What are all these distributions and how should I choose one?

Stuart Yeates

Description

What are allthesedistributionsand howshould I What are all these distributions and howchoose one?Stuart Yeates should I choose one?Stuart YeatesOSS Watchc University of OxfordThis document is licensed underhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by sa/2.0/uk/Who this is talk forWhat are allthesedistributionsand howshould Ichoose one?This is an introductory presentation.Stuart YeatesIf you:are already familiar with many Linux distributionused slackware before it was called slackwarehave come to make sure I mention your favouritedistributionLeave now while you can still slip into another talkIn this talkWhat are allthesedistributionsand howshould Ichoose one?Stuart YeatesYour PrioritiesHistoryDiversityChoiceYour PrioritiesWhat are all Why is it that you’re considering Linux?thesedistributionsWhat are your personal priorities?and howshould Ichoose one?StabilityStuart YeatesSecurityLearning about computersLearning about LinuxApplicationsBleeding edge versionsDevelopment plansWork motivationsFace to face supportInternet supportPhilosophical motivationsHistory IWhat are allthesedistributionsand howshould Ichoose one?Stuart YeatesLinux was originally distributed as a tarball (.tar.gz)Each user downloaded, unpacked, configured, compiledand installed it themselvesEach application then had to be similarly processedInstallation in particular was a hurdleHistory IIWhat are allthesedistributionsand how A number of ...

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• Publié par: Enya
• Nombre de lectures: 23
• Langue: English

Extrait

Whatareall these idtsirubitno a s dnw s ho ulho ch dI seoo?eno autSeYtrseta

OSS Watch

Stuart Yeates

What are all these distributions and how should I choose one?

 c University  of Oxford

This document is licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/uk/

are already familiar with many Linux distribution used slackware before it was called slackware have come to make sure I mention your favourite distribution

This is an introductory presentation. If you:

Who this is talk for

Leave now while you can still slip into another talk

ratallae seht sid e Wh hsuodl c I ohsooeen tributions andhow tYartu ? Ssteea

What are all these distributions and how should I choose one?

Stuart Yeates

In

this talk

Your Priorities

History

Diversity

Choice

What are all these distributions and how should I choose one? Stuart Yeates

Your Priorities

Why is it that you’re considering Linux? What are your personal priorities?

Stability Security Learning about computers Learning about Linux Applications Bleeding edge versions Development plans Work motivations Face-to-face support Internet support Philosophical motivations

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History I

Linux was originally distributed as a tarball (.tar.gz) Each user downloaded, unpacked, congured, compiled and installed it themselves Each application then had to be similarly processed Installation in particular was a hurdle

retahaW sehe l t al houl how s oose dI ch irubidts a s dn itno atesrtYeStua one?

Slackware (1993) Debian (1993) Redhat (1995) ...

Because these groups and the software they were writing distributed linux, they became known as distributions , shortened to distro . Each successful distro learnt from the mistakes of the previous distros, and from their own previous iterations.

History II

A number of attempts were made to repackage Linux to make it easier and more convenient to install

What does a distro do for the user ?

Usually a distro:

provides a convenient way to install Linux provides pre-packaged, pre-tested, pre-compiled software that just works out of the box provides support for users provides a single place to submit bug reports provides a sense of community

eYtase oochonse St e? rtua a sno ohdn ohs w Idlu se di l the butistri Werlaahat

Usually a distro:

What does a distro do for the developer ?

provides infrastructure (hosting, version control, bug tracking, etc) provides a pool of users as potential user-developers provides a pool of existing developers provides a sense of community

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eratahW eYtrseta ch dI seooe?on uaSt itno a s dnoh s w ohlu all these distribu

Diversity I

A distro may refer to a specic set of software, a family of sets of software, the infrastructure used to build the software, the community building the software, the community using the software or the process by which the software is built.

What are all these distributions and how should I choose one?

Stuart Yeates

Diversity II

Stability

Security

Pedagogical concerns

Applications

Bleeding edge versions

Philosophical motivations

s oeen S ? utraYtaeet htse aelltarahW soohc Idluohs wohdan nsioutibtris e d

New distros arise when someone (or some group) comes up with an innovation that is sufciently cool / useful / productive to tempt people from the existing distros or tempt new users from other platforms. Innovations can relate to software packaging, social organisation, priorities, ... Switching distros can involve very large amounts of work, so even when a new distro has very clear advantages, many users are very slow to switch. Existing distros adopt features found useful in new distros.

Diversity III