Fixed Release Distro
These distros are also known as Point Release Distros. Such distributions often follow a particular release schedule, where they bundle updates to the kernel and the core operating system services and deliver them to the users as a new release. These distros, do get frequent security updates and some feature updates, but generally, they do not get core system updates or updated packages as often as rolling release distros.
These distros allow for a stable and predictable user experience. And less updates mean more time to test the updates that are shipped in the first place. All this makes these distros more appealing to people looking for systems that do not break, for example in servers.
Ubuntu
Ubuntu is one of the most popular fixed release distro and is often the distro most people would first begin their journey with, in the Linux ecosystem. Ubuntu has a release schedule where they release non-LTS versions of their distro every 6 months and LTS versions every 2 years. Here, LTS stands for Long Term Support and is basically the most stable and longest supported version of Ubuntu. With a focus on stability and ease of use, Ubuntu makes for a great Linux distro overall.
Not to mention Ubuntu has the largest community support of any Linux distro ever, which also means that even among Linux distros it is Ubuntu that most companies will develop their software for. So, for those looking for a reliable, fairly updated system with lots of software resources Ubuntu might be your best bet.
Linux Mint
Linux Mint is also a very popular fixed release distro, and uses Ubuntu as a base, though it also has a variant LMDE which uses Debian as a base. Sine Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu its release schedule also follows a similar release cycle. With minor versions released every 6 months and LTS releases every 2 years Linux Mint ensures that there is not gap between Ubuntu and Linux Mint. In fact Linux Mint arguably offers a better experience that stock Ubuntu, and is increasingly becoming the new recommendation for the best distro in recent years.
Unlike Ubuntu which has been in some controversy over the years regarding telemetry and snap packages. Linux Mint just gets rid of all those by default. All these means that Linux Mint makes for a good User Experience. Not to mention, its cinnamon desktop is easy to use even for those coming from Windows. Overall there is no doubt that in 2023 Linux Mint is the best distro to use overall.
Debian
At last we have Debian, one of the oldest and most stable Linux distros of all time. Debian is also one of the few independent distros, which means it does not depend on any other distro as base, hence the Debian team is free to work on its own pace. Debian has 3 active branches the stable branch is the officially released version of debian which is the most reliable and recommended one, then comes the testing branch which is not quite stable yet but is a work in progress, finally it also has an actively developed and frequently updated testing branch, which is recommended only for the developers.
It should be noted, Debian is one of the finest choice for servers, since Debian tries to keep the most reliable packages it official releases. Debian also has one of the largest amount of software available through its official repositories. But these packages often lag behind the current versions and might be outdated, in such cases one can use formats like flatpak or appimages to get over this downside.
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.