Choosing a linux distribution

[kenalex]

Hello everyone,
I am currently using windows vista and want to make linux my development OS and is having difficulty trying to choose a linux distribution for software development ,using java,python,perl and php.I also would like a distribution that can run vmware workstation.
Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Kenalex

 

[lordberic]

Ok, i'm going to throw something into the mix,

The differences between Ubuntu and CentOS are;

Ubuntu is based on the Debian distrobution and by default uses the .DEB packages, for updating and installing new software the package manager would be apt which has a graphical tool called synaptic, it is made to be an easier distribution for newcomers, it's not the most bleeding edge distribution out there although the main releases do try to stay as close to it as possible.
There is also a LTS (Long Term Support) branch which will stay with older and more stable packages.
The community i find for the most part to be extremly welcoming and helpfull, most of the advice i have found to be sound and right.

CentOS is a free version based on the RedHat enterprise suite, because it is based on RedHat it is an .RPM based distribution and uses that for packages rather than .DEB, it uses yum rather than apt to install/update its packages.
Because it is designed for enterprise desktops/servers the programs/kernel et al have to be stable so it relies on older packages (note this will not stop you installing newer apps by hand ie, rpm -Uvh <installer>.rpm)

both can still install from source packages and ubuntu can use alien which will allow (or convert to DEB, i forget) you to install RPM packages on it.

Both have their merits, i would choose Ubuntu as it's currently my weapon of choice for my home systems

Stick to the LTS versions if you want the stable package base!!

New version is out in 6 days!! and the LTS will be coming out in 2010.

"You'll never see all the places, or read all the books, but fortunately,
they're not all recommended."

 

[flyboytim]

Bumping this to top, has anyone else tried "Super OS"?

http://hacktolive.org/wiki/Super_OS

here's an oldish blog about it:

http://linuxlock.blogspot.com/2009/05/living-to-hack-and-getting-it-done.html

I have tried several flavours of Linux over the past ten years, but none has come close to the ease of use that this modified and enhanced Ubuntu 9.10 bundle offers, imho. Sorry if I appear to gush - it just works surprisingly well, even from the live CD.

With a choice of browsers - Opera, Chrome and Firefox, ready to use wireless networking (on my Acer Aspire 7520), and efficient identification of all my hardware, it was easier to set up than Windows 7. Video, with Flash and starlight support (moonlight), sound with mp3 support all work, and it is fast. 60 seconds restart from shutdown to desktop after login.

All my old PC setups are now being reincarnated as virtual machines under VMware Player or Virtualbox OSE.

Although the update manager updates all the installed system automatically, I never return to find that an automatic reboot that has closed everything I was working on, which was such a pain in Windows.

 

[lordberic]

I feel i have to throw something else into the mix (again)

For a little while now (bout a month) i have gone back to using Mandriva

Very impressed with the 2010 release, i found ubuntu to be very 'buggy' in it's latest incarnation, mandriva has been very stable so i have been using it at home and work

there is still a largish community for it so would recommend for dev work

"You'll never see all the places, or read all the books, but fortunately,
they're not all recommended."

 

[kjv1611]

->lordberic,

Mandriva was one I came close to using myself, back when it was version 2008, I think... maybe 2007? Anyway, I liked it then really well. I not long ago installed 2010 on a very outdated computer. It still ran okay, considering the latest OS there on older hardware.. AMD Athlon (Slot A) 900MHz..

->flyboytim,

Seems I saw that Super OS once before, but forgot about it. Now I'm dying to try it if you say it's even easier to install than Windows 7. If nothing else, I want to see for myself, and build my own opinion.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me