At about 10 years old, my daughter's first computer was an old laptop which I installed Ubuntu. Worked fine for a while, but she often complained that the programs she wanted wouldn't run.

For her 13th birthday, we build a new PC (she said laptops sucked and wanted a desktop), and installed (sorry) Windows 10.

She is now messing a little around with Python running on the Windows OS. I asked her if she would rather puTTY into a Linux console, and she got kind of excited about it (don't know if she was excited about Linux, but she though puTTY was really cool).

My plan is to create a virtual server on my local Centos box.

So, what distribution should I use? Possible decision making factors are:

1. While I am not a Linux expert, I have most Centos experience and a little Ubuntu and Rasputin.
2. A GUI will not be used.
3. Security (unless she causes my home network to be hacked) and stability is not important, and the distribution should allow most current programs to be run.
4. It should be a "cool" distribution.

Recommendations?

Thanks!

I would assume it is capable so why not create a virtual machine on her computer? Cool? IMHO all distributions look pretty much the same from the command line...

Cause I don't know how to make a vm on a Windows OS. Guess I can learn, but didn't really want to. On the flip side, it is her thing, so maybe better to do it that way.

Maybe "cool" wasn't the right word. I'm still running Centos6 which makes using modern services a little more difficult. If, for instance, she wanted to install Python or some DB, I would want her (for now) to be able to simple yum/apt the latest/greatest, and not have to install from source.

Using VirtualBox is not difficult and she will probably catch on fast. How about Mint, Ubuntu or Fedora? All use package managers.

Thanks Michaelk,

I currently use VirtualBox via the command line on Linux. I've used Linux GUIs for it in the past, and it was pretty straight forward. I didn't know I can use VirtualBox on Windows, but agree it is the way to go. Decision made!

For shell use only, I am thinking Ubuntu might not be the best. But then maybe not? Or who cares?

For Fedora, are you talking about Centos (or Redhat), or are there others?

Never messed with Mint before. Then again, there is slackware...

As you originally said, maybe it doesn't matter...

What would be one of the most progressive (and not necessarily tried and tested) distributions?

Hi...

Fedora is a separate distribution "sponsored by Red Hat." Please see the wiki article here and the distribution's home page here. From my understanding, Fedora isn't usually associated with being a server OS, although it possibly could be used as one. Please see the opinions here.

Regards...

I would check out DebianEdu: https://wiki.debian.org/DebianEdu/#Introduction

Yea no-gui! Some ideas (<1hour with a .vdi!): [independence with judicious guidance]

Let her download&install http://virtualbox.org [on Win10] herself!, while you watch&guide.
During those FEW! minutes, go to: http://osboxes.org/centos (or /ubuntu or ...)
&download a .vdi (comes via GoogleDrive as a .7z! Note where you put it on Win10!)

In VBox, click New, give it a Name that starts with cen (or ub so it picks Type&Ver)
Take most defaults, EXCEPT: "use existing disk" & select that [un-7z'ed!] .vdi
(&maybe/ideally add: Network: Enable Adapter 2: Bridged [for host->guest access!]
&maybe [later ok] a Win10 'shared folder' [Machine folder; Auto mount & Make perm]
&maybe: under General: Advanced tab: Enable Shared Clipboard & Drag'n'Drop)
Start it. Hang around for a few minutes of 'config' ... Login& apt install python[3]

(I only have 'resources' to try 'tiny' IPFire .vdi It already has python 2.7.3!
but I messed up RED/GREEN/DHCP, so no net access Pakfire? Naw! dpkg/rpm only!)
Oh, if you Close/X/Host=right-Ctrl-Q the VB=VM, You want to: 'Power off'
In Win VB Mgr, Ctrl-R, Del all files, re-extract 'clean' .vdi from the .7z, re-try!

How about her joining LQ? (But critique first few posts, first! )

I would recommend Arch as by default you only have a command line until you decide to install a gui and pacman is a no-brainer to get up to speed on how to install stuff. Also, as it is a rolling release
distro she will basically be on the latest (not cutting edge unless she decides) software.

I would have thought a 13 year old these days would be telling her dad what she needed.
Especially if he can't get VBox working on windoze - hell, even I could manage that ...

Thanks grail! 0.5G Arch Linux 201608 CLI Version. YEA! Sold! osboxes.org/arch-linux
Wait... 'install' is spelled '-S'? What's your 'return policy'? OK, alias get='pacman -S'
But, Debian comes with over 50,000 [don't say 'apps']; how many with the other distros?
openSUSE wins with 70,000 but YaST_RPM? ick! TinyCore 25,000? Yea! My tiny old friend

Arch update: .vdi came up FAST&FINE. Remember: root pwd is osboxes.org
Pretty minimal! 94G free on 100G *virtual* disk [>my Win free space!]
No: python, updatedb, man service, ...; pacman -S strace worked (tho some ok 404's)

Devices->Insert Guest Additions CD Image (from VirtualBox.org/Downloads)
pacman -S linux-headers; mount /dev/sr0 /mnt; sh /mnt/*n
(or maybe get virtualbox-guest-utils [??])

alias {apt,yum,dnf,get}='pacman -S' #use `get <pkg>`, not ... install pkg
Get them apps, while they're hot! All 38,830+15,113 of 'em! -Syu?

I'll second Arch, it will teach her how to set up a system as well, rather than just following along with an installer.

I understand you don't want a GUI, but why not keep that option open for the future? That will impact your decision as well.

If you want stable, go Slack or Debian. That's their M.O.: stability first.
Arch for cutting edge.
Ubuntu or Mint (Cinnamon) for eye candy if you decide to change your mind and add in a GUI later.

Linux for children

6 Amazing Linux Distributions For Kids

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/fea...-children.html

Best Linux Distros For Kids — Top 5 Free Operating Systems