We tacked some great Linux subjects this year, from building home servers to finding the perfect Linux distribution and even fixing some Ubuntu annoyances. Here's a look back at our top Linux downloads and posts from 2012 (with a little FreeBSD thrown in for fun).


DVD players are so 1999. In this day and age, a custom media center running XBMC is the only thing you really need hooked up to your TV-whether you're watching movies you've ripped, streaming your favorite TV shows from Netflix and Hulu, or even playing video games. More »


You've heard the word "server" thrown around a lot, but usually in the context of web sites or big companies that have a lot of data to store. In reality, a server can be just as useful in your home. More »

Five Best Linux Distributions Whether you're a beginner or you've been using Linux systems for years, you probably have an… Read more


Whether you're a beginner or you've been using Linux systems for years, you probably have an opinion on what the best distribution is. "Best," is obviously a relative term, and we understand that what's best for beginners may not be best for advanced users, and so on. More »



Dear Lifehacker,

I like the idea of having a networked backup, streaming, and torrenting machine using FreeNAS or Ubuntu, but I'm not sure what hardware I should use to build it. More »



Ubuntu 12.04 "Precise Pangolin" is out today, bringing lots of improvements to your favorite Linux distribution. It has a new quick search feature called the HUD, some new privacy settings, a few tweaks to the Unity interface, and more. More »



Linux is a badass open-source operating system. Take it from a card-carrying Linux lover. But it's not without problems. One such problem: There are nearly six hundred different versions of Linux out there-an incredibly overwhelming number to even the most experienced of Linux users. More »



A fast, refreshed, and completely awesome Mac is within your reach, but Mountain Lion isn't the way to get there.

The Problem

When Mountain Lion launched, we were abuzz. More »



While your terminal emulator of choice depends a lot on personal preference, it's quite clear that the most powerful terminal emulator on Linux is the feature-filled Terminator. More »



Linux may not be the most popular OS around, but that doesn't mean we're going to sit here and ignore it. Here are our favorite downloads for everyone's favorite open source operating system. More »



Dear Lifehacker,

I've seen you talk about running Windows on a Mac by dual booting, as well as dual booting Windows 8 alongside Windows 7. But you've also talked about how to run Windows 8 in a virtual machine. More »



Ubuntu released the next iteration of your favorite Linux distribution today, codenamed "Quantal Quetzal." Here's what you'll find in the new version. More »



A low-powered home server is one of the best ways to download files with BitTorrent and Usenet, but if you really want to stay safe on file sharing services, you need to anonymize your traffic. More »



Don't like Windows 8's new interface? Sick of Ubuntu Unity and the new ads that come along with it? Maybe it's time to create your own, ideal operating system with just the features you want. More »



Windows/Mac/Linux/Others: XBMC is still our favorite customizable media center software around, and today you can download the beta of version 12.0 which adds live TV, PVR support, better AirPlay, and lots more to your home theater PC. More »



Ubuntu is still the most popular Linux distribution around, but a lot of people are leaving it for greener, Unity-free pastures. If you like Ubuntu but don't like its interface and default apps, Ubuntu Builder can help you create your own, customized version. More »



Ubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" is out, and while it has a few cool features, it also has one very annoying addition: the Dash now includes useless Amazon results in your searches. More »



Ubuntu: Watching Netflix on Linux has always been a pain, since Microsoft Silverlight isn't available on Linux. The unofficial Netflix app for Ubuntu makes it easy to install Netflix and start watching movies right away. More »



Wine is a great way to run your favorite Windows programs on Linux, but if you don't want to mess with a program's settings to get it just right, free app PlayOnLinux has a bunch in its database that you can install with one click. More »



So you've gotten started with Linux, maybe tried Ubuntu or Mint, but you're ready to move on to another distro. Get Linux is a simple app that helps you browse information on tons of other distros available. More »



Dear Lifehacker,

I've followed your guide to building a home server with FreeNAS, but I'm not sure what to do with the permissions on my files. Can I just set them all to 777, or is that insecure? More »


So there you have it. It has been a great year of Linux downloads and tweaks. Whether your favorite of the year made the list or not, we'd love to hear which guide helped you the most. And if you're still hungry for more Linux, take a gander at the most popular Linux posts of 2011, 2010, 2009, and 2008.