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The Linux Distribution Game

Posted by timothy on from the move-your-token-6-spaces dept.

Ladislav Bodnar writes: "I have installed and used many Linux distributions. The editorial, entitled The Linux Distribution Game is the result of my personal experiences - it aspires to be a gentle introduction to the many distributions out there. The rest of the DistroWatch site provides pure facts; this is the only exception, although I promise to be as unbiased as possible." This page is nearly worth it for the logos alone; the links to obscure and semi-obscure distributions are a nice resource.

7 of 254 comments (clear)

  1. What's wrong with RedHat? by Bud+Dwyer · · Score: 2, Insightful
    I took a look at the site, and quite frankly, I'm overwhelmed by the number of choices. I started using Linux quite recently, and if I'd known there were this many different distributions, I probably would have stayed away.


    When I started using Linux, I vaguely knew there were other distributions besides RedHat; but I knew that RedHat was the biggest, oldest, most successful Linux. So, why would anyone want to use any of the other distos? Do they seriously rival RedHat in terms of performance and ease-of-use. Do they have redhat package manager type innovation? Does anyone use them besides the people that develop them as vanity projects?


    If any of the other distros do have advantages over RedHat (which I kind of doubt), then I may have to reconsider my use of Linux. I mean, if you can't get all the benefits of Linux in one distribution, what's the point? I might as well switch to WinXP, where I know that the entire company is focused on one version of the OS, not dozens of competing distros. Isn't Linux kind of shooting itself in the foot with the distro system? Wouldn't cooperation be more efficient than competition?

    1. Re:What's wrong with RedHat? by Dionysus · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Problem is how you look at it. You see Windows, and you see one company behind it. You look at Linux and you see lots of companies behind them, and think of it as dilution of focus.

      Thing is, it's the wrong comparison. Think of RedHat Linux, Debian GNU/Linux, Suse Linux as the equivalent of Windows. Linux, the brand, would be like wordprocessor. There are different wordprocessors out there (MSWord, WordPerfect, Lotus WordPro, StarWord etc), each made by a different company/group.

      So, you do have an entire company focusing on one version of the OS (RedHat focuses only on their RedHat Linux OS). When they add a feature that everybody like, other distributions add the feature (again like WPs... MS adds a feature, and it gets copied over to WordPerfect, WordPro etc).

      As to performance and ease-of-use, I would say Debian does rival RedHat in ease-of-use. Their package management system is far superior to the RPM system that most commercial dists. use.

      Think of it like this, Microsoft has had for the longest time, two distributions in their company (NT and 9x line). One company, two distributions. RedHat has always only had one distribution (RedHat Linux).

      Who is more focused?

      --
      Je ne parle pas francais.
    2. Re:What's wrong with RedHat? by nolife · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I might as well switch to WinXP, where I know that the entire company is focused on one version of the OS, not dozens of competing distros. Isn't Linux kind of shooting itself in the foot with the distro system? Wouldn't cooperation be more efficient than competition?

      You seem to be missing the point of Linux... It is not just a company that decides what you need and you have to live with it. It is many companies and groups of people around the world that had a need for something that worked and produced it. Being open source, you are allowed to use it to your desire. There are two ways of looking at this. If everyone "worked" together on the same thing then unity would be an advantage for that one specific product, but what about the rest who need something slightly different? What if every developer that worked on a a mailer only did sendmail? What would happen to your choices of mailers? I do not see multiple choices as a disadvantage. I see it as more progress and more choices for myself. With XP or a one distribution world you would be STUCK with what you were given.
      The reason Linux is where is at today is because of the diversity.

      --
      Bad boys rape our young girls but Violet gives willingly.
    3. Re:What's wrong with RedHat? by mpsmps · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I'd go with a different comparison. Different distros are like different PC vendors. Intel doesn't sell PCs (for the most part). Instead, many vendors assemble PCs, configure them, ship them, and support them, just like the distro providers do for Linux.

      In this analogy, asking what is wrong with RedHat is little like asking "What is wrong with Dell?" For many people, the answer would be "nothing," but the PC industry has definitely benefited from the competition without having to sacrifice compatibility. I think the same competition will keep the Linux distro providers focused on improving there distros. And that is a good thing.

  2. Re:Forget distributions by pbryan · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Go with FreeBSD and you'll never have to worry about which distro you use.

    Ahem, isn't FreeBSD a distribution based on BSD?

    --

    My car gets 40 rods to the hogshead, and that's the way I likes it!

  3. What's wrong with Rocky Road? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I took a look at the local ice cream parlor, and quite frankly, I'm overwhelmed by the number of choices. I started eating ice cream quite recently, and if I'd known there were this many different flavors, I probably would have stayed away.

    When I started eating ice cream, I vaguely knew there were other flavors besides rocky road; but I knew that rocky road was the biggest, oldest, most successful ice cream. So, why would anyone want to eat any of the other flavors? Do they seriously rival rocky road in terms of tastiness and coldness. Do they have rocky road peanut type innovation? Does anyone eat them besides the people that make them as vanity projects?

    If any of the other flavors do have advantages over Rocky Road (which I kind of doubt), then I may have to reconsider my eating of ice cream. I mean, if I can't get all the benefits of ice cream in one flavor, what's the point? I might as well switch to water.

  4. Re:How is the LSB progressing? by Jagasian · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Well, considering that the LSB is commonly, yet jokingly referred to as the RSB (Redhat Standards Base)... I would have to say that LSB isn't doing too well. I mean, why don't they just cut to the chase and have the LSB state that "anything Redhat does is the standard"? Are we to go from one corporation controlling our standards (MS) to another (Redhat)?