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1 • package count (by JeffC on 2022-11-07 01:17:14 GMT from United States)
When comparing different distros package count is very misleading.
Arch does not break up packages so one package will be quite large and contain many parts that the average user will never need.
Debian breaks up packages, so if you do not need debugging symbols you do not need to install them.
But Arch users will point to their neofetch and brag about how few packages they have installed, claiming how small Arch is compared to Debian.
2 • Pkgs installed (by Myst on 2022-11-07 01:29:18 GMT from Austria)
According to my package wrapper "sisyphus-gui", Redcore Linux (a Gentoo Flavour) 1804 pkgs,installed, that includes both binary & Src pkg's.
3 • Australia (by Richard on 2022-11-07 02:33:34 GMT from Australia)
Debian Plasma and BSPWM - 2238 packages
4 • Flatpak, Appimage and Snap: Linux's universal package managers. (by Greg Zeng on 2022-11-07 02:46:50 GMT from Australia)
Thank you for the link: https://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=package-management It might need updating. > "However, experimental versions of Ubuntu use the new snap package manager." Twenty "package managers" are listed for Linux (239 Linux brands), plus that for BSD (14 distributions in total, not just FreeBSD in the link).
The RPM confusion is disguised as usual. PCLOS is my preferred RPM based system. It uses the Synaptic Package manager, but it is probably one of the three RPM systems (urpmi).
Debian is the preferred Package manager (115 or 116), preferred by about half of the Linux system creators. https://distrowatch.com/search.php?ostype=Linux&category=All&origin=All&basedon=Debian¬basedon=None&desktop=All&architecture=All&package=All&rolling=All&isosize=All&netinstall=All&language=All&defaultinit=All&status=Active#simple https://distrowatch.com/search.php?ostype=Linux&category=All&origin=All&basedon=All¬basedon=None&desktop=All&architecture=All&package=DEB&rolling=All&isosize=All&netinstall=All&language=All&defaultinit=All&status=Active#simple
The three RPM systems are Red Hat (12, 5%) and others disguised in the Distrowatch listings as "Independent" (44, 18%), Total other RPM is about 28, 12%.
Flatpak initiated from Red Hat fans show 40 brands (17%) using this, by default, perhaps. https://distrowatch.com/search.php?ostype=Linux&category=All&origin=All&basedon=All¬basedon=None&desktop=All&architecture=All&package=Flatpak&rolling=All&isosize=All&netinstall=All&language=All&defaultinit=All&status=Active#simple
Snap initiated by Canonical fans has 30 brands (13%).
Several other systems seem unknown to Distrowatch: AppImage & "compiling from source code". The most famous system of compiling is the Arch AUR system. Some Arch based systems do not completely trust this AUR system, so prefer to have their own independent repositories.
Distrowatch lists only three "Puppy" based systems are "alive". My private listings show as many as eleven, but not all are still alive.
Most Linux operating systems can be forced to use Flatpak, Appimage and Snap. Snap is limited because only "authorized" applications are allowed, similar to the locked jails offered by Apple. Most of the nine package managers recognized by Distrowatch, plus those ignored, are "open" for independent application publishers.
My research into computer applications which are published in the open market shows that creators are very confused about Linux operating systems. Linux is experimenting with three "universal" package managers. Only Flatpak might appeal. The other two have poor choice of selections.
Linux has yet to decide how-to organize many "updates": applications, kernels, dependent packages, choices of display managers, and complying with the user's preferred settings on update frequency and display interfaces.
The computer industry leader remains as Microsoft Windows. Notification, settings etc. are varied and optional. Installing and removal is so easy & quick, however, that computer malware can so easily be introduced. Application creators however like the bigger market place, and avoid the minority users on the "also-ran" operating system called Linux. Instead, application creators prefer (in numerical order): Windows, Apple, Android, and then perhaps the Debian compilation of Linux.
Other than the three preferred Linux containers, Linux has the problem of dependent packages, with their complex incompatibilities. The Debian package, the most preferred by the independent creators, is not perfect. This might explain the slowly increasing popularity of Flatpak.
5 • Just a kernel? (by uz64 on 2022-11-07 03:15:13 GMT from United States)
Not to mention, if you mean that TRULY *just* a kernel is installed... the kernel won't even boot if you don't have a bootloader installed and properly set up!
