Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET
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Linux is on the rise. I believe the popularity of the open-source operating system will continue to increase. Although Linux didn't reach the 10% mark as I had expected by the end of the year, all signs point to steady growth that could lead to a significant change in 2026.
Because of the popularity of Linux, I thought I would create a list of my all-time top 11 distributions that I've used over the years. Some of these distros are no longer with us, while some of them are still thriving.
Also: 8 ways I quickly leveled up my Linux skills - and you can too
Are you ready to take a journey with me? Let's go.
1. Pop!_OS
Pop!_OS has been my go-to Linux distribution for some time now. Part of the reason for that is that I've been using System76 computers for the past decade and have found Pop!_OS to run extremely well on them. After all, System76 does ship those machines with Pop!_OS as the default operating system. The performance of Pop!_OS and the System76 hardware is truly something to behold.
Also: Want to save your old computer? Try one of these 8 Linux distros for free
Of all the Linux distributions I've used, Pop!_OS has been the most efficient, while also being a beautiful desktop operating system. Of course, System76 is about to unleash the COSMIC desktop version of Pop!_OS, which I believe will elevate the operating system to even higher levels of performance and ease of use.
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