Which linux distro installed

How To Find Out My Linux Distribution Name and Version

H ow do I find out what version of Linux distribution I am using from the shell (bash) prompt? How can I tell my Linux distribution name and version using command-line options over ssh-based session?

Tutorial details
Difficulty level	Easy
Root privileges	No
Requirements	lsb_release
Est. reading time	2 minutes

You can use any one of the following method to find out your Linux distribution and name:
a] /etc/*-release file.

b] lsb_release command

c] /proc/version file.

d] hostnamectl command

Method 1. Use /etc/*-release file to display Linux distro version

To find out what version of Linux (distro) you are running, enter the following cat command at the shell prompt:
$ cat /etc/*-release
Sample output from my RHEL v5.x server:

Sample outputs from my Ubuntu Linux v7.10 server:

Method 2. Use lsb_release command To find out Linux distribution name and version

The lsb_release command displays certain LSB (Linux Standard Base) and distribution-specific information. Type the following command:
$ lsb_release -a
Sample outputs:

Method 3. Use hostnamectl to find out my Linux distribution name and version

For GNU systemd based distro this is the best option:
$ hostnamectl

What version of Linux am I running?

How do I find out My Linux kernel version?

Type the following uname command:
$ uname -a
OR
$ uname -mrs
Sample outputs:

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1. Linux – Kernel name
2. 2.6.32-5-amd64 – Kernel version number
3. x86_64 – Machine hardware name (64 bit)

Here is output from my SUSE Enterprise Linux server:

Get Linux distribution name and version number in a shell

Say hello to /proc/version

Type the following command to see kernel version and gcc version used to build the same:
$ cat /proc/version
Sample outputs:

Another outputs from my CentOS 7 box:

And SUSE Enterprise Linux server:

Related media

This tutorial is also available in a quick video format:

Putting It All Together

Animated gif.01: Finding out Linux distribution name and version with various commands demo

Conclusion

This page showed various commands to figure out what Linux kernel version and Linux distribution your server/desktop/laptop is running.

🐧 Get the latest tutorials on Linux, Open Source & DevOps via

Category	List of Unix and Linux commands
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Linux Desktop Apps	Skype • Spotify • VLC 3
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WireGuard VPN	Alpine • CentOS 8 • Debian 10 • Firewall • Ubuntu 20.04

Comments on this entry are closed.

But how to find version of other unix systems like FreeBSD. cat /etc/*-release won’t give it

Thanks for giving command cat /etc/*-release
Really this is useful

For FreeBSD uname -a works OK

Well, the article was entitled “HowTo: Find Out My Linux Distribution Name and Version”… 🙂

Generally speaking, “uname -a” will tell you what you need to know. You may need to know a couple of quirks about the O.S. in question. For example, Solaris calls itself “SunOS” (long history there). AIX breaks the version number up into two different uname fields (“5 2” instead of “5.2” – it might even be “2 5” IIRC, which you then have to know to turn into “5.2”). Solaris has an /etc/release.

If you’re going to use /etc/*-release, I would loose the dash

as you’ll pick up a couple more flavors of Unix like that.

“uname” was supposed to be the universal way to do this sort of thing, however, the output varies way too much from vendor to vendor.

PS: Technically, Solaris is a “package deal” consisting of an operating system, an X-Windows package, etc. – 5 things that previously they had not bundled together. So, technically, Solaris 10 (for example) contains an operating system called SunOS 5.10. So when Solaris says “SunOS” in uname, it’s not really incorrect.

This isn’t exactly a general solution. It assumes the distribution supports some LSB stuff, I think.
For debian and slackware, one could try:

On debian stable, lsb-release exists, but just isn’t in /etc/. There is an lsb-release package, and you can run:

$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Debian
Description: Debian GNU/Linux 4.0r1 (etch)
Release: 4.0r1
Codename: etch

By the way, lsb_release -a also works on the older Ubuntu version I have.

