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Linux Distribution for Programmers and Web Developers

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Re: Linux Distribution for Programmers and Web Developers

#13
post #9

Maybe this needs a separate thread but for a long time now, there have only really been 5 (or 6 depending on who you ask) upstream distros, Debian, Fedora/RH, Gentoo, Opensuse, Slackware, Ubuntu. I get the reason for offshoot distros to exist but I can't help thinking that a lot of the time it would just make more sense to publish a script to add packages/modify the default configuration, rather than Just-Another-New…

This so much. The only time i see it making sense to release a full-blown distro is for marketing reasons or making a more unified aesthetic experience like for example Elementary (which certainly has its own issues, but that is another story) or for a very specific purpose like Kali or Tails. There are, however, a jungle of different software and solutions out there so sometimes I appreaciate a "curated" list of de facto software to test. Having to install a whole distro for that, virtually or otherwise, might be the definition of overkill.

As always the problem is in the possibilities: The different systems (both distros and user installs) are so differently configured, that a script most certainly will mess it all up.

The best solution I can see (at least for my use) is to expand the dotfile-approach to encompass applications and more advanced settings too. But I guess it has certain security a related issues?

Re: Linux Distribution for Programmers and Web Developers

#14
The landing page misses some very important points:

- Is it a standalone distro?

- What is the kernel version?

- How about 3rd-party packages, drivers, etc?

And the most important

- Why do I have to use it instead of another well-known distros like Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora?

Re: Linux Distribution for Programmers and Web Developers

#16

Surely any of the mainstream distros are just as good or better for this purpose and the tools can be simply installed in minutes with apt, Synaptic, Yum, etc. Is this some kind of high school project?

> Made With Love in Khartoum , Sudan

Re: Linux Distribution for Programmers and Web Developers

#17
This must have been created by someone who has never used Linux:

> Includes Most of Popular Programming Languages Compilers, top Editors and best Integrated Development Environments.

so basically

    $ sudo apt install gcc npm python3 emacs24
but without the huge mindshare and all the support that comes with Debian/Ubuntu?

Re: Linux Distribution for Programmers and Web Developers

#18
post #9

Maybe this needs a separate thread but for a long time now, there have only really been 5 (or 6 depending on who you ask) upstream distros, Debian, Fedora/RH, Gentoo, Opensuse, Slackware, Ubuntu. I get the reason for offshoot distros to exist but I can't help thinking that a lot of the time it would just make more sense to publish a script to add packages/modify the default configuration, rather than Just-Another-New…

So you want a standard way of creating packages for ALL linux distributions? No problem, we have that.

In fact, we have 3 :)

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snappy_(package_manager)

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flatpak

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AppImage

Re: Linux Distribution for Programmers and Web Developers

#19

I feel like a distro with lots of extra things installed from the start is the opposite of a distro for programmers, as is baking in some off-brand voice tool. The perfect distro for me would be an OSX (not MacOS) clone running on a debian backend without the walled garden that is Apple.

Elementary OS

There are actually quite a few tutorials on youtube that show how you can get a OSX-y UX by installing a few packages and themes on Ubuntu and Debian.

I don't really understand the rationale, but hey whatever floats your boat

Re: Linux Distribution for Programmers and Web Developers

#20
post #9

Maybe this needs a separate thread but for a long time now, there have only really been 5 (or 6 depending on who you ask) upstream distros, Debian, Fedora/RH, Gentoo, Opensuse, Slackware, Ubuntu. I get the reason for offshoot distros to exist but I can't help thinking that a lot of the time it would just make more sense to publish a script to add packages/modify the default configuration, rather than Just-Another-New…

This so much. The only time i see it making sense to release a full-blown distro is for marketing reasons or making a more unified aesthetic experience like for example Elementary (which certainly has its own issues, but that is another story) or for a very specific purpose like Kali or Tails. There are, however, a jungle of different software and solutions out there so sometimes I appreaciate a "curated" list of de…

Even a distro-specific script would do the job in many cases.

Elementary is a good example of where some kind of advanced script/package setup could possibly replicate what the developers have done.

What you mention regarding extending the idea of dotfiles to encompass applications/settings is exactly what I'm hoping will start happening rather than this saturation of distros that don't necessarily bring a lot to the table. As for security issues, yes that's always going to be a concern when you add new packages, but no reason why there couldn't be some improved process in place to let users know when they are straying off the path.

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