Hello.

I thought I would put this question to Distribution forum but I found the Distribution forum is a collection of other forums specific to a individual distribution. So I decided to ask here.

I have a CentOS 7 installed at uni which I am kind of forced to use and for that reason I started using CentOS 7 at home as well. I just realised and been told that the main purpose and thrust of CentOS is for stability as this distribution is dedicated to use as servers. Consequently, everything available from repositories is outdated--perhaps not everything but applications I need to use: git, gpg, Python (v2), not sure about Java etc.

I would like to try a system where I can have rather updated tools for program development (python, C++, Java etc.). I'd also like to have updated version of git. Another issue is I use some files that belong to a company and might contain sensitive data. I would rather encrypt files before they go to repository. I have to sync repository with another computer and the same versions GnuGP 2.1.x needs be used. Currently I cannot have GnuGP 2.1.x installed on CentOS and it would be best if I had. I don't mind installing applications from sources but sometimes things go wrong. I have just been told and on CentOS forum they don't support questions regarding installation from sources :/ I am basically on my own!!! I will also need to install matlab and R Studio.

I think about Ubuntu or Arch. Ubuntu because there is massive support in internet with semi updated software and Arch Linux because one of my colleagues uses it and is happy with this--he is quite advanced in Linux, though.

What would you suggest? Thanks

PS. I forgot to add. I would need a VPN compatible with CisoVPN. Good thing about CentOS is it has vpnc available where a Cisco VPN profile file can be converted and used.

Fedora and Ubuntu are probably the two I'd recommend, given what you are saying Fedora maybe more applicable as CentOS is based off of RHEL and RHEL is forked from Fedora. The only issue with Fedora is it tends to be on the extreme of bleeding edge unlike RHEL and CentOS which use mainly out-dated software, there isn't really a decent middle-ground between them.

I would say that Arch isn't particularly suitable for beginners.

If you *really* want the most up-to-date versions in the repositories then you would be best to go for a cutting-edge distro such as Fedora, Manjaro, Debian Unstable/Testing...

However, you might be best going for a more stable distro and then installing any particular software that you want to be more up-to-date from non-official repository sources e.g. Ubuntu-based PPAs, unofficial or private repositories, downloaded package files, compiling from source etc. As long as you do this carefully and wisely (i.e. you ensure that you're installing from kosher sources), you'll find it provides a nice blend of stability and up-to-dateness.

As an example, I'm running Linux Mint 18.1 but using the version of git found in ppa:git-core/ppa which keeps git pretty much up-to-date with the latest git stable release.

For tools like Python, gcc etc, however, in my experience it's safer to use the tools provided by the official repositories as the system is built around them, so if you really need the cutting-edge versions of these then you need a cutting-edge distro.

If the choice is between those then the best option would be Ubuntu. Linux Mint is another similar option.

With Ubuntu you have a good compromise between new and stable. The LTS series, which is published every other year, is good for 5 years. The current one is 16.04 LTS and the next one won't be until 18.04. The versions in between are basically only good until the next version and then you'll have to upgrade or reinstall. That will keep you with the latest versions of most packages. However, if you go with the LTS version you can use PPAs to select newer versions of specific packages individually.

Thanks guys. Really appreciate your comments. I think I'll decide on Ubuntu but I just need to ask two questions.

Does Ubuntu support network printers? I've got Xerox Phaser 3320 (network). On CentOS 7, I just run an installer from Xerox support website and then added a printer via Cups (localhost:631).

My university requires a VPN connection if I need to look in their resources. They provide a file with a profile for Cisco VPN. CentOS 7 has its own vpnc software but provides a Perl script which converts an original file to its own format and VPN works.

Is it similar with Ubuntu?

CUPS supports network printers, therefore Ubuntu supports network printers, as Ubuntu, like other distros, uses CUPS.

There are a number of VPN client programs (as well as server progams) available for Linux; any of them should work on Ubuntu and most of them are likely in the Ubuntu repositories. A web search for "Linux vpn" will turn up a number of helpful articles and reviews.

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I know people who swear by ElementaryOS. It's an Ubuntu derivative (like Mint), and from what I've seen it's great.

"main purpose and thrust of CentOS is for ..." Not stability. It is simply an opensource version of RH product. It relies on the upstream vendor.

It is easy to use any number or Distro's but if you are using Centos (or Scientific/Oracle) linux at school then you should use it at home.

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I beg to differ. Unless there is an overriding requirement to have the same distro at home, I think it will do the OP good to use a different distro and desktop environment at home in order to provide a better overview of Linux by comparing and contrasting.

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I can't recommend anything but the one I use. However, I think distrowatch is a good resource in figuring out what one wants in regard to default packages and distro design philosophy (even if the reviewer holds that design philosophy in contempt).