You can also cat version in proc…

:; cd /proc
;; cat version
Linux version 2.6.9-42.0.3.ELsmp (brewbuilder@hs20-bc1-7.build.redhat.com) (gcc version 3.4.6 20060404 (Red Hat 3.4.6-3)) #1 SMP Mon Sep 25 17:28:02 EDT 2006

Thanks Richard,
cat /proc/version worked for me..

Thanks alot ! all commands gave some good info about my sys.

And “cat /etc/issue” as well, for my ubuntu 8

Well, that’s all fine well and good for home use, but security people will tell you announcing your o.s. and version in /etc/issue is a bad idea (why give hackers that info?). They will want you to replace /etc/issue with some kind of warning notification (“This computer is only for use by authorized employees of company X. Usage is subject to monitoring. All users are expected to comply with company security policy Y. Unauthorized use is subject is grounds for termination and/or criminal prosecution.”, etc.). Any computer owned by a company that has security people or lawyers, this isn’t going to work on. 🙂

thanx richy. it works

Thanks for the quick command. Worked perfectly.

hi guys,
can this kind of file which contains the version info be modified? for example when I want to remaster Ubuntu to new name with my name: Maxx

do we just to modify a file? or what should we do?

thanks in advance!

hai ,
i read ur information for linux.but, i want “what r the different versions available in linux”.please give ans immediately

would you also like a foot massage with that ??

Ha ha.. Nice one Bro

Please specify the which Linux ? Redhat or else….

Thanks Daniel, that helped on FreeBSD

Hi Daniel, I think your solution will only give the hostname, Kernel, arhitecture etc, but NOT the “distribution name” as is quoted on the question. Havent checked on anyother distro, but at least thats what happens on my CentOS 5.4, the other solutions seem to work.

]# uname -a
Linux myhostname.mydomanin.com 2.6.18-164.el5 #1 SMP Thu Sep 3 03:33:56 EDT 2009 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

Thanks. Was digging few old linux machines and found this works. Running very old ubuntu 😉

I’m on rhel .. if I type cat /etc/*release I get:
Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS release 4 (Nahant Update 3)

but if I type cat /proc/version I get:
Linux version 2.6.9-34.0.1.EL.ADSKsmp (root@oka) (gcc version 3.4.4 20050721 (Red Hat 3.4.4-2))

I’m confused 🙁 so what’s my distribution??

Your distribution is RHEL and your kernel version is 2.6.9-34.0.1.

Both are different.

hi guys
please tyr
FOR UNIX:
#cat /etc/issue
#cat /etc/*-release
#cat /proc/version
#uname -a

FOR Debai/slackware:
#cat /etc/*version

/etc/issue works for Debian too! I use something like this:

This solution works perfect.

Nice example!
Anyhow I can not see why needed the [A-Za-z] part. Please let me know.
So here are the roots of a brand new all platformer ver.sh one-liner…. B-)

cd /etc && cat *_ver* *-rel* /proc/version && uname -a && lsb_release -a

Let us know what does it miss?? (I know – this must be considered as pre-alpha version. B-) some file and command availability should be implemented…)

…. OK – sorry for the OT-like summary here.
—
R

I typed this in and it worked: cat /proc/version

And this came up : Linux version 2.6.34houkouonchi-web100-ioat-vlan (root@houkouonchi) (gcc version 4.1.2 (Gentoo 4.1.2)) #1 SMP Thu Oct 14 16:27:09 PDT 2010

What distro would this be. I am running my linux through a data center that I have access to.