6 • package count (by Neil on 2022-11-07 03:41:20 GMT from United States)
Computer I'm using tonight is running Debian with KDE desktop, 3285 packages reported.
7 • packages Installed. (by Bobbie Sellers on 2022-11-07 03:49:50 GMT from United States)
On PCLinuxOS Forum the question was recently asked by the Packager with directions as to using our update tool Synaptic to determine the matter. A simple matter of clicking the Status Button in the lower left side of the interface. Then answer is printed out in the border under that set of buttons. I had 2134 packages installed. The packager and some of the testers and coders had over 4000 packages installed. It proved by the way to be a very popular topic and may be so for some time to come as quieter members of the forum get to the site and review the older posts.
bliss
8 • Re: package count (by Dennis on 2022-11-07 04:25:22 GMT from Hong Kong)
That's exactly how I feel (after steadily rebuilding WSL distros on multiple machines for the last few months)!i
In my case, Manjaro & Devuan (Debian sans SystemD) shares almost the same set of packages (331 pacman v.s. 378 dpkg according to neofetch) as I hand-pick the packages and maintain an initial setup script, and Devuan even has a few more packages (exclusive to Debian-like like apt-listbugs, apt-listchanges, command-not-found, needrestart etc), yet the VHDX volume of Devuan is always (say, 0.4GiB) smaller than the Manjaro one.
The package count is even more misleading by slightly indicating the (wrong) fact that a smaller number means a smaller disk usage of installed packages. The most clutter-free distro among my GNU/Linux collection is... a Linux from Scratch (LFS) I built backed in September, and its size is over 3GiB (almost double of Devuan!). But I assure it is the fastest one as everything including building toolchain has maximum optimization... yet it actually only includes less than 100 packages.
9 • PKG counts VS distro type (by rb on 2022-11-07 05:06:45 GMT from United States)
I have used Linux for over 20 years. Debian/apt based mostly. I currently use ARCH as it meets my needs right now. I have 1296. That is not because ARCH lumps multiple packages into one huge package and Debian breaks them apart. That comment is just not true. You can easily have a leaner system on Arch than Debian based: With Ubuntu, I have no choice but to keep most of KDE Plasma installed by default. Try to remove Elisa or Dragon Player for example to just use VLC, and apt tries to remove the whole Plasma desktop and then some because of dependencies. On Arch, I simply install the packages I need for Plasma, nothing else. No bloat. Lean and hand selected. Nothing is installed by default. Try removing Discover if you don't use it for updates on Ubuntu. I found on Debian that hand picking which Plasma packages you want installed is not easy nor well documented. You have to literally go thru each Plasma meta package & make note of which packages that encompasses, then make a list.
10 • No. of pkgs (by 0323pin on 2022-11-07 06:07:08 GMT from Sweden)
On my Distro, Void with musllibc, 600 pkgs. On my main machine, NetBSD current, 180 pkgs.
11 • packages (by Chris on 2022-11-07 06:12:06 GMT from South Africa)
Ubuntu MATE 22.10 (desktop, dual booting W10) 2565 packages (cw snap) Linux Mint 21 (Lenovo Ideapad 300, dual booting W10) 2162 packages Openmediavault (Thinkpad T520) 533 packages
12 • Lean, bloated or just right, Goldilocks? (by Trihexagonal on 2022-11-07 07:27:26 GMT from United States)
I only install the minimum ports/packages on my FreeBSD boxen that I deem necessary for general desktop purposes and one box varies little from the next. Occasionally installing something on one I don't need on them all or to try something else out.
On Kali GNU/Linux I install the full set of tools they have available and do not consider that bloat since they're programs I chose to install.
Of the three running right now, according to screenfetch, this Thinkpad W520 running FreeBSD 13.1 has 528 pkg installed. The W520 running FreeBSD 13.0 I use offline as my multimedia machine has 543 pkg,
The Thinkpad T400 running Kali 2022.3 has 4201 packages installed, according to screenfetch. The majority of them I've never used, and may even never look at, but are there at my convenience should I decide to.
On FreeBSD I mix ports and pkg as I see fit to install programs and never have an insurmountable problem doing so. On Kali I use apt and apt-get and have never had a problem I couldn't work through with them either.
All 3 have 8GB RAM. The T400 shows 6784M RAM free according to top. This W520 shows 3407M Free with YouTube video running in another tab. The offline W520 at idle shows 3853M RAM free.
