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Many developers and IT professionals working at Fortune 500 companies operate Linux or MacOS distributions. Why Linux? Since most servers run on Linux and provide a wide range of tools that are missing in Windows 11. Moreover, if you are concerned about security and privacy, switching to Linux will be the right decision. I tried out a few of these distros last month using VirtualBox VM and I’m seriously considering Linux as my primary system.
In this blog, we will learn about a Linux distribution that I fell in love with that supports all kinds of tools needed for data science experiments and training machine learning models. They are also very user-friendly and can be installed in just a few minutes.
We all know that Ubuntuand I think if you are a programmer or machine learning engineer you are using Ubuntu on Windows 11 via WSL. Ubuntu is the most popular Linux distribution due to its user-friendly interface, extensive documentation, and forceful community support.
Ubuntu is a great choice for those just starting out with Linux, and its repositories are affluent in data analysis tools and libraries, making it simple to set up a development environment. Moreover, it is a stable operating system that provides long-term support, even longer than Windows.
Fedora workstation it is a very mature and popular operating system for programmers and programmers. What sets Fedora apart is its commitment to delivering the latest software and features, which is crucial for data scientists looking for the latest advancements in software tools and libraries.
It is completely free, ad-free and values the privacy of your data. Moreover, a forceful emphasis on open source values gives users access to a enormous ecosystem of free and open source software (FOSS) tools.
Zorin OS is quickly becoming my favorite operating system due to its ease of installation and pre-installed software. It’s especially user-friendly for people switching from Windows or macOS, offering a plain and elegant interface without sacrificing power or functionality.
Zorin OS, based on Ubuntu, can benefit from an extensive software repository and support. For data scientists, Zorin OS provides a comfortable and familiar environment while still providing the versatility and performance that Linux is known for.
Pop!_OS is a popular Linux distribution that comes with pre-installed Nvidia graphics card drivers. This means you won’t need to install anything additional to start training a deep learning model on GPU. It is quite similar to Zorin OS in terms of ease of operate and pre-installed applications.
Pop!_OS is based on Ubuntu but adds its own flair with a streamlined and improved user interface that focuses on productivity and ease of operate. I was able to install and start using VSCode in my project in just a few minutes. It is very simple to operate and offers tons of customization options.
Manjaro is a user-friendly Linux distribution based on Arch Linux. Unlike Arch, which is aimed at more experienced users, Manjaro provides all the benefits of Arch Linux, including access to the AUR (Arch User Repository), in a more affordable and easier-to-install package.
Manjaro is known for its rolling release model, which means it receives regular updates and the latest software packages. It is also highly customizable, allowing users to tailor the operating system to their specific needs. Moreover, it provides a wide range of data science tools and libraries, which are very essential if you want to develop and implement data science solutions.
Choosing the right Linux distribution for data science comes down to personal preference, specific project requirements, and comfort level with Linux environments.
Linux is very different from Windows and macOS. Therefore, it is recommended to try several stable Linux distributions and choose the one that works best for you. Some professionals prefer Arch and some prefer Ubuntu. Ultimately it depends on personal preference.
Fedora Workstation, Ubuntu Desktop, Zorin OS, Pop!_OS, and Manjaro are some of the top choices among data science professionals, and each offers unique benefits. Experimenting with one or more of these distributions will assist you find the perfect solution for your data science journey.
Abid Ali Awan (@1abidaliawan) is a certified data science professional who loves building machine learning models. Currently, he focuses on creating content and writing technical blogs about machine learning and data science technologies. Abid holds a Master’s degree in Technology Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications Engineering. His vision is to build an AI product using a graph neural network for students struggling with mental illness.