Oh it would be Gentoo. THANKS! answered my own question =P

thank u .. it works

Thanks, Its really a great tips

smarcell – you are so clever. I am in awe.

but when I type that into the little white box thing, it just says “cat /etc/lsb-release.d: Is a directory”

and I still have no idea what my OS is ;-P

maxx – no you don’t want to change these files or try; what you want to do is something like (just an e.g.) in

/etc/rc.local
#!/bin/sh
#other stuff will be here probably, put your stuff at the end

echo “Hello, you’ve just successfully gained access to Maxx’s computer” > /etc/motd
cat /proc/version >> /etc/motd
echo `uname -a` >> /etc/motd

and so on. you are printing text and the output of programs to the file /etc/motd using shell syntax (the little backticks mean “interpret as a command to run” and echo means “print this” and > means “create a file and send this to it” and “>> means append this to the end of this file”

generally, motd will be printed on login (“message of the day”, quite old school, some systems might not have it I guess. My Scientific Linux 6.1 does. I think ubuntu does. maybe not.)

if not, you can make it yourself and have it in everyone’s .bashrc by editing /etc/skel. For that matter you can put anything you want in .bashrc or .profile and it will run whevever a shell is opened (a bash shell obviously).

/proc isn’t usually somewhere you want to write, unless you know why you are doing it.

please send me linux versions and release dates

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Best Linux Distributions For Everyone in 2021

Last updated January 29, 2021 By Ankush Das 168 Comments

Brief: Which is the best Linux distribution? There is no definite answer to that question. This is why we have compiled this list of best Linux in various categories.

There are many Linux distributions. I can’t even think of coming up with an exact number because you would find loads of Linux distros that differ from one another in one way or the other.

Some of them just turn out to be a clone of one another while some of them tend to be unique. So, it’s kind of a mess – but that is the beauty of Linux.

Fret not, even though there are thousands of distributions around, in this article, I have compiled a list of the best Linux distros available right now. Of course, the list can be subjective. But, here, we try to categorize the distros – so there’s something for everyone.

Note: The list is in no particular order of ranking.

Best Linux Distributions for Beginners

In this category, we aim to list the distros which are easy-to-use out of the box. You do not need to dig deeper, you can just start using it right away after installation without needing to know any commands or tips.

Ubuntu

Ubuntu is undoubtedly one of the most popular Linux distributions. You can even find it pre-installed on a lot of laptops available.

The user interface is easy to get comfortable with. If you play around, you can easily customize the look of it as per your requirements. In either case, you can opt to install a theme as well. You can learn more about how to install themes in Ubuntu to get started.

In addition to what it offers, you will find a huge online community of Ubuntu users. So, if you face an issue – head to any of the forums (or a subreddit) to ask for help. If you are looking for direct solutions in no time, you should check out our coverage on Ubuntu (where we have a lot of tutorials and recommendations for Ubuntu).

Linux Mint

Linux Mint Cinnamon is another popular Linux distribution among beginners. The default Cinnamon desktop resembles Windows XP and this is why many users opted for it when Windows XP was discontinued.

Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu and thus it has all the applications available for Ubuntu. The simplicity and ease of use is why it has become a prominent choice for new Linux users.

elementary OS

elementary OS is one of the most beautiful Linux distros I’ve ever used. The UI resembles that of Mac OS – so if you have already used a Mac-powered system, it’s easy to get comfortable with.

This distribution is based on Ubuntu and focuses to deliver a user-friendly Linux environment which looks as pretty as possible while keeping the performance in mind. If you choose to install elementary OS, a list of 11 things to do after installing elementary OS should come in handy.

MX Linux

MX Linux came in the limelight almost a year ago. Now (at the time of publishing this), it is the most popular Linux distro on DistroWatch.com. If you haven’t used it yet – you will be surprised when you get to use it.

Unlike Ubuntu, MX Linux is an increasingly popular Linux distribution based on Debian with Xfce as its desktop environment. In addition to its impeccable stability – it comes packed with a lot of GUI tools which makes it easier for any user comfortable with Windows/Mac originally.

Also, the package manager is perfectly tailored to facilitate one-click installations. You can even search for Flatpak packages and install it in no time (Flathub is available by default in the package manager as one of the sources).

