Do you know the four pillar Linux distributions of the Linux world?

The Linux world is incredibly diverse, but it started with a few major Linux distributions.

There are hundreds of active Linux distributions, but only a few of them can be described as the founders of Linux as we know it today.

They lay the foundation for nearly every Linux distribution today. Some people like them, some people don't, and they are the foundation of what the modern Linux world is today.

This article will focus on each of them, giving them the respect they deserve. They are all distros created from scratch, making them one of the so-called original Linux distributions, and they are not based on anything that came before them.

Note that the order presented here is not a ranking, there are four first places. After I've made it clear to everyone, it's time to get into the text.

Slackware Linux

Related:

• Slackware 15.0 is officially released, the legendary Linux distribution https://www.linuxmi.com/slackware-15-0-linux.html
• Slackware Linux installation graphic tutorial, the oldest existing Linux distribution https://www.linuxmi.com/slackware-linux-anzhuang.html

Slackware 15.0 is officially released, the legendary Linux distribution https://www.linuxmi.com/slackware-15-0-linux.html

Slackware Linux installation graphic tutorial, the oldest existing Linux distribution https://www.linuxmi.com/slackware-linux-anzhuang.html

There's a reason we started our list with this distro. Slackware was launched in 1992 by Patrick Volkerding, and it is the oldest surviving Linux distribution in the world.

Just mentioning this fact is enough to wrap up its introduction, and we'll move on to why it deserves its place in Linux history. let's continue.

Two years later, Linus Torvalds, a young Finnish student from the University of Helsinki, announced his side project Linux, and Slackware first released version 1.00 on July 17, 1993.

Until the mid-1990s, Slackware had about 80 percent of the Linux market share. However, in the open source world, dominated by incredibly stable Unix-based systems, Slackware has begun to pave the way for Linux as a new, reliable server-oriented operating system.

However, when Red Hat Linux came out in 1995, the distro's popularity began to decline, and Slackware wasn't as popular as it once was. Of course, it's still a top-tier Linux distribution -- but because Slackware was designed to be highly customizable and powerful, rather than user-friendly, its popularity suffered.

But at the same time, this is probably the most amazing thing about this distro. From its first release 30 years ago to today, Slackware is still Slackware. The installer is the same as it was then. Furthermore, the overall functionality of the entire operating system closely follows the philosophies and principles laid out from the day of its creation.

Over the years, Slackware Linux hasn't changed the way it gained popularity—handy graphical installers, handy package managers, and polished desktop environments—as most Linux distributions do today.

No, it still relies on the stability of the system and requires the user to understand every element. Furthermore, Slackware refuses to succumb to general technological trends in Linux distributions. So, for example, you won't find systemd here. Instead, the system uses the BSD-init scripting system to boot itself.

On top of that, there is something unheard of for users used to convenient package managers like APT, DNF, and Pacman. Slackware's package system does not support dependencies.

For one obvious purpose - if you want something to work, you have to manually install the corresponding dependency yourself to approve it. So the idea is pretty obvious - nothing will appear on your system without your knowledge.

So, at the cost of being known as popularity, the distro remains true to its UNIX roots, and the recently released Slackware 15 continues the saga of the beloved, almost cult Linux distribution.

Of course, Slackware doesn't have as many forks as the other three distributions listed below. However, that didn't change the fact that it was the distro that shaped the fledgling Linux world at the time, paving the way for it and leaving its mark forever.

Debian GNU/Linux

A few months after Slackware came out, so did Debian GNU/Linux. Ian Murdock officially founded the Debian project on August 16, 1993, but the first stable version was released in 1996. Ian intends to make Debian a public distribution in the spirit of Linux and GNU.

So, when it started, Debian was the only distribution open to every developer and user to contribute their work. Until now, Debian remains the most important Linux distributor, it is not a commercial entity.

This means that no single enterprise is responsible for the creation of Debian, the maintenance of its infrastructure, or the overall direction of the project. Instead, everything is in the hands of the community.

