What Your Linux Distro Says About You
Posted by: Rea Maor In: Linux and Unix - Thursday, August 16th, 2007Welcome DistroWatch Readers !
If you like THIS article, you might want to take a peek at these articles:
– What Your Web-Browser Says About You – part 1
– What Your Web-Browser Says About You – part 2
– Harry Potter and the Root Password
– And many more (related to Linux and Unix)
The huge number of Linux distros is a familiar target of complaint from some, who see it as a barrier to Linux adoption. But if you think about it as having a specific distro out there that’s just right for you, it all makes something like sense. Consider the personalities who gravitate to these distros…
Ubuntu – OK, you struck out on your own to run away from Microsoft, but you still went where the crowd was. Safety in numbers, you know. You picked what a lot of other people seem to like, although you don’t all quite know why you like it. In some cases, your son or niece might have picked it out and installed it for you, and all you use is the Internet anyway so what’s the difference? You look forward to the day that the Linux community throws a Woodstock party for Generation Ubuntu. You were there!
SUSE – Another safety choice. If you’re going to run Linux, you might as well pick the distro that is officially blessed by Microsoft. That patent litigation thing might come to haunt the rest of Linux, but it won’t touch you. Your manager loves you. You feel smug, thinking you’re just at the right place at the right time. When your computer breaks, you know just who to call.
Fedora – You buy the newest hardware, and demand the broadest use from it. You might also remember the Red Hat glory days, when it was the top installed distro. These days, you hope for Red Hat Enterprise’s goodness to trickle down into Fedora, and you don’t mind putting up with the occasional inadequacy. You used to know your way around the internals of the system, but these days you just leave it up to the development team and cross your fingers.
Debian – You’re from the Old School. If you aren’t a system administrator, you at least have the mindset for it. You’re likely to work with Linux in some professional server capacity, and might even be worthy of the title BOFH. You probably program a lot, but hate unnecessary system maintenance. You are the “computer fix-it” person at the office. You also mumble command-line incantations in your sleep.
Mandriva – You used Windows too long, and you see no reason to change your habits now. You insist on a system that can jump onto the machine all by itself. In fact, if you never see a command line or a text configuration file, that’ll be just fine with you. You’d just as soon not be referred to as a geek.
Slackware – Not only are you proud to be called a geek, but in role-playing terms you are a level-nine tech wizard with a spell of fireball handy. Even other Linux geeks are a little nervous around you. You use the word “wimp” a lot, when talking about things like GUIs and package managers. You program so much that you consider it a recreation.
Gentoo – You’re one of the few who can make a Slackware user back down. Your motto is “If you want it done right, do it yourself!” When you finished your first install of Gentoo in a record five days, you had an urge to go out and get a tattoo to commemorate the rite of passage. You know more programming languages than video game titles. You used to be the “computer fix-it” person, until you learned to quit answering your phone.
Puppy – Boy, are you easy to please! Your needs are simple, and you want your computer to know about four tricks really well and the rest not at all. You may still be running the same machine you bought with Windows ‘95 on it. You are the Big Lebowski of computer users – hey, no sweat, no worries, dude!
Elive – You really don’t care what else your computer does, as long as it looks sharp doing it. You’re the hipster of the Linux pack – you surf in style or not at all. Some day, you hope to figure out how to get it installed or perhaps even get a new package on it. You ask other Linux users questions like “What’s this command line I keep hearing about?” and “Can you believe how pathetic those new iPhone screens look?”
sidux – You really love bleeding edge stuff, but don’t want to have the hassle of compiling everything yourself. You don’t really care how it all works, but aren’t afraid to dig into the configuration if you have to get things to work the way you want them. The command line is your friend. You aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty every once in a while if it will mean that your meat loaf comes out the way it should.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Related Posts:
- Fixing Windows using a Live Linux CD – part one
- A Guide to Linux Package Systems
- Linux Distros That Could Take The Lead Soon
- Linux PCs: The State of the Market
- Partitioning for Linux – part 2: the how
August 16th, 2007 at 19:35
That made me lol
-a fedora/debian (ab)user
August 19th, 2007 at 3:59
[...] time we make up rules to the web; we can’t go on running around naked like monkeys. 5. What Your Linux Distro Says About You – what?! Can’t you read? 6. 10 Minutes in a car accident – Toyota Hilux + Mazda 3 = [...]
August 20th, 2007 at 8:38
You forgot “Linux from scratch”:
You’re one of the few who can make a Gentoo user back down.
August 20th, 2007 at 8:46
Well for one i dont consider the part about gentoo being more ‘harder’ than slackware flase. Seeing as slackware doesnt have a package manager, which means its more difficult….
August 20th, 2007 at 8:59
Wow, thank you
August 20th, 2007 at 10:00
I am using ArchLinux, so I cannot recognize myself here !
