Centos vs Raspbian

Overview

CentOS

Stacks13.8K

Followers9.0K

Votes53

Raspbian

Stacks141

Followers178

Votes10

Centos vs Raspbian: What are the differences?

Introduction

CentOS and Raspbian are two popular operating systems used in different contexts. While CentOS is a Linux distribution based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), Raspbian is the official operating system for Raspberry Pi devices. Although they share similarities due to their Linux heritage, there are notable differences between them in terms of architecture, package management, and hardware support.

Architecture: One key difference between CentOS and Raspbian is their architecture. CentOS is designed to support both x86-64 and ARM64 architectures, making it compatible with a wide range of hardware platforms. In contrast, Raspbian is specifically optimized for the ARMv6 and ARMv7 architectures used in Raspberry Pi single-board computers.
Package Management: Another significant distinction between CentOS and Raspbian lies in their package management systems. CentOS uses the YUM (Yellowdog Updater, Modified) package manager, which allows for easy installation, upgrading, and removal of software packages. Raspbian, on the other hand, utilizes the Advanced Packaging Tool (APT) package management system, which is the default package manager for Debian-based distributions.
Default Software Repositories: CentOS and Raspbian differ in the default software repositories they provide. CentOS offers the CentOS Linux Base and EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) repositories, which contain a vast collection of stable and enterprise-oriented packages. In contrast, Raspbian relies on the Raspbian and Raspbian Backports repositories, which are specifically tailored for Raspberry Pi devices and often include software optimized for ARM architectures.
Hardware Support: CentOS and Raspbian also diverge in terms of hardware support. While both operating systems can run on various hardware platforms, CentOS's broader architecture support makes it compatible with a wider range of devices beyond Raspberry Pi. Conversely, Raspbian is specifically designed to provide optimal performance and support for the specific hardware components and peripherals found in Raspberry Pi devices.
Community and Support: The CentOS and Raspbian communities also differ in terms of size and focus. CentOS benefits from the substantial user base of Red Hat and its enterprise-oriented ecosystem, making it well-suited for organizations seeking robust support and documentation. Raspbian, on the other hand, has a more focused community centered around Raspberry Pi enthusiasts, offering extensive support for the specific needs and challenges of these devices.
Long-term Support (LTS): CentOS and Raspbian also have varying approaches to long-term support. CentOS provides long-term support with its extended update release (EUS) program, ensuring stability and security for a defined period. In contrast, Raspbian follows a rolling release model with regular updates, which may provide the latest features and improvements but may require more attention to compatibility and system stability.

In summary, CentOS and Raspbian differ in architecture support, package management systems, default software repositories, hardware compatibility, community focus, and long-term support approach. These distinctions make them suited for different use cases and environments, catering to broader enterprise needs in the case of CentOS and offering optimized support for Raspberry Pi devices with Raspbian.

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Advice on CentOS, Raspbian

Jerome/Zen

Software Engineer

Aug 2, 2020

Decided

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)

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Comments

Detailed Comparison

CentOS	Raspbian
The CentOS Project is a community-driven free software effort focused on delivering a robust open source ecosystem. For users, we offer a consistent manageable platform that suits a wide variety of deployments. For open source communities, we offer a solid, predictable base to build upon, along with extensive resources to build, test, release, and maintain their code.	It is optimized for the Raspberry Pi hardware. It provides more than a pure OS: it comes with over 35,000 packages, pre-compiled software bundled in a nice format for easy installation on your Raspberry Pi.
-	pre-compiled software; comes with over 35,000 packages
Statistics
Stacks 13.8K	Stacks 141
Followers 9.0K	Followers 178
Votes 53	Votes 10
Pros & Cons
Pros 16 Stable 9 Reliable 9 Free to use 6 Has epel packages 6 Good support Cons 1 Yum is a horrible package manager	Pros 7 Runs well on rpi 2 Easy to use with little experience 1 Very Lightweight Cons 4 Desktop enviroment is unstable 1 Uses ARMHF architecture, not commonly supported
Integrations
No integrations available	Raspberry Pi OpenCV

What are some alternatives to CentOS, Raspbian?

