INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
More popular versions of Linux such as Ubuntu focus on enhancing the user experience by automatically updating packages and providing
flashy, resource-heavy GUIs.While user-friendly distributions (distros) certainly have their place, in this guide, we've tried to get back
to the glory days when developers would customise their Linux build
These Linux distros allow you to fine-tune your development environment so whether you're a veteran programmer or relative newcomer, you can
Arch LinuxArch Linux offers a powerful level of customisation during setup, allowing you to download and install only the packages you need
While this is definitely not for newbies to coding, the fact you can install only a minimal number of programs on your machine using the
Arch Build System and Arch User Repository, reduces the possibility of anything interfering with your coding.This means, for instance, that
you can install a barebones window manager like i3 to be certain your system will respond quickly when using your chosen text editor
If you run into difficulty, the Arch Linux Wiki offers a helpful installation guide.2
DebianDebian is one of the oldest Linux distros and is built with stability in mind
All programs included with Debian have to meet the Debian Free Software Guidelines
Packages are carefully selected and tested for inclusion in the 'Stable' branch of Debian meaning that while some may be dated, there's very
little chance of system instability, making this OS ideal for programmers.The Debian website has extensive manuals, including a chapter on
programming talking you through the basics of creating a script, compiling it, and using Autoconf to allow your scripts to be compiled on
RaspbianRaspbian is the default operating system which is included with the Raspberry Pi
As the Pi was designed as an educational tool, Raspbian is the perfect OS for those interested in getting started with coding.The Raspberry
Pi website has excellent guides on using the visual programming tool Scratch, which is used to create animations and games
There's also an excellent section on getting started with Python, which is supported out of the box.Younger coders might prefer to learn to
use the programming language for Minecraft Pi, a mini-version of the highly popular sandbox game.4
GentooNamed after the fast-swimming penguin, Gentoo is sometimes called a 'meta' distribution as users download and compile its source code
manually according to their needs
This not only makes it a perfect match for the hardware requirements of your machine, but it allows you to decide exactly which versions of
packages can be installed.Gentoo suffered a minor setback a few years ago when its comprehensive Wiki went offline
Fortunately, it has since been restored and now includes the official Gentoo handbook
There's also a small diehard Gentoo following on Reddit if you need further help.5
UbuntuUnlike barebones distros like Arch Linux and Gentoo, Ubuntu is designed to be ideal for beginners, complete with a desktop interface
language of your choice and package them with all the required dependencies
Visit the Ubuntu Developer portal here.6
FedoraFedora is a community supported derivative of the commercial distribution Red Hat Linux
It also enjoys the distinction of being the distro of choice of Linux kernel creator Linus Torvalds.Aside from being very easy to set up and
install, Fedora has a dedicated Developer Portal
Simply click 'Start a Project' to see dedicated guides on developing web, command line, desktop and mobile apps
include Eclipse, a fully featured and multi-language IDE
Eclipse is probably best known for Java, but also has a C/C++ and PHP IDE
OpenSUSEOpenSUSE (formerly SUSE Linux) is a distribution specifically designed for software developers and system administrators
Installation and system configuration is a breeze with the integrated YaST tool
This allows you to install all the '-devel' packages needed by developers with one click.OpenSUSE comes preinstalled with all the basic
tools a software developer needs, such as the Vim and Emacs text editors, build automation tools such as CMake and packaging tools like RPM
The operating system also comes with OBS (Open Build Service), a tool for developers to build software for various distros and platforms.8
CentOSLike Fedora, CentOS is a free, community-based variant of Red Hat (a commercial version of Linux)
Many of the packages are the same and theoretically it's possible to build a version of CentOS which is functionally identical to Red Hat
instructions on how to do this and other developer tips in the excellent CentOS Wiki.9
SolusSolus is special in that it's one of the few Irish Linux distros, and also because it follows a curated rolling release model
The advantage of this is that once you've installed the OS, you can keep running updates rather than a major upgrade
Solus, however, tries to avoid installing extremely recent packages and beta software to maintain system stability.Solus supports several
editors and IDEs such as Atom, Idea and Gnome Builder, as well as the Git GUI, GitKraken
The Solus project website also claims that the OS supports a number of programming languages such as Go, Rust, PHP, Node.js and Ruby.10
Puppy LinuxPuppy Linux is an extremely lightweight distro based on either Ubuntu or Slackware
The entire OS is only around 325MB in size, meaning it can be run entirely in RAM as well as installed to an ordinary hard disk
It comes with a minimal number of packages, although you can add more, such as 'devx' which contains various development tools.The Puppy
Linux 'Wikka' details the programming languages supported by the OS
One notable language is BaCon, which can convert code written in BASIC to C.The Wikka also has an extensive selection of tutorials on
writing Bash scripts and getting started with Python.KB3Jn2AeFDW4dE9Lb7hzsL.jpg#
