Group: Software/FSDG distributions/How to choose an FSDG distribution

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== Introduction ==
 
== Introduction ==
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This page will be a comparison of the free software GNU/Linux distributions in order to help people choose the one that suits them best.
 
  
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Only [http://www.gnu.org/distros/ FSF accepted distributions] should go there.
+
FSF certified distributions can be used for a wide variety of purposes. Many people use them as their only distribution on their computers.
  
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== Comparison of the distributions ==
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In that case, it can often be answered with simple questions like:
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At first we will only look at Trisquel and Parabola because I only use theses two, feel free to add other endorsed distributions.
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* Can this distribution run on my computer? or What computer do I need to run this distribution?
 +
* Is that distribution easy to use? Does it require to learn the command line or a specific programming language? Or is can it be used without learning the command line or programming?
 +
* Do I need to upgrade often? Or is the distribution updated all the time?
 +
* Is it similar to other popular distributions (to be able to get help easily)?
  
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{| class="wikitable"  border="1"
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The [[Group:Hardware/FSDG_distributions]] can help answer to most of these questions, especially the [[Group:Hardware/FSDG_distributions#General_information|General information section]].
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!Distribution
 
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!Based on
 
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|-
 
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| PureOS
 
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| Debian
 
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|-
 
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|Trisquel
 
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|Ubuntu
 
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|-
 
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|Parabola
 
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|Arch
 
−
|}
 
  
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* Both Trisquel and Parabola fulfill the FSF criterias of free software distributions.
+
But it's also possible to use these distributions for specific tasks, like running a server, deploying software on top of another distribution, deploying a wiki, organizing a community, running a conference, etc. Some people might even need to contribute to them in order to deploy specific software to users.
  
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* If you're not very comfortable with configuring your system trough the command line, Trisquel is better for you than Parabola:
+
For that the FSDG distributions group of articles in [[Group:Software]] have a lot information on various aspects of FSF certified distributions.
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** Trisquel has a graphical installation, Parabola's installation method is command line based (you must types some commands to install Parabola, there is no ncurses (a commandline GUI) GUI)
 
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** Trisquel comes fully configured, in Parabola it's assumed that the user would configure his system himself trough the command line and install the necessary packages.
 
  
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* Parabola has more recent packages and is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_release rolling release]
+
A specific audience isn't necessarily implied as for instance in [[Group:Software/FSDG_distributions/DistroConfiguration]] we have documentation about software used to configure servers for both complete beginners not very familiar with the command line (like Freedombox on top of PureOS) and more complex way to configure servers (with various software like FAI, or with relatively simple programming in the case of Guix).
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** For instance you will get a very recent Xorg with Parabola: if you have an ATI card (which lacks a free software firmware) 3D acceleration will be disabled in both Trisquel and Parabola, however Parabola's Xorg will be able to get decent 3D performance by using the CPU and llvmpipe if your CPU is fast enough, that will permit you to play some 3D games that do not require that much resources but still require 3D acceleration (Tested with supertuxkart and smc (secret maryo chronicles) on a core i7 in Parabola).
 
  
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* Unlike Trisquel Parabola supports
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[[Group:Software/FSDG distributions]]
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(a) Microsoft Exchange Web Services (EWS) via Evolution
 
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(b) x264 encoding using FFmpeg
 
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(c) Mozilla internet suite (a free version of Debian Iceape)
 
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* Trisquel is more stable than Parabola: Trisquel uses stables releases and Parabola uses a rolling release, and sometimes it breaks things because the -libre repository has to catch up with the Arch repository (for instance they broke kde for some hours recently).
 
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* Trisquel is based on the well-known Debian packaging system.
 
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* Trisquel only supports x86 computers, Parabola supports also the MIPS lemote computers.
 
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* You can upgrade an Arch distribution to Parabola and an Ubuntu distribution to Trisquel. <!--https://trisquel.info/en/wiki/migrate-ubuntu-trisquel-without-reinstalling-->
 
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== Security features==
 
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{| class="wikitable"  border="1"
 
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!Distribution
 
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!SELinux
 
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!AppArmor
 
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!grsecurity
 
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!Pax
 
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|-
 
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!Parabola
 
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|Not integrated in the default repositories
 
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|Not integrated in the default repositories
 
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|?
 
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|?
 
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|-
 
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!Trisquel
 
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|You need to install SELinux, in the default repositories
 
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|Installed and enabled by default
 
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|No
 
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|No
 
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|-
 
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|}
 
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[[Category:GNU/Linux distributions]]
 

Revision as of 21:22, 22 February 2023

Introduction

FSF certified distributions can be used for a wide variety of purposes. Many people use them as their only distribution on their computers.

In that case, it can often be answered with simple questions like:

  • Can this distribution run on my computer? or What computer do I need to run this distribution?
  • Is that distribution easy to use? Does it require to learn the command line or a specific programming language? Or is can it be used without learning the command line or programming?
  • Do I need to upgrade often? Or is the distribution updated all the time?
  • Is it similar to other popular distributions (to be able to get help easily)?

The Group:Hardware/FSDG_distributions can help answer to most of these questions, especially the General information section.

But it's also possible to use these distributions for specific tasks, like running a server, deploying software on top of another distribution, deploying a wiki, organizing a community, running a conference, etc. Some people might even need to contribute to them in order to deploy specific software to users.

For that the FSDG distributions group of articles in Group:Software have a lot information on various aspects of FSF certified distributions.

A specific audience isn't necessarily implied as for instance in Group:Software/FSDG_distributions/DistroConfiguration we have documentation about software used to configure servers for both complete beginners not very familiar with the command line (like Freedombox on top of PureOS) and more complex way to configure servers (with various software like FAI, or with relatively simple programming in the case of Guix).

Group:Software/FSDG distributions

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