What is the real difference among all these Linux distributions?
 

All distros use some common parts (the kernel, a GUI, some third party applications), but what different stuff do they put into the whole package to make it different from the others?
Is there a software part made by each company-organisation in a specific distro? If yes, which is this? Is this software part an open source, or it is private to each distro?
What is this thing that makes a distro better for novices or expert users?

well, some distros use different package distribution systems. Redhat and Fedora use RPM (which reallly stinks), and there are 3 or 4 other systems. Thats what makes some of them different for starters.

The window manager, the filesystem, the installation type (non/graghical, non/difficultl), package distribution, and more, these are the factors that make the distro suited either for n00bs or experts.

dont use fedora, I really have come to hate my distro with a passion (maybe core 4 is better).

As far as I can tell, Core 4 is the same but with everything in the menu's moved around... sounds like something m$ would do actually.

Must be more under the hood.

ADDITION: I'm downloading FC4 right now and somehow 243MB of 2.56GB is -17%... Go Microsoft with your amazing maths skills!

Here are some ways the various distros differ:

1) Whether the distro is free or commercial and uses "Free Software".
2) Number of packages available without looking for other sources of software. Debian is the biggy here with over 15000 apps.
3) The way updates are handled.
4) Security policies.
5) Package management systems:( there are advantages and disadvantages to all methods)
The following are some examples of package management systems implemented by Unix-like operating systems:
* RPM, the RPM Package Manager. Invented by Red Hat, but now used by several other Linux distributions. RPM is the Linux Standard Base packaging format.
There are many higher level tools that use the RPM packaging format, simplifying the process of finding, downloading and installing packages and their dependencies, including
o YUM, used on Fedora Core.
o up2date, used on Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Although designed to talk to Red Hat Network, up2date can also source packages from yum and apt for RPM repositories, as well as local and directories.
o YaST , as used on SuSE Linux distributions.
o urpmi as used by Mandrakelinux/Mandriva
o APT for RPM.
* dpkg, used originally by Debian GNU/Linux and now by other systems. The .deb format used by dpkg was the first to have a widely known dependency resolution tool, called APT.
* Portage/emerge, used by Gentoo Linux and inspired by the BSD ports system.
6) Is it going to be around or is it a new distro.
7) "Comparison of Linux distributions"
8) The file system used. "Comparison of file systems"
9) Window manager it uses. Window Managers for X
10) Desktop environment
11) How easy it is to install and use. How are programs installed and updated.
12) Does it have what "you" Need.
13) The documentation and support available.

ive seen worse (my friend was downloading ISOs (not of the Linux variety......) it said that 50 MB was 3% of 700 MB

Excellent list, there. I'm going to copy it into my notes for when I get asked this very same question.

Of course MY distro is the best. ;)

craigevil- have you thought of putting this in the LQWiki?

very good.

titanium_geek

All I did was get various articles from the Linux Wikipedia.

Someone with a lilttle more writing skill can/should clean it up and put it in the LQ Wiki.


Ok I cleaned it up a little and threw it on a webpage.:
What is the difference between Linux distros?
http://www.geocities.com/reverendsky...mparisons.html

Anybody heard of Vidalinux?
 

Just wondering, was easy and you get to emerge, not hard core enough for me, I still enjoy manual compilation, but you get easy desktop OS with emerge and Portage!!! Fun.

That's all folks

slackwarebilly

NOTE: anaconda (redhat) installer:confused:

Craigevil:

As threatened, I've written up an article on my website based on your list. Great list by the way. I did credit you (and LQ) in the article.

Please let me know if this needs any changes or additions.

http://www.perfectreign.com/modules/...ticle.php?id=9

Thanks!!

Excellent job. You might want to edit the package manager list it has a slant to it. Use a list like <ul></ul>.


Much better job than I could have done. I can find the information and put it to use, the problem comes when I have to explain it to someone else.

Thanks!

Grr, the slanting. I had fixed that then somehow messed up my database, had pasted the wrong text (I edited it in OOo) then somehow messed up my Virus article as well.

I need more caffene. :)

I hope it helps people! i'm going to add it to my sig.

Added a link to the article on from my page.

A very well written article covering this subject is available at:(Your article)-
What are the differences between Linux distributions?

What is the difference between Linux distros?
http://www.geocities.com/reverendsky...ns.html?200515