August 20th, 2007 at 10:12
Feel free to fill up the void, just let me know what you think i should add about ArchLinux and i’ll add it up.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:32
You should add sidux ( a distro based on Debian Sid) to your list:
sidux:
You really love bleeding edge stuff, but don’t want to have the hassle of compiling everything yourself. You don’t really care how it all works, but aren’t afraid to dig into the configuration if you have to get things to work the way you want them. The command line is your friend. You aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty every once in a while if it will mean that your meat loaf comes out the way it should.
This one was kindly suggested by another user on the sidux.com forum
August 20th, 2007 at 10:39
Here you go, thank you for the add
August 20th, 2007 at 14:52
I can’t really recognize myself in this.
I’m a slackware user for 5 years or so. I’m no geek, and i am a busdriver. I very humble low level job. Yes, i program a little in C++, but just some home brewed tools, but does that make someone a geek?
Or are you a geek when you fiddle for hours to tweak something. For me it’s just a hobby. The only hobby i have.
August 20th, 2007 at 15:58
Hey,
I agree with you in a general sense. BUUUT
There are Users who Select a distro just for the availability of packages and Stability.
I am a debian Fan and have been using Suse on my home box from long before the patent deal.
Debian for my stable System. Suse ..for the family.(something that is easy,almost as stable as Debian and has good package availability)
Now what does my distro tell about me
August 20th, 2007 at 18:00
Hi DeepDayze
Another happy sidux user … I’m the Official Fangirl 
August 20th, 2007 at 18:06
“I’m a slackware user for 5 years or so. I’m no geek, and i am a busdriver.”
Slackware user for 5 years; you are a geek in the best sense of the word. You enjoy technology and that is a good thing. You drive a bus and code in C++. Ok, your occupation doesn’t have to be in the technology field to make you a geek. Coding is also a geek skill.
“Or are you a geek when you fiddle for hours to tweak something. For me it’s just a hobby. The only hobby i have.”
Your a geek; enjoy it and be proud of it.
PS: I don’t recognizer myself in the list. Found this link via distrowatch. Hey, I am a BSD user myself; I also enjoy the linux side of the house.
Regards
August 20th, 2007 at 18:07
Ho! what about the rebellious Irishman with mint? F america and its patents & copyright laws things that are freely distributed should be free of any restrictions. I am still pissed at the us copyright of “UGG boots” a generic term for boots made from fleecey sheep skins – lovely in winter but I have not tried yet. its the principal of the thing – back to hoovering lost theif case long ago.
I want to use the hardware (nvidia driver) & play dvd’s from wherever, listen & record mp3 & all the other codecs (prefer ogg) and get the full web experience almost out of the distro box
August 20th, 2007 at 20:30
Me too not a techie but a Slackware user. It is Slackware that made me learn linux. After all if anybody wants to learn at least something about linux, one should try Slackware, else if one wants to be like a dumb windows user , can have Mandriva / Ubuntu or the so called “out-of-the-box” working distros.
August 21st, 2007 at 1:03
PCLinuxOS – you want it to just work, baby. After 6 months of Linux computing, you are stunned to learn that there is a command line, and that every other distro must somehow use it to be able to watch their Firefly DVDs. But, then again, you don’t care. The LiveCD+Synaptic already has everything you’ll ever want in life, and doggone, is it pretty from boot-up, KDE, to boot-down.
August 21st, 2007 at 2:52
Hey, this is pretty funny. Thanks for the read. I’m an Ubuntu user and I don’t necessarily fit your profile, but heck, that’s what stereotypes are all about.
I’ve been toying with Linux since 1997 and have tried almost every major distro over the years. After ten lazy and slightly curious years of experimenting, I have stumbled on a Linux that works just like OS/2 worked back in 1995. My quest came to an end with Ubuntu for this reason.
August 21st, 2007 at 3:10
Well, I’ve got nothing but good things to say about Ubuntu,
it’s a great little graphic system, runs must of the updated hardware flawlessly and seems to be simple enough to install.
If any software is to be considered as the missing link between
Windows and Linux it’s Ubuntu, heck… I’ve even installed it on my Girlfriend’s computer and she seems to be just as happy.
August 21st, 2007 at 5:27
[...] http://www.askreamaor.com/linux-and-unix/what-your-linux-distro-says-about-you/ [...]
August 21st, 2007 at 14:39
The fun part about Ubuntu is that it’s just as powerful as a Debian install, but only slicker out of the box. Heck I have it running smoothly on a P2 with 64 MB, an install comparable to a Debian base with a Fluxbox GUI on top. I guess the point is, Ubuntu has plenty to offer to the advanced user but it’s often regarded as the converter distribution. That said, I liked the profile of the Ubuntu user in the above article, it sure is the safe and crowded middle-road of all the Linuses.
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:23
…and again the mandatory comment from a PCLOS user who thinks every Linux article needs to be a PCLOS advertisement.
