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CT320: Distributions

Distributions

• There are many versions of Linux.
• A version of Linux is called a distribution, or distro.

Family of Distributions

Why

• Why make a distro?
  • Xubuntu, which is Ubuntu, but with the XFCE desktop environment
  • Lubuntu, Lightweight Ubuntu, for old slow hardware with less memory
  • SUSE, for better security
  • Chrome OS

But, what is it?

• But, what is a distribution?
• It’s kernel + commands.

Origin

• Where do kernels come from?
  • Linus Torvalds, via kernel.org.
• Where do commands come from?
  • Repositories, which are servers which contain packages of commands.

Custom commands

• Practically all distros use the GNU commands.
  • In fact, the GNU people maintain that the entire system should be called “Gnu/Linux”, because “Linux” refers only to the kernel.
• Many distros add their own commands to handle package installation/downloading/updating.