Ubuntu is one of the most widely used Linux distros; it's stable, reliable, well maintained, and has a huge community of followers.

According to a recent survey by HackerEarth, Ubuntu is the preferred Linux OS for software development, making it the most used open-source OS for the development and deployment of code. But why is this so?

Why Is Ubuntu Loved by Many?

A sneak peek at DistroWatch, the leading website that provides the latest trends and information on Linux distros shows that Ubuntu is among the most widely used Linux distros. Ubuntu is not only famous among software engineers but is also common among general users and newcomers to Linux.

Ubuntu Desktop is user-friendly and beautiful, plus it is very stable and comes with plenty of tools to get the job done, whether you are a photographer, artist, or work in accounts.

Ubuntu's large community of followers means that you can easily find help on the internet. To show how trusted this OS is, there are many other great distros that are in turn based on Ubuntu. A few examples are Pop!_OS, Lubuntu, and elementary OS.

If you are a software developer or engineer on the hunt for an awesome Linux distro then Ubuntu is definitely a strong candidate to consider.

1. Easy Integration

One of the most critical challenges that software engineers have to overcome is how well they can integrate with other systems. For example, if you develop a C# web API on Linux, how easily can you deploy it in an environment that closely resembles your local environment?

Luckily, Ubuntu is ubiquitous and can run on almost all kinds of infrastructure or devices you can think of. Ubuntu Server powers many servers both on-prem and in the cloud such as Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), etc. Ubuntu Core runs on IoT devices. You can also run Ubuntu on ARM-based architecture such as the Raspberry Pi.

This wide array of devices that Ubuntu can run on allows engineers to easily test, integrate, and deploy software.

2. Large Community

Ubuntu has been in development since the early 2000s and has gathered a large community of users and followers over the years. Software engineers love Ubuntu because of its stability.

When a Linux distro is used by many people as is the case with Ubuntu, it makes it easy to troubleshoot technical challenges you may encounter because you can effortlessly find resources on the internet.

You can also get much-needed help and documentation from the Debian community, a distro on which Ubuntu is based. Debian is very well documented and is well known for its hard-core stance on stability than bling.

As highlighted earlier, there are many other Linux distros based on Ubuntu. This also allows engineers to get help on Ubuntu-related issues from users of these other distros.

3. Wide Range of Programming Tools

Ubuntu comes with a wide range of free and open-source development tools that cater to the needs of embedded software developers, mobile app developers, API developers, and more.

Whether you are a C# developer, Python guru, Ruby on Rails developer, or an engineering student, Ubuntu has all the tools to get you started.

Apart from software development tools, Ubuntu is well stocked with productivity and communication tools such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, document editors, and image and video processing software.

For Linux software developers, Ubuntu allows you to easily distribute your software via the Snap Store.

4. Certified Hardware

Most mainstream PC and hardware manufacturers such as Dell, Lenovo, HP, and the Raspberry Pi Foundation certify their machines for Ubuntu. This means that if you are an organization or engineer with critical projects on your PC, you can have the peace of mind that your PC is ready to run Ubuntu without any hurdles.

Most governments and enterprises also run certified Ubuntu desktops and servers; this allows developers and engineers to build tools targeting Ubuntu knowing pretty well that the hardware it will run on has been well tested for compatibility beforehand.

Canonical provides up to 10 years of security updates to Ubuntu Certified computers that are running the LTS versions of Ubuntu.

5. Comprehensive Software Support

With Ubuntu, LTS version users get free software updates and security patches for a minimum of five years after the release.

You can also get extended software, security updates, and bug fixes at an affordable fee with the Ubuntu Advantage Program. This allows you to get the best support should you encounter any technical challenges.

Other benefits include live patching, which allows you to update the software on critical infrastructure without the need to restart the PC or server.

Ubuntu Is Awesome for Developing Software!

Ubuntu is a great choice for software developers. In addition to a supportive community, it gives you access to a wide range of tools to start developing software on your desktop.

Want to test how your software will run on Ubuntu production servers? You can simply install Ubuntu Server in a VM or on a spare PC.