Top 10: Linux Distributions of 2015

To start this 2016, it is worth remembering how excellent 2015 was for the Linux community and the Open Source world.

On this occasion we would like to mention the best Linux distributions that 2015 left us.

Start the Top 10!

For distributed computing in the cloud: Ubuntu LTS 14.04.3

One of the best known distributions, which many Linux enthusiasts get started with, multipurpose and considered a standard today. It is based on Debian and is capable of running on the following architectures:

• x86
• AMD64
• SPARC
• ARM

For its execution in Cloud services, it is worth noting that Ubuntu is recommended by Microsoft as the best Linux distribution for Microsoft Azure. Ubuntu is run by the 65% of OpenStack clouds; Thanks to Canonical offering the deployment of Ubuntu servers in Openstack with the tool AutoPilot. In addition to the extensive set of tools developed by Canonical for cloud management.

Additionally it has Juju, a catalog of services, quick to install, pre-configured for any cloud supported by Ubuntu.

Some of the clients that make use of this Ubuntu service include: Sky, Yahoo Japan, Deutsche Telekom, Bloomberg, Lexis Nexis, Samsung, EBay, WalMart, Cisco, Live Person, among others

For servers: OpenSuse Leap 42.1

Considered the first "hybrid" distribution, based on the binaries Suse Linux Enterprise (SLE), mixes the best between security and stability of the Company and creativity and innovation of the Community.

The OpenSuse installation process is fully assisted, graphical and intuitive. Allowing to configure the system for specific purposes from its installer, which will perform the installation and configuration of packages automatically.

It should be noted that it already has corrections and improvements that will be included in SLE 12 SP1, in addition to the fact that Suse has stated that some of the improvements of the enterprise version will also reach OpenSuse, providing the security and stability expected from a category distribution. business.

Thanks to  YaST (The acclaimed control center) and Machinery (system description tool, for replications and migrations), the creation and management of servers can be done better and easily.

Thanks to the freedom and stability it offers OpenSuse Leap 42.1, is our recommendation to be used in servers.

For games: SteamOS

Developed by the video game giant Valve, as an operating system for consoles based on Debian. Completely free and developed (initially) for consoles Steam Machines; a fusion between equipment or computers for personal use, with video game consoles.

You will be able to play with different streaming platforms and you will have access to hundreds of games compatible with SteamOS.

You will have access to a library of games, both free and paid. Easy configuration to specialized hardware such as  Steam Link, which allows detecting any equipment that is using Steam on your network, in this way the game will be transmitted by the computer to the TV, with audio and video data in real time. Nothing complicated and very easy to do if you are a video game lover.

It is worth mentioning the large number of contributions that Valve has made, modifying and optimizing the Linux kernel to make it a high-quality entertainment center.

For children: Sugar

With its own environment developed in Python, with a GPL license still in development, and that, unlike other distributions, does not have the multitasking option, so it only works with one task at a time. In order to support the little ones with their preschool and primary education.

Initially developed for the project One Laptop Per Child; low-cost computers designed for children in remote or low-income locations. Award-winning project implemented in numerous countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

It is based on Sugar Activities, a set of specific activities to support children in the various areas of schooling. Activities can also be used on other computers and other operating systems such as Windows and Mac OS X.

It is approached as an applied system for  children between 6 and 12 years. It does not have a desktop when the computer is started and contains four views: Group of Friends, Neighborhood, Me and My Diary. It is the ideal distribution for the child to interact with his schoolmates and for the computer to keep track of his daily tasks.

Rolling Release: manjaro 15.12

This Arch Linux-based distro is characterized by being quite simple, light and very attractive to the eye.

It is worth remembering the term "rolling release" is used for those systems that are in continuous development, updating on the initial version whenever it requires it, which allows having the library, applications and all the necessary packages up to date.

With a large number of desktop environments available from installation (from KDE, Gnome and Xfce to some lesser known ones like BspWM and JWM), pre-installed codecs to play multimedia files and the software packages in their latest version; for those who love having the latest features and keeping their gear on the bleeding edge.

Among its most salient aspects, is the effort that developers have put into creating graphical assistants for almost any aspect of the system, allowing less experienced Linux users to enjoy the Arch Linux-based distribution without all the tedious (but educational) configuration. and challenging) that involves installing it manually. Another aspect that cannot be overlooked is the ability to change the kernel automatically from a graphical wizard, which greatly facilitates testing with different kernels and without suffering the complications of this to perform this process manually (and let the system totally unusable).

Without a doubt, this distribution is characterized by its speed and efficiency. It directs its design and everything that includes its maintenance, to a simple and easily adaptable process, which does not hinder the user, and which in turn promotes the optimization of processes automatically and continuously.

By design: Elementary OS

It is a system that stands out for a quite attractive design, which has a simple and fast platform.

It is the first distribution is to carry out an extensive investigation as to the design engineering. Understanding from the interaction with the user to how to achieve homogenize applications so that the user can get oriented quickly and without the need for manuals. Which allows them to locate the necessary application by viewing the categories in which they are organized. It also has an excellent search engine that allows the execution of orders, or to view, one by one, the applications in a grid-like view, arranged alphabetically. All designed to intuitively locate what you want in a simple way.

The effort invested in this distribution has been such that the team behind it has created the programming language Vala, which aims to develop Gnome applications with a syntax similar to C # with binary to C code compatibility, which makes it fast and resource-efficient.

Aesthetically it is one of the most attractive distributions, with patterns and interfaces in the best Windows or Mac OS style, but with the best of Linux behind the scenes. Definitely a pleasure to use this distribution.