Ubuntu

Ubuntu is an ancient African word meaning ‘humanity to others’. It also means ‘I am what I am because of who we all are’. The Ubuntu operating system brings the spirit of Ubuntu to the world of computers.

Debian

Debian systems currently use the Linux kernel or the FreeBSD kernel. Linux is a piece of software started by Linus Torvalds and supported by thousands of programmers worldwide. FreeBSD is an operating system including a kernel and other software.

Arch Linux

A lightweight and flexible Linux distribution that tries to Keep It Simple.

Fedora

Fedora is a Linux-based operating system that provides users with access to the latest free and open source software, in a stable, secure and easy to manage form. Fedora is the largest of many free software creations of the Fedora Project. Because of its predominance, the word "Fedora" is often used interchangeably to mean both the Fedora Project and the Fedora operating system.

Linux Mint

The purpose of Linux Mint is to produce a modern, elegant and comfortable operating system which is both powerful and easy to use.

Linux

A clone of the operating system Unix, written from scratch by Linus Torvalds with assistance from a loosely-knit team of hackers across the Net. It aims towards POSIX and Single UNIX Specification compliance.

CoreOS

It is designed for security, consistency, and reliability. Instead of installing packages via yum or apt, it uses Linux containers to manage your services at a higher level of abstraction. A single service's code and all dependencies are packaged within a container that can be run on one or many machines.

Gentoo Linux

It is a free operating system based on either Linux or FreeBSD that can be automatically optimized and customized for just about any application or need.

Alpine Linux

Alpine Linux is a security-oriented, lightweight Linux distribution based on musl libc and busybox.

Manjaro

It is an accessible, friendly, open-source Linux distribution and community. Based on Arch Linux, it provides all the benefits of cutting-edge software combined with a focus on getting started quickly, automated tools to require less manual intervention, and help readily available when needed.

Related Comparisons

Centos vs Raspbian: What are the differences?

Introduction

Architecture: One key difference between CentOS and Raspbian is their architecture. CentOS is designed to support both x86-64 and ARM64 architectures, making it compatible with a wide range of hardware platforms. In contrast, Raspbian is specifically optimized for the ARMv6 and ARMv7 architectures used in Raspberry Pi single-board computers.
Package Management: Another significant distinction between CentOS and Raspbian lies in their package management systems. CentOS uses the YUM (Yellowdog Updater, Modified) package manager, which allows for easy installation, upgrading, and removal of software packages. Raspbian, on the other hand, utilizes the Advanced Packaging Tool (APT) package management system, which is the default package manager for Debian-based distributions.
Default Software Repositories: CentOS and Raspbian differ in the default software repositories they provide. CentOS offers the CentOS Linux Base and EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) repositories, which contain a vast collection of stable and enterprise-oriented packages. In contrast, Raspbian relies on the Raspbian and Raspbian Backports repositories, which are specifically tailored for Raspberry Pi devices and often include software optimized for ARM architectures.
Hardware Support: CentOS and Raspbian also diverge in terms of hardware support. While both operating systems can run on various hardware platforms, CentOS's broader architecture support makes it compatible with a wider range of devices beyond Raspberry Pi. Conversely, Raspbian is specifically designed to provide optimal performance and support for the specific hardware components and peripherals found in Raspberry Pi devices.
Community and Support: The CentOS and Raspbian communities also differ in terms of size and focus. CentOS benefits from the substantial user base of Red Hat and its enterprise-oriented ecosystem, making it well-suited for organizations seeking robust support and documentation. Raspbian, on the other hand, has a more focused community centered around Raspberry Pi enthusiasts, offering extensive support for the specific needs and challenges of these devices.
Long-term Support (LTS): CentOS and Raspbian also have varying approaches to long-term support. CentOS provides long-term support with its extended update release (EUS) program, ensuring stability and security for a defined period. In contrast, Raspbian follows a rolling release model with regular updates, which may provide the latest features and improvements but may require more attention to compatibility and system stability.

Centos vs Raspbian

Overview

Centos vs Raspbian: What are the differences?