New to Linux? Stick To These Rules When Picking Distro

I love writing articles like this! Maybe it’s because they push the boundaries a little, often challenging conventional wisdom. But mostly, it’s because they allow me to share years of experience directly with you, our readers—in the most frank approach.

So, you’re a Windows or macOS user ready to dive into the fascinating, last bastion of tech romance: open-source and Linux. First off, congratulations – that’s an awesome decision! Now, the first big step is choosing the right Linux distribution as your entry point to this (hopefully) years-long adventure.

And let me tell you – this choice is huge because the first impressions often make or break the experience, shaping whether you stick with it or give up in frustration. That’s why I’m writing this—to help you make an informed decision so you can hit the ground running on your Linux journey.

But before we dive into my golden rules, let me clarify: this isn’t one of those articles claiming to know the “best” Linux distribution for beginners. That’s because there’s no such thing. Instead, I aim to help you navigate the decision-making process and avoid the frustration of yet another “Best Linux Distros for Beginners” list that doesn’t match the reality you’ll face.

So, ready or not, here we go.

Don’t Experiment, Start with Proven Names

When you first dive into the world of Linux, one thing becomes clear pretty quickly—hundreds of different distributions exist. This is one of the coolest things about Linux: the freedom to choose. But let’s be honest—it can also feel overwhelming. How do you decide which one to pick? We’ve all asked ourselves that same question at the start.

Here’s my top advice: stick to the established and proven names when starting. Why? It’s simple: reliability and support. These two things will make your Linux journey much smoother.

Now, I get it—it’s tempting to take someone’s advice and try something a bit more niche, like CachyOS because it’s great for gaming (which is true) or, let’s say, Zorin OS (because it looks a lot like Windows—more on that later). But honestly, that’s not the best move for a beginner.

At this stage, you need a Linux distribution with a solid track record of stability and a huge community behind it. Let me explain.

Switching to Linux is an adventure, and you’re bound to run into challenges—if someone told you that everything is seamless, well, it’s not true. This is where support becomes your lifeline. Timely updates and an active community will be your best friends.

Here’s the thing about the Linux community: most problems you’ll encounter have already been faced (and solved) by the great people passionate about open-source. Whether through official forums, detailed documentation, Reddit threads, Discord servers, or other user groups, you’ll find that the community’s collective knowledge is a lifesaver.

And here’s the deal – the more established a distribution is, the bigger its user base. And that’s a huge plus—it practically guarantees someone has already encountered (and fixed) whatever issue you’re dealing with. On the flip side, smaller, lesser-known distributions often lack thorough documentation (if at all) or a strong community, making troubleshooting much more frustrating.

Simply put, your question, “Why isn’t my audio working?”—about a distribution created by developer X and two of their friends—will probably remain unanswered. At the same time, this issue has been brought up many times on the Ubuntu forums (to be clear, this is just an example—Ubuntu audio works perfectly fine), with plenty of different solutions to explore. You get the idea.

With everything I’ve covered so far, it’s time to address the big question: who are the most proven names in the Linux ecosystem and, at the same time, suitable for starting your Linux journey?

Surprisingly, despite the wide variety of distros available, only a few truly stand out regarding stability, reliability, a proven track record, and huge, active communities supporting them. Companies back some of these, while others thrive thanks to massive user bases, numbering in the hundreds of thousands or millions.

And here is it – the list of top recommendations is fairly short, and my picks are Linux Mint, Ubuntu, Debian, openSUSE, and Fedora. You really can’t go wrong with any of these.

So, once again, start with a well-established and proven name from the list above. This will give you the easiest and smoothest transition to Linux. Don’t go after something just because you think it looks “cool.” Later on, once you’ve gained some experience, it’s normal to explore and switch to other options – believe me, it’s sure to happen as part of your journey.

Linux for Windows Users? There’s No Such Thing!

