Overview

Debian

Stacks16.3K

Followers11.2K

Votes164

openSUSE

Stacks111

Followers160

Votes13

Debian vs openSUSE: What are the differences?

Key Differences between Debian and openSUSE

Debian and openSUSE are two popular Linux distributions that offer different features and functionalities to users. Here are the key differences between them:

1. Release Model: Debian follows a "Stable" release model, which means that it focuses on stability and security over new features. It has a longer release cycle and undergoes rigorous testing before each release. On the other hand, openSUSE follows a "Rolling Release" model, providing regular updates with the latest features and software versions.

2. Package Management: Debian primarily uses the Advanced Package Tool (APT) for package management. It uses the .deb package format and supports the use of repositories for easy installation and updates. openSUSE, on the other hand, uses the Zypper package manager and supports the .rpm package format. It also provides a user-friendly graphical package management tool called YaST.

3. Community and Development: Debian has a large and diverse community with a strong focus on free and open-source software. It is known for its democratic decision-making process and community-driven development. openSUSE, on the other hand, has a more corporate backing with contributions from both the community and SUSE, a commercial company. It follows a more structured development process with releases managed by SUSE.

4. Configuration and Administration: Debian favors a minimalistic approach to configuration and administration, providing users with more control and flexibility. It uses primarily text-based configuration files that are easy to manipulate and understand. openSUSE, on the other hand, provides a more comprehensive and user-friendly configuration tool called YaST (Yet another Setup Tool) which allows users to easily manage system settings through a graphical interface.

5. System Stability vs Latest Software: Debian places a strong emphasis on system stability and security. It focuses on providing well-tested and thoroughly vetted software packages to ensure a reliable and secure operating system. openSUSE, on the other hand, strives to provide the latest software and technology to users. It aims to offer cutting-edge features and software versions, even if it means sacrificing some level of stability.

6. Default Desktop Environment: Debian offers a wide range of desktop environments to choose from, including GNOME, KDE, Xfce, LXDE, and more. It provides a lightweight default desktop environment called Xfce, which offers a balance between performance and functionality. openSUSE, on the other hand, predominantly uses the KDE Plasma desktop environment as its default choice. This decision reflects their focus on providing a modern and feature-rich desktop experience.

In summary, Debian excels in stability, minimalistic configuration, and a community-driven approach, while openSUSE focuses on providing cutting-edge features, an easy-to-use configuration tool, and a corporate-backed development process.

Advice on Debian, openSUSE

Dimelo

Nov 10, 2020

Decided

Coming from a Debian-based Linux background, using the Ubuntu base image for my Docker containers was a natural choice. However, the overhead, even on the impressively-slimmed Hub images, was hard to justify. Seeking to create images that were "just right" in size, without unused packages or dependencies, I made the switch to Alpine.

Alpine's modified BusyBox has a surprising amount of functionality, and the package repository contains plenty of muslc-safe versions of commonly-used packages. It's been a valuable exercise in doing more with less, and, as Alpine is keen to point out, an image with fewer packages makes for a more sustainable environment with a smaller attack surface.

My only regret is that Alpine's documentation leaves a lot to be desired.

66.6k views66.6k

Comments

Detailed Comparison

Debian	openSUSE
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.	The openSUSE project is a worldwide effort that promotes the use of Linux everywhere. openSUSE creates one of the world's best Linux distributions, working together in an open, transparent and friendly manner as part of the worldwide Free and Open Source Software community.
Statistics
Stacks 16.3K	Stacks 111
Followers 11.2K	Followers 160
Votes 164	Votes 13
Pros & Cons
Pros 54 Massively supported 50 Stable 21 Reliable 9 Aptitude 8 It is free Cons 10 Old versions of software 2 Can be difficult to set up on vanilla Debian	Pros 4 Stable 3 Lightweight for server 2 Reliable 2 Rolling release 2 Snapshot

What are some alternatives to Debian, openSUSE?

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.

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.