Linux Distributions: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 02:31, 6 June 2024

A Linux distribution (Sometimes abbreviated as a 'distro') comprises of some form of the Linux Kernel, an init system (Such as systemd), GNU tools and libraries, documentation, a Package Manager and several other types of software. Often to provide a desktop experience a display server (Such as Xorg or a Wayland Compositor like Kwin), a Desktop Environments or Window Managers (Such as GNOME) and other programs may be included with the distribution or are installable from Repositories.

List of Linux Distributions

This is in no way an all inclusive list of Linux distributions and mostly covers the more notable ones, for a more comprehensive list of distributions see Distrowatch or the Wikipedia Article. Distributions are grouped by which distribution they are based on. Distributions in italics are abanonded.

Arch Based

Arch Linux is an independent distribution focused on the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) principle that focuses on being lightweight and flexible.

Distribution	Description
EndeavourOS^[1]	Arch but simplified for new users providing an easy way to install and setup with a lot of friendly GUI tools to update/rank mirrors and easily update system without requiring any Arch Linux experience.
ArcoLinux^[2]	Basically simplified Arch Linux but with a lot of themes, customization and plenty of Desktop Environments, Window Managers and configurations. A good distribution for tinkerers.
Manjaro^[3]	A once loved community project that had the best graphical AUR package management system that still is decent but causes a lot of package breakages^[4] and somehow cyber attacks at the AUR repository (via pamac).^[5]
Artix Linux^[6]	This is what people like to call a, "protest distro". It is basically Arch Linux but without `systemd`. Yeah, not much else. It's installer is quite confusing and causes a lot of new users to have issues.
Garuda Linux^[7]	One of the more fancy Arch Linux based distributions where you get a lot of cool themes with their desktop environments and certain window managers. You can however get all the themes that Garuda provides literally anywhere else on the internet but hey if you want to save time customizing, Garuda gives you a good out-of-the-box impression of Arch Linux with a very nice and simple installation process. It is Arch Linux but more easy to setup.
SteamOS^[8]	Not much important here but a notable distribution for those who use Steam handhelds, it is based on Arch Linux.

Debian Based

Debian is an independent distribution developed by the community-supported Debian Project which is developed openly and distributed freely.

Distribution	Description
Ubuntu^[9]	A very popular distribution that once was the best of them all but nowadays has been subtly ignored from the community due to the lack of Canonical's (parent company) decisions. You can still use it but it has a lot of things you would want to get rid of (snaps, telemetry, etc)
LMDE (Linux Mint)^[10]	LMDE is Linux Mint Debian Edition, it is essentially Linux Mint but directly based on Debian rather than Ubuntu. A very nice pick for beginners.
Linux Mint^[11]	The regular Linux Mint that features Ubuntu at it's core but stripped of all bad decisions of Canonical, it provides a lot of convenient features (printer support, etc) and is a quite stable distribution.
Pop!_OS^[12]	One of the most ease to use distribution for any MacOS user who switches to Linux. It is made by System76 and assures a cozy, nice-looking distribution. It has not been updated in a while but their COSMIC Desktop Environment is almost finished, as soon as it does it will take become the best again. It also has amazing NVIDIA support and has a very nice application installing software.
Rhino Linux^[13]	One of the more recent ones, Rhino Linux (made by AJ) is a rolling release distribution that focuses on the ease of users, it has its own package manager (started as a wrapper) that installs and updates both from apt (which in this case is nala, a better frontend) and pacstall (their own in-house replacement to AUR). Overall, an awesome distribution for anyone looking for an arch-like alternative. It also features its own Unicorn Desktop Environment that is based of XFCE and looks quite nice. It's package manager is named `rpk` which is Rhino Packager. It will update your whole system with ease. It is very easy to install and a drop-in replacement to people coming from MacOS
Devuan^[14]	It is yet another "protest distribution". Similar to Artix except it is Debian or in other words it is Debian without `systemd`. Yeah, that's it!
PeppermintOS^[15]	A very easy to use Debian-based stable distribution allowing a very minimal setup, it also has ISOs with Devuan base.

Fedora Based

Fedora is a community supported distribution sponsored by RHEL. It aims to provide the latest software while maintaining a completely Free Software system.

Distribution	Description

Gentoo Based

Gentoo is a highly flexible source-based distribution designed to have highly optimized and frequently updated software.

Distribution	Description

Red Hat Enterprise Based

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is a commercial distribution developed by Red Hat for the enterprise market.

Distribution	Description

Slackware Based

Slackware is a highly customizable distribution that stresses ease of maintenance and reliability over cutting-edge software and automated tools.

Distribution	Description

openSUSE Based

openSUSE is a community-developed distribution sponsored by SUSE. It maintains a strict policy of ensuring all code in the installs will be from FOSS solutions.

Distribution	Description

Ubuntu Based

Ubuntu is a distribution based on Debian developed by Canonical who provides commercial support for releases on desktops, servers and IOT devices.

Distribution	Description

Other Independent Distributions

Distribution	Description
NixOS	A distribution built around the Nix package manager, which provides atomic upgrades, rollbacks, and a declarative configuration model.

