• Off-Topic

  • differences between the distribution Solu vs SerpentOS

Ikey Doherty founded both of these distributions, but which would be better? why? its advantages?

    It's quite a bit too early to really discuss this in detail. For now the biggest disadvantage of Serpent OS is that you can't actually use it as an operating system 😃

    SerpentOS is not even in alpha stage, there's literally nothing to compare right now. You should at least wait for a beta before asking these questions.

    The biggest difference (besides one being an actual distribution that you can operate and use and the other NOT being that) is that one has a logo with a picture of a sailboat and the other has a picture of a snek.

      Is it supposedly designed with the same principles in mind (basic computing at the forefront)? Why move from heading Solus to this? What problem is this attempting to solve?

        qsl Is it supposedly designed with the same principles in mind (basic computing at the forefront)? Why move from heading Solus to this? What problem is this attempting to solve?

        I don't think that it is quite that simple.

        In 2020, Doherty, commenting on the Serpent OS project, said "In a nut shell, this is not ‘Linux for the masses’. This is a project setting out to use Linux as Linux should be. This will in turn help us to build a significantly advanced Linux distribution that is both modular and optimized for modern machines …", and pointed to an OS/DE that was "fully stateless", packaged applications in "containers only", created a "mixed source/binary distribution", "was Clang/LLVM built at all levels" and so on, and noted that development would take "a distro-first, compatibility-later approach", allowing the team to "incorporate all of the more sensible design improvements in Linux distribution design over the last decade or so". In a nutshell, it seems that Doherty is determined to undock the distro from traditional technologies that he believes have been holding Linux development back.

        I have no insider knowledge, but I suspect that Serpent OS will more likely be closer to Clear Linux OS (an Intel project in which Doherty played an important part at the conception level) than Solus. I'm not at all sure where the Serpent OS project is headed, but it seems likely that Serpent OS will be neither focused on the "masses" (Solus) nor the enterprise (Clear Linux OS). It might turn out to be nothing more than a catalyst, a framework for Linux distributions that leave behind the kruft that Doherty believes is holding Linux distributions back, a conceptual framework on which future Linux distributions can and will be built.

        I became interested in Clear Linux OS because of the stateless, modular, container-based architecture of the distribution rather than because Clear Linux OS optimized Intel hardware (who cares, really, for desktop use) and I had hoped that the Clear Linux desktop would develop along those lines. It did not, and, as I half-remember from when I looked at the disto 12-18 months ago, Intel was moving away from further desktop development, electing to use stock Gnome instead. Given Intel's focus on enterprise and cloud-based servers, I won't be surprised to see the Clear Linux desktop be scaled back going forward, becoming a front-end for Clear Linux OS rather than a half-baked desktop distro.

        I'm interested in Serpent OS for the same reason that I was interested in Clear Linux OS. I have been thinking, in a non-technical way, about a fully modular OS/DE design for a long time, and I suspect that Serpent OS is intended as a "proof of concept" of that design architecture. Whether or not the "proof of concept" will develop into a useful distro for desktop use on a scale with established distros, or serve as a catalyst for future development by others, I don't know and can't predict.

        In any event, Doherty, after a series of distractions (full-time employment, multiple family illness issues, and a move back to the UK) has returned full-time to Serpent OS development after a lengthy hiatus. Reading the Serpent OS blog, it looks like essential infrastructure elements are now in place, more or less, and we might see an alpha (or maybe pre-alpha) distribution within a number of weeks/months.

        Kevinsotovalle Ikey Doherty founded both of these distributions, but which would be better? why? its advantages?

        That will depend entirely on how Serpent OS develops. Check back in a year or two.

              tomscharbach In 2020, Doherty, commenting on the Serpent OS project, said "In a nut shell, this is not ‘Linux for the masses’. This is a project setting out to use Linux as Linux should be. This will in turn help us to build a significantly advanced Linux distribution that is both modular and optimized for modern machines …

              We've been teased with this quote for two years now....its slow-going over there...I do check in...they are taking their time...I hope it does not resemble ClearOS, despite his status as an Intel lead for this (years back). Solus is still (thanks to current team) dazzling, fresh, and inventive. Hoping to see that magic again.

                  The thing that keeps SerpentOS on my radar is the fact they write their tools in the D language. It's a well designed programming lang and I enjoyed playing around with it, but I feel that its lack of wider adoption is killing it (no libraries). It could really use a killer app to attract attention, so I cheer for projects trying to leverage it.

                  As for the OS itself though, the pitch didn't really resonate with me.

                  brent I hope it does not resemble [Clear Linux OS] ...

                  I think of a distro in terms of four layers -- kernel, OS, DE and apps. My hope is that Serpent OS will be similar to Clear Linux OS at the OS level (stateless, containers and so on), but not at the DE level (unaltered Gnome).

                  The fact that Clear Linux built a modern, innovative, clean and fast OS layer and then adopted Gnome as the DE layer is one of the reasons that I suspect that Intel is interested in the OS layer but not the DE layer. That's not a big deal if the Clear Linux desktop is to serve as a front end for the OS layer for enterprise and cloud servers, but I think it means that Clear Linux is unlikely to make a dent in the consumer desktop market.

                  I hope that Doherty will develop an independent DE for Serpent, just as Doherty developed Solus and Budgie together.

                  brent Solus is still (thanks to current team) dazzling, fresh, and inventive. Hoping to see that magic again.

                  That's two of us. Solus Budgie is outstanding, inspired even. I too want to thank both teams (Solus and BuddiesOfBudgie) for keeping the magic alive.

                      An update and confirmation.

                      tomscharbach I half-remember from when I looked at the disto 12-18 months ago, Intel was moving away from further desktop development, electing to use stock Gnome instead.

                      @Harvey provided a link that confirmed my memory in another thread:

                      https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Clear-Linux-Divesting-Desktop

                      Clear Linux OS will not develop as a desktop distribution. We can safely ignore it and wait to see how Serpent shapes up over the next year or two.