Seeking the latest in Linux? There's a right way and a wrong way to use Distrowatch

When I first started using and writing about Linux in the late 1990s, there were just a few distributions to choose from, and even those were a bit hard to discover (unless you knew the right bulletin board or mailing list to join). I remember asking around and chatting about new distributions we’d discovered with Linux user groups — which were actual face-to-face meetings!

There was a bit of mystery to it all.

But then things started to change. This underground movement was brought to the surface, and more and more people were in on the secret. Linux was out, and it wouldn’t slink back into the shadows ever again.

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In 2001, a website appeared called Distrowatch. According to the site’s “About” section, “DistroWatch is a website dedicated to talking about, reviewing, and keeping up to date with open source operating systems. This site particularly focuses on Linux distributions and flavors of BSD, though other open-source operating systems are sometimes discussed. There is a lot of information out there on Linux distributions, and this site tries to collect and present that information in a consistent manner to make it easier to locate.”

The site does a great job of doing what it says. However, a slight misconception about the site should be cleared up.

Distrowatch is not a gauge of which distributions are most widely used globally.

The above statement might take some people by surprise because everyone uses the statistics from that site to back up claims that distribution X, Y, or Z is the most popular.

That’s not the case.

The rankings on Distrowatch are based on page hits to the site. Most Linux distributions have a dedicated page on Distrowatch, and every time someone clicks to view that page, it’s registered. As of now, the most popular distribution page viewed is Linux Mint. Does that mean Linux Mint is the most popular Linux distribution worldwide? No.

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Egads! How can I say that?

There are several reasons:

• Distrowatch doesn’t break things down by desktop or server. Since Linux is one of the most depended-on server OSs on the market, one would expect to see server distributions at or near the top.
• One downloaded ISO is not a measure of how many times that distribution is installed. I can download an ISO of a Linux distribution and install it on as many computers as I want; however, according to the stats, it’s only one instance.
• You rarely see the most familiar distro names at the top. Right now, Ubuntu is number 8, Fedora is number 9, and Red Hat is number 54. Ubuntu server and Red Hat are the two most-used Linux distributions in the business world, which says quite a bit.

Before your feathers get ruffled, I’m not saying Distrowatch is a bad thing. Quite the opposite. Distrowatch is actually quite crucial to the Linux community because it serves as a sort of one-stop-shop for learning about distributions and even finding new distributions. I visit Distrowatch daily and have been a big fan of the site since its early days. 

I’m convinced that Distrowatch is one of the most important online resources for the Linux community. That community, however, needs to understand that the site’s ranking feature is for the site, not a measure of the market share for different distributions.

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The primary goals of Distrowatch are:

• Gathering accurate data for Linux distributions.
• Providing a neutral platform free from bias.
• Helping users choose the best Linux distribution for their needs.

Distrowatch achieves its goals through distribution submissions and updates from distro developers, user reviews and ratings, and comparison charts and statistics. 

How should you use Distrowatch? 

How should you use Distrowatch? Let me count the ways.

• Use Distrowatch to explore the many Linux distributions that are available. That is probably the site’s most important function. 
• Read the reviews of any distribution you’re considering using and — after you’ve used it — submit your own review. We all know that user reviews are one of the most popular methods of gauging the value of a product before you try or purchase it.
• Use the random distribution finder. At the top left corner of the site, you can click Random Distribution, which will take you to a page of random distributions found on Distrowatch. This is a handy way of finding a distribution you may never have heard of.

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The one thing you don’t want to use Distrowatch for is a method of ranking the most-used Linux distribution on the planet. 

So, what are you waiting for? Head over to Distrowatch and find your next favorite distribution.