Fedora Linux Editions vs Fedora rpm-ostree Variants vs Fedora Spins

Welcome to another series of my Outreachy blog posts. The past few weeks of my internship with Fedora have been progressive. In this series, I am sharing some insights on Fedora Linux terms that had me scratching my head during the contribution phase. The first time I encountered these terms was when I was assigned to write some articles during the contribution phase. I have seen these terms appear in Fedora documentation and even in discussions on Matrix and Discourse.

These terms are:

• Fedora Linux Editions

• rpm-ostree based variants of Fedora Linux

• Fedora Spins

Initially, I associated Fedora Linux with just the Workstation edition and thought that the Workstation could handle various use cases like servers, containerization, and IoT, which is actually what Fedora Editions are designed for.

Fedora Linux Editions

As I have come to understand it, Fedora Linux has different editions. These Editions are different variants of Fedora Linux tailored for specific uses. For example, there's Fedora Workstation, perfect for desktops and laptops, ideal for developers, students, and anyone who wants a user-friendly system. On the other hand, you have Fedora Server, built for server environments. There's also the Fedora IoT edition, specifically designed for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. There are also Fedora CoreOS and Fedora Cloud. All are optimized for their intended use cases.

rpm-ostree based variants of Fedora Linux

Now, let's talk about rpm-ostree based variants of Fedora Linux. This one's a mouthful, I know. rpm-ostree offers some cool benefits like atomic updates, meaning the entire system gets updated in one go, and an immutable file system, which is a read-only system that's super stable. Some rpm-ostree variants include Fedora Silverblue - a rock solid Workstation version with that immutable file system, and Fedora Kinoite similar to Silverblue, but with the fancy KDE Plasma desktop environment. These variants are ideal for users who value stability and reliability.

Fedora Spins

These are custom Fedora flavours. Spins take the base Fedora system and add different desktop environments or pre-installed applications to cater to specific needs. Some Fedora Spins include:

Fedora KDE Plasma Desktop Spin: This spin uses the KDE Plasma desktop environment, offering a powerful and customizable user experience.

Fedora Xfce Spin: Featuring the lightweight Xfce desktop environment, this spin is great for users who need a fast and resource-efficient system.

Fedora LXQt Spin: This spin uses the LXQt desktop environment, known for being lightweight and user-friendly.

Spins allow users to choose a Fedora experience that best fits their needs and preferences.

To grasp these Fedora terms, I utilized Fedora Docs and articles. These resources explain Fedora editions, rpm-ostree-based variants, and Spins, helping me understand their specific uses.

To future Fedora Outreachy interns, some Fedora related terms may seem confusing at first, but trust me, as you dive deeper into your contributions and interactions with the Fedora community, you'll begin to make sense of these terms. It's okay not to grasp it at first, so I encourage you to ask questions.

Everyone starts somewhere, and the only way to learn is by seeking clarification. The Fedora community, like many others, is built on collaboration and learning. No one expects you to know everything from the start, and asking questions is a sign of your commitment to understanding and growing. So, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help. You’ll find that most people are more than willing to assist you.

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