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A Mind Map of Linux Distributions
Howard writes "All about Linux has posted a Mind Map of GNU/Linux distributions. This map of GNU/Linux hopes to throw light on the current GNU/Linux distributions and their relationships with each other. Though the map doesn't show the historically significant but now redundant distros like SLS, Yggdrasil and the erstwhile Red Hat, it shows many of the more prominent GNU/Linux distributions."
Great diagram - it does a pretty nice job of showing distro lineage - it is very hard to show linux distributions in a hierarchical chart like this as the relationships between distributions is not necessarily hierarchical.
For instance, the multi-lingual section does not show the parent distributions (with the exception of Vine linux) red flag (IIRC) was based on a version of red hat (as was mandriva).
Still, that's just being picky - its a useful diagram, that shows many of the important relationships between distros.
There are shills on slashdot. Apparently, I'm one of them.
Somebody else said that Linspire is derived from Debian, but the diagram does not show this.
Who is right about this? I can't really see the linspire people rolling their own, somehow.
http://michaelsmith.id.au
I was expecting something more along the lines of the philosophical leanings of the mapped distros, like which are more community-based and which are more corporate; which are incredibly zealous and which are more diplomatic. You could pick up to three different spectra and map them before you ran out of easy-to-visualize dimensions.
For example, I'd like to see:
Who's your user, program?
Linspire is Debian based.
And ClarkConnect (not represented here)should be under RedHat Entreprise Linux.
Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity
....irrelevance?
Unfortunately by leaving out the historical lineage, it doesn't really show how Fedora, SuSE, and Mandriva are all descended from Red Hat Linux. Others are grouped together by things like size or security rather than lineage. It's not very logical or consistent in its current layout. And by ignoring lineage, it has sacraficed its relevance.
It's really a series of kernel patches that implement mandatory access control.
-- "I can't tell the future, I just work there." -- The Doctor
One of the first easy-to-use and easy-to-demo Linux distro's around, I got a whole data center moved to 486/Pentium hardware on the strength of the "rootfs on CD" bootsys that Yggdrasil was shipping, before RedHat was anything more than an SLS-wannabe, and I have to say that I really can't fathom why it wasn't considered significant enough to include on this map
; -- the corruption of government starts with its secrets. a truly free people keep no secrets. --
That Mind Map appears to have been made with FreeMind. An excellent, open source, mind mapping solution. I advise folks to try it out.
FreeMind
Jeremy
...ended up installing Suse, which was ok, but not suitable to my needs.
And how would this map be useful in deciding which are? It only tells you which Linux distros exist, and how they relate. Apart from a few notes on special-purpose/language versions, it tells you nothing about the functionality and philosophy of a distribution.
Why doesn't it show that everything comes from SCO and GNU/Linux is a result of the merger between SCO and XFree86?
*duck*
The next release will be:
l
http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS6045116609.htm
I have recently finished a 3 month analysis of mindmap software. Everything from Visio, to Freemind.
My conclusion is that the best mindmap software on the market is not software but a large piece of paper and colored pens. The mind-mapping experience does not translate easily to mouse-clicks and keystrokes.
That said, the SECOND best is Mindmanager 6 Pro. It is pricey but worth it.
Freemind is nice and hopefully will mature into a better product