Explaining Linux Distro Types: Difference Between Forks, Flavors, Remixes & More

When searching for which Linux Distro (aka distribution) to use, you’ve probably come across some odd terms being used to distinguish one type of distro from another. Terms like Fork, Flavor, Remix, Respin, Derivative and others. You may even find terms like Ubuntu-based, Debian-based, Arch-based and more.

These terms are actually helpful to differentiate how a particular Linux Distro will work but if you don’t know what those terms mean well it’s like navigating a maze.

In this video, I break down these terms, explain what they mean and how you can use them to narrow down your options in picking the best Linux Distro for you.

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Comments:

  1. … ?!?
    I think we need some graphics or a map or something.

    But at least I think I now know that Hard Forks/Soft Forks are. :slight_smile:

  2. some people asked for a diagram, maybe I will do a follow up later to add more details for that kind of thing :smiley:

  3. thanks for the explanation this is really useful (even for a 10+ years linux user like me) for my “switching to linux” file: when I get a friend who wants to move to Linux I send him links and info to read, understand and choose. I recommend GNOME for MacOS users, KDE for Windows Users and XFCE for low spec PC, my first recommendation is Manjaro (I used to recommend Linux Mint/PopOS before).

    Regards, Alex

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