Rolling Release Distro
Rolling Release Distros generally do not follow a fixed release schedule. These distros generally aim to provide latest features, kernels and packages to the users as soon as those features arrive, and are considered to be stable enough.
These distros are extremely popular among Linux veterans who are familiar with using Linux and are not afraid of tinkering. These distros also provide access to the latest versions of most applications. However it should be noted that frequent updates also make the entire OS less stable, and more prone to crashes, and is thereby not recommended for servers or beginners.
Arch Linux
Arch is one of the most famous Rolling release distro of all time and is definitely a great choice for Linux power-users. For those looking for a bleeding-edge up to date Linux experience Arch is an amazing choice. With arch users do not get a graphical user installer, instead they have to use the command line to install the distro, this allows for more customization experience. Unlike Debian or Ubuntu, Arch does not follow a fixed release cycle, in fact it doesn’t have a version number to start with. It just keeps on updating every few days or so.
However it should be noted that since the Distro since it is a rolling release distro, and does not offer a GUI based installer, it is generally not considered suitable for most beginners. So if you are a linux beginner, you should probably avoid Arch and stick with some other rolling or fixed release distro.
Manjaro
Manjaro is a popular arch based Linux distro that is easy on hardware and gets the latest updates as arch. It is a rolling release distro, and is a little more cautious than Arch. Unlike arch where updates are very frequent and often break system, Manjaro waits just a little longer making it just so slightly stable than Arch.
Another great thing about Manjaro is its intuitive installer and desktop experience. It makes it so that the power and updates of arch is available even to the Linux beginners. Unlike Arch which has a bare bones install, Manjaro offers additional features, functionalities and basic applications over base Arch, some might call it bloat, but at the end it does makes for a better experience for someone just starting with Rolling Release distros.
openSUSE Tumbleweed
openSUSE Tumbleweed is another interesting rolling release distro, and unlike previous two options that are Arch or Arch based openSUSE is not based on Arch, and has its own development team behind it. Its not as talked as the distros we have discussed so far, but it is in fact a really great rolling release distro.
Unlike most rolling release distros that call them self bleeding edge, openSUSE Tumbleweed takes a different approach in the sense that it is a “Leading Edge” distro. So it does offer the latest software and does not have any big major updates as such. But unlike most rolling release distros that ship untested or lightly tested packages, openSUSE tests the packages thoroughly before shipping them, thereby giving a stable and yet up-to date modern Linux experience. Another interesting feature is its rollback capabilities. Therefore it is in fact one of the best rolling release distro out there.
Rolling vs. Fixed release Linux Distros?
Linux is a free and open-source operating system that is quite popular among students and developers alike. However, choosing the best distro is not easy. In this article we we delve deeper to understand What are Rolling release distros and fixed release distros and which one is better for you.
So let’s first start with the basics
What is a Linux distro?
A Linux Distro or Distribution is a complete Operating System based on the Linux “Kernel” and contains extra packages, package managers, desktop environments, and some default software to make them ready to run from the get-go.
Now that we know what is a Distro let’s look more into rolling release distro and fixed release distro to understand their respective advantages and disadvantages.
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