Linux Distros for Everyone: Community, Desktop, Hardcore Geek...

One of the first things that confounds new users is that GNU/Linux is not a single operating system. Instead, it's the general name for hundreds of closely related operating systems -- distributions or distros, as they are usually called. All the distros share the Linux kernel and include many of the same utilities and programs, but differ in purposes and the resulting customizations. Although users often choose a major, general purpose distribution, many choose a distribution based on any number of criteria, including support services, efficiency, philosophy, and intended audience.

But exactly what choices are available? Not too long ago, it made sense to divide distributions by their package management systems for installing software, classifying distributions as based on the Debian or Red Hat systems, with a handful based on Slackware, or, more recently on Gentoo.

Today, however, the reasons for starting distros are so varied that this old distinction is no longer useful. To help make some sense of the diversity, what follows is a list of some of the more common distributions, grouped into several basic categories. The list is not exhaustive, and may sometimes be idiosyncratic, but should give at least some idea of the variety available.

The one weakness of these categories is that many distributions could fall into more than one category, especially the general purpose ones. However, I have tried to place each distribution in the category for which it is best-known, so that it can be compared more easily with similar distributions. Both categories and the distributions assigned to them are in alphabetical order in order to remove one of the more obvious sources of bias.

And the Distro List Goes On...

This list is not anything like complete. Distrowatch -- which is itself by no means complete -- lists over 500 distributions, and although some are a variant of BSD or defunct, most are active. And no doubt some fans will object that this list omits their favorite, or is focused on distros that have an English-language version.

Still, the list is varied enough to give an idea of the diversity. Although most users stick to about a dozen of the best known distributions, you can probably find a distro somewhere that specializes in anything you can imagine. And if you can't find it now, chances are that someone will start it next week, or maybe the week after that. The diversity of distros may confuse new users, but nothing illustrates the spirit of free software better.