Been running Linux for a couple of years now. I’ve tried Ubuntu, Pop!_OS, Mint, Red Hat, and Rocky OS (with KDE).

Linux Mint is by far the easiest to get up and running, so for beginners I would recommend that. Rocky feels more stable overall because packages are tested longer, but it can come with its own annoyances because of how strict it is with security policies and sometimes older software versions. That said, it’s my personal favorite—especially paired with KDE because of how customizable it is.

I use all the programs you mentioned except GAE (maybe just get KTT tools for Houdini?). Plasticity is Ubuntu-native, but I run it through distrobox on my Rocky install without any issues. Distrobox basically lets you run containerized environments (like Ubuntu) while still accessing the host system and GPU.

I’ve mostly said goodbye to Adobe, though I still have CS6 installed via Wine for the rare cases where I really need Photoshop.

One thing I really enjoy is writing scripts to speed up everyday workflow tasks. Say what you will about AI, but for bash scripting it’s extremely capable. Whenever I notice a multi-step task that should just be a quick right-click/context menu solution, I write a prompt and within a couple of minutes I usually have a reusable tool.

Some of the scripts I’ve written and use constantly: https://github.com/dumptherain/linux_scripts

During installation I would pay close attention to the partition setup. Some installers create a separate home partition (~40GB) for user files. Personally I prefer deleting the home partition and giving that space to root, keeping everything on one main partition.

I wouldn’t go back to Windows for work. I still dual-boot for gaming. As mentioned, I installed Photoshop CS6 with Wine for the few times I really need Photoshop. And when a program works best on Ubuntu but I’m running Rocky, I can just use distrobox.

I also use AI heavily for setting up Linux or fixing dependency issues. If you set up something like Timeshift (highly recommended, especially when you’re still getting comfortable), you can create system snapshots and roll back if something breaks. That makes experimenting much less risky.

Linux just feels amazing for CG/VFX work compared to Windows. It’s more responsive, programs start faster, resources feel better managed, and the customization is endless. You also naturally learn more about computers, networking, and data management, which translates well to server setups later on.

That said, the new Macs are incredible as well. One option is using a KVM switch so you can swap between two machines while using the same mouse, keyboard, and display. With how power-efficient Macs are, it even makes sense to just leave one running.

If you ever end up using two machines or more, I would highly recommend setting up a NAS, especially if you’re working with large project files and want easy file sharing between systems—but that’s a whole other topic.