I may shock you but I wonder why there are so many Linux distributions ?

Some have very "original" package manager, so we have to learn how to use it.
Some have strange software installed.

The original distributions have less support : so when we have a problem or a bug, it will be slower and harder to find. The number of their users is reduced, so bugs wont be found easily.

The number of the developpers is reduced, so the distrib will be slowly developped.
etc.

I can see 4 big families :
-Debian (Knoppix , Mepis)
-Red Hat (Aurox, Fedora Core)
-Slackware <--- added
-Source based (Gentoo)

So why not concentrate on them, so that:
-the number of users is higher,
-the number of developpers too,
-the bugs are found faster and easier,
-the product goes faster,
-the advertising is easier,
etc.

Diversity is good, but for Linux it is going too far.
Union makes the strength.

What do you think ?

hey you forgot slackware!!!

Slackware has :
online update : Swaret, Slapt-get etc. ------> original
package management : installpkg ------> original
So forget it ...

swaret and slapt-get are NOT part of slackware...

Quote:

package management : installpkg ------> original

as opposed to what?? RPM is Red Hat original, DEB is Debian original, and TGZ is Slackware original...

BTW, i don't know if you've noticed but the slackware forum is the most active distro forum here at LQ by far, so that pretty much rules-out your "less support" point also...

it's also the oldest surviving major linux distro on the planet...

How do you online update slackware ?
Original for exemple for the package installation and the update.
installpkg is original and is not yum or apt.
I know slackware is good supported, but anyway it is old and there are newer and better products like Knoppix .

that was a joke, right?? either that or you have like no idea what you are talking about...

Source/binary distros= Gentoo, Slackware
RPM= Red Hat, Mandriva, Fedora
deb=Debian and Debian based distros

"That gives us a total of 345 Linux and BSD distributions for which facts and figures have been compiled." http://distrowatch.com/stats.php

I like variety, but the sheer number of distros does tend to overwhelm people. I have to agree why not work on the big ones instead of spreading the effort between so many distros?

"Top 10 Distributions
1. Ubuntu Linux(Debian based)
2. Mandriva Linux (rpm)
3. Fedora Core (rpm)
4. SUSE LINUX (Novell)
5. Debian GNU/Linux
6. MEPIS Linux (Debian based)
7. Gentoo Linux
8. Slackware Linux
8. Knoppix (Debian based)
10. Xandros Desktop" (Debian based)
http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major

From taking a look at Distrowatch's Top Ten it could basically be narrowed down to Mandriva, Fedora, Debian, Slackware, Gentoo and SUSE(Novell). If the developers that are working on the 300+ distros would concentrate their efforts of one of the above a lot more could be accomplished.

I agree with you craigevil, but the problem is :
Mandriva has urpmi , a better version of rpm, instead of yum...
Suse has yast instead of yum...

I would see the 8 bests as :
Debian like : Ubuntu , Knoppix, Debian, Mepis
Red Hat like : Aurox, Fedora Core
Others : Slackware, Gentoo ?

What are the developpers waiting for to concentrate ?

i agree, guys could focus on driver development, code contributions, or software development instead of creating new distributions. Anybody who has time and enough experience can create a LFS ...

You don't have a clue.

I was feeling a bit chilly. Thanks for the flames. Now I feel nice and toasty!

I disagree.
Please stop using all those distributions and start using Slackware which lots of others prefer.
That is why limiting distributions is ridiculous.

I agree!!! Stop developing Debian, Mandriva, Red Hat, Gentoo, Ubuntu and every developer starts now to work with Slackware...

I'm a developer and look at any user tells I'm loosing my time is not good...
Any distro deserves respect...
The best way to increse linux is every day born 10 new distros... because there is a distro for any kind of user...

masonm and win32sux you are trying to flame me ?
Maybe you prefer to compile from source and resolve the dependencies on each error ? Waw you are real tough prodigious gurus !
Maybe you prefer to use packages so you use pkgtools which are not as good as apt...sorry.

You say Slack is wonderfull but you dont explain why.
You are arrogant and unfriendly, you give Slack a very bad name .
And nobody is willing to be forced to try a distribution.

Now the true problem is : there are too many distributions. And you know why ?
Because gurus are afraid to be too many to work on one project and that their "talent" is not reckognized.
Because gurus prefer to create their own churches to get fame and money.

So maybe focusing on the 10 best ones would be enough for the whole planet, wouldnt it ?

Hahahahaha

Yes, we all know how rich and famous the distro gurus are! There's Pat from Slackware, and...umm... that Gentoo bloke who's just gone to work for Microsoft, and umm... all those other rich and famous guys!

I can't believe people are still dignifying this thread with serious replies. I applaud your patience!