However, the two different OS allocate free RAM differently. FreeBSD seeing free RAM as wasted RAM.
13 • package count (by speedytux on 2022-11-07 08:26:07 GMT from France)
1831 with Arch+KDE and 6 Flatpak's apps
14 • Number of Packages (by Dr.J on 2022-11-07 09:47:18 GMT from Germany)
Counting packages makes sense on the one hand, but on the other hand it doesn't. Why? I always try to keep the system lean, avoiding any unnecessary packages, because that reduces dependencies and potential bugs, so the number of packages is an end in itself. The other side is illustrated by just one example: Arch with systemd contains only three systemd packages. But I use runit instead of systemd and currently have 22 packages installed there. The reason is that runit separates individual services; they have to be downloaded, installed and enabled individually. In this respect, the sheer number of packages is not a good indicator of the simplicity of a system, because of course the bottom line is that runit is much simpler than systemd.
15 • how many packages (by eb on 2022-11-07 10:16:16 GMT from France)
on Slackware : cd /var/log/packages/ && ls | wc -l (1182 for me). Thanks to Distrowatch.
16 • Package count (by DachshundMan on 2022-11-07 10:25:11 GMT from United Kingdom)
Mint 21 Mate: 2594, so rather more than @11 found on his Mint but he did not specify the desktop installed.
17 • Boot loader (by Jesse on 2022-11-07 12:24:17 GMT from Canada)
@5: "Not to mention, if you mean that TRULY *just* a kernel is installed... the kernel won't even boot if you don't have a bootloader installed and properly set up!"
This is true in a lot of situations, but not all. In fact, take a look at this week's review of Static Linux to see a distro that loads without a typical boot loader package installed.
18 • Package count (by Tim on 2022-11-07 13:04:51 GMT from United States)
I'm on Arch Linux and my package count is 726. This installation is a little over two years old and I have installed many extra packages for this or that.
19 • pkgcount (by brad on 2022-11-07 13:30:18 GMT from United States)
1398 - Manjaro
20 • 757 packages (by MInuxLintEbianDedition on 2022-11-07 14:57:32 GMT from United Kingdom)
757 is the number on my perfect model slimmed down lmde 5 for the asus eee pc 2G surf. Anything up to 1300 packages on the lmde 5 asus eee pc 4G. 1554 on my main machine, because this one plays music AND movies.
21 • @#4 (by TexasJoe on 2022-11-07 15:48:12 GMT from United States)
Flatpak, Appimage and Snap
22 • No edit button (by TexasJor on 2022-11-07 15:53:08 GMT from United States)
Name three things I will never use.
Flatpak, Appimage and Snap
Some distros try to force these. But there are lots of distros.
23 • Package count (by David on 2022-11-07 17:14:15 GMT from United Kingdom)
On my PCLinucOS desktop I have 1912 packages; on my Debian laptop, 2233; both run Xfce. The Debian install has had default packages remove, while the PCLinuxOS has had extras installed — I don't know whether it would be reasonable to draw conclusions, though.
24 • package count (by Dennis on 2022-11-07 18:00:36 GMT from Sweden)
Currently 939 packages on my Gentoo install
25 • Arch Openbox (by Leo on 2022-11-07 20:18:22 GMT from Greece)
A mere 813 count. And I feel it's bloated
26 • Does package count really matter? (by Moat on 2022-11-07 20:50:12 GMT from United States)
Personally, I don't care too much re; "package count" - it's really only data taking up space on the hard drive. What matters more IMHO are the number of services/processes installed along with "packages" and enabled during boot-time to run in the background, as those are the things that will ultimately effect the computer's performance (CPU cycles, RAM, etc)... correct?
IOW; I'd rather have an application installed and not need it, rather than need it and not have it installed. Consequently, my installed systems end up pretty "bloated" in that regard, with lots of stuff added after the initial install. After all, it's my desktop computer, and I want to actually "do things" with it!!
What I'd *really* like to see, tho, is a universal GUI app to control (turn "on/off") said processes - for systemd as well as other inits. (Puppy had such an app included, IIRC). Yes - I'm terrible with the CLI and don't have the time/energy to learn it much (i.e.; typical desktop user).
Maybe an interesting poll would be the number of services/processes running after boot on user's systems...
