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Centos vs Gentoo Linux: What are the differences?
Introduction
Centos (Community Enterprise Operating System) and Gentoo Linux are both popular Linux distributions used in server environments. While they have many similarities, there are several key differences between Centos and Gentoo Linux that set them apart.
Package Management: Centos uses the YUM (Yellowdog Updater, Modified) package manager, which provides easy installation and management of software packages. On the other hand, Gentoo Linux uses Portage, a powerful package management system that allows users to compile software from source code, giving them more control and customization options.
Release Model: Centos follows a fixed release model, where a new version is released approximately every two years and is supported for a long period of time. In contrast, Gentoo Linux follows a rolling release model, where updates and new releases are constantly pushed out, ensuring that users always have access to the latest software packages and security updates.
Community Involvement: Centos is developed and maintained by the CentOS Project, with contributions from a large community of users and developers. Gentoo Linux, on the other hand, has a highly active and involved community, with users actively participating in the development and maintenance of the distribution.
Installation Process: Centos has a relatively straightforward installation process, with a user-friendly installer that guides users through the setup. Gentoo Linux, on the other hand, requires a more hands-on approach, with users needing to manually configure and compile software during the installation process, making it more suitable for advanced users.
System Optimization: Gentoo Linux is known for its focus on system optimization and customization. It allows users to specify compile-time options for software packages, optimizing them for their specific hardware and needs. Centos, on the other hand, focuses more on stability and security, providing a reliable and secure environment for server applications.
Community Support: Both Centos and Gentoo Linux have active and supportive communities. However, Centos has a larger user base and a more established support infrastructure, making it easier for users to find help and resources. Gentoo Linux, on the other hand, has a tight-knit community that is known for its helpfulness and willingness to assist fellow users.
In summary, Centos and Gentoo Linux differ in their package management systems, release models, level of community involvement, installation processes, system optimization focus, and community support infrastructure.
Global familiarity, free, widely used, and as a debian distro feels more comfortable when rapidly switching between local macOS and remote command lines.
CentOS does boast quite a few security/stability improvements, however as a RHEL-based distro, differs quite significantly in the command line and suffers from slightly less frequent package updates. (Could be a good or bad thing depending on your use-case and if it is public facing)
Pros of CentOS
- Stable16
- Free to use9
- Reliable9
- Has epel packages6
- Good support6
- Great Community5
- I've moved from gentoo to centos2
Pros of Gentoo Linux
- OpenRC or systemd init3
- Portage package manager3
- Control3
- Cross compiling2
- Flexibility2
- X86_64 architecture supported2
- Compile time optimizations2
- Per package dependency control2
- Customizable2
- Overlays2
- Extensive documentation2
- Source based distribution2
- Supports distributing compiling tasks2
- SPARC architecture supported1
- Generalized reduction is system vulnerabilities1
- Stable rolling release1
- Package slots1
- X86 architecture supported1
- Alpha architecture supported1
- ARM64 architecture supported1
- ARM architecture supported1
- HPPA architecture supported1
- MIPS architecture supported1
- PCC architecture supported1
- PCC64 architecture supported1
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Cons of CentOS
- Yum is a horrible package manager1
Cons of Gentoo Linux
- Dated documentation2
- Circular dependancy conflicts2
- No guided installation2
- Vulnerabilities related to its specific toolchains1
- System maintenance1
- Complexity1
- Compilation time1