Debian vs Photon: What are the differences?

Key Differences between Debian and Photon

Debian and Photon are both Linux-based operating systems, but they have several key differences in terms of their target audience, package management, support, and deployment options. Here are six specific differences between Debian and Photon:

1. Target Audience: Debian is known for its stability and focus on providing a reliable operating system for general-purpose use. It caters to a wide range of users, including desktop users, servers, and embedded systems. On the other hand, Photon is specifically designed for containerization and cloud-native applications, targeting developers and organizations adopting modern deployment models.

2. Package Management: Debian uses the Advanced Package Tool (APT) as its package management system. It relies on the Debian package format (.deb) and offers a vast number of software packages through its repositories. Photon, in contrast, utilizes the RPM package manager and supports its own package format (.rpm). It offers a more streamlined package management process tailored for containerized environments.

3. Support: Debian has a well-established community-driven support model, with a vast community and forums available for users to seek help and to contribute. It also benefits from being a part of the wider Linux ecosystem, allowing users to share knowledge and solutions. Photon, on the other hand, is backed by VMware, providing enterprise-level support and additional resources such as documentation and forums specifically focused on containerization and cloud-native applications.

4. Default Installation: Debian offers a minimal installation option, where users can choose a base system and customize it according to their needs by manually installing additional software packages. Photon, on the other hand, provides a slimmed-down, minimal operating system by default, which includes only the essential components required for containerization. This minimal footprint makes Photon an ideal choice for resource-constrained environments.

5. Networking Capabilities: Debian has a robust network stack that supports a wide range of networking features, making it suitable for various networking scenarios. Photon, being specific to containerization and cloud-native applications, focuses on optimizing networking specifically for containers. It includes features such as VMware NSX integration and the Container Networking Interface (CNI), allowing for enhanced networking capabilities within containerized environments.

6. Virtualization vs Containerization: Debian is a general-purpose operating system that supports both virtualization and containerization. It can be used for running virtual machines using Hypervisors like KVM or running containers using tools like Docker and Kubernetes. Photon, on the other hand, is designed to be a lightweight and optimized operating system specifically for containerization. It provides an optimized environment for running containerized applications by reducing the overhead of running a full-fledged operating system.

In summary, Debian caters to a wider audience, offers a vast software repository, and supports both virtualization and containerization. Photon, while focused on containerization, provides a minimal footprint, optimized networking for containers, and is supported by VMware.