Oriented to cloud services: Chrome OS

It is the distribution that is oriented to a fast, simple and safe experience for those users who work most of the time on the web.

It should be noted that this distribution was born as the heart of Chromebooks, low-cost personal computers (comparable to tablets) developed by Google. There is no doubt about the quality of each piece that this giant of the computer industry offers us and Chrome OS is no exception.

It is powered by the Chrome ecosystem, so we can install all the apps and extensions quickly and easily. Additionally, some of these apps have extended functionalities for Chrome OS. Extremely light, fast and easy, in such a way that it allows a quick shutdown, preserving the state of the applications, and then starting so quickly that it seems that only the screen has been turned off.

We must recognize that its potential is fully exploited only when it is connected to the internet, however the vast majority of users do not perform major functions on their computers when they are without an internet connection. Without a doubt, the applications that are used the longest are the web browsers and office suites (which Chrome OS allows to use without internet), so Chrome OS represents the ideal option for this group of users.

Everything that involves documents, settings and applications are hosted in the cloud, which facilitates the search and retrieval of each of these elements on any device. This is the advantage it offers due to the storage capacity, and the easy location of all your stored data. Native applications are no longer necessary with this system, and basically, everything you need will be via the web and stored in it, with all the necessary security measures.

For all the above, Chrome OS is the right system for any type of computer, leaving hardware ties for the past.

For anonymity and privacy: Tails

The Amnesic Incognito Live System (Tails), designed for those seeking anonymity and privacy, Tails is the ideal operating system for these tasks. Internet connections are made anonymously and using the Tor network, so no trace of connections is left (Incognito), and your only storage device is the RAM (unless the user indicates otherwise), which is deleted when the computer is turned off, so there is no type of file left after being used (Amnesic). Enough portable and equipped to be used on any PC by live boot from USB or other medium, and withdraw without a trace.

For more security, it has advanced cryptographic tools to keep everything that involves emails or files safe. In addition to including tools for permanent deletion (wipe out) of files on any hard drive or other storage medium.

It has a virtual keyboard called Florence, which provides greater security to all your passwords, avoiding the need to type them on the keyboard. This HTTPS Everywhere, which directs you to the safest and least malicious websites. It can also be configured to use the decentralized network I2P (alternative to Tor), which provides much more secure and anonymous browsing, and PW Gen, which generates and manages stronger passwords.

If your desire is to use a computer and it is impossible to detect that you were there (and no one knows what you were doing), you should definitely use this distribution.

For businesses: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.2

Definitely a standard at the level of Business IT. Red Hat offers a variety of services to meet the needs and demands of any business. It offers cloud or data center management services, JBoss middleware, and Linux platforms for various purposes.

With quality support available 24 hours a day, a security system that offers correct errors, a CVE database (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures), and alerts that the system throws up when it detects existing weaknesses. Everything you need for a company that wants to have a clear administration of its internal processes and protect its IT assets.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is geared towards servers of various purposes ranging from high-performance computing, container hosts, real-time systems and specialized configurations for specific databases or applications.

Among the tools they offer we have Smart Management, which allows updating or managing the system, Red Hat Satellite which is responsible for optimizing communication and management between different RHEL instances. High availability, to quickly configure services that require high availability and load balancing in server clusters; and Resilient Storage whereby shared file systems can be established to provide redundancy in data and server configurations. All designed for different business IT scenarios.

They definitely continue to be at the forefront of business-oriented commercial distributions, being the favorite of many customers offering adaptability to various fields of industry.

For personal computation: Solus OS 1.0

Despite an official launch carried out near the end of the year (December 27, 2015),  SolusOS is a distribution that quickly manages to earn a spot on this list.

It is a distribution developed practically from scratch, since it is not based on any other. Since its inception, it was born with a view to filling that space that was needed in Linux distributions, a distro oriented to desktop computers that users could use without any previous experience in Linux.

Precisely tuned for person countl, without making use of packages dedicated to server tasks, with easy integration to commercial drivers, optimized for user tasks and without dependence on the command terminal.

Its design was largely aimed at the desktop environment, based on GTK, called Budgie. This in order to offer the user a better experience. Budgie has been tested and refined to ensure a high theming. The Budgie menu has been designed as a quick access category for your shows, with a fairly compact view. Worth competing with today's commercial operating systems.

With the customization center, called Raven, you can have control of the sound volume, media player controls, easy access to the calendar, and more, thanks to the incorporation of applets. You can manage apps and customize Budgie

Your package manager eopkg It supports package search, installation, update and removal, as well as package repository search and repository management.

Among some of the applications included we find:

• Firefox 43.0.2
• Nautilus 3.18.4
• Rhythmbox 3.2.1
• Thunderbird 38.5.0
• VLC 2.2.1

Definitely a very polished layout with a high level of attention to detail, without losing sight of its target, desktop PCs. At the beginning it barely consumes about 400 MB of RAM! Quite an encouraging figure for how sleek and complete your desktop is.

It is scheduled that for 2016 the development of Solus OS 2.0. With several points of focus: recovery system, migration tools for users coming from Windows or Mac OS, as well as backup management. So nothing is missing to have all these new virtues in development.

Highly recommended for those users who want a pleasant, simple and powerful experience for their desktop PCs. As a personal anecdote I tell you that when presenting this distribution to illiterate Linux users, their comments were That "Windows" is very nice and fast. Does my PC support it?. Encouraging comments indeed, as Linux has a reputation for being difficult to use by those who come across it for the first time.

What are you waiting for to start this year 2016 with any of these distributions?