I have used Ubuntu for more than a year and have a C++ background. I am currently in the third year of a BTech program and want to deepen my understanding of the Linux environment and Linux development. Should I switch to another distribution, and if so, which one would be a good next step?
4 Answers
You do not necessarily need to switch distributions to learn more. Try doing more of your daily work through the terminal, learn how packages, services, permissions, processes, and system configuration work, and experiment in a virtual machine. Ubuntu can teach you all of that while keeping your main system stable.
The difficulty varies a lot. Arch automates much of the package management, Gentoo lets you customize and compile many packages, Slackware leaves more manual dependency and configuration work to you, and Linux From Scratch walks you through building a complete system. Choose based on how much time you have and what specifically you want to learn, rather than assuming a harder distribution automatically makes you a better developer.
If you want a more challenging experience, Arch is a reasonable step up because you configure more of the system yourself. Void, Gentoo, and Slackware can teach you even more, but they require substantially more maintenance and troubleshooting. I would avoid making Linux From Scratch your primary installation; use a virtual machine or spare computer instead.
Fedora is a solid next choice if you want something current but still practical for everyday use. You could also consider Linux Mint or Zorin OS if you mainly want a dependable desktop. The distribution matters less than actively exploring the tools and internals of the system.
I had stability issues with Pop!_OS on a newer laptop and eventually moved to Fedora, which worked better for me.