Castro - Introducing Linux Distros

In the first part of this book, you get a good perspective on Linux distros and what you must consider when comparing the various distros in order to select the right one for you. You also learn about the origins of the Linux distros and the reasons why there are so many and how they are related.

In the first chapter, you learn about the nature of a Linux distribution. In order to do that, you need to understand what Linux is, and the best way to accomplish this is to learn about its origins and a bit of its development history. Basically, I present the minimal amount of information necessary for you to put Linux and its distros in context.

The second chapter is a compilation of points you must consider in order to compare the performance and features of two or more Linux distros. Some of those points cover subjective issues, such as personal preference of one aesthetic over another, or if you like one desktop environment in particular. Nonetheless, you will have a checklist to use as starting point.

The third and final chapter in this part of the book covers the family tree of Linux distributions. This information is provided so that you know how they are related to each another (at least the more relevant distributions) and to get an idea of why there are so many of them and why one particular distro has so many derivatives.

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Note

There are more than 700 Linux distros available at the time of this writing, but only about 300 are currently actively developed and supported.

Note

One of the easiest ways to choose a Linux distro is to use a service like http://distrowatch.com . The site provides rankings and a brief description of the most common distros. The differences among distros are very important. By the way, what distro do I use? I am writing this book using a virtual machine to run Windows 8 and Microsoft Word, but the underlying foundation is an Arch Linux installation managing it all.

What exactly is a Linux distro? A Linux distro is a set of components that are required to achieve a working Linux system, and the processes needed to install these components to achieve a running system. Today, a Linux distro includes the Linux kernel itself (different versions of the kernel may be integrated into the same distro for different hardware architectures, for example), the omnipresent GNU tools (more about this later), a lot of small tools that are needed to provide different services, probably a windowing system, a desktop environment, and finally a package management system with a number of software packages that can be installed by default or according to user preferences. Even when the entire installation process can be completed (more or less) through the automated distro installation process, as opposed to other operating systems, the Linux OS installation is highly customizable. A particularly unique aspect of a Linux distro is the user documentation that is provided. Even when the documentation for the numerous individual packages that comprise a distribution is delivered, many distros provide nearly complete documentation about the distribution itself, primarily relating to the installation process or how to contribute personally to the distribution.

To choose a Linux distro, you must first learn exactly why they exist and why there are so many of them. To achieve this goal, we must first dig into the origins and history of Linux itself and the circumstances surrounding its creation.