Fedora needs no introduction because it is one of the most popular Linux distribution alongside big names like Ubuntu, Debian, and Red Hat. But just in case you are coming across the distro for the first time, you should know that it is a professional, customizable Red Hat-backed Linux distro famous for giving its users the latest features while remaining true to the open source community.
Read Also: 10 Reasons to Use Manjaro Linux
Today, I want to share some quick reasons why you should use Fedora. And if you were about to not choose running Fedora don’t make up your mind until the end of the article.
1. Fedora is Bleeding Edge
The Fedora Operating System is called a bleeding edge Linux distribution because it is always rolling out with the latest software, driver updates, and Linux features. This contributes to the reason why you can confidently use Fedora as soon as installation is complete – it ships with the latest stable kernel along with all its benefits.
For example, Fedora is the first major distribution to use systemd as its default init system and the first major distro to use Wayland as its default display server protocol.
2. A Good Community
Fedora has one of the biggest communities in the world with a forum populated by many users who will happily help you sort out any issues that might have you stuck while using the distro.
This is separate from the Fedora IRC channel and the large Reddit community which you can also access for free to learn from other users and share experiences.
3. Fedora Spins
Fedora is available in different flavours referred to by the community as “spins” and each spin uses a different Desktop Environment from the default Gnome Desktop. The currently available Spins are KDE Plasma, XFCE, LXQT, Mate-Compiz, Cinnamon, LXDE, and SOAS.
4. Better Package Management
Unlike Debian and Ubuntu which use dpkg with an apt official front-end, Fedora uses RPM package manager with a dnf front-end and RPM packages are typically easier to build. RPM also has more features than dpkg such as confirmation of installed packages, history and rollback, etc.
5. A Unique Gnome Experience
The Fedora project works closely with the Gnome Foundation thus Fedora always gets the latest Gnome Shell release and its users begin to enjoy its newest features and integration’s before users of other distros do.
6. Top-Level Security
Linux users enjoy top good security thanks to the Linux kernel underlying every distro but Fedora developers have gone further to embed advanced security features within the distro via the Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) module.
SELinux is a Linux kernel security module that enables support for accessing security policies e.g. managing permission rights. You can read more about SELinux here.
7. Fedora is Backed by Red Hat
Red Hat is the world’s leading provider of open source enterprise software with a community-powered approach to delivering solutions in cloud, container, and Kubernetes technologies.
Fedora is backed by the Red Hat community so its users enjoy the advantages of getting support from the Red Hat community which includes commercial support and constant security updates.
8. Prolific Hardware Support
Fedora enjoys many benefits thanks to the communities backing it and a good example is how readily Fedora will work on PCs, with printers, scanners, cameras, etc. from different vendors straight out of the box. If you want a Linux distro that wouldn’t give you any compatibility headaches then Fedora is a good choice.
9. Emphasis on Open Source Software
The chances of discovering proprietary or open source software depend on the Linux distribution that you’re using. Ubuntu, for example, is the most popular distro among home users but it features proprietary software including multimedia codecs and drivers, and Adobe Flash to mention a few. Even the Linux kernel features some closed binary bits so Fedora ships with the Linux-libre kernel as a kernel replacement.
I’m not saying that proprietary software is bad but many people prefer to use open source software whenever they can and some refuse to use closed software completely.
Fedora doesn’t prohibit users from installing any software they want but all of its default apps are open source and it is repo has a no non-free software policy.
The only downside to this is that you will need to resort to downloading proprietary software from 3rd party resources. In any case, the point is that Fedora’s open source philosophy is among the strictest in the community and you might like that.
10. Fedora is Easy to Use
The most common Linux distros are well-known for their ease of use and Fedora is among the easiest distributions to use. Its simple User Interface is simple enough for anyone to boot up for the first time and get used to after a couple of clicks and all of its software offer the same User Experience which gives users a feeling of consistency and familiarity.
How much experience do you have with Fedora and do you have any reasons that support or that against the topic? Drop your opinions on Fedora, suggestions, questions, etc. in the discussion section below.
I’ve been using Fedora for at least 15 years. Fedora with the Cinnamon desktop environment has worked great for me. I appreciate solid, reliable updates and upgrades.
System: Kernel: 5.7.8-200.fc32.x86_64 x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 2.34-3.fc32)
Desktop: Cinnamon 4.6.5 wm: muffin dm: LightDM Distro: Fedora release 32 (Thirty Two)
Machine: Type: Laptop System: LENOVO product: 2522AZ4 v: ThinkPad T410
Bleeding edge? Guys,
“Always rolling out with the latest software”
—MEANS—
“Always rolling out with the least tested software and the latest bugs”
It’s why I prefer Linux Mint over Ubuntu, which they’re based on. Mint developers hold off on releasing things from Ubuntu until it’s truly ready, and as a result they lag just enough to be bulletproof. For instance, Linux Mint 18.3 is based on Ubuntu 16.04 and came out when Ubuntu was already at 18. It’s really the only way to do things in Linux. “Free and Open Source” do not guarantee “Solid” by themselves.
You need some parenting control, which nearly all distros lack.
I’ve been using Fedora for maybe 15 major releases. It is a very solid OS, is easy to get comfortable with, and is back by solid proactive development teams. I highly recommend it as both a workstation and a server OS.
My Lenovo v110 laptop seems to be a little bit more fast with fedora than with Ubuntu, so i opt for it. But i have some troubles with web sites built upon Adobe technologies.
