Rival Merits Of Different Linux Distros

Do you know what to look for when choosing the right distro for your project?
One of the greatest problems with open source software is the risk of it fragmenting into incompatible formats. This phenomenon is illustrated perfectly by Linux – a UNIX-based operating system conceived in the early 1990s by a Finnish IT student – now the world’s third-largest OS behind rival products from Microsoft and Apple. Powering every Android device plus millions of PCs around the world, Linux has nonetheless developed into a number of competing versions known as distros. Each distro has its advocates, and choosing which version to use is a hotly-debated topic on web forums and at computing conferences.
These are some of the key merits of the leading Linux distros:
CentOS
Arguably the most corporate Linux distro following its acquisition by Red Hat Enterprises Linux, CentOS can therefore claim the strongest technical support. Its parent organization’s links to the likes of HP and Oracle have propelled CentOS into the corporate sphere, and it is frequently bundled together with MySQL, Apache and PHP as part of the LAMP web server stack. For many IT professionals, CentOS will be their first real-world exposure to Linux – and you never forget your first architecture stack. Further evidence of CentOS’s professionalism includes the minimal number of updates (thanks to extensive debugging before each system launch), cPanel compatibility, and a plentiful choice of apps.
Debian
Debian’s grassroots followers are proud of their community ethos. However, even Debian die-hards would have to admit that their platform is increasingly appealing to a global (and more corporate) audience. There are numerous plugins available from third-party providers which can flesh out the relatively compact installation footprint that makes Debian ideal for resource-limited environments. While CentOS has occasional major updates that require a fresh install, Debian is effectively a rolling release with patches for any glitches that crop up. That means a LAMP stack won’t end up with three freshly-updated layers plus an outdated version of Linux.
Ubuntu
Sharing many similarities with Debian, Ubuntu represents something of a halfway house between its community-driven cousin and the more corporate CentOS. Scheduled twice-yearly updates keep Ubuntu up to date without imposing a constant string of revisions that can trigger glitches and bugs. Paid technical support is available from developer Canonical, with a slick Desktop Edition appealing to IT professionals, yet the Ubuntu forums are packed with advocates and amateur enthusiasts. Little wonder that an estimated 50% of Linux-powered desktop PCs use Ubuntu, which is also more supportive of proprietary software than Debian’s prioritization of free installs.
Gentoo
While the three systems listed above make concessions to amateurs, Gentoo is unashamedly technical. Its appeal to developers and programmers is reflected on die-hard community forums, packed with new scripts that can be accessed with a single command. Because its advocates are technically adept, code tends to be optimized with minimal glitches and can run everywhere from embedded systems to large clusters. Scalability and customization are provided by the much-admired portage scripting tool, while the pared-down nature of Gentoo code also helps to improve security. Its online community is also regarded as more good-natured than Debian, where furious arguments often erupt over proposed changes.
 

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