Also, @12 re; free RAM as wasted RAM - I've always thought that makes sense. So a system showing relatively high RAM usage is not necessarily a bad thing. Maybe... One thing I *have* noticed over the years is how well Android handles (allocates, releases) RAM. I spend quite a bit of time doing general browsing/email/texts/etc on a cheap Android tablet with only 2 Gb RAM and am constantly impressed with how well it runs with such limited RAM and how quickly and completely it releases RAM when things fill up. I believe Linux in general may be able to learn a thing or two from Android in that respect.
27 • Service/process GUI app... (by Moat on 2022-11-07 21:04:01 GMT from United States)
What I mean above ^^^ re; a GUI app for controlling services/processes would be something roughly equivalent to the native services.msc in Windows (or optionally, the powerful Autoruns tool).
28 • Another example (by wdt on 2022-11-08 03:58:59 GMT from Canada)
I wonder if StaticLinux is a offshoot of OneFileLinux.efi, the latter is about 30M, cli only
29 • package count (by grapejuice on 2022-11-08 03:46:09 GMT from New Zealand)
Running RebornOS on an HP dv7, and neofetch reports 1745 packages installed.
30 • @24 nice number (by MInuxLintEbianDedition on 2022-11-08 05:12:56 GMT from United Kingdom)
any palindromic odd number with an odd number of digits is good :)
31 • Minimul Linux Distros (by penguinx86 on 2022-11-08 07:36:42 GMT from United States)
My main Linux distro is Linux Mint Xfce. I usually install a doxen packages after installing Mint. I have no idea how many packages are instralled by default. There are many packages that I never use, like Thunderbird email. I'd love a minimal distro where I can pick and choose what gets installed. But I choose Linux Mint because it's the ONLY distro that is compatible with the Wifi adapter in my laptop out of the box. Just give me a minimal distro with Gparted, Xfce, Wifi, sound, video, touchpad support and Synaptic and I can install everything else myself. But no Wifi is a dealbreaker. I tried installing many distros, only to find they are incompatible with my laptops Wifi adapter. That's why I always come back to Linux Mint
32 • Package count (by kc1di on 2022-11-08 14:16:53 GMT from United States)
My PCLinuxOS XFCE 1924 installed My Kubuntu 22.04 KDE 2492
33 • # of Packages (by CSRoad on 2022-11-08 15:50:18 GMT from Canada)
Devuan Ceres, 2051 packages installed.
34 • how many packages (by thym on 2022-11-08 17:30:22 GMT from Greece)
In my Slackware box, 1602 packages installed.
But comparing number of packages between very different distros and very different individual setups does not add any great information. Any single user may add a ton of packages he supposedly needs for his special workflow.
"Bloat" has very little (or nothing) to do with the number of installed packages. What is installed matters and what it runs. As long as there is enough free disk space.
35 • Pakidge (by Cheker on 2022-11-08 18:25:51 GMT from Portugal)
Manjaro - 1553 (pacman) Artix - 1283 (pacman)
Q4OS - 2256 (dpkg), 8 (flatpak)
These installs aren't the same 1:1 but I do try to use the same programs as much as possible across everything. Interesting to see that disparity between the Archs and the Debian.
36 • Pakidge 2 Electric Boogaloo (by Cheker on 2022-11-08 18:27:34 GMT from Portugal)
Forgot the DEs, might also help paint the picture... Manjaro and Artix XFCE, Q4OS Trinity.
37 • Peter Piper picked a peck of Packages (by Harry the Lizard on 2022-11-09 09:47:11 GMT from United States)
How many packages in my distro? Enough.
38 • #37right on (by Jimmy Blake on 2022-11-09 16:59:54 GMT from United States)
I'm with you. I have enough packages to run my system the way I need to. Don't understand everyone giving the exact numbers. What's the point. I have more than you or look how few packages I have installed.
39 • agree (by enough on 2022-11-10 00:37:46 GMT from Australia)
@38 agree with you and the comments made by @12 @26 and @37 as well - seems to be another measuring competition because 'bloat' and 'minimalism', whatever the latest definitions of those are (those definitions seem to be in the eye of the beholder).
I have everything I need on my system, and probably a few things I don't use but who knows, maybe one day I will and they'll be there (and if I need anything else on top of all that I'll just install it).
