Which Linux distribution should I go for learning C/C++/Assembly in Linux

Question

I am a primary windows developer with experience in C#, .NET, Visual C/C++. I want to lean C/C++ development in linux in order to create portable GUI applications which run on both Windows and Linux.

I have used Fedora in past (2005). Want your suggestions to know which is the best distribution currently to learn programming in linux.

Answer 1

You can't really go wrong with any of the major ones. Personally I use Debian, but Fedora and OpenSUSE are good choices as well.

I would also like to point out that you can use C# to create portable GUI applications. Have a look at Mono and Gtk# . I have developed quite a few Gtk# apps and they usually run flawlessly on Windows and Linux, with very little work on my part. It might not be a bad introduction to coding on Linux, as you will be able to use a familiar language.

Answer 2

Any modern Linux distribution will do, as they all includes (or makes it easy to install) GCC. To easily create portable GUI applications, I would recommend taking a look at Qt .

Answer 3

Since every distro worth its salt has a Development Package that includes gcc, g++ and gdb, it's really going to come down to the IDE you develop your code in. Eclipse is an excellent IDE for C & C++ which just happens to be written in java. So long story short, use whatever distro you are comfortable with, it really doesn't matter all that much.

Answer 4

There is none Distribution you couldn't use. If you want an easy distribution working almost out of the box. With a lot of things configured automatically i would suggest you use ubuntu.

If you like to do more things on your own I'd tend to debian. Anyway you could simply code with qt and use the linux box for debugging only.

Answer 5

You wrote "to create portable GUI applications which run on both Windows and Linux" - I suggest that you consider Qt (used to be from Trolltech now part of Nokia). http://qt.nokia.com/products/

Answer 6

Slackware, ArchLinux or CentOS.

Stay away from Ubuntu and its derivatives, you will spend more time messing with packet manager apt-get than doing code. If you choose Debian-derivatives you will spend time wondering why your programs dont work only to find out you need packetname- devel also (!)

A base Slackware install should be enough to get you started, if you would like to keep having the latest programs, use ArchLinux.