In today's open source roundup: Debian versus Ubuntu. Plus: Five Linux distros for your computer, and which game genres need more games on Linux? Debian versus Ubuntu Ubuntu and Debian are two of the most popular options for Linux users. But newer users can sometimes be unaware of the differences between the two, and might not understand which one is the better choice for their needs. Datamation looks at the pros and cons of Ubuntu and Debian. Bruce Byfield reports at Datamation: Beginner or expert? Platform support? Ease of use or control? Unity or GNOME? Cutting edge or stability? Free or proprietary? Outspoken but democratic, or polite or controlled? As you can see, choosing between Debian and Ubuntu comes down to what is important to you. However, no matter how you decide, you can hardly go too far wrong. For all their differences, Debian and Ubuntu did not become the leading distributions in free software by chance. Their joint dominance suggests that either is a valid choice, so long as you understand your priorities. More at Datamation Crucial WikiVS also explains some of the differences between Debian and Ubuntu: Ubuntu is specifically designed to be easy for inexperienced users to use. Initial configuration of Debian may be more difficult. Ubuntu’s early motto was “Linux for human beings”, while Debian describes itself as “the universal operating system.” The decision to use one or the other may also hinge on the relative importance of new, possibly unstable software versus old reliable software. Community is probably the biggest distinguishing feature besides distribution “flavor”. The Ubuntu forums are more accessible to newcomers, while Debian forums are more technical. Both distributions depend heavily on a large community of volunteer open-source software developers and users who provide free support for each other while using the software. More at WikiVS Redditors shared their thoughts in a thread last year about Ubuntu versus Debian: “Debian! I started using GNU/Linux full-time a year ago. I started with Ubuntu, and was productive immediately, but it was a bit buggy (things crashed, error messages, freezes), and I didn’t really understand how the OS worked. I then switched to Debian, and while it was a bit harder to set up and configure to my liking, I faced none of the bugs that I did with Ubuntu, and I understood the system better.” “I would say Ubuntu since it’s how I started out. A lot works out of the box, but you can still get your hands dirty with it. “ More at Reddit Five Linux distos for your computer Speaking of choosing a Linux distro, ITworld has a slideshow roundup of five Linux distributions worth considering for your Linux computer. Swapnil Bhartiya at ITworld lists the pros and cons of five desktop Linux distros: There are so many Linux distributions that choosing one can be overwhelming for a new user. One might be too intimidating for a user to even try, while another might be too simplified, blocking that user from knowing how Linux systems actually function. Since I also assist people in migrating to Linux, I have chosen the 5 distros that I recommend to new users based on their level of comfort and desire to learn (or not learn) more about Linux. Ubuntu Linux Mint Kubuntu openSUSE Arch Linux More at ITworld Gaming genres on Linux Linux game development has come a long way from where it started. But some game genres are still lagging behind in terms of game development. Boiling Steam points out which genres need more games. Ekianjo reports at Boiling Steam: In the Linux Community, we are focusing a lot on what we get (i.e. new games, new ports, new open source projects, 800 games on Steam, etc…) while it is also interesting to focus on what we miss. The glass is surely getting fuller but let’s not forget it’s still half empty, if not more. As a gamer, I like to play a number of game genres, and while I try to spend my gaming time exclusively on Linux, there are several genres that I miss on the platform. More at Boiling Steam Redditors share their thoughts in response: “It’s not the most visually impressive game but Eldevin is a really good MMORPG for linux. It has a class-less leveling system where you can do basically whatever you want. Very similar to a sandbox game, but still with quests like WoW or other themeparks. It runs natively in Java (with a downloadable client) so I’m pretty satisfied with it until something bigger comes along.” More at Reddit What’s your take on all this? Tell me in the comments below. Open Source