A Linux distribution (Sometimes abbreviated as a 'distro') consists 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 those that are most popular. For a more comprehensive list of distributions, see Distrowatch or the Wikipedia Article. Distributions are grouped by which distribution they are based on, and those in italics are abandoned.
Arch Based
| Distribution | Description |
|---|---|
| Arch Linux | An independent distribution focused on the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) principle that focuses on being lightweight and flexible. |
Debian Based
| Distribution | Description |
|---|---|
| Debian | An independent distribution developed by the community-supported Debian Project which is developed openly and distributed freely. |
| Kali Linux | A Debian-based distribution made for security auditing and penetration testing. Has multiple versions, all of which serve different discrete purposes - they offer a "full" ISO with all of their security tools available. |
| Ubuntu | A distribution based on Debian developed by Canonical who provides commercial support for releases on desktops, servers and IOT devices. |
Gentoo Based
| Distribution | Description |
|---|---|
| Gentoo | A highly flexible source-based distribution designed to have highly optimized and frequently updated software. |
Red Hat Enterprise Based
| Distribution | Description |
|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) | A commercial - once open to the public and now proprietary [citation] - distribution developed by Red Hat for the enterprise market. |
| Fedora | A community supported distribution sponsored by RHEL. It aims to provide the latest software while maintaining a completely Free Software system. |
Slackware Based
| Distribution | Description |
|---|---|
| Slackware | A highly customizable distribution that stresses ease of maintenance and reliability over cutting-edge software and automated tools. |
openSUSE Based
| Distribution | Description |
|---|---|
| openSUSE | A community-developed distribution sponsored by SUSE. It maintains a strict policy of ensuring all code in the installations will be from FOSS solutions. |
Other Independent Distributions
| Distribution | Description |
|---|---|
| NixOS | A distribution built around the Nix package manager, which provides atomic upgrades, rollbacks, and a declarative configuration model. |