I’ve been using linux desktop for a year or so now. One noteable thing i keep seeing is that one person will say I dont like XYZ distrobution because of its base. But I am still a little unsure what is meant by it. I am assuming the main difference between each base is the choice of package management(?). But what other factors/aspects that are important for the average user to know about each ‘base’? This is probably quite a broad question to a rather technical answer, but appriciate any answers, and i’ll try my best to understand and read up :)

  • sweng@programming.dev
    8·
    7 months ago

    I’d say the main differences are at least

    • package availability
    • update frequency
    • backporting
    • packaging philosophy (e.g. plain upstream vs customizations, include all funtionality in single packege vs split out optional features)
    • default confguration for packages
    • GolfNovemberUniform@lemmy.ml
      7·
      7 months ago

      Also there’s reliability. If a base dies, everything based on it dies too or at least needs a colossal amount of work to fix. The point about philosophy is very close as well. The base can go closed source, prohibit usage of itself etc