The distro has a long and proud history. It consists of a global community of volunteers, including more than a thousand developers, who work together to create the best free software operating system.

Additionally, Debian is the only free software project where developers vote for leaders.

Also, if you want a broader Debian history, its maintainers have created excellent documentation covering everything related to Debian history from the very beginning.

During its existence, Debian has established itself as one of the most reliable and stable Linux distributions and has a huge footprint in other areas of the Linux landscape today. Currently about 120 other Linux distributions are based on Debian.

For example, Ubuntu. This distribution has become almost synonymous with Linux, firmly based on Debian. We can also mention famous distributions like MX Linux, Kali Linux, etc.

But that's not what makes Debian unique, or the place it deserves in the Linux Hall of Fame.

The great thing about Debian is that it is a living proof of the power of open source. This is a shining example of thousands of volunteers working together for the common good.

Perhaps most importantly, Debian is the most popular Linux distribution today, sticking as closely as possible to the ideas and philosophy behind the open source movement.

So if you're looking for one of the cleanest, most stable, and most faithful distributions to the open source spirit, then Debian GNU/Linux is the way to go.

Related :

• Debian GNU/Linux 11.3 "Bullseye" released https://www.linuxmi.com/debian-gnu-linux-11-3-bullseye.html
• Debian – one of the most stable and popular Linux distributions out there https://www.linuxmi.com/debian-linux.html

Debian GNU/Linux 11.3 "Bullseye" released https://www.linuxmi.com/debian-gnu-linux-11-3-bullseye.html

Debian – one of the most stable and popular Linux distributions out there https://www.linuxmi.com/debian-linux.html

In 1994, a year after Debian was created, the third member of the most important Linux distribution, Red Hat Linux, appeared.

In 1993, Bob Young founded ACC Corporation, a directory company that sold Linux and UNIX software accessories. Around the same time, Marc Ewing created his own Linux distribution company, which he named Red Hat Linux.

Shortly thereafter, in 1995, Young acquired the Ewing business and the two companies merged to become Red Hat Software, with Young serving as CEO. So Red Hat Linux was designed from the ground up for the corporate world, business goals, and profit. Of course, this is not wrong.

Red Hat pioneered the original open source business model. This distro proves that it can be applied in the business world and bring huge profits. Red Hat is strictly for enterprise Linux solutions, providing users with excellent stability and first-class support.

So, thanks to Ubuntu, Debian's derivative, the Linux desktop world has changed. Likewise, with its downstream CentOS and more recently AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux, Red Hat has changed the Linux server world.

Related:

• AlmaLinux 8.5 is officially released, a production-ready replacement for CentOS Linux https://www.linuxmi.com/almalinux-8-5.html
• Rocky Linux 8.5 is out, CentOS replacement now supports secure boot and update components https://www.linuxmi.com/rocky-linux-8-5.html

AlmaLinux 8.5 is officially released, a production-ready replacement for CentOS Linux https://www.linuxmi.com/almalinux-8-5.html

Rocky Linux 8.5 is out, CentOS replacement now supports secure boot and update components https://www.linuxmi.com/rocky-linux-8-5.html

Thanks to the work of Red Hat engineers, millions of users and businesses around the world use Red Hat or Red Hat-based distributions to provide their servers with unprecedented stability and reliability.

Of course, let's not forget Fedora. It is developed by a community-supported project, primarily sponsored by Red Hat. With each release, Fedora Linux has grown bigger and bigger, capturing a larger share of the Linux desktop market largely dominated by Ubuntu.

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• Fedora 36 Beta is out, GNOME 42 desktop environment and Linux Kernel 5.17 https://www.linuxmi.com/fedora-36-beta-gnome-42-linux-kernel-5-17.html

Fedora 36 Beta is out, GNOME 42 desktop environment and Linux Kernel 5.17 https://www.linuxmi.com/fedora-36-beta-gnome-42-linux-kernel-5-17.html

Last but not least, we cannot fail to mention that Red Hat's contribution to the open source movement is enormous. For example, there is only one word - GNOME. How many people know that Red Hat is a major contributor to the GNOME desktop project?