August 22nd, 2007 at 5:21
…and again the mandatory comment from a zealout with a chip on his shoulder that thinks a SimplyMEPIS user is a PCLOS user because he describes it’s ease of use to the point that a new user could be shocked there’s such a thing as a command line
Sorry, don’t use PCLOS myself. Are you sad, now? 
August 22nd, 2007 at 21:09
well just saying i disagree with the ubuntu one
ive been using linux for 2 years, i am extreamly comfertable using only the command line, and can fix most common linux problems.
But, for work, i use ubuntu. Ubuntu is for when I dont want to mess arround with the os, all im doing is working.
In my spare time i have debian, slackware, and many other installs. But for work, I use ubuntu.
Now, when kde4 comes out, i will really need to swich as kubuntu is really a sad implementation of ubuntu+kde.
August 24th, 2007 at 4:40
Hey, you forgot Xandros and Linspire
“You are shit, rubbish, and scum”
August 24th, 2007 at 16:06
The Debian profile is way off. I have Etch/KDE on my wife’s box so that I don’t need to mess with it. Install was even easier than .buntu, all the hardware works, and apt-get works the way it should (unlike .buntu). Happiness is never having to download another iso until the hardware breaks. I have Lenny/KDE on the old laptop I use for a backup system and sidux for my own desktop. I’m barely a wannabe geek and much prefer time on the nearby beach to fighting with my OS but I grew up with DOS so the command line isn’t too fearsome.
S
August 26th, 2007 at 23:29
I have to chuckle at these. I can take a joke, after all – I still work with Windows!
I started with RedHat 6.2, dual-booting it on a Windows 98 machine, and earned my wife’s just and terrible wrath when I brought the machine down in smoking wreckage after switching to Mandrake and upgrading it afterward, rendering neither side bootable for a short time.
Now, I have a couple of home laptops that are running different flavors – I have an old IBM ThinkPad that I have connected to our stereo which is running the Xfce version of Mint. I’ve had nothing but joy from it – the wireless was recognized immediately, and the Xfce interface is easy on my poor 1990’s-vintage laptop. The other one has Ubuntu Faun, and is how I’m posting this comment.
I have to say that much of the analysis of me as a user of Ubuntu is pretty close to spot-on. However, if you were married to my wife, you’d want something that let you upgrade pretty easily without risking turning your machine into a paperweight.
September 1st, 2007 at 17:05
Slackware certainly isn’t harder than Gentoo to install.
The lack of a good package manager does make it hard to customize the selection of installed packages however.
That said, I’m often amazed how little trouble I have getting updated and/or additional packages running on Slackware considering the careless nature of its package installer.
============
I feel that there are significant differences in the mindset of the typical Slackware user verses the typical Gentoo user.
The typical Slackware user is looking for something that works well “out of the box” but then lends itself to easy MANUAL customization and configuration, without automated tools getting in the way.
The typical Gentoo user is looking for a fully optimized system and is willing to go through a lot of extra work to get it. They are not specifically looking for manual configuration capability, but more the ability install up-to-date versions of available software and have it compiled to take full take advantage of the hardware they have.
Common to both of these distros is that they attract a lot of people from the *bsd Unix camps.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:04
you know it’s funny, i’ve tried pretty much every common distro and it still seems like ubuntu got it right. you *can* compile things if you want, fool around with shell scripts, tweak and perfect just like the others, you just don’t *need* to. doesn’t that make a lot more sense? ubuntu makes it easy to get the basics set up and start tweaking rather than building the whole thing from source/fscking with shell scripts just to get basic things working. then there is the fact that ubuntu + debian have the largest list of packages available to them and *working* hardware drivers available.
January 5th, 2008 at 10:08
Mepis: You don’t like loud music or barking dogs. You’ll have a (one) drink on special occasions. You always cross on the green and never in between. Your house is decorated in comfortable earth tone furniture from LaZBoy and white walls. You change the batteries in your smoke alarms about once a month just to be on the safe side. You pick stability, safety, and convenience over all else. You drive a Toyota Corolla and couldn’t be happier.
February 1st, 2008 at 1:29
Sabayon: you want everything and at least 6 different kinds of kitchen sink to choose from.
January 6th, 2009 at 2:32
What, then, does it say about you if you run, say OpenBSD?
April 24th, 2009 at 7:47
hi thr..im a newbie in minux..im using windows right now but quite fed up with it..i wanna knw tht to use slackware u must knw c++ or other computer languages…
April 25th, 2009 at 23:25
Damn Small Linux … you have an extreme fetish with getting a Linux GUI to run on the most ancient, obsolete hardware out there.
In D&D terms, you’re the 36th level Paladin who INSISTS on still using the +1 Long Sword you found during a level 3 quest 10 years ago because it “still works”. For some reason you get off on the fact that you’re still getting by with it while others have “wussed out” and moved on to Holy Avengers +5.