For users who have wet their feet in the Linux world and are ready to move on to a slightly more complicated Linux distribution that, perhaps, will allow them to learn more about the inner workings of a Linux system or simply offer a more challenging Linux experience I recommend Fedora Linux. This is the community-supported free distribution of Red Hat Linux and although it does not offer some of the features of a Linux distribution such as Ubuntu, it is still very easy to setup and offers a pleasant user experience.
My “I Want to Learn More” Recommendations:
Fedora Linux
The Fedora Project is a free project designed by Red Hat. It is open for all to participate in and promises the continued development of a free, general purpose operating system built on entirely open source software. With the release of Fedora Linux 10 the Fedora Project has added many impressive features, streamlined the install process, and sports a shiny new look. For the Linux user 3 - 6 months into their Linux learning experience I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Fedora Linux 10.
Slackware Linux
One of the longest running Linux distributions, Slackware Linux, still has a large and loyal following and for good reason. Slackware Linux places stability and a friendly user experience above all other goals while still offering a full featured desktop, robust server environment, and a full range of development tools for the new and experienced software developer alike.
I will only make one recommendation here and that is Gentoo Linux. This was one of my first Linux distributions and to this day, although I no longer use it on a daily basis, it still has a special place in my heart. Geared towards network professionals and software developers Gentoo Linux is compiled from the ground up. What does this mean to someone who uses Gentoo Linux? An extremely fast system compiled from scratch for your computer architecture. Gentoo continues on with this practice concerning package management as well. The system is called portage and allows you to compile your programs as they are installed. This results in a slower install but each package is optimized for your system, resulting in faster load times and use. If you are looking to delve deeper into the inner workings of Linux while optimizing your programs for maximum performance don’t hesitate to try Gentoo Linux!
Honorable Mentions:
Sabayon Linux
Sabayon Linux is a fork of the Gentoo Linux project. Sabayon Linux simplifies the Gentoo Linux install process while maintaining compatibility with Gentoo Linux and is equally tweaker friendly.
LFS (Linux From Scratch)
LFS (Linux From Scratch) is a project that provides you with step-by-step instructions for building your own custom Linux system, entirely from source code. I have not personally made use of this Linux distribution but have heard good things. If you are looking for a challenge don’t hesitate to visit the LFS homepage and wade right in!