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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Are distros really different or is it more about preference? (lemmy.ca)

submitted 4 days ago by Jack_Burton@lemmy.ca to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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I've been working and testing to switch my main PC (used for work like audio recording, music, and general multimedia) and have been playing with Ubuntu Studio on my laptop. Loving it so far but I keep seeing people talk about CachyOS, Bazzite, or the new Debian Trixie.

I'm having trouble finding what's really different about all these distros aside from how they look or slight changes in how they do things (I know Ubuntu Studio has a low latency kernel which seems important for what I need to do). Is there a big difference? Like, if I go with Ubuntu Studio am I gonna end up wiping everything and installing CachyOS or Bazzite or something in a month because it's better? Or are all these distros basically the same thing with a different look and feel and as long as I choose one that gets regular updates, it doesn't matter fundamentally?

I'm trying to grasp the Linux concept but being a Windows user my whole life I'm struggling to 'get it'. Instead of trying to understand in the contex of Windows or Mac, is a better comparison Apple/Android? Like iPhones would be similar to both Mac and Windows (you don't get to choose much) and Android would be Linux (I know it's built on it haha) and it's really just a bunch of different options to do the same thing?

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[–] chromodynamic@piefed.social 34 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (3 children)

The main differences are:

package management (how you install new programs)
release model (fixed vs rolling)
default desktop environments (the GUI / look and feel)

[–] semperverus@lemmy.world 12 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Workflows are different, configuration files can be different, and package names (not just management) can be different.

Additionally, release cadence (how fast you get new stuff, even when considering fixed releases), stability, performance (how were the packages compiled), and custom patches that aren't part of the original code (*shakes fist angrily at Manjaro*)

[–] seralth@lemmy.world -2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

If you don't like Manjaro for that then your going to hate steamOS. Lol

[–] semperverus@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I don't like how the manjaro team does it specifically. A lot of the time i've seen packages break in Manjaro that work fine in Arch, then Manjaro users come into Arch forums acting like its an Arch problem when it isn't.

Also, their driver install helper causes more problems than it solves, which was especially highlighted in the transition to open source official nvidia drivers. Couldn't install the open source ones for the longest time, and couldn't install the right ones from the repo with pacman directly. Caused some major issues for a friend I was helping.

Helped him switch to proper Arch and all the issues went away.

Valve on the other hand puts extreme effort into maintaining stability. I use it regularly and have zero issues, though I use it as-is out of the box.

[–] frongt@lemmy.zip 9 points 4 days ago

Yup. Until you get into stuff like immutable distros, because that's a whole different animal.

[–] LeFantome@programming.dev 3 points 4 days ago

Agreed.

Though if you get off the beaten path, you get things like system supervisor, system compiler, C library, and core utils.

But most Linux distros are systemd, GCC, Glibc, and GNU utils. Which brings us back to your list.