What is the best Linux?

❓ I want to learn Linux because I’m a web developer and build WordPress websites. But in the future, I also want to develop actual apps, which is why I’d like to learn Node.js and React, for example. Anyway, I’m not quite sure yet which Linux version is “good”—for example, Centmin Mod requires Rocky Linux or AlmaLinux, while others think Debian is a good choice (because it’s stable), and still others are Ubuntu fans. So which Linux version should I learn, and do I even need to commit to one? Isn’t it enough to “learn Linux once,” or are the differences significant? 
 
 The practical answer: learn “Linux,” pick one daily driver, stay flexible ✅ 
 You don’t need to permanently commit to a single distribution to “learn Linux.” Most of what you’ll use as a web developer—filesystem layout, permissions, processes, SSH, networking basics, logs, system services—transfers extremely well across distros. 
 What does vary meaningfully is mostly: 
 
 Package management (APT vs DNF/YUM, etc.) 
 Release model (LTS/stable vs faster-moving) 
 Defaults & tooling (firewall tooling, SELinux/AppArmor, paths/config conventions) 
 Ecosystem compatibility (what your hosting/platform or tools expect) 
 
 So the best approach is: master the shared core , then become comfortable translating the “last mile” differences. 
 
 What you should learn first (the cross-distro core) 🧠 
 If you learn these well, you can work on almost any Linux server: 
 
 Shell basics 
 
 navigating ( cd , ls , find ) 
 text processing ( grep , sed , awk , less ) 
 pipes/redirection ( | , > , 2> ) 
 
 
 Filesystem & permissions 
 
 ownership, chmod , chown , groups 
 symlinks, umask 
 
 
 Users, SSH, keys 
 
 ssh , sshd , ~/.ssh/authorized_keys 
 
 
 Processes & resource troubleshooting 
 
 ps , top/htop , systemctl , journalctl 
 
 
 Services & boot 
 
 systemd basics (common on most modern distros) 
 
 
 Networking 
 
 ss , curl , DNS basics, firewall basics 
 
 
 Logs 
 
 /var/log , journald, app logs (Nginx/Apache, PHP-FPM) 
 
 
 Web stack basics 
 
 Nginx/Apache configs, TLS (Let’s Encrypt), reverse proxying 
 
 
 
 That’s “Linux once.” The rest is “Linux per environment.” 
 
 Which distro should you learn? Pick based on where you’ll run things 
 If you want a solid “server-first” baseline for WordPress hosting 
 Debian is an excellent default choice: 
 
 Very stable, widely used on servers 
 Great documentation and community 
 APT is straightforward 
 Easy to host WordPress stacks reliably 
 
 Ubuntu Server LTS is also a great pick: 
 
 Very common in cloud providers and tutorials 
 Good hardware/cloud support 
 Faster access to newer packages than Debian stable (but still “LTS stable”) 
 
 Rule of thumb: 
 
 If you like “boring and stable”: Debian 
 If you like “popular and well-supported by tutorials/cloud”: Ubuntu LTS 
 
 If your tooling requires RHEL-like distros (Rocky/Alma) 
 If you specifically want Centmin Mod , then yes: learn Rocky Linux or AlmaLinux (RHEL-family). 
 
 You’ll use DNF/YUM 
 You’ll run into SELinux more often (important in real server ops) 
 Very common in enterprise-like environments 
 
 But note: this is often more about matching a specific stack/tool than being “better Linux.” 
 
 Do the differences matter day-to-day? Some do—most don’t 
 Here are the differences you’ll actually feel : 
 
 Package manager & package names 
 
 Debian/Ubuntu: apt , apt-get 
 Rocky/Alma: dnf (formerly yum ) 
 
 
 Security framework defaults 
 
 Ubuntu often emphasizes AppArmor 
 RHEL family commonly uses SELinux 
 
 
 Release cadence 
 
 Debian stable: slower, very stable 
 Ubuntu LTS: stable but more current 
 RHEL family: stability + long lifecycle 
 
 
 Some config/layout conventions 
 
 Usually minor; most key paths are similar, but defaults and helper tools vary 
 
 
 
 What’s largely the same: 
 
 systemd , sshd , file permissions, standard GNU tooling, TCP/IP basics, Nginx/PHP/MySQL concepts. 
 
 
 A good strategy for you (web dev → WordPress → Node/React) 🚀 
 Recommended path 
 
 Choose one “daily driver” distro to learn deeply 
 
 I’d pick Ubuntu LTS or Debian . 
 
 
 Use Docker for app/dev workflows 
 
 Node/React dev environments become reproducible across distros and even macOS/Windows. 
 
 
 Add a second distro later for “translation skill” 
 
 Once comfortable, spin up a Rocky/Alma VM and practice the same tasks with dnf + SELinux basics. 
 
 
 
 This mirrors real life: you’ll often develop locally (maybe Ubuntu/Debian), but deploy to whatever the server/host requires. 
 
 Concrete recommendation (if you want me to pick) 
 
 Learn on Ubuntu Server LTS (most “how-to” coverage, cloud-friendly) or Debian (excellent stability culture). 
 Don’t stress about committing forever. After you learn the core, switching is mostly learning a new package manager + a few defaults. 
 If Centmin Mod is a serious near-term goal, add Rocky/Alma sooner rather than later. 
 
 
 If you tell me these 3 things, I’ll tailor the best choice 
 
 Are you mostly using VPS , shared hosting, or local dev? 
 Do you plan to manage your own server stack (Nginx/PHP/MySQL) or use panels/tools? 
 Are you on Windows/macOS/Linux for your main dev machine? 
 
 Answer those, and I’ll recommend a setup (distro + learning plan) that matches your WordPress and future Node/React goals.