We could go on and list things like LibreOffice, PulseAudio, Xorg, D-Bus, PolicyKit, NetworkManager, KVM, OpenSSH…. In other words, the software we use every day is possible thanks to the tremendous help and contributions of Red Hat engineers.

So, I can say thank you, Red Hat, thank you.

Related:

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.5 is officially released, the world's leading enterprise Linux https://www.linuxmi.com/red-hat-enterprise-linux-8-5.html

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.5 is officially released, the world's leading enterprise Linux https://www.linuxmi.com/red-hat-enterprise-linux-8-5.html

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• Arch Linux 2022.05.01 released, experience the new menu-based installer https://www.linuxmi.com/arch-linux-2022-05-01.html
• Complete Guide to Installing Arch Linux Using the archinstall Automation Script https://www.linuxmi.com/archinstall-auto-arch-linux.html

We come to the last player on the list of pillar Linux distributions that have shaped the Linux world - Arch Linux. It's the youngest of the distributions listed here, "only" 20 years old.

Arch Linux was developed by Canadian programmer Judd Vinet in 2001 and released its first official version v0.1 in March 2002.

Arch Linux is one of the rolling Linux distributions.

What do you think the Linux world will look like in 2002? Let me tell you, there are three leading players - Mandrake, Red Hat and Debian. Of course, this was also the golden years of Gentoo, but for the average Linux user, the distro was and is too difficult to handle.

Then Arch Linux came into being. Also, it's somewhat close to the Gentoo philosophy, but provides an easier-to-use way to use it. Yes, the installation is not easy and it takes a lot of effort for the average Linux user to do it.

As a result, users get something new in the Linux world - just install it once and use it forever, just by regularly updating the system and staying on top of cutting-edge software. Today we call this the rolling release model.

The distro provides users with ultimate control over how their systems work and look, supporting the philosophy of the KISS principle (keep it simple and stupid). This philosophy was quickly embraced by thousands of advanced Linux users who wanted to combine complete control over their systems with an easy-to-maintain operating system.

Arch Linux has gained a huge following over the years. Of course, complexity of use was never the goal of Arch Linux. Instead, as always, the purpose of this distribution is to provide Linux users with the most straightforward way to use Linux.

Also, you get the latest software with as few modifications as possible. In short, you get one of the purest Linux experiences available today.

In response to the benefits offered by Arch Linux, many clones have appeared. Additionally, distros like Manjaro and EndeavourOS climbed on the mighty shoulders of Arch Linux, eliminating its most glaring drawback—the complicated installation process. As a result, they quickly became the desktop system of choice for countless Linux users.

Related:

• Manjaro Linux 21.2 released with Linux Kernel 5.15 LTS https://www.linuxmi.com/manjaro-linux-21-2.html
• Arch Linux-based EndeavourOS Atlantis released https://www.linuxmi.com/arch-linux-endeavouros-atlantis.html

Manjaro Linux 21.2 released with Linux Kernel 5.15 LTS https://www.linuxmi.com/manjaro-linux-21-2.html

Arch Linux-based EndeavourOS Atlantis released https://www.linuxmi.com/arch-linux-endeavouros-atlantis.html

Over the past 20 years, Arch Linux has been loved by some and rejected by others, paving the way for rolling Linux distributions, securing its place in modern Linux history.

Summarize

OK, here are our four pillar Linux distributions that shape the Linux world. Trusting you to have your say on the list above, I'd love to hear from you in the comments section below.

In short, that's the beauty of Linux - freedom of choice. However, some have already laid the groundwork for this diversity of countless Linux distributions.

From: Linux Fans

Link: https://www.linuxmi.com/linux-world-major-linux.html

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