As of 2022, Fedora is the best Linux distribution for me and the work we do. Everyone has their favorite version of Linux which is great but today, I will list why Fedora is my number one go-to Linux distribution. Here is a top 10 list of why Fedora runs on all of our workstations and my new Zephyrus G15 laptop
Firmware updates are easy to overlook but ever more crucial in the times we live in.
Top 10 reasons why we picked Fedora
- Automatic BIOS and Firmware updates
DELL PCs run Fedora Workstation 36 better than any other brand we tested. Fedora never misses a BIOS or Firmware update and thus, our systems are always up to date. - Frequent software updates
Fedora is not a rolling distribution but still receives software updates on a daily basis. Because of that, we always run the latest kernel and software updates. - Rock solid performance
Running the latest software is of little use if the system is not stable. We run Fedora Workstation 36 on every PC and no one here remembers hardware issues. Everything just works. Some of the workstations have NVIDIA GPUs and experience no issues with Wayland. - Fast Blender render times
If Fedora didn’t perform so well, we’d continue rendering on W10 Pro as the best tool for the job is the only metric that matters. The render speed difference between Fedora and Windows 10 Pro speaks for itself. - Fedora is perfect for web design
All Linux distributions are capable when it comes to web design but not all Linux distributions run well on various hardware. Because of that, it is even more remarkable that our favorite Linux distribution offers both, the design software as well as the server. - Easy to network
The credit for how easy it is to network several Fedora Workstations goes to Gnome. We live in different times and networking computers is not always desired. Again, Gnome shines because with just only quick click, I can dedicate a node (workstation) to accept local traffic only.
If you work on sensitive projects then you know the importance of disallowing internet access to every node. - dnf is a great package manager
The most important part of keeping a computer running fast is to only install the software need and nothing else. Fedora’s package manager makes searching for, installing and removing software easy. After using dnf for the last two years, I am comfortable stating that openSUSE’s YAST was not always as accommodating as dnf is. YAST Software would often insist on installing packages which we specifically marked to not install. Yes, that worked for a while until it didn’t. Because of that, dnf won our number one spot when it comes to managing software. - Firewall on by default
When business is low, I often setup a new Linux machine or reinstall an existing workstation. Our building is surrounded by many other networks all sharing the same fiber optic connection. Worst of all, nodes which need to have internet access are increasingly getting probed from any direction.
I am glad that Fedora defaults to having the firewall on from the very beginning. Plenty of other distributions make that step optional. I prefer to have one less thing to worry about. - Every update is an improvement
Officially, Fedora updates twice per year. This is not new as almost every Linux distribution updates as often as they can. You can visit distrowatch.com to see who just updated plus a weekly review of one featured distribution. Amazingly, Fedora 36 didn’t do so well but we disagree because our daily usage shows a different picture. - Corporate backing
Unlike most other Linux distributions, Fedora is backed by none other than RedHat Inc. As amazing as independent Linux distributions are, looking ahead tells us that money matters. It always has and it always will. As a long-time Linux user, I fear that in 10 or 20 years from now, Linux might be just like Microsoft and Apple. Right now, we have a tiny market share. Depending on what you read and believe, there are only about two percent of people who use Linux.
This is both, good and bad. Bad because it makes progress slow and fragmented. Then again, good because it gives us the freedom of choice. Choice deserves a separate listing for we get less and less as time moves on.
Special mention
Audio
For a long time, audio has been Linux’s step child. That is no longer true. Fedora is rock solid and recognizes our USB audio interfaces without the need for additional configuration or tweaking.
Final thoughts
These are my top reasons why I picked Fedora as the main operating system for all of our computers here at the lab. Fedora was not the first choice but since the most important requirement was that a distribution must run on all of our computers, Fedora offered the best fit. In addition, all of those who contribute to the various projects that are being developed here have agreed to pick Fedorum as the main name for this website. Our goal with Fedorum is to share the knowledge and experiences we have gained while working on various startups here in Vancouver.
Other considerations
Besides Fedora, we also considered openSUSE and Ubuntu. Both of those distributions offer some very strong points. YAST is regarded as the most capable of administration tools but hunger for hard drive space which SUSE’s BTRFS demands kept us looking elsewhere.
Ubuntu was also a strong contender. The bulk of online help and support content caters to Ubuntu users. Still, Canonical is choosing a direction which is too uncertain for our needs. The same is true for the Gnome desktop but after getting over the fact that those who develop decide the direction, we have come to embrace Gnome and everything it offers.
Are you a programmer or graphics designer and use Linux on a daily basis? What is your opinion. Have you tested Fedora or picked another distribution. If so, which one?
