The Best Linux Distro and Desktop Environment for Reliability and Stability

Introduction

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In the realm of operating systems, Linux distributions (dists) and desktop environments have garnered significant attention for their reliability and stability. This article aims to explore which Linux distribution and desktop environment stand out in terms of these crucial qualities. Drawing from personal and professional experiences, we will evaluate Debian Mate, Linux Mint Cinnamon, Ubuntu MATE, CentOS 6 with Gnome 2, and examine various factors that contribute to system performance.

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Debian Mate: A Pillar of Stability

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Debian Mate, a variant of Debian, has been my go-to choice for both home and office use for numerous years. The experience has been virtually seamless, with a lot of stability and reliability-together, a testament to the efficiency of the distro. One of the key reasons behind its success is that it only includes packages that have been meticulously tested and found to be rock-solid. This ensures that whenever I need to upgrade or install something new, I can do so with confidence. However, this deliberate approach also means that new features and updates might take a bit longer to be available, typically around a year. This might be a drawback for those seeking the latest and greatest features.

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Challenges with Debian Mate

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One of the minor complaints I have about Debian is the use of technical jargon in the dialog boxes during installation. While this reflects the quality and thoroughness of the developers, it can be a bit of a hurdle for those who are not as familiar with the terminology. Despite this, the overall stability of the system has more than made up for it.

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Linux Mint Cinnamon: A Preferred Choice

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As someone who also uses Mint Cinnamon, I find it to be a comfortable and user-friendly alternative. One of the key advantages is that there is no significant technobabble in the installation process. If you encounter issues, it is more likely to be related to hardware drivers. This indicates that if you are looking for a straightforward and efficient distro, Mint Cinnamon could be a good choice. It also suggests that the issues you are experiencing might be related to outdated drivers or hardware-specific conflicts.

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Ubuntu MATE and Unity

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Developing systems with Unity on Ubuntu, I have encountered a couple of performance issues. For instance, Ubuntu MATE, which is similar to Gnome 2, can face challenges with hibernation. Additionally, sometimes the system logs out when resuming from sleep mode, especially when consuming a lot of memory or using resource-heavy applications like Visual Studio Code.

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Despite these minor hiccups, it is still a reliable and efficient distro. The trade-off is that with very few exceptions, Linux distributions are open source and hence, less bug-free compared to commercial options like Windows or Mac. This is a well-known fact in the Linux community, and it is important to have this in mind when evaluating the suitability of any distribution.

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CentOS 6 with Gnome 2: A Legacy Choice

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For near-absolute stability, I opt for Centos 6 with Gnome 2. This choice is particularly appealing in environments where the latest hardware and features are not a necessity, but reliability and performance are. Even with updated hardware, CentOS 6 with the latest patches can still function well. For example, we run CentOS 6.8 on a H170 motherboard, which forms the basis of Amazon's in-house Linux version, albeit using a 4.4 kernel.

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Older but Still Functional

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Even if you opt for a more recent distro, I recommend using the 16.04 MATE edition of Ubuntu, which is similar to Gnome 2. However, it is crucial to understand that Linux distros are less debugged, and hence, some issues are to be expected. The world of open source comes with its unique set of challenges.

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Hardware Issues and Troubleshooting

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For persistent stability issues that cannot be resolved by trying out different distributions, hardware problems might be the culprit. The first step in troubleshooting a hardware issue is to check the memory. In my case, dialing back the memory on my workstation resolved the random lock-ups. If you are a consumer, it might be difficult to determine the culprit as most consumer motherboards do not have ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory. Running Memtest86 over the weekend can help identify any potential memory issues.

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Additionally, another possibility to consider is a hardware issue with the motherboard that specifically affects Linux but not Windows. This happened to me with a Gigabyte motherboard that ran Windows 7 fine but refused to work with Linux. While Gigabyte support assured me that it was not a design issue, replacing the motherboard ultimately resolved the problem.

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Conclusion

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Choosing the right Linux distribution and desktop environment is critical for balancing reliability, stability, and your specific needs. Debian Mate, known for its rock-solid stability, might be the best choice if you prioritize this, even though it might not be the first to introduce new features. Conversely, Linux Mint Cinnamon or Ubuntu MATE might be preferable if you value user-friendliness and don't mind occasional performance issues. CentOS 6 with Gnome 2 is a legacy choice that ensures rock-solid performance even on modern hardware. Ultimately, it's important to evaluate each distribution based on your specific requirements and the environment in which it will be used.