Choosing A Linux Distribution
When choosing a distribution, one should understand that many of today's Linux distributions are based on something. SLAX is a Slackware-based distro that has several of it's own SLAX-based distros. Knoppix and Ubuntu are both Debian-based distributions that have their own Knoppix-and Ubuntu-based distros. Slackware was based on Softlanding Linux System,(SLS) which is one of the earliest linux distributions, dating back to 1992. SLS was the most popular Linux distribution in the early 90s. It dominated the market until it was modified, renamed " Slackware" and release in the Summer of 93. A decision was made that SLS needed to be optimized and cleaned up a bit and that the executable file format should be changed from a.out to ELF (Executable and Linking Format - formerly "Extensible Linking Format" - the common standard file format in today's Linux). Incidently, Debian was also concieved from such ideas. Debian was also released in 93.
One really cool thing about the diverse amount of linux distributions is that the linux community has something to offer everyone and, in turn, everyone potentially can have something to offer the every-growing linux community. Because linux is open source and anyone can create their own linux distribution and this enables us to create specialized operating systems such as niche distributions. Niche distros are simply distributions targeted at specific niches and/or communities. The Ubuntu Project, for example, created Edubuntu in collaboration with teachers and technologists from across the globe solely for educational purposes aimed at the 6-18 years age group in 2005 with the primary goal of enabling an educator with limited technical knowledge and skills to set up a computer lab or an on-line learning environment in an hour or less and then effectively administering that environment. Edubuntu includes many education-specific applications such as GCompris, KDE Edutainment Suite, and Schooltool Calendar as well as the Linux Terminal Server Project. Edubuntu is only one of many Linux distributions which are designed for use in classrooms. Today there are many niche distros equipped with educational applications such as Guadalinex (also an Ubuntu-based distribution, which is promoted by the local government of Andalucia, Spain for home users and schools as well as many debian-based distros such as Abul?du, PingOO (a French distribution aimed at local communities, public organizations, schools, etc. It comes in three editions: PingOO Communication Server, PingOO Secure Server and PingOO File Server. Includes GNOME or KDE desktops), Skolelinux (a distribution from Norway. It is provided as a thin client distribution for schools). Aurox is a fairly new fedora-based distribution developed in Poland with emphasis on multimedia, graphics, localization and education. There are a few RPM-based distributions focused on education such as EduLinux and Ark Linux. ServerAtSchool is a server-only distribution (based on OpenNA Linux) designed for primary schools.
Another good reason for developing your own linux distribution is to create a linux with localized interface. One of the biggest barriers in the information age is indeed the language barrier. Here's a list of linux distributions created in different languages across the globe:
Debian-based:
Baltix - Lithuanian and Latvian languages
BeatrIX - A compact distribution from the Czech Republic that focuses on providing a user-friendly desktop environment.
Bharat Operating System Solutions - A Linux distribution with Indian language support. It focuses on providing applications for use in government.
NepaLinux - A Debian and Morphix based distribution focused for desktop usage in Nepali language computing
Knoppix-based:
Paipix - Based on Knoppix and Kanotix for desktop usage. Developed in Portugal, but with localizations in other languages.
Kaella - The French translation of Knoppix.
PAIPIX - A Debian "live" distribution based on Knoppix and Kanotix for desktop usage. Developed in Portugal, but with localizations in other languages.
Ubuntu-based:
Greenie Linux - A distribution created for users in Slovakia and Czech Republic. Offers full support for work with internet connection and without it.
Hiweed - A distribution for the Chinese language.
Fedora-based:
Aurox - A young Polish distribution with emphasis for multimedia, graphics, localization and education.
Berry Linux - A medium-sized Fedora-based distribution that provides support in Japanese and English.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux based:
Asianux - A distribution co-developed between Red Flag Software Co., Ltd., Miracle Linux Corp. and Haansoft, INC., focused on Chinese, Japanese and Korean supports.
Vine Linux - A Japanese distribution based on Red Hat Linux.
Other RPM-based:
ALT Linux - Several distributions including Master, Compact, and Junior. Provides support for Cyrillic languages.
Sharif Linux - A bilingual Persian-English distribution for the Iranian market.
Slackware-based:
Plamo Linux - A Japanese Linux distribution designed for reliability and simplicity.
