Editing Linux distribution (section)

==Examples==
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The website [[DistroWatch]] lists many Linux distributions and displays some of the ones that have the most [[web traffic]] on the site. The [[Wikimedia Foundation]] released an analysis of the browser [[User Agent]]s of visitors to WMF websites until 2015, which includes details of the most popular Operating System identifiers, including some Linux distributions.<ref name="KqiAL">{{cite web|url=https://stats.wikimedia.org/archive/squid_reports/2015-01-new/SquidReportOperatingSystems.htm|title=Wikimedia Traffic Analysis Report - Operating Systems|website=stats.wikimedia.org|access-date=July 23, 2018|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202015047/https://stats.wikimedia.org/archive/squid_reports/2015-01-new/SquidReportOperatingSystems.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Many of the popular distributions are listed below.

===Widely used GNU-based or GNU-compatible distributions===
* [[Debian]], a non-commercial distribution and one of the earliest, maintained by a volunteer developer community with a strong commitment to free software principles and democratic project management.
** [[Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu]], a desktop and server distribution derived from Debian, maintained by British company [[Canonical Ltd.]]
*** There are several distributions based on Ubuntu that mainly replace the [[GNOME]] stock desktop environment, like: [[Kubuntu]] based on [[KDE]], [[Lubuntu]] based on [[LXQT]], [[Xubuntu]] based on [[XFCE]], [[Ubuntu MATE]] based on [[MATE (software)|MATE]], [[Ubuntu Budgie]] based on [[Budgie (desktop environment)|Budgie]]. Other official forks have specific uses like: [[Ubuntu Kylin]] for Chinese-speaking users, or [[Ubuntu Studio]] for media content creators.
*** [[Linux Mint]], a distribution based on and compatible with Ubuntu. Supports multiple desktop environments, among others GNOME Shell [[Fork (software development)|fork]] [[Cinnamon (user interface)|Cinnamon]] and [[GNOME 2]] fork [[MATE (desktop environment)|MATE]].
*** [[Pop!_OS]], is a Linux distribution based on [[Ubuntu]] which developed by [[United States|American]] Linux computer manufacturer [[System76]], and featuring a customised [[GNOME]] desktop environment known as COSMIC.
* [[Fedora Linux]], a community distribution sponsored by American company [[Red Hat]] and the successor to the company's previous offering, [[Red Hat Linux]]. It aims to be a technology testbed for Red Hat's commercial Linux offering, where new [[open-source software]] is prototyped, developed, and tested in a communal setting before maturing into Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
** [[Red Hat Enterprise Linux]] (RHEL), a derivative of Fedora Linux, maintained and commercially supported by Red Hat. It seeks to provide tested, secure, and stable Linux server and workstation support to businesses.
* [[openSUSE]], a community distribution mainly sponsored by German company [[SUSE S.A.|SUSE]].
** [[SUSE Linux|SUSE Linux Enterprise]], derived from openSUSE, maintained and commercially supported by SUSE
* [[Arch Linux]], a [[rolling release]] distribution targeted at experienced Linux users and maintained by a volunteer community, offers official binary packages and a wide range of unofficial user-submitted source packages. Packages are usually defined by a single [[PKGBUILD]] text file.
** [[Manjaro Linux]], a derivative of Arch Linux that includes a graphical installer and other ease-of-use features for less experienced Linux users.
* [[Gentoo Linux|Gentoo]], a distribution targeted at [[power user]]s, known for its [[FreeBSD Ports]]-like automated system for compiling applications from source code
* [[Alpine Linux]], which is popular on servers and uses [[musl]] C standard library and [[BusyBox]] to provide its userland.
* [[Chimera Linux]], which is a community distribution that utilizes a [[FreeBSD]] userland, musl C standard library, [[Alpine Package Keeper]] (APK) package manager and Dinit init system.

===Linux-kernel-based operating systems===
Several operating systems include the Linux kernel, but have a userland that differs significantly from that of mainstream Linux distributions:

* [[Android (operating system)|Android]], Google's commercial operating system based on [[Android (operating system)|Android OSP]] that runs on many devices such as smartphones, smart TVs, set-top boxes.
** There are several third-party distributions of AOSP, in turn, including: [[LineageOS]], [[GrapheneOS]] and [[Android-x86]].
* [[ChromeOS]], Google's commercial operating system based on [[ChromiumOS]] that only runs on [[Chromebook]]s, [[Chromebox]]es and [[tablet computer]]s. Like [[Android (operating system)|Android]], it has the [[Google Play|Google Play Store]] and other [[Google Workspace|Google apps]]. Support for applications that require GNU compatibility is available through a virtual machine called Crostini and referred to by Google as Linux support, see {{Section link|Chromebook|Compatibility with Linux applications (GNU compatibility)}}.

