What are the technical differences between Ubuntu and Fedora?

asked 2019-01-04 09:07:09 -0600

umrinderpal
95 ●2 ●8

updated 2019-01-04 09:21:31 -0600

Hi Just a simple question form a new Fedora user. I have tested different Linux distros and settled with Fedora 29. But did not find any major difference (major technical difference) between any.

Yes there are like

Ubuntu is Debian based and Fedora is Red Hat
Ubuntu use .deb where fedora use .rpm
Ubuntu use proprietary packages default, in Fedora use need RPMFusion
difference between life cycle, Ubuntu LTS and Fedora 13-month support.
Ubuntu by default root user is disabled and fedora use su
Ubuntu is supported by Canonical and Fedora is by Red Hat
Ubuntu is little behind Fedora update package version release cycle.

Some are other

But I didn't think these are the major one. After installing proprietary packages fedora is equal to Ubuntu. Both are running on same kernel code. Then way we have so many version of same Linux in different packages. Then why we are comparing one with other. using different installer does not make any big difference (or can be replaced with flatpack etc.). All distros can be used with different Desktop Environments.

The only big difference is some distros come with few extra packages installed already others are not.

OR I am missing something?

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answered 2019-01-04 10:26:15 -0600

Panther
286 ●1 ●25 ●12

updated 2019-01-04 23:16:51 -0600

Welcome to Fedora.

Your question is quite broad and you are correct in that much remains the same across distros and after a while must people settle into a distro.

The major differences are

Package manager dnf / rpm vs apt / deb
Naming conventions of some libs
Security selinux vs apparmor
Ubuntu is derived from debian (ubuntu imports debian packages usually from sid at the start of a new release), fedora is supported by but not derived from rhel
Fedora is closer to the bleeding edge than ubuntu. Ubuntu has tried and failed to do their own projects and lagged behind major changes such as systemd, gnome-shell, wayland, firewalld, etc.
Configuration files are a bit different.
Although ubuntu has LTS, the support for non-lts is shorter than fedora release support. People tend to use Centos / rhel for long term support.
Each community has it's own licensing guidelines

Things such as flat pack have potential disadvantages in that they may make it easier to distribute malware. Personally I stay with the official packages and repos or compile myself if needed.

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The Fedora community gives tech support for versions that are past End of Life, the Ubuntu community refuses to.

sideburns ( 2019-01-04 11:36:30 -0600 )edit

I dont think either distro has good support beyond EOF, they are both poor and both advise to use a supported release for a variety of reasons, primarily security and bug fixes

Panther ( 2019-01-04 13:01:12 -0600 )edit

I dont think either distro has good support beyond EOL, they are both poor and both advise to use a supported release for a variety of reasons, primarily security and bug fixes

Panther ( 2019-01-04 13:01:36 -0600 )edit

If you look around here, you'll see occasional questions about older releases and while it's always suggested that the poster upgrade, we do try to help. And, the unofficial FedoraFourm has a board dedicated to EoL versions. Ubuntu just tells you to Go Away until you've upgraded.

sideburns ( 2019-01-04 13:16:48 -0600 )edit

seeking support for EOF distro is not a good idea. One should need to update and there is a huge difference between Ubuntu LTS and RHEL just look at their kernel. Is naming convention does make any difference in underneath coding? I think not. Thanks for the reply.

umrinderpal ( 2019-01-05 00:47:33 -0600 )edit

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answered 2019-01-04 12:09:45 -0600

heliosstyx
525 ●2 ●74 ●34

Some important differences between Ubuntu and Fedora for me are the following:

The overall technical quality of Fedora is now much better than Ubuntu for a long time (Fedora is very reliable)
Fedora delivers well tested and up-to-date kernels.
The quality of the Ubuntu community was gone down in the past year ( I tried it often)
Ubuntu is more carelessly now.
There is no compatibility between Fedora and Ubuntu packages.
Ubuntu will tend to be more commercial.

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Ok, Yes Fedora is getting better with every release. But this also true for every other top distro. Downfall and rise part of the life cycle. Nothing is static. Thanks for the reply.

umrinderpal ( 2019-01-05 00:39:58 -0600 )edit

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answered 2019-01-04 18:38:07 -0600

ksala
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Fedora has a lot of advantage than ubuntu as the other says above.

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