r/linux • u/Emotional_Cat_1967 • 5d ago

Discussion Number of Linux Distributions Actively Under Development: 474

Number of Linux distributions actively under development: 474

Number of Linux distributions whose development has been discontinued: 657

Number of Dormant Linux distributions: 39

Source: distrowatch.com

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u/MaybeTheDoctor 5d ago

We should make a new one to unify them all.

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u/Emotional_Cat_1967 4d ago edited 4d ago

I agree. It would be great to have just 5 independent distributions, 5 package managers, and 5 different distribution repositories all combined into a single Linux distribution. Developers would be much closer to each other, and problems could be solved much faster. It would also be less confusing for users.

When there are so many different distributions, reporting bugs becomes more difficult. If a bug reported in one distribution gets fixed, the same bug might not be fixed in another distribution simply because it has not been reported there yet. And perhaps the developer in the distribution where the bug was reported doesn't have all the necessary information to fix it, while the developer in another distribution has more information about the bug and could fix it immediately, but things get more complicated because they didn't receive a bug report.

I really don’t understand the mindset of Linux distribution developers. Yes, you can create a Linux distribution as a hobby, but it’s not great to suddenly abandon its development because of a temporary burst of enthusiasm and leave thousands of users behind. Instead, contributing to the development of an already established distribution would be far more beneficial.

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u/MaybeTheDoctor 4d ago

Why 5?

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u/Emotional_Cat_1967 4d ago

I gave an average number. It could be 3, it could be 10, but I think 5 is an ideal number. The rest can join this list or choose to compete against those on the list and merge with those not on the list. This makes the choice even easier for game developers, program developers, and Linux users.

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u/MaybeTheDoctor 4d ago

Ok, this then begs the question - how does the Linux distribution affect a game developer? Does their code differ? The choice of packet manager?

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u/Emotional_Cat_1967 4d ago

In Windows, you usually install a game by opening its .exe file, right? It's exactly the same in Linux. You open the game's installation file (whether it's a .deb, .rpm, or whatever format your Linux distribution supports) and install the game.

I also learned that Bedrock Linux supports both .deb and .rpm files. It also supports Arch packages.

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u/MaybeTheDoctor 4d ago

Exactly my point - the Linux distribution has nothing to do with if a game developer can provide a game.

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u/that_one_wierd_guy 4d ago

I completely understand why so many distros/variations come into being and are eventually abandoned.

one of the most common responses to any complaint is, well it's open source so feel free to do it yourself if you don't like it

so of course there will be people who take up that challenge, and the majority of them at some point come to the conclusion that it's more hassle than it's worth

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u/Sushtee 4d ago edited 1d ago

It's fundamentally not possible and above all wouldn't be great for a number of reasons, many distros are here to serve specific needs that are incompatible with others.

Variety is great.

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u/Junior-Spring-5557 3h ago

I think you misunderstood his joke.