Zorin OS

Zorin OS is yet another Ubuntu-based distribution which happens to be one of the most good-looking and intuitive OS for desktop. Especially, after Zorin OS 15 release – I would definitely recommend it for users without any Linux background. A lot of GUI-based applications comes baked in as well.

Considering Zorin OS 16 as one of the most anticipated distributions, I would definitely see it as a good option for 2021.

You can also install it on older PCs – however, make sure to choose the “Lite” edition. In addition, you have “Core”, “Education” & “Ultimate” editions. You can choose to install the Core edition for free – but if you want to support the developers and help improve Zorin, consider getting the Ultimate edition.

Zorin OS was started by two teenagers based in Ireland. You may read their story here.

Pop!_OS

Pop!_OS by Sytem76 is a great pick for developers or computer science professionals. Of course, not just limited to coders – it is also an excellent choice if you’re just starting to use Linux. It is based on Ubuntu – but the UI feels a lot more intuitive and smooth. In addition to the UI, it enforces full-disk encryption out of the box.

A lot of our readers seem to be liking it (and sticking with it) as you can judge by the comments below. If you’re curious about it, you should also check out our Pop!_OS 20.04 review.

Other Options

Deepin and other flavors of Ubuntu (like Kubuntu, Xubuntu) could also be some preferred choices for beginners. You can take a look at them if you want to explore more options.

If you want a challenge, you can indeed try Fedora over Ubuntu – but make sure to follow our article on Ubuntu vs Fedora to make a better decision from the desktop point of view.

Best Linux Server Distributions

For servers, the choice of a Linux distro comes down to stability, performance, and enterprise support. If you are just experimenting, you can try any distro you want.

But, if you are installing it for a web server or anything vital – you should take a look at some of our recommendations.

Ubuntu Server

Depending on where you want it, Ubuntu provides different options for your server. If you are looking for an optimized solution to run on AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform, etc., Ubuntu Cloud is the way to go.

In either case, you can opt for Ubuntu Server packages and have it installed on your server. Nevertheless, Ubuntu is the most popular Linux distro when it comes to deployment on the cloud (judging by the numbers – source 1, source 2).

Do note that we recommend you to go for the LTS editions – unless you have specific requirements.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a top-notch Linux platform for businesses and organizations. If we go by the numbers, Red Hat may not be the most popular choice for servers. But, there’s a significant group of enterprise users who rely on RHEL (like Lenovo).

Technically, Fedora and Red Hat are related. Whatever Red Hat supports – gets tested on Fedora before making it available for RHEL. I’m not an expert on server distributions for tailored requirements – so you should definitely check out their official documentation to know if it’s suitable for you.

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server

Fret not, do not confuse this with OpenSUSE. Everything comes under a common brand “SUSE” – but OpenSUSE is an open-source distro targeted and yet, maintained by the community.

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server is one of the most popular solutions for cloud-based servers. You will have to opt for a subscription in order to get priority support and assistance to manage your open source solution.

CentOS 8 (End-of-Life 2021, Look for Alternatives)

Yes, you can get RHEL subscription for free up to 16 servers without technical support. But, CentOS was more like a community edition of RHEL because it was derived from the sources of Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

But, now that CentOS has been replaced by CentOS Stream, you can either try CentOS Stream, which is an upstream to Red Hat Enterprise Linux or look for CentOS alternatives.

Cent OS 7 will be supported till 2024 and Cent OS 8 will see an early end of life in 2021. So, you can try it as an experiment before trying CentOS alternatives or CentOS Stream.

Other Options

You can also try exploring Fedora Server or Debian as alternatives to some of the distros mentioned above.

If you are into programming and software development check out the list of

Interested in learning and practicing cyber security? Check out the list of

Best Linux Distributions for Older Computers

If you have an old PC lying around or if you didn’t really need to upgrade your system – you can still try some of the best Linux distros available.

We’ve already talked about some of the best lightweight Linux distributions in details and top Linux distributions to support 32-bit computers. Here, we shall only mention what really stands out from that list (and some new additions).