This section will be shorter—or at least, I’ll try. Here’s the gist: a certain category of Linux distributions aims to position themselves as the perfect alternative for anyone switching from Windows. Some even boldly claim to be the ideal replacement. But let me be honest—those claims aren’t true. Let me explain why.

Switching to Linux, first and foremost, requires a shift in mindset. Forget everything else for a moment and understand this: you’re stepping into a different world where things work differently. No Linux distribution will give you the same experience as Windows—and that’s good! Windows and Linux are fundamentally distinct, both in how they operate and in the philosophies behind them.

No matter which Linux distro you pick, you’ll probably need to roll up your sleeves and work with the command line at some point. If anyone tells you there’s a “Windows-like” Linux distro where you’ll never have to touch the terminal and can handle everything with just a few mouse clicks, well, in that case, I strongly advise you to look for a more reliable source for information.

Having said all that, don’t get the impression that the Linux command prompt is some scary beast put there to make your life harder. It’s actually the complete opposite.

It is like your best friend you can always count on—especially when all those shiny GUIs let you down. It’s your gateway to endless possibilities and power and one of the main reasons Linux has millions of passionate users who pour their blood, sweat, and tears into making their favorite operating system even better—all for free.

As you will quickly discover, the Linux desktop is a highly metamorphosic creature that can take on myriad forms and functionalities. So, pause for a moment when you’re on the hunt for your first Linux distribution and find yourself mesmerized by a sleek screenshot with transparent windows, stunning wallpapers, and cool widgets.

If that shiny distro isn’t listed in the recommended section above, you might want to think twice before committing.

Remember, achieving a beautiful desktop (relative to everyone’s understanding of it) in Linux is a relatively easy task. The real difference lies beneath the surface. Reliability and stability are hallmarks of a select few distributions, and that’s where the true value lies. With Linux, the beauty has never been in the packaging but always in the content.

Okay, maybe I didn’t manage to keep this section short. Anyway. You get the idea.

Avoid Rolling and Immutable Distributions

I write this section with a heavy heart because I’m a die-hard fan of rolling release distributions and have relied on them exclusively for my desktop needs for many, many years. But when it comes to recommending Linux for a new user, rolling and immutable releases aren’t the best fit.

Let’s start with the basics: it’s normal for a Linux novice to have no idea what a rolling release is. Simply put, it’s a type of Linux distribution (typically providing the most up-to-date software versions) that you install once and then continuously update—forever, in theory. Unlike Windows (with versions like 10 or 11) or Ubuntu (with releases like 22.04 or 24.04), rolling releases don’t have distinct versions. It’s just one evolving system.

How can you tell if a distribution follows the rolling or point release model? The easiest way is to look it up online. To make it simpler, the distributions I’ve suggested as great options for someone new to Linux—Mint, Ubuntu, Debian, openSUSE (Leap), and Fedora—are all point-release distributions. Check out our dedicated article if you’d like a deeper dive into the differences between rolling and point releases.

Now, back to the main topic—why don’t I recommend rolling release distros for new Linux users? The simple answer is stability and reliability. Generally speaking, point release distributions by design offer more stability and reliability. They rely on less frequent and longer-tested updates, making you less likely to encounter unexpected issues. That reliability can make all the difference for someone just starting with Linux.

I totally get the temptation to try a rolling distro that offers the latest software, sometimes just days after it’s released. But just when you think, “Everything’s working perfectly!” a massive update might roll in, leaving you staring at a black terminal screen with no idea what to do. I’m not saying this will happen—but it’s possible. With point release distributions, that risk is much lower, making them a safer choice for beginners.

Now, let’s talk about immutable Linux distributions. They’ve been around for years in the Linux world, but when they first emerged, their purpose was fairly specific: providing a reliable platform for containerized workloads.

In recent years, efforts have been increasing to bring them into the desktop Linux space. However, widespread adoption remains a distant goal—and, honestly, it’s unlikely ever to reach that level.