I couldn't care less, the computer runs well and I can use it for whatever I need. Even with my old low-spec machine, I'm not worried about a gigabyte or three - the distro itself takes up a small enough part of what I have on here (a couple of movies take up more space by themselves).
Likewise with RAM as @12 and @26 suggested - if it's there to be used, then I'm happy it is. @26 makes a good point about Android and how good a job it does in releasing RAM if you need it.
40 • Gentoo Packages Installed (by Andy Figueroa on 2022-11-10 04:35:27 GMT from United States)
My primary desktop. Command should not require root.
$ emerge -cp | grep -i installed Packages installed: 1296
41 • Microsoft/Intel Roadblocks... (by Jim Mulkey on 2022-11-10 21:33:04 GMT from United States)
I recently bought a Dell 7060 with an i5-8500 and an HP 800 with an i7-8700. Both were refurbished Windows machines. I ran into more trouble than I expected when I tried to install Linux. I used Ubuntu 22.10 but it took 15 or 20 tries to get it installed, then it wouldn't boot! It all seemed to relate to Microsoft and Intel roadblocks to prevent installing Linux. I tried again with Ubuntu 20.04 and finally got the Dell working. I haven't tried 20.04 on the HP, but I may get it working, too. I've done this hundreds of times, and it keeps getting harder with each new generation of Microsoft and Intel.
42 • @41, Microsoft/Intel Roadblocks... (by Harry the Lizard on 2022-11-11 08:55:47 GMT from United States)
Have no idea what roadblocks you are talking about. I run 7th, 8th and 10th generation Intel machines without issues either installing or running. I am writing in an Intel NUC with Debian and Windows 11 running happily side by side. It's run Ubuntu, Manjaro and EndeavourOS previously.
Number of Comments: 42
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Archives |
• Issue 1048 (2023-12-04): openSUSE MicroOS, the transition from X11 to Wayland, Red Hat phasing out X11 packages, UBports making mobile development easier |
• Issue 1047 (2023-11-27): GhostBSD 23.10.1, Why Linux uses swap when memory is free, Ubuntu Budgie may benefit from Wayland work in Xfce, early issues with FreeBSD 14.0 |
• Issue 1046 (2023-11-20): Slackel 7.7 "Openbox", restricting CPU usage, Haiku improves font handling and software centre performance, Canonical launches MicroCloud |
• Issue 1045 (2023-11-13): Fedora 39, how to trust software packages, ReactOS booting with UEFI, elementary OS plans to default to Wayland, Mir gaining ability to split work across video cards |
• Issue 1044 (2023-11-06): Porteus 5.01, disabling IPv6, applications unique to a Linux distro, Linux merges bcachefs, OpenELA makes source packages available |
• Issue 1043 (2023-10-30): Murena Two with privacy switches, where old files go when packages are updated, UBports on Volla phones, Mint testing Cinnamon on Wayland, Peppermint releases ARM build |
• Issue 1042 (2023-10-23): Ubuntu Cinnamon compared with Linux Mint, extending battery life on Linux, Debian resumes /usr merge, Canonical publishes fixed install media |
• Issue 1041 (2023-10-16): FydeOS 17.0, Dr.Parted 23.09, changing UIDs, Fedora partners with Slimbook, GNOME phasing out X11 sessions, Ubuntu revokes 23.10 install media |
• Issue 1040 (2023-10-09): CROWZ 5.0, changing the location of default directories, Linux Mint updates its Edge edition, Murena crowdfunding new privacy phone, Debian publishes new install media |
• Issue 1039 (2023-10-02): Zenwalk Current, finding the duration of media files, Peppermint OS tries out new edition, COSMIC gains new features, Canonical reports on security incident in Snap store |
• Issue 1038 (2023-09-25): Mageia 9, trouble-shooting launchers, running desktop Linux in the cloud, New documentation for Nix, Linux phasing out ReiserFS, GNU celebrates 40 years |
• Issue 1037 (2023-09-18): Bodhi Linux 7.0.0, finding specific distros and unified package managemnt, Zevenet replaced by two new forks, openSUSE introduces Slowroll branch, Fedora considering dropping Plasma X11 session |
