this post was submitted on 07 Dec 2023
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Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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What are the differences between linux distributions? (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) by majestic@sh.itjust.works to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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Hey guys! Trying to understand what developers actually do to create a yet another distro, or what are the differences between existing distros. Lets say we have ubuntu and fedora. What are the differences? Excluding DE, Installer, theme, installed packages/libs and package manager. They both are FHS compliant, both running systemd what else?

Just wondering if there could be a way to "simulate", lets say ubuntu on fedora. For example providing every program that should be present on ubuntu in fedora. Would it be enough to be able to run .deb packages on fedora? Im not gonna do that though, just curious about this question.

Thank you!

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[–] Pantherina@feddit.de 5 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Distros

  • are putting together a set of packages in repos.
  • the repos are either close to upstream, or they backport security fixes. Everything else is not secure
  • make working, secure, sometimes branded bundles including Desktop, some apps, some specific software
  • the bundles get updated and if it is a point release, upgraded to a new set of packages. That is called a "Distro version"
  • This ensures new features and security fixes
  • the Distros care about bug reports, work with upstream, getting new contributors, packaging (bundling the packages, presets, libraries into a set with a name, handling dependencies etc.)
  • Distros also often package and build their own Kernel or multiple ones. These kernels are general purpose most often, even though there is the kernel-hardened or Oracles "unbreakable kernel" (whatever that is). Also there is a lts Kernel that has backported security fixes, as well as other releases of the kernel like git (latest of everything)
  • Distros take care of the versioning, so not every package is always the latest but tested to work with other packages.
  • Distros also implement security systems like SELinux and Apparmor with matching configurations

So you see that is highly complex. So stay as close to upstream as possible to get the best experience. I think of the main distros as

  • Debian + Ubuntu
  • Fedora + the RHEL stuff or clones (Oracle, Alma, Rocky etc)
  • Opensuse, SEL
  • Arch
  • Gentoo
  • Alpine (busybox and musl, not real Gnu+Linux)
  • NixOS
  • GUIX
  • ClearLinux
  • Coreboot (yes that is a Linux distro)
  • Slackware and other probably outdated projects
  • small ones with different focus

All the others are either downstream modifications of these, or less known. Some Line ublue, EndeavorOS etc. also just take an upstream distro and change very little.