You could do worse than install Ubuntu.
Based on Debian, arguably the best distribution around, but made more userfriendly (especially the installation and tools integration).

Hello,

I like RedHat / Fedora. It has worked well for me. I found Debian to be beyond user unfriendly. Documentation all over the place, but not organized in any one fashion.

If I were starting out today, I would be with Fedora, and with SuSE in second place.

Christian

Thank you,

I'll downlaod it today and try it out, and if worse comes to worse im sure someone here can help out if i have any problems.

um wow, the first reply was to j.

I have a strong desire to learn basic programming and i would like a little difficulty when starting out. With that would RedHat / Fedora be a good choice more so than Ubuntu?

Wow this is the first time that I have posted on a forum and im very impressed. Thank you both

Hello,

It just happens to be where people who know something about the topic happen to read. It is more a matter of coincidence. Sometimes several hours can go between question and answer. Your topic is more of the luckier ones.

BTW, welcome to DaniWeb.

I do not know much about Ubuntu. I do know that Redhat / Fedora, with the programming modules installed, work well. When you install, be sure to select the packages, and give yourself a lot of hard drive space to work with. I would suggest 10GB Hard drive or larger for the whole thing.

Is this your first time working with linux? If so, Let us know, and we can suggest partition sizes, and walk you through it. You will learn more than just programming... you will learn engineering.

Christian

Yes this is my first time with linux, i have an 80gb hard with about 40 or 45gb of free space. I will need help on partitioning and how to boot into linux , and not in to xp pro. If you could help with that i'd be forever in debt.

Also is it safe to post my home email address so that i can be contacted ( im working now **hack...cough**)?


Shawn.

use qtparted, there are ISO images for this program to boot yoru PC with, also knoppix live has it built in. Good luck. to run it us this command with out quotes "run_qtparted"

Thank you.

The more information the better. I'm heading home now to download and i'll go from there. Will anyone be up around 4am est?? j/k lol.

i might. you never know. call of duty has been ruling my life. I just finished up some of my history home work, now ill hit the english. I got taking back sunday blaring, lol. And im downloading Ubuntu, to try it along side you. To help you and my self at the same time. Also aim for a 3 partiton linux install.
a 32 meg /boot partition
a 512mb-1 gig /linux-swap (lol huge)
rest of free with /root thats my set up! RUNS great with knoppix, etc. Red hat doesnt run for me thought.