[NTLUG:Discuss] DistroWatch 10 Most Popular Linux Distros

[Kenneth Loafman]

Chris Cox wrote:
> It could be a Debian thing... but, for example, the Synaptic
> package manager (and I here apt-get does this as well) downloads,
> installs and STARTS services (yes... STARTS them without
> me making config changes before they are stated).  Oh... I'm
> sure it's probably configurable somewhere, but that SHOULD
> not be the default for packages.
> 
> All in all, they're trying to duplicate the "friendliness"
> of Windows.  And that's just SOOOO wrong.  People who think
> Linux distros are "hard"... just don't understand the
> complexity of being on a shared network.... Windows makes
> 1001 assumptions... and has a myriad of security issues.
> We don't need to emulate them.
> 
> I'm sure there are other issues... I need to play around
> with Ubuntu again (so I can get frustrated again and take
> better notes).
> 
> With that said, there is probably more to like about Ubuntu
> than to hate.... 

I run Ubuntu almost exclusively now and have to say that you are right
in that they try to make it behave somewhat like Windows.  Starting a
service is OK by me as long as it does not also change the firewall to
allow it to work.  I do think its a Debian thing because 99% of the
packages are untouched when moved over to Ubuntu repositories.

I've grown to like working in a homogeneous environment of Ubuntu.  I
used to work in mixed distro shops and the differences in the basic
utilities (rename for one) meant that you had to tailor your scripts to
the distribution.  That's one of the things that drives Windows converts
mad, that and the myriad choices of desktop managers, etc.  Some like
the choice, but other's, like IT management want the same appearance on
all their workstations, some even down to the choice of wallpaper and
screensavers, but then most IT management is a bit AR to begin with.

The Linux Standards Project (name?) has done a lot to get a number of
these problems fixed, but there's still a long way to go.  The old Perl
slogan of TMTOWTDI works for Perl, but not for distributions, at least
not for Windows converts.

A disclaimer -- I'm not saying that we want to abandon all but one
distro, that would lead to stagnation.  What we want to do is lead
Windows converts to something resembling 'standard' Linux, at least
initially, then let the play with the other distros as they mature.

...Ken