Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Up for a Challenge? Try These ‘Advanced’ Linux Distros
Its FOSS ^ | 17 July 2021 | Abhishek Prakash

Posted on 07/19/2021 11:53:21 AM PDT by ShadowAce

There are hundreds of Linux distributions. Some are for general purpose usage, while some are specifically tailored for education, robotics, hacking, gaming and what not.

You’ll notice that most of them originate from Debian/Ubuntu, Arch and Red Hat/Fedora. If you like distrohopping and experiment with a range of distributions, you may soon get ‘bored’ out of it. Most Linux distributions would feel too similar after a point and apart from a few visual changes here and there, you won’t get a different experience.

Does that sound familiar? If yes, let me list some advanced, independent, Linux distributions to test your expertise.

Advanced Linux distributions for experts

You may argue against the use of term “expert” here. After all, ‘expert Linux users’ don’t necessarily need to use advanced Linux distributions. They can easily utilize their expertise on beginner-friendly distributions like Linux Mint.

The term expert here is intended for people who won’t easily get overwhelmed when they are taken out of their comfort zone and land in an unfamiliar environment.

Alright then. Let’s see which distributions you can use to test your expertise on.

NixOS

NixOS Linux illustration

NixOS is a unique distribution in the terms of how it approaches everything from the kernel to configuration to applications.

NixOS is built on top of the Nix package manager and everything from the kernel to configuration is based on it. All packages are kept in isolation from each other.

It ensures that installing or upgrading one package does not break other packages. You can also easily roll back to previous versions.

The isolation feature also helps you in trying new tools without hesitation, creating development environments and more.

Sounds good enough to give it a try? You call, truly.

Void Linux

Void Linux illustration

Void Linux is another independent Linux distribution which was implemented from scratch. It is a rolling release distribution but it focuses on stability rather than being bleeding edge like Arch Linux.

Void Linux has its own XBPS package management system for installing and removing software with option to build packages from sources (from XBPS source packages collection).

Another thing that sets Void Linux apart from the crowd of other distribution is its use of runit as init system instead of systemd.

Can Void Linux fill the void in your distrohopping life? Find it out yourself.

Slackware

Slackware Linux illustration

The oldest active Linux distribution, Slackware, can surely be counted as an expert Linux distribution.

Which is amusing because once upon a time, many new Linux users started their Linux journey with Slackware. But that was back in the mid-90s and it is safe to assume that those newbies have turned into veteran with their neck beard touching the ground.

Originally, Slackware was based on Softlanding Linux System (SLS), one of the earliest Linux distributions in 1992.

Slackware is an advanced Linux distribution with aim to produce the most “UNIX-like” Linux distribution out there.

No slacking here. Be ready to use the command line extensively in Slackware.

Gentoo

Gentoo Linux illustration

Gentoo Linux is named after the fast swimming Gentoo penguin. It reflects the speed optimization capabilities of Gentoo Linux.

How? It’s software distribution system, Portage, gives it extreme configurability and performance. Portage keeps a collection of build scripts for the packages and it automatically builds a custom version of package based on end user’s preference and optimized for end user’s hardware.

This ‘build’ stuff is why there are many jokes and meme in Linux-verse about compiling everything in Gentoo.

Can you catch up with the Gentoo?

Clear Linux

Clear Linux illustration

Clear Linux is not your general purpose desktop Linux distribution. It is an open source, rolling release distribution, created from the ground up by Intel and obviously, it is highly tuned for Intel platforms.

Clear Linux OS primarily targets professionals in the field of IT, DevOps, Cloud/Container deployments, and AI.

The package management is done through swupd but unlike regular package managers, versioning happens at the individual file level. This means that it generates an entirely new OS version when any software change takes place in the system.

Is it clear enough to try Clear Linux?

Linux From Scratch

Linux From Scratch illustration

If you think installing Arch Linux was a challenge, try Linux From Scratch (LFS). As the name suggests, here you get have to do everything from scratch.

From installing to using, you do everything at a low level and that’s the beauty of it. You are not installing a pre-compiled Linux distribution here. You build your own customized Linux system entirely from the source code.

It is often suggested to use Linux From Scratch to learn the core functioning of the Linux and it is indeed a learning experience.

Still scratching your head about Linux From Scratch? You can read its documentation in book format.

Conclusion

There are a few more independent Linux distributions. Mageia and Solus are two of the relatively more popular ones. I did not include them in this list because I consider them more friendly and not as complicated to use as others on the list. Feel free to disagree with me in the comments.


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: computers; linux
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-54 next last

1 posted on 07/19/2021 11:53:21 AM PDT by ShadowAce
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: rdb3; JosephW; martin_fierro; Still Thinking; zeugma; Vinnie; ironman; Egon; raybbr; AFreeBird; ...

2 posted on 07/19/2021 11:53:34 AM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux - The Ultimate Windows Service Pack )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ShadowAce

linux fetish threads are so tedious. 20 years ago, linux’s market share was a very small non-zero number. today, linux’s market share is a very small non-zero number. 20 years from now, best case scenario, the linux market share will be a very small non-zero number.

tough to get excited about a half a century of stagnation, even when it’s fanatical stagnation.


3 posted on 07/19/2021 11:59:27 AM PDT by JohnBrowdie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JohnBrowdie
That just depends on the market you are talking about.

