Need advices for the choice of Linux distribution

[sofia.r]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if Ubuntu is a good choice for Linux distribution, especially for newbies like me who are not familar at all with Linux, and who plan to use Root, Madgraph and Rivet.

Thanks a lot for your help !

[Wile_E_Coyote]

I am currently using “Ubuntu 20.04 LTS”.
I was using “Ubuntu 14.04 LTS” and “Ubuntu 10.04 LTS” in the past (yes, I skipped “12.04”, “16.04”, and “18.04” as I preferred to stay with the compilers provided by my “production” systems).
I think I can safely recommend “Ubuntu ... LTS” versions.
When a new “LTS” release appears, I wait at least something like 6 months before switching to it (just to give people time to provide new versions of additional libraries and packages suited for the new system).

From my perspective … when it comes to “Ubuntu Flavors” …
If you have at least 6 GB RAM, use the very nice “Kubuntu”, or the default “Ubuntu”, or “Ubuntu MATE”.
If you have between 4 and 6 GB RAM, use “Xubuntu”.
If you have less than 4 GB RAM, use “Lubuntu”.

[dastudillo]

I don’t know about Madgraph and Rivet, so I can’t talk about that, but if you don’t like the default desktop interface of Ubuntu, have a look at Xubuntu, which is also Ubuntu but uses the lighter XFCE environment; to me it’s cleaner and less “intrusive”, but your mileage may vary

[ferhue]

I recommend Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, but installing later the MATE desktop through ‘apt’.

[sofia.r]

Hi everyone,

Thank you very much for all these replies.
I will go for Ubuntu 20.04 LTS then, and have a look at Kubuntu/Xubuntu and Lubuntu.

Thanks again !