A Linux distribution combines the Linux kernel with other software to make a complete operating system. The term “distribution” is sometimes used for other operating systems.
Linux (desktops and servers)
- arch-linux Arch Linux aims at keeping simple, light-weight and flexible.
- centos CentOS is a community-supported, freely available distribution based on Red Hat
- debian Debian has a large number of packages, many supported architectures, a slow release cycle and many derivatives.
- fedora Fedora is a Red Hat-sponsored community-managed distribution with a short release cycle.
- gentoo Gentoo aims at being highly modular and customizable.
- mandriva Mandriva
- opensuse OpenSUSE is a freely available, community-managed distribution sponsored by Novell (SuSE owner).
- redhat rhel Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a commercial Linux distribution. The company sponsors many Linux-related projects.
- slackware Slackware is one of the oldest Linux distributions, once the leader of the field, supplanting the now-defunct SLS.
- suse SuSE Enterprise Linux is the oldest existing commercial Linux distribution.
- ubuntu Ubuntu provides a tightly integrated core aimed at being simple to install and use; it is based on Debian.
Linux (lightweight and embedded)
- maemo Maemo is developed by Nokia for their smartphones; it is to be superseded by MeeGo.
- meego MeeGo targets smartphones and other mobile devices.
- puppy Puppy Linux is a lightweight distribution for PCs, focusing on ease of use; it runs from RAM and includes a GUI.
- slitaz SliTaz is a lightweight distribution for desktop and server PCs.
- webos WebOS is developed by Palm for their PDAs.
- openwrt The WRT family of distributions (DD-WRT HyperWRT, OpenWRT, Tomato, …) targets networking equipment, primarily home routers.
BSD
- freebsd FreeBSD has a large array of features and packages.
- netbsd NetBSD focuses on portability.
- openbsd OpenBSD focuses on security.
- osx darwin Mac OS X is the operating system of Apple computers of today (mobile devices use a derivative called iOS. It is based on a core derived from FreeBSD called Darwin.
Related reading
- distribution-choice Choosing a distribution given particular requirements
- How do you choose a distribution?
