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Debian

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elementary OS

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Debian vs elementary OS: What are the differences?

Key Differences between Debian and elementary OS

Debian and elementary OS are both popular Linux distributions, but they have some key differences that set them apart from each other.

  1. Package Management: Debian uses the Advanced Packaging Tool (APT) package manager, which allows users to easily install, update, and remove software packages. On the other hand, elementary OS uses a custom package manager called AppCenter, which focuses on providing curated and high-quality applications specifically tailored for the elementary OS environment.

  2. User Interface: elementary OS is known for its beautiful and user-friendly interface inspired by macOS, whereas Debian provides a more traditional and minimalistic desktop environment. elementary OS offers a clean and elegant design with a dock and a top panel, providing a unified and intuitive experience for users.

  3. Default Applications: Debian provides a wide range of default applications, including LibreOffice, GIMP, and Firefox, which cater to different user needs. In contrast, elementary OS focuses on simplicity and includes a curated set of default applications, such as Epiphany for web browsing, Pantheon Files for file management, and Noise for music playback, aimed at offering a streamlined experience.

  4. Customizability: Debian offers a high level of customizability, allowing users to choose their preferred desktop environment, window manager, and other components. In contrast, elementary OS emphasizes a consistent and cohesive user experience by offering limited customization options, focusing on maintaining the integrity of its design ethos.

  5. Support and Community: Debian has a large and active community with a long history, providing extensive support resources and a vast repository of software packages. elementary OS, being a relatively newer distribution, has a smaller but dedicated community that offers support and resources specifically tailored for the elementary OS environment.

  6. Hardware Compatibility: Debian is known for its excellent hardware compatibility and wide range of supported architectures, making it suitable for a variety of systems, including servers and desktop machines. While elementary OS inherits much of its compatibility from Ubuntu (on which it is based), it may have a more limited range of supported hardware compared to Debian.

In Summary, Debian and elementary OS differ in their package management systems, user interface design, default applications, customizability options, community support, and hardware compatibility. These differences make each distribution suitable for different user preferences and requirements.

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Pros of Debian
Pros of elementary OS
  • 54
    Massively supported
  • 50
    Stable
  • 21
    Reliable
  • 9
    Aptitude
  • 8
    Customizable
  • 8
    It is free
  • 8
    Turnkey linux use it
  • 6
    Works on all architectures
  • 5
    Free to use
  • 4
    MacOs like feel
  • 4
    Fast
  • 4
    Stable
  • 3
    Elegant
  • 2
    Excellent replacement for Windows
  • 2
    Good for beginners
  • 2
    Very easy to use

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Cons of Debian
Cons of elementary OS
  • 10
    Old versions of software
  • 2
    Can be difficult to set up on vanilla Debian
  • 1
    Less customization

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What is 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.

What is elementary OS?

It is the flagship distribution to showcase the Pantheon desktop environment. The distribution promotes itself as a “fast, open, and privacy-respecting” replacement to macOS and Windows.

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What companies use elementary OS?
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    What are some alternatives to Debian and elementary OS?
    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.
    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.
    CentOS
    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.
    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.
    Arch Linux
    A lightweight and flexible Linux distribution that tries to Keep It Simple.
    See all alternatives