Ubuntu and Ubuntu-based distros
Ubuntu-Desktop
Ubuntu is free and open source. Ubuntu: A Beginner's Guide Ubuntu: A Beginner's Guide Curious about Ubuntu but not sure where to start? Everything you need to get started with the latest version of Ubuntu is here in easy to understand, plain English. Another alternative to commercial, proprietary operating systems such as Windows and macOS. At the top is a window that shows the time and system displays. You can also open an overview screen or dashboard that gives you access to your apps. You can also switch between windows and virtual desktops there.Behind Ubuntu is a company called Canonical. Unlike Microsoft and Apple, Canonical doesn't make up most of what goes into its operating system. Instead, Ubuntu is made up of free and open source components sourced from individuals and teams from around the world.
The kernel that software can use to communicate with your computer's hardware is Linux. The interface I described above is not unique for Ubuntu. It's actually a desktop environment called GNOME. GNOME: Explains a look at one of Linux's most popular desktops. GNOME Explained: A Look at One of Linux's Most Popular Desktops. If you are interested in Linux, you come across "GNOME", which is short for GNU Network Object Model Environment. GNOME is one of the most popular open source interfaces, but what does that mean? Continue reading .
Canonical uses these components to create a functional desktop experience that anyone can download for free. You can use Ubuntu for general computing, office work, software development, games, and servers.
Ubuntu-Infrastructure
Ubuntu is much larger than the desktop you download from ubuntu.com. It's a community of developers and users. It is also a collection of apps and programs gathered from many sources and used in different ways.
Most of the code that Ubuntu supports did not come from Canonical. Ubuntu is based on Debian, a massive project that does the same thing as Ubuntu, but only in a way that is a little less accessible. In order to clear things up, we need to set some conditions.
- Packages: The way developers distribute software for Linux. Apps, system components, drivers, codecs and other software are delivered in the form of packages.
- Package formats: Different versions of Linux organize packages with different formats. So far, there is no single format that is compatible with every version of Linux.
- Repositories: Instead of downloading installers from a website, Linux software is usually found in a repository. Repositories are large collections of packages that you can access and download when you need them. Linux app stores offer software from repositories versus Linux app stores: which one is right for you? Linux App Stores Compared: Which One Is Right For You? Windows users are taken to an app store. macOS has been eating for a while. Linux has had an app store style experience for years. But which one is right for you? Read More More traditional tools are called package managers. You can also download software from the command line.
- Distributions: A distribution is a collection of software that is packaged in such a way that, along with its community and repositories, it provides a working operating system.
Ubuntu and Debian are both Linux distributions , and Ubuntu uses the same DEB package format as Debian, although software is not always compatible. Ubuntu has its own repositories , but it mostly fills them with packages from Debian.
The Ubuntu ecosystem
Ubuntu comes in many forms. The default desktop uses the GNOME desktop environment. There are different “flavors” that use different desktop environments. For example, Kubuntu uses the KDE Plasma desktop. KDE Explained: A Look At Linux's Most Configurable Desktop Interface KDE Explained: A Look At Linux's Most Configurable Desktop Interface. What does Linux look like? Sometimes unity; other times, GNOME. Often, however, Linux runs under KDE. If you are not using the previous K desktop environment on your Linux PC, you should change something now! Continue reading . Xubuntu uses a different interface called Xfce Xfce Explained: A look at one of Linux Xfce's fastest desktops explains: A Look at One of Linux's Fastest Desktops If you've recently switched to Linux and are running a little slow, you probably need a somewhat lighter desktop environment. A good option is Xfce. Continue reading .
Canonical doesn't work with these variants, but they host them and all of their software. They use the same repositories as the standard Ubuntu desktop.
