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Week 13: linux distros

This week's blog is about different Linux distributions. I'm still quite new to Linux and have experience with pretty much only one distro which is ubuntu, so apologies if I'm not the most accurate. But I have chosen to compare two extremely popular yet almost uncomparably different distributions - Arch and Ubuntu. 

Ubuntu was first released in October of 2004 and it's built on Debian's architecture. The target users for ubuntu are mainly people that are new to Linux or just aren't too interested in the ins and outs of their OS, although it is also used by experts. It is really easy to set up as it comes with a proper installer, unlike Arch, and you don't have to configure every aspect of the system when setting it up. Ubuntu comes with the GNOME desktop environment and a lot of preinstalled applications which make it easy to use and ready to go right after you install it. Although this makes it a lot more bloated compared to a fresh install of Arch. Ubuntu has high support from software vendors, you can download any software that's available for Linux on Ubuntu, easily and safely. Whatsmore, Ubuntu is officially supported by Steam so it makes gaming a lot more stable and easier. Ubuntu has both good and easy to follow documentation and a very welcoming and supportive community, so it's very beginner-friendly.

Arch on the other hand isn't based on Debian or any other distro, it's completely separate. Its initial release was in March of 2002 and it is meant for users who really know the ins and outs of Linux. Installing Arch is more complex than Ubuntu, as you don't have an installer and you can only use command line. It takes quite a lot more time but you can tailor almost every aspect of your system. Arch doesn't come with a graphical desktop although you can install any kind of desktop environment from the terminal-based window. It doesn't come with anything extra preinstalled so you can install whatever you need, unlike with Ubuntu that has default software with it out-of-the-box. As for software for Arch, pretty much everything is available from the Arch User Repository, which is a community-driven repository for Arch users. Compared to Ubuntu, the community plays a lot bigger role with Arch as everything is carried out by the community. Arch's documentation is also very extensive and precise as with Ubuntu.

As you dwell into the world of Linux, it comes quickly evident that there is no one superior distro out there. Linux offers distributions for people of different technical backgrounds and needs, so everyone can find their own. 



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