{"id":424381,"date":"2022-03-31T15:00:32","date_gmt":"2022-03-31T12:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/which-distro-should-you-choose\/"},"modified":"2022-03-31T15:00:32","modified_gmt":"2022-03-31T12:00:32","slug":"which-distro-should-you-choose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/which-distro-should-you-choose\/","title":{"rendered":"#Which Distro Should You Choose?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a298d9c4ef23\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a298d9c4ef23\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/which-distro-should-you-choose\/#%E2%80%9CWhich_Distro_Should_You_Choose%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;Which Distro Should You Choose?&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/which-distro-should-you-choose\/#Debian_Has_Lower_System_Requirements\" >Debian Has Lower System Requirements<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/which-distro-should-you-choose\/#Ubuntu_Makes_Proprietary_Software_Easier_to_Get\" >Ubuntu Makes Proprietary Software Easier to Get<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/which-distro-should-you-choose\/#Debian_Supports_Older_Hardware\" >Debian Supports Older Hardware<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/which-distro-should-you-choose\/#Ubuntu_Is_Corporate-Backed\" >Ubuntu Is Corporate-Backed<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/which-distro-should-you-choose\/#Debian_Is_More_Stable_by_Default\" >Debian Is More Stable by Default<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/which-distro-should-you-choose\/#Which_Distro_Should_You_Choose\" >Which Distro Should You Choose?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CWhich_Distro_Should_You_Choose%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;Which Distro Should You Choose?&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage alignnone size-full wp-image-794238\" data-pagespeed-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/debian-11-ubuntu-2104-wallpaper-split.png?width=398&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1 400w, https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/debian-11-ubuntu-2104-wallpaper-split.png?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, 400w, 1200w\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/debian-11-ubuntu-2104-wallpaper-split.png?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"The default wallpapers for Ubuntu 21.04 and Debian 11 split diagonally.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for a Linux distribution, you\u2019ve likely seen recommendations for both\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.debian.org\/\">Debian<\/a> or <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ubuntu.com\/\">Ubuntu<\/a>. Their similarities, and the fact that Ubuntu is technically based on Debian, blur the lines between them. Let\u2019s explore the important differences.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Debian_Has_Lower_System_Requirements\"><\/span>Debian Has Lower System Requirements<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If the device you want to install Linux on is light on resources, you\u2019ll want to note Debian and Ubuntu\u2019s differing minimum requirements. <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.debian.org\/releases\/bullseye\/amd64\/ch03s04.en.html\">A Debian 11 desktop install requires<\/a> at least a 1GHz processor, 1GB RAM, and 10GB storage. <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ubuntu.com\/download\/desktop\">Ubuntu Desktop more than doubles those requirements<\/a> with a 2GHz dual-core processor, 4GB of RAM, and 25GB of disk space.<\/p>\n<p>That said, when we tested standard installations of both Debian 11 and Ubuntu Desktop 20.04, the pull on resources didn\u2019t differ significantly, using about 1GB of RAM at idle. For older devices, this can be asking a lot, so you may want a more minimal desktop. That\u2019s relatively easy to get with Debian, but for Ubuntu, you\u2019re better off going with another \u201c<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ubuntu.com\/download\/flavours\">Ubuntu flavor<\/a>\u201d like <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/lubuntu.me\/\">Lubuntu<\/a> or <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/xubuntu.org\/\">Xubuntu<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Why? Much of the resource consumption comes from the GNOME desktop environment (DE), not the operating system itself. You can reduce\u00a0Debian\u2019s weight significantly if, at install, you simply choose a lightweight DE like Xfce or LXQt instead of GNOME (optionally, deselect \u201cstandard system utilities\u201d as well to forgo most of the preinstalled <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>s). On Ubuntu, you could get one of those DEs after installation, but that process is a bit more complicated and leaves you with an additional DE you might not use.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ubuntu_Makes_Proprietary_Software_Easier_to_Get\"><\/span>Ubuntu Makes Proprietary Software Easier to Get<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Ubuntu and Debian take different approaches to the debate on free and open source (FOSS) versus closed source or \u201cproprietary\u201d software. When you first run Debian, you don\u2019t have im<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a>te access to proprietary software, which includes popular apps like Spotify, Steam, and Microsoft Teams. This also includes drivers necessary to make some critical hardware work, including NVIDIA GPUs. You can only get that proprietary software by\u00a0adding specific repositories to your software sources, downloading DEB files from official websites, or installing them through services like Snap or <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flathub.org\/\">Flathub<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In stark contrast, Ubuntu Desktop doesn\u2019t hold any proprietary software back. <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">General<\/a>ly, if there\u2019s a popular app available for Linux, you can get it with ease the moment you first boot up Ubuntu (an exception might be Google Chrome). Ubuntu will also make sure you get all necessary hardware drivers at installation, proprietary and otherwise.<\/p>\n<p>Why the dramatic difference? Debian tries to serve a wider community by making it easy for people who are dedicated to the FOSS way of life to use Debian in good con<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"5\" title=\"Science\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">science<\/a>. Ubuntu, however, prioritizes convenience for the everyday user who doesn\u2019t care about code philosophies. If that\u2019s you, you\u2019ll likely find Ubuntu more appealing.