Hi – it’s been a while. Debian, one of the most fundamental Linux distributions, just released a new version. I’ve been buried, updating and re-creating systems that are based upon it. Many people complain about the long time between releases of Debian, usually a few years. But I don’t mind.

Another Linux distribution called Ubuntu seems to be the Linux distribution of choice for people who want a gorgeous, functional, secure and easy computer to work with. They just released a new version, too.

People talk about how hard Debian is, and how outdated it gets. People talk about how wonderful Ubuntu is, and how it keeps up with the latest and greatest. But Ubuntu is based upon Debian — nearly all that they are draws from the work of the Debian people. Ubuntu goes into the working labs of Debian, takes their experimenting and tests, shines them up, packages them, then releases the whole conglomeration out to the world as Ubuntu.

And people eat it up, including myself, at least for desktop/laptop systems.  You can get much of the same effect by using the Debian Testing distribution, but Ubuntu does a lot of the busywork for you by making sure all the Debian mad scientist stuff works well together.

This is great for end user systems. Ubuntu also offers a server version. I’ll stick with Debian, solidly, for servers, though, even though the release cycle is large.  I’ve used both, and Debian is, without a doubt, the distribution to use for servers if you want long-term, solid production. It’s near perfection, and continues to have my trust, even with all the changes that have been going on within Debian.

And for the people who stupidly argue about the greatness of Ubuntu over Debian, well… blah, blah, blah.  The Debian developers rock – they are the core. Their hearts are in the right place, and so are their heads. I am very much indebted to all the Debian developers throughout the years, and very thankful. Ubuntu is great, too, and the developers there have done some incredibly wonderful stuff to make Debian appeal to not only computer savvy people who want to have shiny new things all the time, but to mom and dad who just want to poke a pretty picture and magically get what they want.

I don’t know why people are so annoyingly inclined to argue about how superior their stuff is, and how inferior other people’s stuff is. Barring the social/world impact of embracing one thing over another, whatever works for you is great! I guess maybe it’s just kids fighting over their little toy balls.

Personally, I believe the synergy between Debian and Ubuntu is incredibly beneficial to both, and this benefit spills out onto the world. Yes, truly, to the world. I am not at all concerned about Debian losing their way, but sometimes I wonder about Ubuntu. I hope very much that they continue to respect their origins and do right by this, in all that they reach out into. It would be such a simple matter for Ubuntu to teeter ever so slightly into the current that so many other Linux distributions have entered that inevitably sweeps them away into a limited commercial niche.

I love what Ubuntu is doing. As for Debian, it’s far past love, and into the inescapable, life-long ties of family. And those two, closer than cousins, just seem to really love their bickering. Actually, maybe that’s what creates such a great synergy.

What a tremendous potential is brewing here… I just hope people can keep their egos set aside, their hubris in check, and care for each other as family should.

I have to mention, also, Gentoo Linux, lest Justin run screaming and gnashing his teeth.  If you’re a grease monkey who likes to always tinker with your hot rod to get everything just how you want it, there you go. As soon as their install system deals with 3ware RAID cards properly, I’ll be back to it on my main desktop. In the meantime, I can’t be bothered to make the install work when I have so many other things I need to be doing.

And for you other people who are reading this, going “Jesus Christ! What the hell!”,  well, um… sorry. It’s an issue of diversity, I’d imagine.