Linux Distribution Chart Methodology

# Linux Distribution Scoring Formula

## Methodology Summary

This scoring system evaluates Linux distributions across two dimensions using defined criteria and educated deduction based on each distribution's documented characteristics, community reputation, and typical user experience. While the framework is systematic, individual component scores represent informed estimates rather than precise measurements. Each distribution receives scores from 0-100 on both axes, where higher scores indicate better outcomes for typical users.

## Formulas

**Stability Score (Y-Axis):** `100 - (Release_Model + Update_Risk + System_Architecture + Target_Audience + Recovery_Options)`

**User Friendliness Score (X-Axis):** `100 - (Installation + Daily_Config + Package_Management + System_Admin + Learning_Curve)`

## Scoring Components

### Stability Components (Lower component scores = Higher final stability)

**Release Model (0-25 points)**
- LTS/Stable (0-5): Debian Stable, Ubuntu LTS, Rocky Linux
- Point Release (6-10): Ubuntu, Fedora, openSUSE Leap
- Semi-Rolling (11-15): Fedora, openSUSE Tumbleweed
- Rolling Release (16-20): Arch, Manjaro, Void
- Bleeding Edge (21-25): Arch, Gentoo, LFS

**Update Risk (0-25 points)**
- Immutable/Atomic (0-5): SteamOS, Fedora Silverblue, NixOS
- Tested Extensively (6-10): Debian, Ubuntu LTS, Elementary
- Standard Testing (11-15): Ubuntu, Fedora, openSUSE
- Minimal Testing (16-20): Manjaro, EndeavourOS
- No Safety Net (21-25): Arch, Gentoo, LFS

**System Architecture (0-20 points)**
- Immutable OS (0-3): SteamOS, Fedora Silverblue
- Declarative (4-7): NixOS
- Traditional Stable (8-12): Debian, Ubuntu derivatives
- Traditional Flexible (13-16): Fedora, openSUSE, Arch derivatives
- Source-based (17-20): Gentoo, LFS

**Target Audience (0-20 points)**
- Appliance Users (0-4): SteamOS, Elementary OS
- General Desktop (5-9): Ubuntu, Mint, Pop!_OS, Zorin
- Enthusiasts (10-14): Fedora, openSUSE, Manjaro
- Power Users (15-17): Arch, EndeavourOS
- Experts/Developers (18-20): Gentoo, LFS, NixOS

**Recovery Options (0-10 points)**
- Automatic Rollback (0-2): NixOS, SteamOS, Fedora Silverblue
- Built-in Snapshots (3-4): openSUSE with Btrfs
- Standard Recovery (5-7): Most mainstream distros
- Manual Recovery (8-10): Arch, Gentoo, LFS

### User Friendliness Components (Lower component scores = Higher final user friendliness)

**Installation Complexity (0-20 points)**
- Graphical/Automated (0-4): Ubuntu, Mint, Elementary, SteamOS
- Guided with Options (5-9): Fedora, openSUSE, Pop!_OS
- Text-based Installer (10-14): Debian, Arch derivatives with installers
- Manual Partitioning (15-17): Arch, Void
- Complete Manual (18-20): Gentoo, LFS

**Daily Configuration (0-25 points)**
- GUI for Everything (0-5): Elementary, SteamOS, Zorin
- Mostly GUI (6-10): Ubuntu, Mint, Pop!_OS, Fedora
- Mixed GUI/CLI (11-15): openSUSE, Debian, Manjaro
- Mostly CLI (16-20): Arch, Void, EndeavourOS
- Text Files Only (21-25): Gentoo, LFS, NixOS

**Package Management (0-20 points)**
- App Store Only (0-4): SteamOS, Elementary
- GUI Package Manager (5-9): Ubuntu Software, GNOME Software
- Advanced GUI Tools (10-14): YaST, Pamac, Synaptic
- CLI Package Manager (15-17): apt, dnf, zypper, pacman
- Source Compilation (18-20): Gentoo emerge, LFS

**System Administration (0-20 points)**
- Minimal Admin Needed (0-4): SteamOS, Elementary
- GUI Admin Tools (5-9): Ubuntu, Mint, Zorin
- Mixed Tools (10-14): Fedora, openSUSE, Debian
- CLI Administration (15-17): Arch, Void, most servers
- Manual Everything (18-20): Gentoo, LFS

**Learning Curve (0-15 points)**
- Familiar/Windows-like (0-3): Zorin, Mint, Elementary
- Standard Linux (4-7): Ubuntu, Fedora, Pop!_OS
- Linux Knowledge Required (8-11): Debian, openSUSE, Manjaro
- Advanced Linux (12-13): Arch, Void, EndeavourOS
- Expert Level (14-15): Gentoo, LFS, NixOS

