Recommend me a Linux distro


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The title says it all. I'm looking for a new distro to use as my main Linux install. I tried to install Ubuntu 8.04 under VMware Fusion, but it craps out when I update. So instead of wasting time trying to figure out what's wrong, I've decided to ditch Ubuntu and go for something new. While I'm at it, I got some requirements for the new distro:

1. MUST NOT BE RPM BASED. Sorry, but I can't stand RPM. I've had nothing but issues with it in the past, and RPM-based distros tend to be "not-clean". This pretty much rules out Fedora and SUSE.

2. Developer-oriented. I don't care about fancy "user" features like compiz and graphical configuration. I just want to write code, and not have the distro get in the way. Oh, and command-line tools are preferred to graphical ones.

3. Simple, clean design. This ties into point #2, in that a simple, cleanly designed OS layout tends to interfere less in development. At least in my experience.

4. Up to date. I want up-to-date packages.

In a nutshell, I'm looking for a LFS-like distro, but without the compiling and with package management. A very basic distro. Oh, and I'd like the packages to not diverge much from upstream (minimal patching). So, what's out there?

PS. I've used Linux for around 5 years now and I'm quite adept at using the command line.

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I'd second archlinux. If you don't want anything holding your hand, but you still want binary packages and a great package manager, arch is great. Never tried it in vmware though so I can't comment on performance in that environment.

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Arch Linux is simpler and more up to date than Debian (much more up to date than etch, but nowhere near as tested and stable). It is very much like Gentoo but with binaries and a very good package manager (pacman). Packages are taken directly from upstream in order to Keep It Simple. I don't think any packages are patched (apart from KDEmod obviously). Configuration is all BSD style with most system settings in one config file.

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gentoo or Linux from stratch .

I did both for about 2 years each (LFS, then Gentoo). I like them both, but I'd rather not spend time compiling.

openSUSE 11.0. Best Linux ever. Well - that I've used anyway!

Not what I'm looking for. It's RPM based, and it's pretty user oriented. I find both get in the way of what I want.

Debian meets your requirements except from point 4 if you want stability. Gentoo is also quite nice.

Well, I want up-to-date packages, so Debian is out. I don't care about stability. Another thing about Debian is that after the whole OpenSSL mess, it makes me wonder what other patches have been made to various packages without the consultation of upstream. This is one of the reasons I want minimal patching.

As per the many suggestions, I'm installing arch. So far, it looks like what I want. However, the BSD style init system is something I'm uncomfortable with (more a SYSV guy) and may cause me some headaches, but I think I'll adapt.

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Well, I want up-to-date packages, so Debian is out. I don't care about stability. Another thing about Debian is that after the whole OpenSSL mess, it makes me wonder what other patches have been made to various packages without the consultation of upstream. This is one of the reasons I want minimal patching.

If you don't want rpm based packages or compiling everything, Ubuntu is probably the best one with up to date packages. I'm sure the OpenSSL affected a lot of other distros as well.

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DreamLinux
gOS linux

Both very user-centric. Not what I'm looking for.

If you don't want rpm based packages or compiling everything, Ubuntu is probably the best one with up to date packages. I'm sure the OpenSSL affected a lot of other distros as well.

Well, Ubuntu not working in VMware is why I'm looking for a new distro. As for the OpenSSL thing, it was a debian-specific patch that caused the problem, so only debian-based distros were affected. However, the random patching of packages in many other distros (Fedora, SUSE, Mandriva, etc) concerns me.

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Well, Ubuntu not working in VMware is why I'm looking for a new distro. As for the OpenSSL thing, it was a debian-specific patch that caused the problem, so only debian-based distros were affected. However, the random patching of packages in many other distros (Fedora, SUSE, Mandriva, etc) concerns me.

Try using VirtualBox. It works with Ubuntu but you might have a reason to use VMware.

http://www.virtualbox.org/

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openSUSE 11.0. Best Linux ever. Well - that I've used anyway!
While there is really nothing wrong with RPMs (which are just the Red Hat [and Linux Standards Base] method of packaging), many people will associate problems they had with package management with the RPM format.
If you don't want rpm based packages or compiling everything, Ubuntu is probably the best one with up to date packages. I'm sure the OpenSSL affected a lot of other distros as well.
The OpenSSL issue was caused by an Ubuntu maintainer who thought he was fixing a minor error that occurred during compile. The error was an artifact from the entropy method used by the OpenSSL developers to randomize their number generation. So it only affected Ubuntu (and downstream derivatives).
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Based on what you need, Arch sounds right up your alley

If a noob like me could get it running perfectly, you'll be fine

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Regarding Debian and being up-to-date. I personally find that Debian, when using the unstable repositories, is as fast as any other distro. In fact, I found Ubuntu to be more out of date then Debian so I ditched it.

Yes, if you download Etch and stick to the default repositories then it will contain old stuff. Use the unstable binaries and all is good. I still find the unstable binaries to be quite stable.

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