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Debian_Supports_Older_Hardware\"><\/span>Debian Supports Older Hardware<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re thinking of reviving an aging device with Linux, you\u2019re more likely to have success with Debian. That\u2019s partly because Debian still maintains support for 32-bit architectures (also known as\u00a0i386). Most consumer PCs released in or after the year 2009 use 64-bit architectures. But if your computer is from before that year, you may need a distribution (distro) that still supports 32-bit, such as Debian.<\/p>\n<p>Ubuntu, in contrast, dropped full 32-bit support with version 18.04. Earlier versions with 32-bit support are still available for download, but standard updates have already ended. Extended security updates\u00a0for version 14.04 will continue only until April 2024 and April 2026 for 16.04.<\/p>\n<p>The decision to drop 32-bit allowed the Ubuntu development team to focus on serving modern users with modern devices. The Debian team, in contrast, carries on the 32-bit legacy so that outmoded but otherwise functioning devices can stay out of the trash bin. These are two different but honorable objectives, and which serves you better depends on your device.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ubuntu_Is_Corporate-Backed\"><\/span>Ubuntu Is Corporate-Backed<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Ubuntu is maintained by an organization called <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/canonical.com\/\">Canonical<\/a>. Debian, in contrast, is developed completely by a community of volunteers. Both offer their distros free of charge, but Canonical also offers paid support if you\u2019re using Ubuntu professionally.<\/p>\n<p>For the same reason, Ubuntu\u2019s documentation tends to be more friendly to the average PC user, while Debian\u2019s documentation has a more blunt, technically-minded tone and appearance. If you\u2019re a computer geek, you\u2019ll appreciate Debian\u2019s approach, but others might find it uncomfortable or intimidating.<\/p>\n<p>The corporate backing is also in part why it\u2019s much easier to buy a\u00a0Linux laptop\u00a0or tower with Ubuntu pre-installed than one with Debian pre-installed. Canonical is able to make Ubuntu more prolific through business partnerships with retailers selling pre-built PCs.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Debian_Is_More_Stable_by_Default\"><\/span>Debian Is More Stable by Default<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When you perform a regular install of Debian, your software all comes from a repository named \u201c<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/wiki.debian.org\/DebianStable\">Stable<\/a>.\u201d All Stable software has been thoroughly tested to ensure reliable functionality. This sounds great, and it is great, especially if you\u2019re running a server with Debian. If you\u2019re using it as a desktop, though, the long wait for updates might feel <em>too<\/em> long. Security patches get pushed as needed, of course, but getting the latest features of your favorite software might take some serious patience.<\/p>\n<p>You can dial things up though by changing Debian\u2019s software source to from Stable to \u201c<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/wiki.debian.org\/DebianTesting\">Testing<\/a>.\u201d Don\u2019t let the name scare you; the software there has already been tested for at least two days and confirmed to not have any critical bugs. Testing updates will arrive closer to (and maybe even sooner than) Ubuntu\u2019s regular software branch.<\/p>\n<p>That said, many Debian users take the middle road by using\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/wiki.debian.org\/Backports\">Debian Backports<\/a>, which allows you to stay on Stable but get specific software (like Firefox or LibreOffice) from Testing. That way, you can stay up-to-date with the apps where it\u2019s important while keeping the rest of your Debian system rock-solid stable.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_Distro_Should_You_Choose\"><\/span>Which Distro Should You Choose?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There are other, more cosmetic differences between Debian and Ubuntu. Generally, Ubuntu has a more progressive, forward-thinking feel. Some parts of Debian have an older, classic computing feel that you might find comfortable and nostalgic. <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/wiki.debian.org\/DebianReleases\">Debian\u2019s release cycle<\/a> and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ubuntu.com\/about\/release-cycle\">Ubuntu\u2019s release cycle<\/a>\u00a0also differ quite a bit, which is worth considering if you want to stay on one distro long-term.<\/p>\n<p>If you want a general recommendation, Ubuntu will serve you best if you want to install any and all software without fuss. If your device is old or low on resources, though, Debian is probably the better option.<\/p>\n<p>In many ways, Ubuntu and Debian will give you a more or less similar experience. In fact, that similarity is kind of a bonus: guides, solutions, and explanations for one often also work for the other, increasing the resources at your disposal. Also, something that\u2019s possible on one can typically be achieved on the other, given enough work and know-how. That\u2019s the beauty of Linux: you have complete control over your computer, and you\u2019re never locked into one option.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/749045\/debian-vs-ubuntu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Which Distro Should You Choose?&#8221; If you\u2019re looking for a Linux distribution, you\u2019ve likely seen recommendations for both\u00a0Debian or Ubuntu. Their similarities, and the fact that Ubuntu is technically based on Debian, blur the lines between them. Let\u2019s explore the important differences. Debian Has Lower System Requirements If the device you want to install Linux&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":424382,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/debian-11-ubuntu-2104-wallpaper-split.png?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-424381","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/424381","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=424381"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/424381\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/424382"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=424381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=424381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=424381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}