I guess you are limiting yourself to the desktop. Quite predictable.

4 posted on 07/19/2021 12:02:45 PM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux - The Ultimate Windows Service Pack )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: ShadowAce

I’m still not excited.


5 posted on 07/19/2021 12:03:26 PM PDT by JohnBrowdie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: JohnBrowdie
tough to get excited about a half a century of stagnation, even when it’s fanatical stagnation.

Oh brother. There's more to life than just a consumer desktop or laptop.

Linux flourishes in engineering, servers, and some embedded devices.

In case you missed it, servers = "the cloud" = where a lot of important things are taking place.

Add into this the fact that Android is based heavily on Linux.

So there, no justification for your eye rolling at all.

6 posted on 07/19/2021 12:20:55 PM PDT by Yossarian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: ShadowAce

Yeah, I know that there are those that don’t get it. I just hate Microsoft’s business model and dislike their bloatware. Linux desktop software does what I want it to do, it runs fast, and it’s compatible. Plus I get to tinker a bit...


7 posted on 07/19/2021 12:23:12 PM PDT by Tallguy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Yossarian

nope. still not excited.


8 posted on 07/19/2021 12:29:54 PM PDT by JohnBrowdie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: JohnBrowdie
I’m still not excited.

So why click on the link? The title indicates this was a Linux thread. Just here to show how much more sophisticated you are than the rest of us?

9 posted on 07/19/2021 12:41:01 PM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux - The Ultimate Windows Service Pack )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: JohnBrowdie

But its so much better than anything else and if you don’t use it you are a lesser human!

We have a new guy at our department- every single minute we have (had, should say) to listen to him talk about how much everything would so much better on an iPad or in Linux... and that we liked Visual Studio debugger because we must never have used anything better.

Finally some one stood up and told him “If we all bow down and confess that Linux is so much better, can we stop having to listen to you wasting time at EVERY SINGLE MEETING telling us how we are all lesser humans for working in Windows??”

Linux users seem to be like Liberals that way. Or Vegans.


10 posted on 07/19/2021 12:53:12 PM PDT by Mr. K (No consequence of repealing obamacare is worse than obamacare itself)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Yossarian

Linux/Unix users have been telling us how we all need to understand how superior they are, while Windows quietly took over the planet.

Yes, we get it... Linux is technically superior. OK? But 1 computer running a server does not mean it is better than 100,000 computers running windows.

IIS and Front Page WILL TAKE OVER THE WORLD! They are great and you suck for not using them!!! (That’s how stupid you guys sound)


11 posted on 07/19/2021 12:56:43 PM PDT by Mr. K (No consequence of repealing obamacare is worse than obamacare itself)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: ShadowAce

I’ve been using Manjaro Linux for 5 or 6 years now


12 posted on 07/19/2021 1:05:26 PM PDT by butlerweave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ShadowAce; JohnBrowdie; Mr. K

I think I have it figured out Ace. There are a few around here who either work for, are retired from, or own stock in MS. Probably the ones who helped bloat the hell out of windows for no real logical reason or need. lol


13 posted on 07/19/2021 1:18:11 PM PDT by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Tallguy

And it is YOURS not perpetually Microsofts. That alone is PRICELESS.


14 posted on 07/19/2021 1:20:39 PM PDT by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Openurmind

or maybe we’re just not linux porn fans.


15 posted on 07/19/2021 1:27:35 PM PDT by JohnBrowdie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: JohnBrowdie

No... the observation is “investment” in some form. But I will give you this... As you went out of your way to come bash Linux, Linux users do also go out of their way to share the Linux experience. And they have a very just and beneficial reason why. They have the compassion to help others free themselves from the MS ball and chain. I absolutely know that this is NOT why you do just based on the abuses coming from MS alone. There is nothing righteous to defend.


16 posted on 07/19/2021 1:36:26 PM PDT by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: JohnBrowdie

I think the biggest problem that linux distro’s have is the PnP modules don’t provide any backwards compatibility. Unless you’re using it as a typewriter for a fixed function then you seem to always be tinkering with the grep and the sudo.

That being said once you get it working it works forever.


17 posted on 07/19/2021 2:17:16 PM PDT by Samurai_Jack (This is not about hypocrisy, this is about hierarchy!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Yossarian

Agree about Linux, it’s just a shame that Google has turned Android into such shite.


18 posted on 07/19/2021 2:36:07 PM PDT by bigbob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Openurmind

Yeah that’s gotta be it.

Congratulations genius,You figured it out


19 posted on 07/19/2021 4:30:33 PM PDT by Mr. K (No consequence of repealing obamacare is worse than obamacare itself)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Tallguy

It’s great that you are able to do that, But what percentage of the population wants to do that? 0.002%??

Whereas Microsoft could be installed on 100% of all the computers.

Keep in mind I am not talking about quality I’m only talking about quantity. Bill Gates is a billionaire whereas Linux is still trying to get Greater than a small percentage of all computers.

Does granny want to Fiddle with the latest distro? Or see pictures of the grandkids in email?

That’s another thing you linux geeks lack...The ability to understand the above point.

In addition you are willing to have arguments about it, while I don’t give a sh*t if you want to use Linux.


20 posted on 07/19/2021 4:37:44 PM PDT by Mr. K (No consequence of repealing obamacare is worse than obamacare itself)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-54 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson