Hello from Craig.
I recently re-entered the Linux world after a long absence. My objective is development of internet application and services. I have started by installing Ubuntu 16.04.3, but from my experience so far Ubuntu is stuck between wanting to be linux and wanting to be windows - and succeeding at neither. The end result of that is wasted time spent on bugs because there is little documentation, and the fixes are just "tricks/hacks" which have no further use. I'd rather spend the same time learning logical configuration rules and being able to apply that knowledge to future problems.
After some searching I have concluded that "void Linux" might be a good alternative. The home page begins by explaining how it's init ("runit") works - very simple and transparent. In addition Void has a good installer Void also handles "docker", which was the original reason I choose Ubuntu: at one time Ubuntu was the official "Docker" designated distro. But now "Docker has named "Alpine" as it's designated distro. Alpine is a very very lean Linux oriented for appliances like routers, not suitable as a development platform.
That's all for now.

Howdy and Welcome.

Hi&Welcome! stuff. LQ has a HUGE Slackware community, so maybe give that a thot.
I keep mixing up Void with Vector, which is based on Slackware (7873+ LQusers!!!)

A new library book "Pro Linux SA" covered Docker, but it's not for my old 32bit hwd
https://containerjournal.com/2017/03...r-heres-decide has opinions...

What's your hardware? 4+gb ram? Win7/10? How about VBox? 'live' usb? dual-boot?
But I love VirtualBox/osboxes.org because I can play while distros boot
ENJOY! And let us hear about your journey! (p.s. VPS vs. own hwd?)

Welcome to LQ.

I visited the Docker page linked by !!! and note that they recommend CentOS as the best way to run Linux on servers. Building on that, you might want to take a look a Scientific Linux, a desktop spin of RHEL developed by the folks at Fermi Labs.

Scientific Linux, like RHEL, is hardly bleeding edge, but it's rock solid.