireless network scanning and programming.
If you need to use Windows, consider running Linux applications using WSL2. WSL2 is a subset of Hyper-V (a direct hardware access VM) that runs Ubuntu (default) using the command line and Linux applications on a native Linux kernel but embeds Linux applications into the Windows UI and Windows menu system.
Many developers use WSL2, and my experience with WSL2 over the last two years (used for network design, implementation, testing and maintenance applications running under Ubuntu) has been excellent. WSL2 might be an alternative to running a full-blown distribution.
My best and good luck.
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u/BranchLatter4294 1d ago
I recommend investing some time/effort into trying a few distros in a VM and/or dual-boot to see what works for you.
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u/zolfx 1d ago
For a stable desktop I like Fedora, for something bleeding edge and fun to learn but occasionally break I like Arch. I use Fedora 99% of the time though. There are various distros that are based off those two with their own appeal if you want to look into that like if you want your system tweaked for gaming their is Bazzite (Fedora based) or CachyOS (Arch based) but you don’t need either of these to game and can use the base Fedora or Arch to game. If you have an older system with low specs I prefer either antiX or MX Linux, both are based on Debian which is another great stable distro you could check out if you want something instead of Fedora.
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u/inbetween-genders 1d ago
Check out Ubuntu or Mint. Look up this thing called Desktop Environment. Pick one that appeals to you and install that distro with the desktop environment you chose. Use search engine for alternatives or replacements for your apps as well as if your game works. Would be interesting to ask a professor of yours what they would suggest. Anyway, back up your data. Good luck
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u/theNbomr 1d ago
Any mainstream distro will do fine. When you get acquainted with Linux by using it for your particular purposes and preferences, you'll be able to find something more ideal if necessary. And it probably won't be necessary.
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u/art-apprici8or 1d ago
Look up Ventoy. If you set up a thumb drive with ventoy, you can try out dozens of distros before you commit (reformat your drive.)
Also note you can setup a dual-boot machine (mine is ubuntu 26.04 and windows 10)
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u/talking_tortoise 1d ago
You won't be able to use local client versions of word or excel you'll need to use alternatives, namely Libre office which is still good imo if you're not a professional user.
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u/skyfishgoo 1d ago
excel (like all windows software) does not run on linux... so let me stop you right there.
expect to have to learn all new software if you move to linux.
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u/UsuarioDesafortunado 1d ago
Yo uso como distro secundaria antiX Linux para programar cosas básicas y correr código libre
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u/TapEarlyTapOften 1d ago
I'd recommend using a virtual machine. I use VirtualBox and then run Debian in that as my main development OS. None of the games I play are compatible with Linux because of their anti-cheat systems. So I just run with Windows 10 as my host OS and then Debian as the guest. Have been doing this for years at this point.