It is inevitable that at every conference, every talk, I get asked the same question: "What distribution of GNU/Linux do you use?"

I always answer back that I refuse to answer that question.

The question was asked again less than a week ago, during a talk on GNU/Linux to a class of undergraduate college students.

First of all, typically they are not really asking that specific question. They are really asking the question "What distribution should I use?" And the reason I do not answer is that I do not know enough about them to give them a good answer.

I have been a consultant since I left Compaq (having come to the company when it acquired Digital Equipment Corporation) in 1999. I use the distribution that my customer uses, so I can duplicate the issues that they are having with their systems.

The things I need and look for in a distribution would probably be different than the things the beginning person might desire.

For example, I typically work on different architectures, not just Intel/AMD. Therefore a distribution that supports multiple architectures is attractive to me.

I do a fair amount of video capture and editing work, probably more than the typical office worker whose main needs can be met with a good office package and a web browser.

However, I do give the questioner hints.

First of all, think about your particular situation and what you want and need from your software. Are your needs simple or do you need specialized applications that may be supported better by some specialized distribution?

In certain situations I also recommend an investigation of your surroundings. For example, if you are a student, your school may have a computer club where some (or all) of the members use GNU/Linux and may all be using the same distribution of GNU/Linux. Choosing the distribution they use may get you a lot of help if you need it.

Also, there may be local Linux User Groups (LUGs) in your area that have meetings or mailing lists where you may get advice or help with your distribution. As an example, I recently had a reason to see if there was a local user group in a particular area. I typed into my browser's search bar "Linux user group in <name of the city>" and up popped a web page telling about the user group and when and where they were going to have their next meeting. There is no guarantee that you will be so lucky, but in my estimation it is worth the effort.

After this you can search the Internet for articles with queries like "Linux distributions for beginners." This might return 9 or 10 articles comparing different distributions and their advantages and disadvantages. Take the time to read them and take notes on each distribution they mention. Make sure the distributions they mention work well on your hardware with regards to the architecture type (Intel/AMD, ARM, etc.), 32- or 64-bit, main memory size, etc. If the computer you will be using for GNU/Linux has a small main memory, you may wish to look for distributions that are considered "lightweight."

You can also look for a distribution that allows you to run it as a "live distribution," either off a CD or DVD or a USB thumb drive, so you can test it on your hardware without disturbing your current operating system.

Now that you have a short list of the distributions you might use, go to the distributions' websites and see what documentation they might have for beginners. Many of the distributions considered to be oriented toward beginners usually have a document that suggests how you can get started with that distribution. You may also find books (either online, electronic, or hard copy) offered for beginners that will help you learn about GNU/Linux using that distribution. Make sure the articles you are reading are fairly recent.

Next you can go to DistroWatch.com (https://distrowatch.com/) and see an index of many distributions. Here you can find a distribution, click on the name, and read something about it. You should pay attention to how active and popular the distribution is. Make sure that the distribution you are looking at is still being downloaded, used, and developed.

The next step is just to pick one, follow the instructions for downloading the distribution, and make a live distribution from it using the software that runs on your current system.

Boot that live distribution, checking to make sure it works with all of your hardware and services. You can easily try another distribution later if this does not do what you want.

Once you are sure, you can take the next step of installing it as a dual-boot (maintaining your current operating system) or replacing your current operating system (after backing up your data).

Carpe diem!