Whether such operating systems count as a "Linux distribution" is a controversial topic. They use the Linux kernel, so the [[Linux Foundation]]<ref name="BDtXs">{{cite web |author=Ask AC: Is Android Linux? |url=http://www.androidcentral.com/ask-ac-android-linux |title=Ask AC: Is Android Linux? |publisher=Android Central |access-date=March 14, 2013 |archive-date=April 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408213437/http://www.androidcentral.com/ask-ac-android-linux |url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Chris DiBona]],<ref name="Snohr">{{cite web |author=derStandard.at |url=http://derstandard.at/1308186313932/Interview-Google-Android-is-the-Linux-desktop-dream-come-true |title=Google: "Android is the Linux desktop dream come true" - Suchmaschinen - derStandard.at " Web |publisher=Derstandard.at |access-date=March 14, 2013 |archive-date=April 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130422021245/http://derstandard.at/1308186313932/Interview-Google-Android-is-the-Linux-desktop-dream-come-true |url-status=live}}</ref> Google's former open-source chief, agree that Android is a Linux distribution; others, such as Google engineer Patrick Brady, disagree by noting the lack of support for many GNU tools in Android, including [[glibc]].<ref name="59omI">{{cite web |last=Paul |first=Ryan |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2009/02/an-introduction-to-google-android-for-developers/ |title=Dream(sheep++): A developer's introduction to Google Android |website=Ars Technica |date=February 24, 2009 |access-date=April 22, 2013 |archive-date=July 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704115615/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2009/02/an-introduction-to-google-android-for-developers/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Other Linux-kernel-based operating systems include [[Tizen]], [[Mer (software distribution)|Mer]]/[[Sailfish OS]], [[KaiOS]] and [[Amazon (company)|Amazon's]] [[Amazon Kindle|Kindle firmware]].

===Lightweight distributions===
{{main|Lightweight Linux distribution}}
Lightweight Linux distributions are those that have been designed with support for older hardware in mind, allowing older hardware to still be used productively, or, for maximum possible speed in newer hardware by leaving more resources available for use by applications. Examples include [[Tiny Core Linux]], [[Puppy Linux]] and [[Slitaz]].

===Niche distributions===
Other distributions target specific niches, such as:
* Routers{{snd}} for example [[OpenWrt]]
* [[Microcontroller]]s without a [[memory management unit]] (MMU){{snd}} for example [[μClinux]]
* [[Internet of things]]{{snd}} for example, targeted by Ubuntu Core<ref name="m1ayx">{{cite book|last1=Dieguez Castro|first1=Jose|title=Introducing Linux Distros|date=2016|publisher=Apress|isbn=978-1-4842-1393-3|pages=49, 345}}</ref> and Microsoft's [[Azure Sphere]]
* [[Home theater PC]]s{{snd}} for example, targeted by [[Plasma Bigscreen]], [[KnoppMyth]], [[Kodi (software)|Kodi]] (former XBMC) and [[Mythbuntu]]
* Specific platforms{{snd}} for example, [[Raspberry Pi OS]] targets the [[Raspberry Pi]] platform
* [[Do it yourself]], that is distributions manually built from the ground up, such as [[Linux From Scratch]].
* Education{{snd}} examples are [[Edubuntu]] and [[Karoshi (operating system)|Karoshi]], server systems based on [[PCLinuxOS]]
* Digital audio workstations for music production{{snd}} for example, targeted by [[Ubuntu Studio]]
* Computer security, [[digital forensics]] and [[penetration testing]]{{snd}} examples are [[Kali Linux]] and [[Parrot Security OS]]
* Privacy and anonymity{{snd}} for example, targeted by [[Tails (operating system)|Tails]], [[Whonix]], [[Qubes OS|Qubes]], and [[FreedomBox]]
* Offline use{{snd}} for example, [[Endless OS]] 
* Gaming{{snd}} for example, [[SteamOS]]
* For smartphones{{snd}} for example, [[Mobian]]