• Issue 1036 (2023-09-11): SDesk 2023.08.12, hiding command line passwords, openSUSE shares contributor survery results, Ubuntu plans seamless disk encryption, GNOME 45 to break extension compatibility |
• Issue 1035 (2023-09-04): Debian GNU/Hurd 2023, PCLinuxOS 2023.07, do home users need a firewall, AlmaLinux introduces new repositories, Rocky Linux commits to RHEL compatibility, NetBSD machine runs unattended for nine years, Armbian runs wallpaper contest |
• Issue 1034 (2023-08-28): Void 20230628, types of memory usage, FreeBSD receives port of Linux NVIDIA driver, Fedora plans improved theme handling for Qt applications, Canonical's plans for Ubuntu |
• Issue 1033 (2023-08-21): MiniOS 20230606, system user accounts, how Red Hat clones are moving forward, Haiku improves WINE performance, Debian turns 30 |
• Issue 1032 (2023-08-14): MX Linux 23, positioning new windows on the desktop, Linux Containers adopts LXD fork, Oracle, SUSE, and CIQ form OpenELA |
• Issue 1031 (2023-08-07): Peppermint OS 2023-07-01, preventing a file from being changed, Asahi Linux partners with Fedora, Linux Mint plans new releases |
• Issue 1030 (2023-07-31): Solus 4.4, Linux Mint 21.2, Debian introduces RISC-V support, Ubuntu patches custom kernel bugs, FreeBSD imports OpenSSL 3 |
• Issue 1029 (2023-07-24): Running Murena on the Fairphone 4, Flatpak vs Snap sandboxing technologies, Redox OS plans to borrow Linux drivers to expand hardware support, Debian updates Bookworm media |
• Issue 1028 (2023-07-17): KDE Connect; Oracle, SUSE, and AlmaLinux repsond to Red Hat's source code policy change, KaOS issues media fix, Slackware turns 30; security and immutable distributions |
• Issue 1027 (2023-07-10): Crystal Linux 2023-03-16, StartOS (embassyOS 0.3.4.2), changing options on a mounted filesystem, Murena launches Fairphone 4 in North America, Fedora debates telemetry for desktop team |
• Issue 1026 (2023-07-03): Kumander Linux 1.0, Red Hat changing its approach to sharing source code, TrueNAS offers SMB Multichannel, Zorin OS introduces upgrade utility |
• Issue 1025 (2023-06-26): KaOS with Plasma 6, information which can leak from desktop environments, Red Hat closes door on sharing RHEL source code, SUSE introduces new security features |
• Issue 1024 (2023-06-19): Debian 12, a safer way to use dd, Debian releases GNU/Hurd 2023, Ubuntu 22.10 nears its end of life, FreeBSD turns 30 |
• Issue 1023 (2023-06-12): openSUSE 15.5 Leap, the differences between independent distributions, openSUSE lengthens Leap life, Murena offers new phone for North America |
• Issue 1022 (2023-06-05): GetFreeOS 2023.05.01, Slint 15.0-3, Liya N4Si, cleaning up crowded directories, Ubuntu plans Snap-based variant, Red Hat dropping LireOffice RPM packages |
• Issue 1021 (2023-05-29): rlxos GNU/Linux, colours in command line output, an overview of Void's unique features, how to use awk, Microsoft publishes a Linux distro |
• Issue 1020 (2023-05-22): UBports 20.04, finding another machine's IP address, finding distros with a specific kernel, Debian prepares for Bookworm |
• Issue 1019 (2023-05-15): Rhino Linux (Beta), checking which applications reply on a package, NethServer reborn, System76 improving application responsiveness |
• Issue 1018 (2023-05-08): Fedora 38, finding relevant manual pages, merging audio files, Fedora plans new immutable edition, Mint works to fix Secure Boot issues |
• Issue 1017 (2023-05-01): Xubuntu 23.04, Debian elects Project Leaders and updates media, systemd to speed up restarts, Guix System offering ground-up source builds, where package managers install files |
• Issue 1016 (2023-04-24): Qubes OS 4.1.2, tracking bandwidth usage, Solus resuming development, FreeBSD publishes status report, KaOS offers preview of Plasma 6 |
• Issue 1015 (2023-04-17): Manjaro Linux 22.0, Trisquel GNU/Linux 11.0, Arch Linux powering PINE64 tablets, Ubuntu offering live patching on HWE kernels, gaining compression on ex4 |
• Issue 1014 (2023-04-10): Quick looks at carbonOS, LibreELEC, and Kodi, Mint polishes themes, Fedora rolls out more encryption plans, elementary OS improves sideloading experience |
• Issue 1013 (2023-04-03): Alpine Linux 3.17.2, printing manual pages, Ubuntu Cinnamon becomes official flavour, Endeavour OS plans for new installer, HardenedBSD plans for outage |