The concept is simple: these distros rely on an operating system that prevents modification of its core system files—the ones critical to its functionality. This design dramatically boosts security, reliability, and stability. Sounds great, right? Especially for a new Linux user! There’s no risk of accidentally breaking something; everything just works as it should.

What’s more – even if something goes wrong, you can always roll back to the previous working version. A dream come true. But hold on—there’s another perspective to consider.

If you’re new to Linux, immutable distributions won’t provide, in the broadest sense, the full Linux experience or the opportunity to develop essential Linux skills as effectively as traditional Linux distros. Their design philosophy and technical implementation take a different approach, intentionally bypassing some Linux commands, configurations, and concepts crucial for a beginner to learn.

And then there’s the learning curve. Immutable distributions are built assuming that users already have some foundational knowledge and skills in Linux. They depend on approaches that require a solid understanding of Linux fundamentals, making them less suited for someone just starting out.

In summary, while rolling and immutable distributions are an important part of the Linux world—and something you’ll likely explore as you grow as a Linux user—they aren’t the best place to start. For now, stick with other options and save the deep dive into rolling (and especially immutable) distros for later.

Approach ‘Best Of’ Articles with Healthy Doubt

Here’s a common scenario: A beginner Linux user, eager to find the perfect distribution, heads to Google and types in the magic words—“best Linux distro.” Don’t do it! In general, I strongly recommend that you refrain from basing your distribution choice decision on “best of” lists. And here’s why.

First off, like I mentioned earlier (but it’s worth repeating), there’s no such thing as the best Linux distribution. It all boils down to its intended use. Best for what, exactly? A desktop? A server? Gaming and multimedia? Security and privacy? Developers? Beginners? Power users? Too many factors are at play, and no single distro can perfectly fit everything.

And second, if you rely on these kinds of lists, you’ll find yourself stuck in an endless maze, only getting more confused along the way. One article will tell you one distro is the best for something, another will swear by a completely different one, and yet another will recommend something else entirely.

Before you know it, you’ll be bombarded with recommendations, each one trying to convince you it’s the right choice. While some of the suggestions in these kinds of articles seem reasonable, it’s not uncommon to come across ones that—well, to put it mildly—are more likely to make you smile than to be taken seriously. Unfortunately, this subtle detail can be tricky for novice Linux users to notice.

My advice? Treat these ‘best of’ lists as just a directory of popular distributions. Take note of which ones get recommended the most. In 90% of cases, these articles just recycle the same names in a different order—plus, they usually throw in one or two weird and out-there picks just to stand out from the sea of similar lists.

After that, visit the official websites of the most commonly recommended Linux distributions and see for yourself. Do they look like well-established, actively maintained projects? Do they have a strong community presence—plenty of users, discussions, and engagement in forums, Reddit groups, and other online spaces? That kind of activity can give you a solid sense of how widely accepted and supported a distribution really is.

Because at the end of the day, a distribution that pops up in yet another flashy article with headlines like “The Windows Killer” or any bombastic-sounding titles, let’s face it – it’s just not serious. If I may go a step further, I’d say it’s pure clickbait.

This may be just another small niche project with a very limited user base. Believe me, this isn’t the Linux experience you were hoping for. You’ll see what I mean when you run into your first issue and try to find a solution.

In short, don’t rely too much on “best of” articles when picking a Linux distribution. Instead, try to form your own opinion by paying attention to real user feedback and community discussions, as well as how active the developers are. But most importantly, stick to the first three recommendations in this article.

Conclusion

Well, that’s all from me on choosing a Linux distribution if you’re just starting out. To sum it up—stick with well-established, reliable options that offer solid support and don’t overwhelm you with unnecessary complexity.

That way, you’ll have the smoothest possible start to your Linux journey. And once you’ve got the basics down, distro hopping is practically a rite of passage—so I have no doubt you’ll end up exploring all kinds of options.

I’ve done my best to be as honest as possible, even if some of my opinions might not be the most popular. Anyway. If this article has helped you, that makes me more than happy. See you next time, and choose wisely!