Which Linux Server Distributions Are Best Suited for Your Developers?
Linux is everywhere. In truth, if it weren't for Linux, most enterprises would not have achieved the flexibility they have today. We wouldn't have containers, the cloud, IoT, edge computing, big data, and such a wide variety of programming languages and frameworks.
Enterprise-level companies have been using Linux for a long time. They depend on it, and everyone who develops for large corporations is either familiar with Linux or understands that it has become mandatory.
This is clearly visible. At some point, your developers will have to use Linux as a server operating system. When that happens, your teams need to know which Linux distribution is best for their work.
But which distribution?
Let's dig in and try to find the right option.
What is Linux and what is a distribution?
The first question is easy to answer. Like macOS and Windows, Linux is an operating system. The biggest difference is that Linux is the only open-source operating system. This makes Linux much more flexible than proprietary offerings. You can download the source code of the Linux kernel or any of its included tools and modify them to suit your needs.
But what is a distribution? Think of it like this: How many different brands of running shoes can you name? Each brand has its own take on what it offers, but their product is still running shoes, so they serve the same purpose. It's similar with Linux distributions. Any Linux distribution is still Linux, it just may have subtle (or not so subtle) differences from the competition.
The biggest difference between some distributions is the package manager used (the system for installing and managing software). For example, Ubuntu uses the apt package manager, Red Hat Enterprise Linux uses dnf, SUSE uses zypper, and Arch uses pacman. Each package manager has its pros and cons, but all are fairly straightforward.
There are also Linux distributions specifically designed for use as servers or desktops (and while you can effectively swap them, it's not recommended).
So, now that you understand what Linux and distributions are, let's find out which server distribution is best for your developers.
Let's start with cost
Choosing a Linux server distribution will likely start with cost. Why? Because some Linux server distributions are free, while others come with a price tag. Free Linux server distributions include:
- Ubuntu Server
- AlmaLinux
- Rocky Linux
- Debian
- Fedora Server
- OpenSUSE Leap
Linux server distributions that require a subscription include:
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux
- SUSE Enterprise Linux
- Oracle Linux
One of the main advantages of using subscription-based distributions is that they typically come with enterprise-level support. But if you need to deploy a large number of instances for your developers, those costs can add up. Still, support is an attractive feature for most companies.
This doesn't mean you can't purchase extra support for Ubuntu. In fact, Canonical (the developer of Ubuntu) offers the Ubuntu Advantage program.
Cloud computing support
This is another important question you should ask. It's likely that your developers won't be targeting your own data center. Modern development typically takes place in the "cloud." Therefore, you need to find a distribution supported by your cloud hoster. Fortunately, most third-party hosters support a large number of Linux server distributions.
However, the most common Linux distribution in the cloud is Ubuntu Server. The reason is that Ubuntu is the most user-friendly of all Linux options. This is important as new developers enter the Linux world.
Some other Linux server distributions face a barrier to widespread adoption in cloud environments because some use security layers that can be a hindrance. For example, any Linux server distribution using SELinux has a steeper learning curve for novice developers. While SELinux is a very powerful system, it can interfere with normal application operation, especially if your developers don't know how to work with it.
SELinux is used in most RHEL-based server distributions, including:
- AlmaLinux
- Rocky Linux
- Oracle Linux
- Fedora Server
This doesn't mean you should avoid these distributions. However, if you decide to use an SELinux-based operating system, make sure your developers know how to work with it.
Easily installable tools
Every Linux server distribution has a huge number of installable tools. However, in some distributions this task is much easier. Why? Linux server distributions like Ubuntu make these tools more accessible and easier to install. This is partly because Ubuntu-based distributions include a wider set of pre-configured software repositories.
In RHEL-based distributions, to install some tools that are available in Ubuntu out of the box, you need to add or enable a third-party repository. This doesn't mean the tools are unavailable, just not as straightforward to install.
Take, for example, the LAMP server (Linux Apache MySQL PHP), which is one of the most popular software stacks on the planet. On Ubuntu Server, this entire stack can be installed with a single command:
sudo apt-get install lamp-server^ -y
To install the same stack on an RHEL-based server distribution, you need to install the tools one by one.
Conclusion
The conclusion here is quite simple: If simplicity is important to you, then you need Ubuntu Server. If you need enhanced security and support (and you don't mind a steeper learning curve), then Red Hat Enterprise Linux or SUSE may be ideal.