'Best' Linux Distro to start programming?

Question

Hey everyone. I am finally starting to take it upon myself to start teaching myself Perl over the summer before college in the fall. Out of interest and to lighten the learning curve when I'm actually in school because I have struggled with programming in the past. Usually because of incapable teachers at my past high school "teaching" Python and Turing. Anyways, I went to my local chapters and bought "learning Perl by Randal L. Schwartz" 6th edition. Figured if I bought it instead of downloading a PDF I'd get more motivation. I have a nice desktop I built so I am able to handle virtual box/ Vmware easily. Thats where I will be running Linux, in VMware. I have Kali Linux installed right now but i want a nicer version of Linux to work in. Is there any specific distro that is better or easier to start programming with? I'm thinking I'll just go with Mint or Ubuntu but wanted a hopefully more experienced persons opinion! Thanks in advanced.

Answer 1

the best linux to learn perl on? It's not going to matter which one you use as long as you like it. If you are not used to linux get an easy one like centos. i've been writing perl since about 1995. The only OS i would say not to start with is a non-linux. Perl is ok in windows but it's more of a hassle and you have to learn more stuff.



get an os that's easy and fun to use. they all run perl. if you are fighting the os you won't have any fun and yes learning will be a drag. make sure it has some bubble games installed on it. they always help me when i get fed up.



perl can be lots of fun and interesting if you let it be. a moron can write a simple perl script but you can write perl code that will boggle the mind. Have fun and you will learn.

Answer 2

I agree with Vincent about Ubuntu's slow slide into the domain where user friendliness and feature bloat trumps utility, but it's still a good development platform. Just make sure the first thing you do (after doing all the initial updates -- there will be a lot of them), is to do 'apt-get install build-essential'. It's one of those things that are omitted not only in the installation but also the documentation (they may have changed that), because many new linux users don't need basic build tools. Also, software that you intend to build instead of pre-built binaries, you'll find you need to install separate libraries and development files for (like for my hand-built ruby, I needed to install files to get readline and yaml to work, among others).



If I wanted Perl, I'd download that archive and hand build it instead of installing via Ubuntu's install utility. That way you have more control over everything.



Right now, I use Xubuntu (a lighter version of Ubuntu) with no complaints so far. I've used many distros and liked them all except Redhat, for which I have no good explanation. Gentoo bothered me a little only because it became tedious building _everything_ I wanted to install, though in reality, I think that's exactly how a true linux system should operate. I may try it again someday.

Answer 3

i began with openSUSE and have been happy I did ever when you consider that. It has an excellent, and unique, administration device that makes the coaching curve somewhat much less steep. the internet internet site has a wiki and a consumer communicate board, so which you will come across an excellent form of information there once you prefer it. It does have the downside that it would not help all multimedia codecs out of the container, yet there's a rapid restoration for that. it fairly is the 2nd hyperlink in the 'components' record. That answer brings up yet another factor: a million-click set up. openSUSE has available (despite the fact that no longer for all application yet) between the finest installation techniques around. you would be happy to apply it, exceedingly after any adventure with classic techniques. it fairly is an exceedingly positive distribution to apply on a on a regular basis foundation, designed very plenty for end-clientele. the present version is openSUSE 11.2

Answer 4

I'd go with Linux Mint or Ubuntu. Both have the best package repositories and are very slick and user friendly. They are also the easiest to install. You can get any development tool you can think of there.

Answer 5

Ubuntu, is the current most famous distro, but it's gaining a lot of weight recently. But any distro will do.

Answer 6

UBUNTU is best DIstro