There are many Ubuntu-based distributions that Canonical has no relationship with (similar to Ubuntu based on Debian). Linux Mint and Elementary Operating System are two of the most popular examples. Both come from different teams and have their own unique experiences. It's time to try something new: Elementary OS Loki It's time to try something new: Elementary OS Loki Elementary OS is not your typical Linux distribution. Some would say it's not a distribution at all. But is Elementary really a viable alternative to Windows and macOS as its developers claim? Continue reading . For example, Linux Mint's standard layout has a lot more to explain with Windows Cinnamon: A look at one of Linux Cinnamon's mostly Windows-like desktops explained: A look at one of Linux's mostly Windows-like desktops if you see a screenshot of what makes the "operating system" more like the "desktop environment" - and Linux has a number of them, including Cinnamon. Continue reading .Appearances can be deceptive. Underneath, the infrastructure is the same that powers Ubuntu. If you open an app store on Linux Mint and a simple operating system, most of the software is what you'd get on Ubuntu.
What does that mean?
If you see a program that mentions Ubuntu support, that support isn't limited to the Ubuntu desktop. This software also runs with official versions of Ubuntu and independent projects that share the underlying Ubuntu infrastructure. Steam says it will work on Ubuntu, but you can run the same installer. How to install Steam and start gaming on Linux. How to install Steam and start gaming on Linux. Installing Steam on Linux computers is straightforward. The result is usually the same seamless gaming experience you had on Windows. Read more about Pop! _OS (another Ubuntu-based distribution Pop! _OS has arrived: how does it compare to Ubuntu? Pop! _OS has arrived: How does it compare to Ubuntu?) System76s Pop! _OS Linux operating system is available for download. and also ships as a standard option on new System76 computers. Should you give it a try? Additional Information).
If you choose to install a basic operating system instead of Ubuntu, you need to know that most of what applies to Ubuntu also applies to you. If Ubuntu isn't working on your computer, the basic operating system likely won't work either. If a game controller isn't compatible with Ubuntu, chances are it won't be compatible with your system. If you run into bugs, you may have better luck finding Ubuntu-related solutions than finding an elementary operating system.But things don't (usually) go the opposite way. Ubuntu cannot run software specifically designed for basic operating systems. To explain this relationship, the Linux community uses the metaphor of a stream. Ubuntu is upstream relative to elementary OS (pictured below). Software runs downstream from Ubuntu. Water only flows in one direction.
The further you are from the source code, the greater the chances of introducing bugs. 6 Reasons Your Favorite Linux Operating System Is Being Plagued With Bugs 6 Reasons Your Preferred Linux Operating System Is Being Plagued With Bugs You found a new Linux operating system to try, and you were amazed. But then it went wrong. Sometimes Linux goes wrong after a month or two. The question is why? Continue reading . Debian takes the source code for programs and packs them into DEBs. Ubuntu is restructuring these packages and introducing its own optimizations for some. elementary OS then adds some changes. Now, if something goes wrong, there are several points in the chain to consider. Is the problem with the original source code, Debian,Are you using an alternative to Ubuntu?
That depends on your needs and expectations. Here are some questions to consider:
- Are you happy with Ubuntu ?? If you're happy with the standard Ubuntu desktop, stick with what you have.
- Do you like Ubuntu but not the interface? You can change the desktop environment without reinstalling the distribution. Or you can install another variant of Ubuntu.
- Do you like the Ubuntu infrastructure but not how it is managed? If you have problems with Canonical, why use a Linux operating system other than Ubuntu? Why use a different Linux operating system than Ubuntu? There are hundreds of Linux operating systems (distributions) out there, but you're probably using Ubuntu. That's why you might want to switch to one of the Ubuntu alternatives. Read on, it can be helpful to use an Ubuntu-based distribution that is provided by another community. Linux Mint, elementary operating system and Pop! _OS use the Ubuntu infrastructure, but are not as influenced by Canonical's decisions as the official Ubuntu variants.
If you don't like the Ubuntu infrastructure, it may be worth stepping out of the ecosystem entirely. There are many other Linux distributions out there. The Best Ubuntu Linux Alternatives and Why You Should Use The Best Ubuntu Linux Alternatives and Why You Should Switch Just because Ubuntu is popular doesn't mean it is the right Linux operating system for you. Could another variant of Linux fit better? Read More You can completely change the way you look at Linux.
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