I'm getting back into Linux after a few experiences, and I want to make it work smoothly for both my DaVinci Resolve projects and gaming. I previously had Resolve running on Mint with some workarounds, but after an update, it broke, and I had to switch back to Windows because of a deadline. I'm curious if there's a particular Linux distribution that's known for better compatibility with DaVinci Resolve. I've heard Fedora might be a good choice since it's Red Hat-based, and I've also seen users mentioning Manjaro and Pop!_OS having success. Should I consider those options, or is it a misconception that certain distros are better than others for Resolve?
5 Answers
For more advice on picking a distro, the distro selection page on the wiki is super helpful. Just remember to back up regularly, experiment in a VM, and make sure you understand commands before you hit Enter! 🙂
Mint has DaVinci Resolve available through its Software Manager if you want to give it a shot. I haven't used it myself but have heard it's pretty straightforward.
If you're looking for official support, DaVinci Resolve works best on Ubuntu and RHEL/CentOS. I used Resolve on CentOS before, and it ran without any problems. Developers typically focus on compatibility with these major distros, so you might have a smoother experience there.
Fedora has a tool called davinci-helper which simplifies the installation almost like using the Windows installer. Just keep in mind that this tool might not work with every Fedora update, like Fedora 43, which had problems before.
Honestly, the distro doesn't matter as much as you think. Just because Fedora is Red Hat-based doesn't mean it'll be hassle-free. In fact, Fedora 43 had significant issues with DaVinci, needing some troubleshooting. For a solid guide on which distros work well with Resolve, check out a thorough setup guide online—Mint actually makes it pretty easy with tools like makeresolvedeb for installation.
That's true! Make sure to check for updates on that tool or any specific fixes if you go with Fedora.