Puppy Linux

Puppy Linux is literally one of the smallest distribution there is. When I first started to explore Linux, my friend recommended me to experiment with Puppy Linux because it can run on older hardware configurations with ease.

It’s worth checking it out if you want a snappy experience on your good old PC. Over the years, the user experience has improved along with the addition of several new useful features.

Solus Budgie

After a recent major release – Solus 4.1 Fortitude – it is an impressive lightweight desktop OS. You can opt for desktop environments like GNOME or MATE. However, Solus Budgie happens to be one of my favorites as a full-fledged Linux distro for beginners while being light on system resources.

Bodhi

Bodhi Linux is built on top of Ubuntu. However, unlike Ubuntu – it does run well on older configurations.

The main highlight of this distro is its Moksha Desktop (which is a continuation of Enlightenment 17 desktop). The user experience is intuitive and screaming fast. Even though it’s not something for my personal use – you should give it a try on your older systems.

antiX

antiX – which is also partially responsible for MX Linux is a lightweight Linux distribution tailored for old and new computers. The UI isn’t impressive – but it works as expected.

It is based on Debian and can be utilized as a live CD distribution without needing to install it. antiX also provides live bootloaders. In contrast to some other distros, you get to save the settings so that you don’t lose it with every reboot. Not just that, you can also save changes to the root directory with its “Live persistence” feature.

So, if you are looking for a live-USB distro to provide a snappy user experience on old hardware – antiX is the way to go.

Sparky Linux

Sparky Linux is based on Debian which turns out to be a perfect Linux distro for low-end systems. Along with a screaming fast experience, Sparky Linux offers several special editions (or varieties) for different users.

For example, it provides a stable release (with varieties) and rolling releases specific to a group of users. Sparky Linux GameOver edition is quite popular for gamers because it includes a bunch of pre-installed games. You can check out our list of best Linux Gaming distributions – if you also want to play games on your system.

Other Options

You can also try Linux Lite, Lubuntu, and Peppermint as some of the lightweight Linux distributions.

Best Linux Distro for Advanced Users

Once you get comfortable with the variety of package managers and commands to help troubleshoot your way to resolve any issue, you can start exploring Linux distros which are tailored for Advanced users only.

Of course, if you are a professional – you will have a set of specific requirements. However, if you’ve been using Linux for a while as a common user – these distros are worth checking out.

Arch Linux

Arch Linux is itself a simple yet powerful distribution with a huge learning curve. Unlike others, you won’t have everything pre-installed in one go. You have to configure the system and add packages as needed.

Also, when installing Arch Linux, you will have to follow a set of commands (without GUI). To know more about it, you can follow our guide on how to install Arch Linux. If you are going to install it, you should also know about some of the essential things to do after installing Arch Linux. It will help you get a jump start.

In addition to all the versatility and simplicity, it’s worth mentioning that the community behind Arch Linux is very active. So, if you run into a problem, you don’t have to worry.

Gentoo

If you know how to compile the source code, Gentoo Linux is a must-try for you. It is also a lightweight distribution – however, you need to have the required technical knowledge to make it work.

Of course, the official handbook provides a lot of information that you need to know. But, if you aren’t sure what you’re doing – it will take a lot of your time to figure out how to make the most out of it.

Slackware

Slackware is one of the oldest Linux distribution that still matters. If you are willing to compile or develop software to set up a perfect environment for yourself – Slackware is the way to go.

In case you’re curious about some of the oldest Linux distros, we have an article on the earliest linux distributions – go check it out.

Even though the number of users/developers utilizing it has significantly decreased, it is still a fantastic choice for advanced users. Also, with the recent news of Slackware getting a Patreon page – we hope that Slackware continues to exist as one of the best Linux distros out there.

Best Multi-purpose Linux Distribution

There are certain Linux distros which you can utilize as a beginner-friendly / advanced OS for both desktops and servers. Hence, we thought of compiling a separate section for such distributions.