There are many linux distributions aimed at providing open source operation systems equipped with free software to professional and amateur individuals in specific career fields. Musix, for example, is a Knoppix/Debian based distribution, intended for music production, graphic design, audio, video editing, and other tasks. There are many linux distributions geared toward multimedia and multimedia applications. Distributions with emphasis on multimedia, whether focused on multimedia production, internet, graphics, audio and video production, LiveCD multimedia or simply obtaining streaming media from the Internet, there are numerous niche distros that are specialized for practically all the needs of any individual involved in such work. Debian-based distros such as 64 Studio, DeMuDi and Dreamlinux (based on Morphix, Elive, Debian and Kanotix), the Knoppix-based KnoppMyth and Mediainlinux, The Ubuntu-based Ubuntu Studio, Freespire and Linux Mint and Mandriva-based MCNLive (designed to run from CD or USB Flash Drive) are all exaples of niche distributions geared toward multimedia. There are also projects that are simply aimed at multimedia and entertainment such as Mythbuntu, an Ubuntu based distro designed to simplify the installation of MythTV on a home theater PC, KnoppMyth, which wraps Knoppix around MythTV to ease the building of Linux-powered DVRs and LinuxMCE, a distribution designed to allow a computer to act as a Home Theater PC.
art(gimp)
video (xvidcap, kino...)(MythTV, GeeXboX )
Good examples of niche distributions geared toward specific communities include Impi Linux, a South African based distribution that targets users in Africa and two Ubuntu based distros which are oriented towards the Christian community. They bundle Bible-oriented applications and theological dictionaries in their main distributions called Ichthux and Ubuntu Christian Edition. These two forks of the Ubuntu operating system have recently made serious attempts at marketing Linux to Christian clergy and organizations. Ubuntu Christian Edition, or simply "Ubuntu CE," was first announced on 24 July, 2006 as a distribution designed for Christians. The distro also includes a graphical tool to adjust the parental control settings specifically developed for Ubuntu Christian Edition and features fully integrated web content parental controls powered by DansGuardian, an entirely command line and web-based content control system distributed under the GPL, and written in C++, meant to be used in conjunction with a web proxy such as Squid, which satisfies the requirements of Children's Internet Protection Act in the United States. The most current Ubuntu CE is directly based on Ubuntu 7.04 "Feisty Fawn." It includes several popular Bible Study Programs such as GnomeSword and BibleMemorizer, the Firefox Web Browser with the Bible Fox Theme and extra Christian extensions such as the WhatWouldJesusDownload Toolbar (Firefox). It even comes with a daily Bible verse desktop feature using gDesklets.
Such specified distributions can be quite useful for many individuals. There are, however, niche distributions aimed at committing pranks. Jesux, for example, was a fake Christianity-inspired distribution that used the Bourne Again Shell by default, provided hex modes in order to avoid typing "666", and allowed the user to optionally restrict logins on the Sabbath. Another, the Buddhist Yellow Hat GNU/Linux, was an 1 April hoax perpetrated by Richard M. Stallman.
One really cool thing about the diverse amount of linux distributions is that the linux community has something to offer everyone and, in turn, everyone potentially can have something to offer the every-growing linux community. Because linux is open source and anyone can create their own linux distribution and this enables us to create specialized operating systems such as niche distributions. Niche distros are simply distributions targeted at specific niches and/or communities. The Ubuntu Project, for example, created Edubuntu in collaboration with teachers and technologists from across the globe solely for educational purposes aimed at the 6-18 years age group in 2005 with the primary goal of enabling an educator with limited technical knowledge and skills to set up a computer lab or an on-line learning environment in an hour or less and then effectively administering that environment. Edubuntu includes many education-specific applications such as GCompris, KDE Edutainment Suite, and Schooltool Calendar as well as the Linux Terminal Server Project. Edubuntu is only one of many Linux distributions which are designed for use in classrooms. Today there are many niche distros equipped with educational applications such as Guadalinex (also an Ubuntu-based distribution, which is promoted by the local government of Andalucia, Spain for home users and schools as well as many debian-based distros such as Abul?du, PingOO (a French distribution aimed at local communities, public organizations, schools, etc. It comes in three editions: PingOO Communication Server, PingOO Secure Server and PingOO File Server. Includes GNOME or KDE desktops), Skolelinux (a distribution from Norway. It is provided as a thin client distribution for schools). Aurox is a fairly new fedora-based distribution developed in Poland with emphasis on multimedia, graphics, localization and education. There are a few RPM-based distributions focused on education such as EduLinux and Ark Linux. ServerAtSchool is a server-only distribution (based on OpenNA Linux) designed for primary schools.
Another good reason for developing your own linux distribution is to create a linux with localized interface. One of the biggest barriers in the information age is indeed the language barrier. Here's a list of linux distributions created in different languages across the globe:
Debian-based:
Baltix - Lithuanian and Latvian languages
BeatrIX - A compact distribution from the Czech Republic that focuses on providing a user-friendly desktop environment.
