Jim Lynch

Life is full of surprises, some of them good and some of them bad. This week I got a great surprise when a Debian version of Linux Mint was released. I wasn’t aware that the Linux Mint developers were even working on it, so the release was quite unexpected.

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Not everybody is a fan of Ubuntu

As you probably already know, the other versions of Linux Mint are based on Ubuntu. There are various versions including the GNOME version of Linux Mint, Linux Mint KDE, Linux Mint Xfce, etc. Each of these is popular, in its way and with its base of users.

But not everyone is enamored with Ubuntu. There are those who think that Ubuntu has made Linux too Mac-like. Remember the controversy over where the title bar buttons were placed in the last release of Ubuntu? Swarms of angry Ubuntu users castigated Canonical for following too closely in Apple’s footsteps.

Personally, I think the hostility toward Canonical and Ubuntu is more than a little overblown. Ubuntu has been a big plus, for the most part, for desktop Linux. So I hate to see some of the venom directed at it by those who disagree with the direction that Canonical is taking with Ubuntu.

However, I accept the fact that some people don’t like Ubuntu and never will. LMDE removes any and all Ubuntu baggage, so it’s an excellent option for those who don’t want Ubuntu.

Why do we need a Debian version?

I’ve seen this question posed in some online discussions, and it struck me as a little bit funny. Some folks are confused in a chicken/egg sort of way since the Ubuntu-based versions of Linux Mint have been out for a long time now.

It’s important to note that Ubuntu itself is based on Debian. The Ubuntu developers obviously have customized their offering, but the fact remains that Ubuntu is nothing more than a remaster of Debian itself (albeit with many significant changes).

So, in a sense, LMDE  bypasses Ubuntu altogether and instead uses Debian itself as the base. It’s sort of like cutting out the middleman.

It also clearly demonstrates that Ubuntu isn’t necessary to enjoy all that Linux Mint offers. All of the beautiful, helpful Linux Mint tools are there in the Debian version without any Ubuntu claptrap or changes.

A rolling release

One of the other advantages of Linux Mint Debian Edition over the Ubuntu versions is that the Debian version is a rolling release. This simply means that it is updated continuously; you never have to do another install to upgrade it as you do with the Ubuntu versions. Here’s a more detailed explanation from Wikipedia:

In software development, a rolling release approach refers to a continuously developing software system, as opposed to one with versions that must be reinstalled over the previous versions. It is one of many types of software release life cycles. Rolling releases are typically seen in use by Linux distributions.

A rolling release is typically implemented using small and frequent updates. However, simply having updates does not automatically mean that a piece of software is using a rolling release cycle; to qualify as a rolling release, the philosophy of developers must be to work with one code branch, as opposed to discrete versions. Updates are typically delivered to users using a package manager and a software repository accessed through the internet.

Rolling releases are enormously convenient for Linux Mint users. All of your applications, tools, and the underlying system itself get upgraded continuously. It removes the headache of having to deal with updating your Linux Mint system when a new release of Ubuntu comes out. Anyone who has ever dealt with upgrade headaches will understand why a rolling release distro can be so beneficial.

LMDE: A better Debian for everybody

As I noted in the review, I’m pleased about the release of the Debian version of Linux Mint. Debian itself hasn’t always been readily accessible for less experienced Linux users, but the release of the Linux Mint version has the potential to expand Debian’s user base.

The Linux Mint version of Debian also includes multimedia codecs, a backup tool, the excellent Mint menus, flash and a host of other things that aren’t in generic Debian. LMDE is essentially Debian on steroids; it provides a bunch of significant usability enhancements.

I tip my hat to the Linux Mint developers for this release; it’s a delightful addition to the world of desktop Linux.

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