## Distribution Scores (Alphabetical)

**Arch Linux:**
Stability: (21, 21, 16, 15, 8) = 19 / User Friendliness: (15, 16, 15, 15, 12) = 27

**Artix Linux:**
Stability: (21, 21, 16, 15, 8) = 19 / User Friendliness: (15, 16, 15, 15, 12) = 27

**CachyOS:**
Stability: (16, 16, 13, 15, 5) = 35 / User Friendliness: (10, 11, 15, 15, 12) = 37

**Debian:**
Stability: (0, 6, 8, 5, 5) = 76 / User Friendliness: (10, 11, 15, 10, 8) = 46

**Elementary OS:**
Stability: (6, 6, 8, 5, 5) = 70 / User Friendliness: (0, 0, 0, 5, 0) = 95

**EndeavourOS:**
Stability: (16, 16, 13, 15, 8) = 32 / User Friendliness: (10, 16, 15, 15, 12) = 32

**Fedora Design Suite:**
Stability: (11, 11, 13, 10, 5) = 50 / User Friendliness: (5, 8, 8, 8, 4) = 67

**Fedora Silverblue:**
Stability: (11, 0, 0, 10, 0) = 79 / User Friendliness: (5, 11, 10, 10, 8) = 56

**Fedora Workstation:**
Stability: (11, 11, 13, 10, 5) = 50 / User Friendliness: (5, 6, 10, 10, 4) = 65

**Garuda Linux:**
Stability: (16, 16, 13, 10, 5) = 40 / User Friendliness: (5, 6, 10, 10, 8) = 61

**Gentoo:**
Stability: (21, 21, 17, 18, 8) = 15 / User Friendliness: (18, 21, 18, 18, 14) = 11

**Kubuntu:**
Stability: (6, 11, 8, 5, 5) = 65 / User Friendliness: (0, 6, 5, 5, 4) = 80

**Linux From Scratch:**
Stability: (25, 25, 20, 20, 10) = 0 / User Friendliness: (20, 25, 20, 20, 15) = 0

**Linux Mint:**
Stability: (6, 6, 8, 5, 5) = 70 / User Friendliness: (0, 6, 5, 5, 0) = 84

**Linux Mint Debian Edition:**
Stability: (5, 6, 8, 5, 5) = 71 / User Friendliness: (0, 6, 5, 5, 0) = 84

**Lubuntu:**
Stability: (6, 6, 8, 5, 5) = 70 / User Friendliness: (0, 6, 5, 5, 4) = 80

**Manjaro:**
Stability: (16, 16, 13, 10, 5) = 40 / User Friendliness: (5, 11, 10, 10, 8) = 56

**MX Linux:**
Stability: (0, 6, 8, 5, 5) = 76 / User Friendliness: (5, 11, 10, 10, 8) = 56

**NixOS:**
Stability: (11, 0, 4, 18, 0) = 67 / User Friendliness: (15, 21, 15, 18, 14) = 17

**openSUSE Leap:**
Stability: (6, 11, 13, 10, 5) = 55 / User Friendliness: (5, 11, 10, 10, 8) = 56

**openSUSE Tumbleweed:**
Stability: (16, 16, 13, 10, 5) = 40 / User Friendliness: (5, 11, 10, 10, 8) = 56

**Pop!_OS:**
Stability: (6, 6, 8, 5, 5) = 70 / User Friendliness: (5, 6, 5, 5, 4) = 75

**Solus:**
Stability: (11, 11, 13, 5, 5) = 55 / User Friendliness: (5, 6, 10, 5, 4) = 70

**SteamOS (Partially Released):**
Stability: (11, 0, 0, 0, 0) = 89 / User Friendliness: (0, 0, 0, 0, 0) = 100

**Ubuntu:**
Stability: (6, 11, 8, 5, 5) = 65 / User Friendliness: (0, 6, 5, 5, 4) = 80

**Ubuntu Core Desktop (Unreleased):**
Stability: (6, 2, 2, 5, 2) = 83 / User Friendliness: (0, 6, 5, 5, 4) = 80

**Ubuntu MATE:**
Stability: (6, 6, 8, 5, 5) = 70 / User Friendliness: (0, 6, 5, 5, 4) = 80

**Ubuntu Studio:**
Stability: (6, 6, 8, 5, 5) = 70 / User Friendliness: (0, 8, 5, 8, 6) = 73

**Void Linux:**
Stability: (16, 16, 16, 15, 8) = 29 / User Friendliness: (15, 16, 15, 15, 12) = 27

**Xubuntu:**
Stability: (6, 6, 8, 5, 5) = 70 / User Friendliness: (0, 6, 5, 5, 4) = 80

**Zorin OS:**
Stability: (6, 6, 8, 5, 5) = 70 / User Friendliness: (0, 0, 5, 5, 0) = 90

## Chart Interpretation

**Y-Axis: Stability (0-100)** - Higher scores = more stable/reliable systems
**X-Axis: User Friendliness (0-100)** - Higher scores = easier to use

**Beginner Zone (Top-Right):** High stability + High user friendliness
**Expert Zone (Bottom-Left):** Lower stability and/or lower user friendliness
**Immutable Distributions:** SteamOS, Fedora Silverblue, NixOS