Alpine Linux VS Devuan GNU+Linux

• Lightweight and Minimal
  Alpine Linux is designed to be small and efficient, making it ideal for containers and environments where resource usage is a concern.
• Security-focused
  Uses musl libc and busybox, which are designed for simplicity and security, reducing potential vulnerabilities.
• Fast Boot Time
  Its minimalistic nature allows it to boot very quickly compared to many other Linux distributions.
• Package Management
  APK (Alpine Package Keeper) is simple and efficient, allowing for easy package management.
• Active Community
  Has an active community and good documentation, making it easier to find resources and support.
• Compatibility
  Compatible with Docker, making it a popular choice for container-based deployments.
• Customizability
  Highly customizable due to its simplicity, allowing users to build a system tailored to their specific needs.

Possible disadvantages

• Learning Curve
  May have a steeper learning curve for users who are accustomed to more mainstream distributions like Ubuntu or CentOS.
• Limited Package Repository
  Not as extensive as more mainstream distributions, potentially limiting some software options.
• Community Support
  While active, the community is smaller compared to larger distributions, which might limit the availability of third-party tutorials and resources.
• Default Shell
  Uses BusyBox shell by default, which lacks some of the features of Bash or Zsh that some users may be accustomed to.
• Performance Overheads
  While generally performant, the use of musl libc instead of glibc can cause some performance overhead and compatibility issues with certain applications.
• Limited Out-of-the-Box Tools
  Some tools and conveniences found in other distributions are absent by default, requiring more initial setup for a fully functional environment.
• Hardware Compatibility
  May have limited hardware support compared to larger distributions, potentially causing issues with some drivers and peripherals.

• Systemd-Free
  Devuan does not use systemd as its init system, which appeals to users who prefer alternative init systems like sysvinit due to systemd's complexity and perceived centralized control.
• Stability
  Devuan aims to provide a stable and consistent operating environment by forking from Debian without using systemd, suitable for users who value stability over the latest features.
• Compatibility
  Devuan maintains a high level of compatibility with Debian, allowing users to access a wide range of software packages available in the Debian repositories, minus those requiring systemd.
• Privacy and Control
  By avoiding systemd, some users feel they have greater control over their system's processes, enhancing privacy and reducing potential data collection.

Possible disadvantages

• Limited Software Support
  Some modern software packages that depend on systemd may not be available or function optimally on Devuan, potentially limiting choices for users requiring such software.
• Smaller Community
  As a relatively niche distribution compared to Debian, Devuan has a smaller community, which may result in less community support and fewer resources or tutorials.
• Delayed Updates
  Updates on Devuan may lag behind other distributions, as it takes time to ensure compatibility without systemd, which might affect users seeking the latest software features or security fixes.
• Complex Migration
  Users migrating from systemd-based systems may face complexities or a steeper learning curve as they adapt to different init systems used in Devuan.

No analysis of Devuan GNU+Linux yet.

Looking at Alpine Linux

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Devuan GNU+Linux 3.0.0 overview | software freedom, your way

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• The default user in the Docker image

  The solution is to manually add the user before using it. In images based on the Alpine distribution, we can do this with the adduser -D -u 1000 username command, where:. - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago

• Understanding Docker multi-stage builds

  Analyzing the Dockerfile step by step you can notice that the image building process starts with selecting the Node.js 18.7.0 image based on the Alpine distribution. We labeled this stage as builder. In the next step we set the current... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago

• Selecting the appropriate Docker base image

  The size of the image translates directly into the amount of data needed to be sent over the network, as well as disk space. If we need to run a script in Bash, it is not worth using all of Ubuntu for this. A good practice is to select... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago

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• Store birth date in systemd for age verification

  Hello, as always: imho. (!) idk the exact procedure which will apply to enter the birth-date on such a system, but if other comments are correct: just enter what you want! There will be no real possibility to tie this to anything "legal"... - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago

• User and Admin Documentation?

  I'm a new user with first install. Are there any user guides / admin guides available? I'm not seeing much documentation available at devuan.org -- maybe my eyes glaze over(?). Source: almost 4 years ago

• I removed Gnome and snapd from Ubuntu and it turns out the system underneath is reasonably lightweight with 130M ram and 2.8G disk usage.

  If Canonical spin a variant without systemd, possibly choosing Devuan as the base, it'll be great. Possibly, less resource hungry. Source: almost 5 years ago

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