Bharat Operating System Solutions - A Linux distribution with Indian language support. It focuses on providing applications for use in government.
NepaLinux - A Debian and Morphix based distribution focused for desktop usage in Nepali language computing
Knoppix-based:
Paipix - Based on Knoppix and Kanotix for desktop usage. Developed in Portugal, but with localizations in other languages.
Kaella - The French translation of Knoppix.
PAIPIX - A Debian "live" distribution based on Knoppix and Kanotix for desktop usage. Developed in Portugal, but with localizations in other languages.
Ubuntu-based:
Greenie Linux - A distribution created for users in Slovakia and Czech Republic. Offers full support for work with internet connection and without it.
Hiweed - A distribution for the Chinese language.
Fedora-based:
Aurox - A young Polish distribution with emphasis for multimedia, graphics, localization and education.
Berry Linux - A medium-sized Fedora-based distribution that provides support in Japanese and English.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux based:
Asianux - A distribution co-developed between Red Flag Software Co., Ltd., Miracle Linux Corp. and Haansoft, INC., focused on Chinese, Japanese and Korean supports.
Vine Linux - A Japanese distribution based on Red Hat Linux.
Other RPM-based:
ALT Linux - Several distributions including Master, Compact, and Junior. Provides support for Cyrillic languages.
Sharif Linux - A bilingual Persian-English distribution for the Iranian market.
Slackware-based:
Plamo Linux - A Japanese Linux distribution designed for reliability and simplicity.
There are many linux distributions aimed at providing open source operation systems equipped with free software to professional and amateur individuals in specific career fields. Musix, for example, is a Knoppix/Debian based distribution, intended for music production, graphic design, audio, video editing, and other tasks. There are many linux distributions geared toward multimedia and multimedia applications. Distributions with emphasis on multimedia, whether focused on multimedia production, internet, graphics, audio and video production, LiveCD multimedia or simply obtaining streaming media from the Internet, there are numerous niche distros that are specialized for practically all the needs of any individual involved in such work. Debian-based distros such as 64 Studio, DeMuDi and Dreamlinux (based on Morphix, Elive, Debian and Kanotix), the Knoppix-based KnoppMyth and Mediainlinux, The Ubuntu-based Ubuntu Studio, Freespire and Linux Mint and Mandriva-based MCNLive (designed to run from CD or USB Flash Drive) are all exaples of niche distributions geared toward multimedia. There are also projects that are simply aimed at multimedia and entertainment such as Mythbuntu, an Ubuntu based distro designed to simplify the installation of MythTV on a home theater PC, KnoppMyth, which wraps Knoppix around MythTV to ease the building of Linux-powered DVRs and LinuxMCE, a distribution designed to allow a computer to act as a Home Theater PC.
art(gimp)
video (xvidcap, kino...)(MythTV, GeeXboX )
Good examples of niche distributions geared toward specific communities include Impi Linux, a South African based distribution that targets users in Africa and two Ubuntu based distros which are oriented towards the Christian community. They bundle Bible-oriented applications and theological dictionaries in their main distributions called Ichthux and Ubuntu Christian Edition. These two forks of the Ubuntu operating system have recently made serious attempts at marketing Linux to Christian clergy and organizations. Ubuntu Christian Edition, or simply "Ubuntu CE," was first announced on 24 July, 2006 as a distribution designed for Christians. The distro also includes a graphical tool to adjust the parental control settings specifically developed for Ubuntu Christian Edition and features fully integrated web content parental controls powered by DansGuardian, an entirely command line and web-based content control system distributed under the GPL, and written in C++, meant to be used in conjunction with a web proxy such as Squid, which satisfies the requirements of Children's Internet Protection Act in the United States. The most current Ubuntu CE is directly based on Ubuntu 7.04 "Feisty Fawn." It includes several popular Bible Study Programs such as GnomeSword and BibleMemorizer, the Firefox Web Browser with the Bible Fox Theme and extra Christian extensions such as the WhatWouldJesusDownload Toolbar (Firefox). It even comes with a daily Bible verse desktop feature using gDesklets.
Such specified distributions can be quite useful for many individuals. There are, however, niche distributions aimed at committing pranks. Jesux, for example, was a fake Christianity-inspired distribution that used the Bourne Again Shell by default, provided hex modes in order to avoid typing "666", and allowed the user to optionally restrict logins on the Sabbath. Another, the Buddhist Yellow Hat GNU/Linux, was an 1 April hoax perpetrated by Richard M. Stallman.