If you don’t agree with us (or have suggestions to add here) – feel free to let us know in the comments. Here’s what we think could come in handy for every user:

Fedora

Fedora offers two separate editions – one for desktops/laptops and the other for servers (Fedora Workstation and Fedora Server respectively).

So, if you are looking for a snappy desktop OS – with a potential learning curve while being user-friendly – Fedora is an option. In either case, if you are looking for a Linux OS for your server – that’s a good choice as well.

Manjaro

Manjaro is based on Arch Linux. Fret not, while Arch Linux is tailored for advanced users, Manjaro makes it easy for a newcomer. It is a simple and beginner-friendly Linux distro. The user interface is good enough and offers a bunch of useful GUI applications built-in.

You get options to choose a desktop environment for Manjaro while downloading it. Personally, I like the KDE desktop for Manjaro.

Debian

Well, Ubuntu’s based on Debian – so it must be a darn good distribution itself. Debian is an ideal choice for both desktop and servers.

It may not be the best beginner-friendly OS – but you can easily get started by going through the official documentation. The recent release of Debian 10 Buster introduces many changes and necessary improvements. So, you must give it a try!

Wrapping Up

Overall, these are the best Linux distributions that we recommend you to try. Yes, there are a lot of other Linux distributions that deserve the mention – but to each of their own, depending on personal preferences – the choices will be subjective.

But, we also have a separate list of distros for Windows users, hackers and pen testers, gamers, programmers, and privacy buffs. So, if that interest you – do go through them.

If you think we missed listing one of your favorites that deserves as one of the best Linux distributions out there, let us know your thoughts in the comments below and we’ll keep the article up-to-date accordingly.

Like what you read? Please share it with others.

About Ankush Das

A passionate technophile who also happens to be a Computer Science graduate. You will usually see cats dancing to the beautiful tunes sung by him.

You better try Q4OS with the Trinity desktop environment, which allows to make a lot of customizations (KDE is also available)/

You should probably change the title of the Article to, ‘Best Debian based distros of 2021’

There are Arch, Slackware, Solus, Fedora on the list.

With 500+ available Linux distributions, I can see why beginners would feel overwhelmed. But there are a few, mainstream distributions that would probably work for most — and have a community to turn to for help. I’ve used each of the following for several months or years as my daily driver and had no major issues.

* Ubuntu – derived from Debian (which is rock solid but has an learning curve, being administered in the style of old-school Unix). Ubuntu sanded the edges off Debian and made it a lot friendlier. The current tweaked Gnome 3 interface suits my workflow perfectly, but, yes, it has a bit of a learning curve for Windows users. A lot of distributions are based on it and this would probably be my go-to for most people who are willing to learn a new paradigm. But if you want a more Windows-like interface, try one of the menu-based Ubuntu “flavors” like Xubuntu, Lubuntu, Kubuntu or something below.

* Fedora – a member of another major Linux family (part of the RedHat universe). I’m running it now. I like the fact that it gets cutting-edge software quickly (it added the newest Gnome version probably six months to a year before Ubuntu), but I find it a little more finicky to administer or install than Ubuntu (partitioning the disk during installation is one-click on Ubuntu, for instance, but more complicated here). Has a learning curve similar to Ubuntu for Windows users.

* Zorin – Beautiful and quite Windows-like (for those coming from Windows). Download Core for modern computers, Lite for older ones. Even runs some Windows programs out of the box, since it implements Windows-emulation software better than other distributions. A very pleasant experience.

* Elementary OS – Beautiful and simple … though ultimately too simple for my needs. It looks MacOS like (for those coming from the Apple world). I used it for a year but ultimately ran out of things I could do with it. But it’s well worth a look. It’s gorgeous on a big screen.

* POP_OS! – Ubuntu with a custom desktop (“Cosmic”) and a lot of default settings than I would enable anyway. Developers love it. And it has a windows tiling system that is kind of like i3 (notorious learning curve) but usable by mere mortals — or turn it off if you like.

