Most likely, anyone already using an operating system that offers the options of Linux LTS And the mainline user (the normal one) knows what to choose. But there are also people who are considering changing distros and don't know what would be best for them if they were to make the switch. It's a reasonable question, and here we're going to explain what should be done, mentioning some examples to provide more clarity.
Currently, CachyOS is attracting a lot of attention and It's been at the top of the DistroWatch ranking for months.I'm using this as an example because this distribution, like EndeavourOS and other Arch-based ones, offers many kernel options, most notably the mainline, which is the most recent, and the LTS, which are kernel versions supported for a longer period. I think there are only a couple of things to keep in mind.
Linux LTS: More patches and slightly better support
Linux distributions that offer both LTS and mainline versions generally use LTS by default. Each project will have its reasons, but it's worth considering. Stick with an LTS version if it works well on our hardware.The reasons are that it is more stable, as it receives more patches over time, and it also receives better support.
As an example we can put what happened with LittleSnitchWhen version 1.0.0 was released, it was claimed to work on Linux 6.12 and later, but I tested it on Linux 6.19 and 7.0 and it wouldn't start. On Ubuntu 26.04, it even prevented me from booting into the operating system, and I had to uninstall the firewall software if I wanted to do anything. However, it worked perfectly on Linux 6.18.
I'm explaining this because development isn't easy. It involves certain preferences, and who's behind LittleSnitch? tested on Linux 6.12, Ubuntu 25.10 6.17 And, in theory, everything after 6.12. The thing is, it didn't work for me on the latest mainline (6.19), but it did work on the same system with 6.18. Other developers will do more or less the same: they'll test it on their main operating system and also on a couple of LTS versions, and if they can't test it on other mainlines, then they won't.
Linux mainline: support for the latest hardware
Linus Torvalds releases a new kernel version approximately every two months. Although it includes new features for networking, file systems, and more, one of the most important points It's adding support for new hardware.Let's say we buy a PC in February, and that PC is a bit "special." It might include hardware that isn't supported in Linux 6.18, released in late 2025, and if Torvalds takes that into account, he could have added support in Linux 6.19.
If we insist on sticking with an LTS Linux distribution, and the latest version is 6.18, the user experience wouldn't be complete and it wouldn't make much sense. So it's worth it. Use the latest kernel if it's better supported by our computer's hardware..
Have both just in case… or even three
It's best to have several kernels installed, just in case.An unwritten rule states that you must have the latest kernel installed, and at least the previous LTS version. Returning to the LittleSnitch example, until a recent update that made it work on Linux 6.19, the only way I could use it was with Linux 6.18. If it were essential for me, I could use Linux 6.18 and LittleSnitch without problems. If I only had 6.19, this wouldn't be an option.
If our distribution includes a kernel manager, it's also possible to install others for specific uses. For example, I have a hard drive in an AirPort Extreme from the days when I used Mac OS X (now macOS), and Linux 5.15 broke compatibilityThe Manjaro kernel manager still offers me the option to install Linux 5.10, and if I wanted to connect to that AirPort from Linux (which is not the case), I would have Linux 5.10 installed for the AirPort, 6.18 for compatibility, and 6.19 (soon 7.0) to take advantage of the latest version.
In summary:
- Linux LTS for compatibility and support.
- The latest mainline for new hardware support and the latest features.
- Other cores due to functions removed from the most recent ones.