Debian vs Linux

Overview

Debian

Stacks16.4K

Followers11.2K

Votes164

Linux

Stacks3.1K

Followers2.5K

Votes46

Debian vs Linux: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will discuss the key differences between Debian and Linux, two popular operating systems in the open-source community.

Filesystem Hierarchy: One of the major differences between Debian and Linux lies in their filesystem hierarchy. Debian follows the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS) which defines the directory structure and organization of files on a Unix-like operating system. On the other hand, Linux is just a kernel and does not have a designated filesystem hierarchy. Different Linux distributions may follow their own variations of the hierarchy.
Package Management: Debian and Linux also differ in their package management systems. Debian uses the Advanced Packaging Tool (APT) which provides a user-friendly way to install, update, and remove software packages. It includes tools like apt-get, aptitude, and synaptic. Linux, being a kernel, does not have its own package management system. However, many Linux distributions use package managers like yum or dnf (used by CentOS and Fedora) or pacman (used by Arch Linux) to manage software packages.
Release Cycle: Another prominent difference between Debian and Linux is their release cycle. Debian follows a slow and steady release cycle, with major stable releases occurring every two to three years. This ensures a high level of stability and reliability. On the other hand, Linux has a faster release cycle, with kernel updates and new versions being released more frequently. This allows Linux to incorporate new features and improvements at a faster pace.
Community and Support: Debian and Linux differ in terms of community and support. Debian has a large and active community of developers and users who contribute to the development and maintenance of the distribution. It also has an extensive support system, with mailing lists, forums, and documentation available for users to seek help. Linux, being a kernel, also has a large community of developers but the support system varies depending on the specific Linux distribution being used.
Philosophy: Debian and Linux also have different philosophies. Debian is known for its commitment to free and open-source software. It adheres to the Debian Free Software Guidelines (DFSG) which define the criteria for what can be included in Debian. Linux, on the other hand, is a kernel that can be used with both free and proprietary software. The Linux philosophy emphasizes choice, flexibility, and modularity, allowing users to customize their system according to their needs.
Derived Distributions: Debian and Linux have also given rise to different derived distributions. Debian is the foundation for many popular Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and elementary OS. These distributions build upon Debian, adding their own features and customizations. Linux, being a kernel, forms the core of various distributions, each with its own set of modifications and additions to create a unique operating system.

In Summary, Debian and Linux differ in terms of filesystem hierarchy, package management, release cycle, community and support, philosophy, and the derived distributions they have given rise to.

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Advice on Debian, Linux

Jennifer

Mar 16, 2020

Needs advice

Netdata introduces Linux eBPF (Extended Berkeley Packet Filter) monitoring. With this enabled, monitor real-time metrics of Linux kernel functions and actions from the very same monitoring and troubleshooting dashboard used for watching entire systems, or even entire infrastructures.

This collector uses eBPF to monitor system calls inside your operating system’s kernel. For now, the main goal of this plugin is to monitor IO and process management on the host where it is running.

67.2k views67.2k

Comments

Justin

Open Source Program Manager at Reblaze

Aug 15, 2019

Review

If you have a file (demo.txt) that has 3 columns:

Column-1    Column-2    Column-3
Row-1a      Row-2a      Row-3a         
Row-1b      Row-2b      Row-3b
Row-1c      Row-2c      Row-3c
Row-1d      Row-2d      Row-3d
Row-1e      Row-2e      Row-3e

and you want to only view the first column of the file in your CLI, run the following:

awk {'print $1'} demo.txt

Column-1
Row-1a
Row-1b
Row-1c
Row-1d
Row-1e

If you want to print the second column of demo.txt, just replace $1 with $2

96.5k views96.5k

Comments

Detailed Comparison

Debian	Linux
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.	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.
-	Portable(Multiplatform); Multitasking; Multi User; Multiprocessor SMP Support; Multithreading Support; Virtual Memory; Hierarchical File System; Graphical User Interface (X Window System)
Statistics
Stacks 16.4K	Stacks 3.1K
Followers 11.2K	Followers 2.5K
Votes 164	Votes 46
Pros & Cons
Pros 54 Massively supported 50 Stable 21 Reliable 9 Aptitude 8 Customizable Cons 10 Old versions of software 2 Can be difficult to set up on vanilla Debian	Pros 19 Open Source 12 Free 9 Reliability 6 Safe

What are some alternatives to Debian, Linux?

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.

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.

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.

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.

FreeBSD

An operating system for a variety of platforms which focuses on features, speed, and stability. It is derived from BSD, the version of UNIX® developed at the University of California, Berkeley. It is developed and maintained by a large community.

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Debian vs Linux: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will discuss the key differences between Debian and Linux, two popular operating systems in the open-source community.

Filesystem Hierarchy: One of the major differences between Debian and Linux lies in their filesystem hierarchy. Debian follows the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS) which defines the directory structure and organization of files on a Unix-like operating system. On the other hand, Linux is just a kernel and does not have a designated filesystem hierarchy. Different Linux distributions may follow their own variations of the hierarchy.
Package Management: Debian and Linux also differ in their package management systems. Debian uses the Advanced Packaging Tool (APT) which provides a user-friendly way to install, update, and remove software packages. It includes tools like apt-get, aptitude, and synaptic. Linux, being a kernel, does not have its own package management system. However, many Linux distributions use package managers like yum or dnf (used by CentOS and Fedora) or pacman (used by Arch Linux) to manage software packages.
Release Cycle: Another prominent difference between Debian and Linux is their release cycle. Debian follows a slow and steady release cycle, with major stable releases occurring every two to three years. This ensures a high level of stability and reliability. On the other hand, Linux has a faster release cycle, with kernel updates and new versions being released more frequently. This allows Linux to incorporate new features and improvements at a faster pace.
Community and Support: Debian and Linux differ in terms of community and support. Debian has a large and active community of developers and users who contribute to the development and maintenance of the distribution. It also has an extensive support system, with mailing lists, forums, and documentation available for users to seek help. Linux, being a kernel, also has a large community of developers but the support system varies depending on the specific Linux distribution being used.
Philosophy: Debian and Linux also have different philosophies. Debian is known for its commitment to free and open-source software. It adheres to the Debian Free Software Guidelines (DFSG) which define the criteria for what can be included in Debian. Linux, on the other hand, is a kernel that can be used with both free and proprietary software. The Linux philosophy emphasizes choice, flexibility, and modularity, allowing users to customize their system according to their needs.
Derived Distributions: Debian and Linux have also given rise to different derived distributions. Debian is the foundation for many popular Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and elementary OS. These distributions build upon Debian, adding their own features and customizations. Linux, being a kernel, forms the core of various distributions, each with its own set of modifications and additions to create a unique operating system.

In Summary, Debian and Linux differ in terms of filesystem hierarchy, package management, release cycle, community and support, philosophy, and the derived distributions they have given rise to.