* Mint – The “Cinnamon” variant is probably most straightforward for most, though MATE is similar. I’ve never had the slightest problem installing it on any hardware. A lot of people recommend it for beginners or Windows folks. (I’m not personally interested in having a Windows-style workflow, but I know others may differ.) A very safe bet.

I haven’t explored the Arch or SuSE families much. Sorry. Others have good experiences with them.

Which is “the best”? To me, that’s a pointless question on the order of “what is the meaning of life?” Think of “the best” as the one that works best for you, with your particular needs and hardware and workflow. But any of these mainline distributions, above, should be pretty satisfactory to most people. Take your pick. You be you.

Did you say “So, it’s kind of a mess, but that is the beauty of Linux.” ? This is the one thing I will never agree on. In fact, this is the biggest problem and the root cause for it failures. This statement I quoted is mostly backed up by the freedom pitch. As in, “look we’re all free to do what we want, we offer choices to people”. But in reality is just an excuse because people can’t work with others. Example, person x wants to implement a feature. Some collegue says no. Person X then goes off on his own, and make a distro with said feature. But this person is now alone and can’t support his/her own project well enough. Basically, everyone is working against each others nowadays. Just look at how many “backup” apps has been released over the years… or any other app types for that matter.

I don’t need endless choices that end up being a disappointment.. I need ONE app that actually works, which offers various options to shape the configs and match use cases. Anything else is just insanity. Like “head burried in the sand” kinda thing.

This is the same for all linux distros. Sure, doesn’t hurt to have 3, 4.. 5 variant, but countless linux distros comming out of nowhere made by a team of 3 devs… just no. While people waste their time making hundreds of mediocre clones of the same apps, actual progress is slowed down, messy and just wasted. (Im not talking about making apps on your own for educational purposes, I am specifically talking about shovelwares dumped on the community)

This nightmare is just as bad for end users. Having to look for 10000 pages of poorly phrased documentation.. just because some other person can’t design intuitive UI. Then you have to deal with imcompatibility issues, low support .. list goes on, never ending. Heck, the end users are rarely considered.. features disappearing / changing with out warnings. Bugs shrugged off as “it’s a feature”… and still, many projects like that are donations driven… If that does not raise a red flag for anyone then we will be forever stuck with a “carrot at the end of the stick” scenario.. oh well deserved at that.

I mean, idk how many hours i’ve wasted just because some foolish devs/designers have a tunnel vision mindset. Or idk, is it pride or whatever.. For sure, there is no valid point in making all these separated bubbles masquerading as “choices of distro” while one could offer all choices inside the same OS. The point is to save time here, to free up other people so that they too can start contributing. Oh ok sure, make that 2 or 3 variant, if that’s nessecary… But we are now at the point where there is so much crap to research and try out there. One could end up never actually using the thing. Instead, we are walking into a never ending blackhole of shitpile triaging…. only to end up being overwhelmed and fed up.

And no, I am not giving suttle praises to windows here… It might have the right idea by having just a few os variant, so that support is decent and fast. But it is not made with end users’ best interests at heart and I am not wasting anymore time to discuss about something I don’t even consider in the operating system category. Moving on.

Oh well, I ended up with a wall of text. But anyone who has enough guts to face the facts would know that this is just the tip of the iceberg.. enjoy your second rate freedoms

I hate to say it, but most dev’s in the Linux space today aren’t interested in making the one distro that does it all, that does all the right things, correctly. It’s a sad paradox because the Linux community is made up mostly of people who put way more value on “freedom” over “quality”. It is also a sad fact that most new dev’s are ONLY interested in getting their names to show up in GitHub, or they run off and create some silly YouTube channel highlighting their hAcK0r skills because they changed the spelling in a sentence for the documentation on something obscure like the Z shell. ChipX86 is a classic example of a clown that’s been doing this crap for years and years. I remember that fool from the very early 2000’s.

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