Why I Choose Debian

Ubuntu - The Hero in Popularizing Linux

In 2011, Ubuntu stopped mailing CDs. But at that time, Ubuntu was very popular, and the Ubuntu forum reached its peak.

As I entered university and my usage of Linux deepened, I always encountered the problem of outdated software in Ubuntu when exploring new features.

Fedora - Always on the Road of Exploring New Technologies

Fedora is always at the forefront, trying out many new technologies.

However, with the subsequent development and the binding of CentOS and RHEL, I felt that the Fedora/CentOS combination was becoming more and more like a desktop sandbox.

Enterprise users are steered towards RHEL to generate revenue, while individual users are directed towards Fedora to test new features.

Returning to the Ubuntu World - and Leaving Again

Ubuntu has a long-standing tradition as a desktop Linux. If you don’t mind the “hidden agendas” in Ubuntu (such as including snap and pre-promoted software), then Ubuntu is actually not bad.

Ubuntu always default-recommends strange snap software:

Why is snap not good?

Has snap solved the problem of the scarcity of Linux desktop software?
Or, to put it another way, how many of the newly added software on the Linux desktop are snaps (or brought by snaps)?

Or, rephrasing the question, has snap reduced the cost of Linux software distribution?

I don’t think so.

Why is AppImage better?

The new software package distribution format benefits both developers and end-users.

In this regard, AppImage is a suitable choice.

For developers, they can directly package their software into a single file and distribute it through GitHub Release.
For end-users, they just need to download and execute the file.

It can be seen that AppImage truly enhances the user experience of Linux end-users.

Debian - Of the Community, By the Community, For the Community

In fact, what Linux distributions do is quite limited. They mainly take upstream software (such as the Linux kernel, GNU, GNOME and other software), make some modifications (patches), and then package them.

Debian takes these software packages from upstream and packages them into deb packages; then Ubuntu makes some optimizations and repackages them. That is to say, Debian is at the primary level (trie-0), and in a sense, Ubuntu is at the secondary level (trie-1).

Another point is that Debian is community-driven, taking into account the real experience of community users.

Therefore, if you need a truly community-driven Linux, then Debian is your best choice.

How Should We Choose a Linux Distribution

• Principle 0: If a vendor or your boss specifies a particular Linux distribution, then you have no choice.
• Secondly, if you are a newbie or don’t want to troubleshoot issues, then choose Ubuntu.
• If you don’t mind being influenced by commercial company, then choose Fedora.
• If you want a truly community-driven distribution, then choose Debian.