A Linux distribution, or "distro," is a complete operating system built on top of the Linux kernel—the core software that manages a computer’s hardware. The kernel was developed by Linus Torvalds and released on September, 1991. The kernel itself can be imagined as an engine, and a distribution as the "body of the car" around it, bundling together a graphical desktop interface, a package manager for installing software, and a curated set of default applications. The distros listed below are often specialized; some are designed for maximum stability in enterprise server environments (like Debian or RHEL), while others prioritize a friendly OS for personal computers (like Ubuntu or Linux Mint)
| Distro Name | Description | Major Use | Server Stats (W3Techs) | Commercial User / Partner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu | A user-friendly, Debian-based OS that is the most popular choice for desktop and cloud. | Desktop, Server, Cloud | 14.0% | NASA, Netflix, Bosch |
| Debian | The bedrock of many other distros, known for extreme stability and a "pure" open-source philosophy. | Server, Infrastructure | 6.7% | CERN, Siemens, Google |
| Linux Mint | A community-driven distro focused on a classic, polished desktop experience for beginners. | Desktop (PC) | Negligible (<0.1%) | Vodafone, DuckDuckGo |
| Fedora | A leading-edge platform for innovation that serves as the upstream source for RHEL. | Workstation, Dev | <0.1% | Red Hat (IBM) |
| RHEL | Red Hat Enterprise Linux for corporate enterprise environments with long-term support. | Enterprise Server | 0.2% | NYSE, Adobe, IBM |
| AlmaLinux | A community-owned enterprise OS that is 1:1 binary compatible with RHEL. | Server, HPC | 0.3% | ARM, Fermilab |
| Rocky Linux | A RHEL-compatible distro founded by the original creator of CentOS. | Server, Enterprise | 0.2% | Hyundai AutoEver, AWS |
| Arch Linux | A lightweight, rolling-release distro designed for users who want total system control. | PC, Power Users | Negligible (<0.1%) | Framework, Qwant |
| Manjaro | A user-friendly version of Arch Linux that simplifies the installation and update process. | Desktop (PC), Gaming | <0.1% | Star Labs, Orange Pi |
| Pop!_OS | A productivity-focused OS built for STEM and creative professionals by System76. | Workstation, STEM | <0.1% | Cisco, Lululemon |
| Zorin OS | A beautiful, polished OS designed specifically to make Windows and macOS users feel at home. | Desktop (PC) | Negligible | City of Vicenza (Italy) |
| openSUSE | A professional-grade distro known for its powerful system management tool, YaST. | Workstation, Server | <0.1% | BMW, SAP |
| Bazzite | A custom Fedora-based image optimized specifically for gaming handhelds like the Steam Deck. | Gaming, Handhelds | N/A | Valve (Compatible) |
| Nobara | A Fedora-based distro modified by "GloriousEggroll" to provide an elite gaming experience. | Gaming (PC) | N/A | Gaming Community |
| Kali Linux | A specialized platform for cybersecurity experts and ethical hackers. | Security, Testing | Negligible | Security Firms |
| Tails | A live OS that runs from a USB, forcing all connections through the Tor network for privacy. | Privacy, Anonymity | N/A | The Guardian (Journalists) |
| antiX | A super-lightweight, systemd-free distro designed to revive extremely old computers. | Low-end Hardware | N/A | Thin Client Users |