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  5. Linux Mint vs openSUSE

Linux Mint vs openSUSE

OverviewDecisionsComparisonAlternatives

Overview

openSUSE
openSUSE
Stacks111
Followers160
Votes13
Linux Mint
Linux Mint
Stacks288
Followers389
Votes77

Linux Mint vs openSUSE: What are the differences?

Linux Mint and openSUSE are two popular Linux distributions known for their user-friendly interfaces and reliability. Let's explore the key differences between them.

  1. Package Management: Linux Mint uses the APT package management system, which is derived from Debian. On the other hand, openSUSE utilizes the Zypper package manager, a command-line tool that provides a high level of package management flexibility.

  2. Default Desktop Environment: Linux Mint primarily uses the Cinnamon desktop environment, which offers a traditional and familiar user interface. In contrast, openSUSE favors the KDE Plasma desktop environment, known for its modern and feature-rich interface. This distinction affects the visual appearance and functionality of the system.

  3. Rolling Release vs. Fixed Release: Linux Mint follows a fixed release model, meaning that major updates are released at specific intervals, providing a stable and predictable system. In contrast, openSUSE employs a rolling release model, where updates are released continuously, ensuring users have access to the latest software and features at all times. This approach might be preferred by users who desire more up-to-date packages.

  4. Package Selection: The selection of available software packages can also differ between Linux Mint and openSUSE. Linux Mint focuses on providing a curated selection of stable and widely-used applications, ensuring a reliable and user-friendly experience. However, openSUSE offers a broader range of software choices, including recent and cutting-edge packages, allowing users to have more flexibility in customizing their system.

  5. Community and Support: Linux Mint and openSUSE have vibrant communities that provide support and assistance to their users. However, the size and approach of these communities can differ. Linux Mint has a large and active community, with extensive documentation and user forums where users can find answers to their questions. openSUSE, on the other hand, has a smaller but highly dedicated community, emphasizing cooperation and collaboration among its members.

  6. System Configuration Tools: The system configuration tools available in Linux Mint and openSUSE can also vary. Linux Mint employs the familiar GNOME Control Center, which offers a straightforward interface for managing system settings. In contrast, openSUSE provides YaST (Yet another Setup Tool), a comprehensive and powerful tool that enables users to configure various aspects of their system through a unified interface.

In summary, Linux Mint is a user-friendly distribution based on Ubuntu, known for its out-of-the-box experience and emphasis on simplicity, making it ideal for beginners and those transitioning from other operating systems. openSUSE, on the other hand, is a robust and highly customizable distribution with a strong focus on stability and reliability.

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Advice on openSUSE, Linux Mint

Gopi
Gopi

Jun 21, 2020

Decided

I liked manjaro a lot, the huge support it has and the variety of tools it provides is just awesome. But due to its parent platform being Arch Linux it has bleeding-edge technology and that meaning, we get updated 'daily', and if we keep updating the system daily, due to the bugs in the recent updates the system sometimes used to crash, this made the OS really unstable. However, one can avoid such crashes using periodical and careful system/package updates. I now use LinuxMint which is based on Ubuntu, and this OS is completely stable with reliable(mostly tested) updates. And, since this OS is backed up by UBUNTU the concerns/questions one can encounter while using the OS can be easily rectified using the UBUNTU community, which is pretty good. Though this is backed up on UBUNTU it most certainly does NOT include the proprietary stuff of UBUNTU, which is on the bright side of the OS. That's it! Happy Computing.

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Detailed Comparison

openSUSE
openSUSE
Linux Mint
Linux Mint

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.

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

Statistics
Stacks
111
Stacks
288
Followers
160
Followers
389
Votes
13
Votes
77
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 4
    Stable
  • 3
    Lightweight for server
  • 2
    Rolling release
  • 2
    Snapshot
  • 2
    Reliable
Pros
  • 16
    Simple, Fast, Comfort and Easy to Use
  • 15
    Stable
  • 13
    Elegant
  • 12
    Good for beginners
  • 11
    Free to use
Cons
  • 3
    Easy to mess up with a few settings (like the panel)
  • 2
    Security breaches
  • 1
    Idiots can break it because it is open source

What are some alternatives to openSUSE, Linux Mint?

Ubuntu

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

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

Arch Linux

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

Fedora

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

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

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

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

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

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

Manjaro

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.

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