Solus is a distribution built from the ground up, whereas Ubuntu is based on Debian. Accordingly, the two OS choices are not equivalent in terms of speed, features, reliability, or safety. In this article, you will learn how the Solus Linux distribution is stacked against Ubuntu.
Solus vs ubuntu
Different Desktop Settings
Similar to Ubuntu, Solus provides users with a selection of desktop environments from which to choose. Each software release is tailored to a specific set of users and uses. You can customize your desktop experience with either service provider.
Encouragement of Applications
Solus and Ubuntu are two of the best Linux distributions available. Therefore, they are made to work with the software you need to perform basic and complex computations.
Both operating systems have predefined default desktop environments with some applications installed. However, there are significant differences between the operating systems regarding the quantity and quality of pre-installed and installable applications.
Availability
Ubuntu has been around longer than Solus and has more dedicated users backing it. Therefore, more useful software is available for Ubuntu. Each version of the Ubuntu operating system comes with a collection of practical applications pre-setup to speed up the learning curve.
Because of this, the operating system (OS) is functional immediately after being unboxed. Ubuntu desktop has the standard software you’d find on a Windows desktop, such as the VLC media player and the Firefox and Chrome web browsers. Additionally, Ubuntu supports the following programs out of the box:
Thunderbird: This system-supplied email client works with popular services, including Hotmail, Gmail, and Exchange.
Media Player: Ubuntu allows you to play high-definition video from within your web browser. You might also access media players like VLC, OpenShot, and Movie from the Snap Store. Ubuntu also allows you to modify your films beforehand with kdenlive or Shotcut.
Lightweight Games: Ubuntu OS default installations include games like Chess and Sudoku.
Ubuntu’s flexibility in software installation means you can add even more helpful programs to your desktop than the ones that come standard. Ubuntu Software, formerly known as the Ubuntu Software Center, provides easy access to all available software packages that work with Ubuntu. You can use any other APT-based package manager to install additional programs.
GIMP, Evolution, Synaptic, and Pidgin are just a few software packages that used to come pre-installed on the Ubuntu OS. However, you can now download the software packages from the official repository. Any package manager that uses the APT format can be used to set up these programs. Ubuntu also has extensive third-party software package compatibility. Some third-party packages, namely those with no distribution restrictions, can be found in the Ubuntu multiverse section.
The Ubuntu-restricted-extras package includes potentially legally limited third-party software solutions, including MP3 and DVD playback support, Sun’s Java runtime environment, and Microsoft TrueType core fonts. Hardware requirements might vary widely between operating systems.
At least the bare minimum of the software’s system requirements must be met for optimal performance. Both distributions, however, were developed with specific processor architectures in mind, as will become apparent in the following sections.
Potential Uses
The functionality of Solus and Ubuntu is likely to vary depending on the type of task being performed. Solus, based on Linux, is an OS that works well on personal computers, all else being equal. For developers, though, Ubuntu is the best option. In its architecture, Ubuntu has a wide variety of programs for the desktop, including word processors, web browsers, and programming languages.
Functions for Development and Coding
Teams and individuals worldwide who work on software development choose Ubuntu. You can thank the distribution’s dependability, the wealth of developer tools, and adaptability for this.
Although Solid does not provide as many resources as Ubuntu, the latter is more than sufficient for any task. Python, Java, Node.js, and Ruby are just a few of the programming languages that Ubuntu supports. Ubuntu not only provides convenient tools for development but also makes it straightforward to distribute apps for Ubuntu and reach all the intended users using Snapcraft.
The Ubuntu distribution is ideal for high-demand setups since it is lightweight and feature-rich. As a result, it’s well-suited for a wide variety of development-related applications, from simple data mining to more intricate, enterprise-level financial modeling.
Games
Ubuntu paves the way for smooth gameplay and AI research. NVIDIA graphics processing units are supported without any configuration in this distribution. Linux gamers have access to thousands of free games developed specifically for Ubuntu and accessible as official packages through the Ubuntu software center or other third-party sources.
Ubuntu, unlike Solus, supports a wider variety of emulators, making it possible to play a wide range of Windows and even some console games.
There are free games for Linux that adhere to the Ubuntu tenets. You can get the games from the Ubuntu Universe or the Ubuntu Main repository.
The commercial games available for free on Ubuntu are optimized to work with the system. It’s important to note that not all software is made independently. Such games typically give you a lot of flexibility, but they may charge you for extra features.
Games that are not free to play but may be found in the Ubuntu multiverse repository are categorized as “Non-Free Games.” The non-free games install and run without cost on Ubuntu, but they cannot be freely distributed.
Commercially owned or created games that do not come for free fall under the category of “non-free commercial games.” Licensing for these types of games is not free.
Default Package Manager
The package managers used by the Solus and Ubuntu systems are another point of differentiation. Solus employs eopkg as its default Application Manager for effortless software distribution to end users. This package manager was initially designed for Pardus and is based on PiSi (Packages Installed Successfully as Intended).
By default, Ubuntu’s distribution makes use of a variety of alternative package managers. If you need to perform complex administration operations, you should utilize a more advanced application manager on your desktop. The Apt (Advanced Packaging Tool) package manager is suitable for most uses. The APT program can update the package list index, install or upgrade software, or both.
You can upgrade all the packages at once or just the ones you need to utilize while upgrading Ubuntu by using the APT package manager. You can carry out the package management responsibilities through Ubuntu’s graphical package manager. The graphical user interface of this program makes it accessible to novice users.
Conclusion
There are several desktop environments to pick from in both the Solus and Ubuntu editions; therefore, you might discover one that complements your software the finest. The Ubuntu operating system is based on the Debian distribution, but Solus was created from the ground up. The implication is that there is a consistent lack of desktop applications across all Solus releases.
Every Friday, the Solus point-release update schedule rolls out with the latest and greatest stable OS and software updates. Although Ubuntu LTS updates (provided once every two years) are more durable and trustworthy, many users prefer Solus’ shorter update life cycle.
Since Solus only has a few essential uses, it is best suited for use in the home. Contrarily, as you’ve seen in this tutorial, Ubuntu shines when used for development and gaming.