I have been using Linux since 2002/ ’03, and I started with Fedora, and have been using them ever since. I have been through the “Dependency Hell” era and have watched it grow up into a robust and stable, although still cutting edge operating system. While others might recommend Ubuntu and other Debian-based distros such as Linux Mint?…I will stick with Fedora simply because they got everything right. From the insistence on using non-proprietary software, to the ease of use and even easier installation.
In regards to their lifecycle, I don’t mind it at all. Its refreshing to be able to upgrade to a nicer, newer, more efficient, and user-friendly version on a schedule, and sometimes I bypass an upgrade when it suits me. I wish that all distros were as simple yet robust, powerful, yet simplified, as Fedora is!
Great article!!
If all you’ve ever “stuck with” was Fedora, then how do you know what the other distros are like?
I have:
Lenovo ThinkCentre M-83
i5/32GB RAM/1TB ssd
(running Fedora 32)
Lenovo ThinkPad T-430
i5/16GB RAM/500GB ssd
(running ElementaryOS)
Lenovo ThinkPad T-420
i5/16GB RAM/320GB HDD
(running Ubuntu)
Dell XPS 15
i7/16GB RAM/1TB ssd
(running Pop-OS)
Lenovo ThinkPad T-450
i5/16GB RAM/500GB ssd
(tester)
And on that “tester” machine?….I’ve installed and used (with three to five month time frames!)
Gentoo Linux
Arch Linux
BlackArcch
ArcoLinux
Debian – all desktop versions
Ubuntu – all desktop versions
Linux Mint
Calculate Linux
Sabayon Linux
Pear OS (miss this one!)
Pearl OS (Pear’s successor?)
PureOS
OpenSuSE
NetBSD
Ghost BSD
PCLinux-OS
Zorin-OS
Deepin-OS
CEntOS
Emmabuntus
KDENeon
Nutyx
Korora (are they even still around?)
Peppermint OS
Puppuy Linux
and a few that aren’t around anymore (Fuduntu was my favorite!…it was a fusion of Fedora and Ubuntu!…wonder if they have archived screenshots or a web page somewhere!?).
So that would be my answer as to how I would know what other distros are like. And the only reason why I put the specs for the machines?…is to show that I run these distros on both older and somewhat newer hardware…
What about you?…what Linux distro did you start with?…what’s your favorite?…maybe it’s one I’ve never tried?…LoL!
Cheers!
im using Fedora MATE + i3. best combination for me so far and it works!
Cool
Every reason the article author states for supporting/using Fedora can be stated for openSuSE Leap/Tumbleweed Linux, with one obvious difference being that SuSE is part of and supported by SuSE Enterprise Linux, and of which as most Americans are unaware/ignorant is one of the most prestigious and stable Linux distributions but originating out of Europe and therefore considered to be secondary to those here in USA.
The critical major advantage of openSuSE, particularly Leap is that it is directly code downstream from Enterprise releases, while Tumbleweed is more “bleeding edge” – even currently supporting Linux Kernels 4.20 and 5.0.
Unlike the article author, I have more than 18 years extensive experience with releases from both RedHat community and SuSE community. according to his photo he is unlikely be to 50 years of age or older..
It is therefore not possible to write or speak with authority on this topic without a solid, professional career experience over such time, particularly through affiliation with entity like IBM.
Wendell, I think you could have posited your case without the ridiculous America hatred, don’t you?
Your remark about Ubuntu package manager shows that you’re out of date. Ubuntu uses snaps now.
The first thing I always do after install fedora is disable selinux and teplare gnome with cinnamon
Oh yeah? Why?
I think I will stick with Archlinux. If I wanted something like Red Hat, I would install it. Oh, and it’s not Bleeding Edge.
I’ve tried Arch, Manjaro, Mint. Initially, they are OK but with time the updates, upgrades, repositories work better in Fedora.
Thanks. I never knew Fedora had good driver/peripheral support. I’m currently using Ubuntu Budgie and I don’t know how to install my network scanner. Maybe I’ll give Fedora a try.
Most printer companies screw up into thinking that they can rely on open source driver support to be solid. For instance, my HP color laser printer relies on some hokey thing that then sits on top of CUPS. You want to see gross? Try getting that thing to work solidly over wifi.
*IF* you don’t find a distro that gives you turnkey support for your AIO printer, look into what the TurboPrint (paid software) guys have. Promote free software all you want, but when push meets shove, nothing supports a driver better than a money-making organization creating the driver themselves, or a money making product line designed to fill that void.
Both printer and kernel-level drivers are, and always will be, the endlessly lagging behind Achilles heel of linux distros.
I’m very happy Fedora user:)
Currently I’m using the same system starting from Fedora 25 (fresh install ~2017). I updated to Fedora 27 than 29. Yes, I bypassed 26, 28. I did upgrade via Gnome Software GUI from Fedora 25 directly to 27 in 2018, and on beginning of 2019 – I updated directly from 27 to 29. And no issues in this process.
But one very important remark: use only official and semi-official repositories. I’m using only trusted repos and very well maintained – probably it is the reason why I do not have issues with “big upgrades”. In my opinion users should avoid “magic programs” that promise “add or fix everything in one click” (and very often broke something else) like Fedy for example…
List of semi-official repo that Fedora user should install ASAP after fresh system install:
* rpmfusion.org (must have – semi-official repo with Steam client, codecs, nVidia drivers, audio/video players, etc.)
* flathub.org (plenty of GUI applications)
It should be enough. You could also add Ubuntu Snap repo by installing snapd package (`sudo dnf install snapd`), but most of interesting applications should be available also in rpmfusion.org and/or flathub.org so in my opinion Ubuntu Snap repo is not needed.