[1] ttps://endeavouros.com/

[2] ttps://arcolinux.com/

[3] ttps://manjaro.org/

[4] ttps://forum.manjaro.org/t/something-is-just-breaking-my-installation/92088 https://forum.manjaro.org/t/update-breaks-the-manjaro-os/56107 https://www.reddit.com/r/ManjaroLinux/comments/gt89rj/manjaro_breaking_and_stability_issues/

[5] ttps://www.reddit.com/r/archlinux/comments/mz3biz/is_the_aur_down_for_everyone/https://www.linux.org/threads/manjaro-accidently-ddosed-the-aur.34248/

[6] ttps://sourceforge.net/projects/artix-linux/

[7] ttps://sourceforge.net/projects/garuda-linux/

[8] ttps://store.steampowered.com/steamos

[9] ttps://ubuntu.com/

[10] ttps://www.linuxmint.com/download_lmde.php

[11] ttps://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

[12] ttps://pop.system76.com/

[13] ttps://rhinolinux.org/

[14] ttps://www.devuan.org/

[15] ttps://peppermintos.com/

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[15]

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 ! Distribution !! Description
 |-
-|
+|EndeavourOS<ref>https://endeavouros.com/</ref>
-|
+|Arch but simplified for new users providing an easy way to install and setup with a lot of friendly GUI tools to update/rank mirrors and easily update system without requiring any Arch Linux experience.
+|-
+|ArcoLinux<ref>https://arcolinux.com/</ref>
+|Basically simplified Arch Linux but with a lot of themes, customization and plenty of Desktop Environments, Window Managers and configurations. A good distribution for tinkerers.
+|-
+|Manjaro<ref>https://manjaro.org/</ref>
+|A once loved community project that had the best graphical AUR package management system that still is decent but causes a lot of package breakages<ref>https://forum.manjaro.org/t/something-is-just-breaking-my-installation/92088<nowiki/>https://forum.manjaro.org/t/update-breaks-the-manjaro-os/56107<nowiki/>https://www.reddit.com/r/ManjaroLinux/comments/gt89rj/manjaro_breaking_and_stability_issues/</ref> and somehow cyber attacks at the AUR repository (via pamac).<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/archlinux/comments/mz3biz/is_the_aur_down_for_everyone/<nowiki/>https://www.linux.org/threads/manjaro-accidently-ddosed-the-aur.34248/</ref>
+|-
+|Artix Linux<ref>https://sourceforge.net/projects/artix-linux/</ref>
+|This is what people like to call a, "protest distro". It is basically Arch Linux but without <code>systemd</code>. Yeah, not much else. It's installer is quite confusing and causes a lot of new users to have issues.
+|-
+|Garuda Linux<ref>https://sourceforge.net/projects/garuda-linux/</ref>
+|One of the more fancy Arch Linux based distributions where you get a lot of cool themes with their desktop environments and certain window managers. You can however get all the themes that Garuda provides literally anywhere else on the internet but hey if you want to save time customizing, Garuda gives you a good out-of-the-box impression of Arch Linux with a very nice and simple installation process. It is Arch Linux but more easy to setup.
+|-
+|SteamOS<ref>https://store.steampowered.com/steamos</ref>
+|Not much important here but a notable distribution for those who use Steam handhelds, it is based on Arch Linux.
 |}
 ==== Debian Based ====
@@ Line 19: / Line 34: @@
 ! Distribution !! Description
 |-
-|
+|Ubuntu<ref>https://ubuntu.com/</ref>
-|
+|A very popular distribution that once was the best of them all but nowadays has been subtly ignored from the community due to the lack of Canonical's (parent company) decisions. You can still use it but it has a lot of things you would want to get rid of (snaps, telemetry, etc)
+|-
+|LMDE (Linux Mint)<ref>https://www.linuxmint.com/download_lmde.php</ref>
+|LMDE is Linux Mint Debian Edition, it is essentially Linux Mint but directly based on Debian rather than Ubuntu. A very nice pick for beginners.
+|-
+|Linux Mint<ref>https://www.linuxmint.com/download.php</ref>
+|The regular Linux Mint that features Ubuntu at it's core but stripped of all bad decisions of Canonical, it provides a lot of convenient features (printer support, etc) and is a quite stable distribution.
+|-
+|Pop!_OS<ref>https://pop.system76.com/</ref>
+|One of the most ease to use distribution for any MacOS user who switches to Linux. It is made by System76 and assures a cozy, nice-looking distribution. It has not been updated in a while but their COSMIC Desktop Environment is almost finished, as soon as it does it will take become the best again. It also has amazing NVIDIA support and has a very nice application installing software.
+|-
+|Rhino Linux<ref>https://rhinolinux.org/</ref>
+|One of the more recent ones, Rhino Linux (made by AJ) is a rolling release distribution that focuses on the ease of users, it has its own package manager (started as a wrapper) that installs and updates both from apt (which in this case is nala, a better frontend) and pacstall (their own in-house replacement to AUR). Overall, an awesome distribution for anyone looking for an arch-like alternative. It also features its own Unicorn Desktop Environment that is based of XFCE and looks quite nice. It's package manager is named <code>rpk</code> which is Rhino Packager. It will update your whole system with ease. It is very easy to install and a drop-in replacement to people coming from MacOS
+|-
+|Devuan<ref>https://www.devuan.org/</ref>
+|It is yet another "protest distribution". Similar to Artix except it is Debian or in other words it is Debian without <code>systemd</code>. Yeah, that's it!
+|-
+|PeppermintOS<ref>https://peppermintos.com/</ref>
+|A very easy to use Debian-based stable distribution allowing a very minimal setup, it also has ISOs with Devuan base.
 |}
 ==== Fedora Based ====