• Issue 1012 (2023-03-27): siduction 22.1.1, protecting privacy from proprietary applications, GNOME team shares new features, Canonical updates Ubuntu 20.04, politics and the Linux kernel |
• Issue 1011 (2023-03-20): Serpent OS, Security Onion 2.3, Gentoo Live, replacing the scp utility, openSUSE sees surge in downloads, Debian runs elction with one candidate |
• Issue 1010 (2023-03-13): blendOS 2023.01.26, keeping track of which files a package installs, improved network widget coming to elementary OS, Vanilla OS changes its base distro |
• Issue 1009 (2023-03-06): Nemo Mobile and the PinePhone, matching the performance of one distro on another, Linux Mint adds performance boosts and security, custom Ubuntu and Debian builds through Cubic |
• Issue 1008 (2023-02-27): elementary OS 7.0, the benefits of boot environments, Purism offers lapdock for Librem 5, Ubuntu community flavours directed to drop Flatpak support for Snap |
• Issue 1007 (2023-02-20): helloSystem 0.8.0, underrated distributions, Solus team working to repair their website, SUSE testing Micro edition, Canonical publishes real-time edition of Ubuntu 22.04 |
• Issue 1006 (2023-02-13): Playing music with UBports on a PinePhone, quick command line and shell scripting questions, Fedora expands third-party software support, Vanilla OS adds Nix package support |
• Issue 1005 (2023-02-06): NuTyX 22.12.0 running CDE, user identification numbers, Pop!_OS shares COSMIC progress, Mint makes keyboard and mouse options more accessible |
• Issue 1004 (2023-01-30): OpenMandriva ROME, checking the health of a disk, Debian adopting OpenSnitch, FreeBSD publishes status report |
• Issue 1003 (2023-01-23): risiOS 37, mixing package types, Fedora seeks installer feedback, Sparky offers easier persistence with USB writer |
• Issue 1002 (2023-01-16): Vanilla OS 22.10, Nobara Project 37, verifying torrent downloads, Haiku improvements, HAMMER2 being ports to NetBSD |
• Issue 1001 (2023-01-09): Arch Linux, Ubuntu tests new system installer, porting KDE software to OpenBSD, verifying files copied properly |
• Issue 1000 (2023-01-02): Our favourite projects of all time, Fedora trying out unified kernel images and trying to speed up shutdowns, Slackware tests new kernel, detecting what is taking up disk space |
• Issue 999 (2022-12-19): Favourite distributions of 2022, Fedora plans Budgie spin, UBports releasing security patches for 16.04, Haiku working on new ports |
• Issue 998 (2022-12-12): OpenBSD 7.2, Asahi Linux enages video hardware acceleration on Apple ARM computers, Manjaro drops proprietary codecs from Mesa package |
• Issue 997 (2022-12-05): CachyOS 221023 and AgarimOS, working with filenames which contain special characters, elementary OS team fixes delta updates, new features coming to Xfce |
• Issue 996 (2022-11-28): Void 20221001, remotely shutting down a machine, complex aliases, Fedora tests new web-based installer, Refox OS running on real hardware |
• Issue 995 (2022-11-21): Fedora 37, swap files vs swap partitions, Unity running on Arch, UBports seeks testers, Murena adds support for more devices |
• Issue 994 (2022-11-14): Redcore Linux 2201, changing the terminal font size, Fedora plans Phosh spin, openSUSE publishes on-line manual pages, disabling Snap auto-updates |
• Full list of all issues |
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Random Distribution | 
AgiliaLinux
AgiliaLinux was a Russian community distribution with roots in Slackware Linux. It features a custom text-mode system installer with installation classes, an advanced package manager called mpkg, and support for several popular desktop environments.
Status: Discontinued
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TUXEDO |

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Star Labs |

Star Labs - Laptops built for Linux.
View our range including the highly anticipated StarFighter. Available with coreboot open-source firmware and a choice of Ubuntu, elementary, Manjaro and more. Visit Star Labs for information, to buy and get support.
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