Explaining distros to n00bs

Message

CoN · Post by **CoN** » Mon Feb 02, 2004 3:35 pm

Explained distros to my sister via IM, and thought others might be interested in how to explain it to people who don't know anything about linux. Punctuation and capitalization is a bit weird, but this is taken almost straight from a conversation with few changes

there are several packages (distributions, distros) some specialized, other more general.

think of it like various brands of cola... you have coca-cola, pepsi cola, rc-cola and a dozen others

Now you get a bottle of cola (download a distro), open the bottle (install on pc) and enjoy (use)

but there's more... since linux is free some brands of cola come in bottles (binary distros), others come as DIY-packs with bottles, ingredients, etc (source distros). this means you have much more control of how the cola (programs) is made (compiled)

Now wasn't that easy to understand?
No, you don't have to thank me

neenee · Post by **neenee** » Mon Feb 02, 2004 3:43 pm

hm.. not too bad an analogy

here's one i thought up:

picture a stack of pancakes, all made with the same ingredients.

these ingredients are your basic set of packages in each (major) distribution.

binary distributions, would be pre-topped pancakes, each
pancake focusing on a unique topping, making that topping
into its trademark.

'choose red-hat pancakes if you love succulent strawberries!'

source-based distributions, would be pancakes which
you can top yourself with whatever topping you like best.

'choose gentoo pancakes if you're no stranger to combining
ingredients to make that special home-made pancake your
mother used to make for you'

something like that

thrasher6670 · Post by **thrasher6670** » Mon Feb 02, 2004 4:18 pm

MMMmmm tasty linux pancakes, wash it down with some GPL cola.

Mirrorball · Post by **Mirrorball** » Mon Feb 02, 2004 6:58 pm

I would just say that a distribution is a set of programs. There are usually more than one program to do the same thing and they can be assembled in different ways.

neenee · Post by **neenee** » Mon Feb 02, 2004 7:49 pm

not everyone would understand that though

i prefer pancakes and cola

Geese · Post by **Geese** » Mon Feb 02, 2004 11:12 pm

The Linux kernel is the vanilla ice cream. It's a stable, tasty base from which to build a simple, elegant sundae, or a huge mountain of a sundae.

When you go to the ice cream store to get a sundae, you could get a banana split. You say, "I'd like a banana split" and the person would come back with a delicious creation chock full of bananas, ice cream, chocolate syrup, nuts, whipped cream, and a cherry. Many people like banana splits ready-made like this. It's been tested as scrumptious by others, and you are enjoying their efforts to make a single, tasty treat.

However, true ice cream sundae fanatics will want to choose the toppings. Some will even want to choose the order in which they are applied and the precise amount. Some will want no nuts, tons of syrup, and five cherries. Others might want only caramel, nuts, and chocolate syrup. Some will only use Hershey's syrup, while others will only use Nestle. Either way, they are getting the sundae that they asked for. There is no guarantee that it will taste good, but they feel brave and like choices. They like feeling in control of the sundae making process.

So you see kids, pre-made sundaes go well for most people. They get a decent combo of everything. The rest of us want full control over our frozen delicacies. IT may not be pretty,b ut it satifies our needs exactly. The beauty is that for each individual, the sundae they choose makes them happy.

It's the ability to choose that makes most Linux users happy. To not be locked into certain ways of making sundaes adds to the variety and satisfaction they enjoy with every spoonful.

/me runs off to Safeway...here's to hoping for a 3 for $6 deal

yak8998 · Post by **yak8998** » Mon Feb 02, 2004 11:35 pm

I can't decide if I like the pancakes or sundae one better...

but I have to say the coke one is pretty good for a basic analogy.

you can always send them to that lindows switch to linux site

ewan.paton · Post by **ewan.paton** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 6:13 am

perhaps an analagy with cars would be better

knoppix is a taxi - you use it when you need it and dont need to maintain it etc
suse/rh/mandrake is a ford - designed for massmarket and as such had to make certain compromises
debian is a toyota 4x4 - been around for years rock solid and easy to maintain
gentoo is a TVR tuscan/ porche - fast as fuck but you dont want to give it to a 17 year old whos just passed his test

i'll leave it to you to think of other examples

ps anyone who doesnt know what a tuscan is, basicly its a stuning car with performance close to a motorbike http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=107&i=7622
or http://www.tiscali.co.uk/motoring/roadt ... 328_1.html

Lews_Therin · Post by **Lews_Therin** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 6:47 am

ewan.paton wrote:gentoo is a TVR tuscan/ porche - fast as fuck but you dont want to give it to a 17 year old whos just passed his test

Unless the person is really brave.

krusty_ar · Post by **krusty_ar** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 3:03 pm

If you intend to use the cola analogy, you should check with these guys, mostly to see if you can use the open cola concept

link

mimesis · Post by **mimesis** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 11:59 pm

krusty_ar wrote:If you intend to use the cola analogy, you should check with these guys, mostly to see if you can use the open cola concept

link

GAH!

Improper use of cola might result in blunt trauma, puncture wounds, physical illness, mental illness, caffeine dependency, dental necrosis, acid reflux, death, devastation, and random tax audits.

<snip--more warnings needed!>

A list of warnings has been provided below ... Tattoo them to your backside.

*laugh* good link.