Reasons to switch to openSUSE

English Open Chat
1

Hi everyone,

I have been using Ubuntu since 2010 and I am getting a little worried by the very local decisions in the Ubuntu family of distributions. It seems to me that Ubuntu is departing from the other Linux distributions in more than just package management, default desktop environment and themes:

  • Upstart was before Systemd, Fedora and openSUSE switched to the latter anyway. Ubuntu sticks to Upstart since it is their own product.
  • Everybody is going to Wayland, except Ubuntu, they create Mir.
  • Ubuntu uses Bazaar for packaging, although everybody else uses either git or Mercurial.

To move away from the Unity shell, I switched to KDE. Kubuntu works great for me since around 2011, but I sense the conflict between Ubuntu wanting to use Mir, but Kubuntu using KWin, which will only support Wayland. Other than that, Kubuntu runs fine, and I have not seen how Kubuntu stops me from customizing, like some friend hackers say (they use Arch, though).

I use my main laptop as a production system for the university, so although I am curious, I am a bit conservative about it. The subject that I study is Physics and I need a programming environment with Vim, git, Python, Bash, make, C and C++. I checked it in a virtual machine, openSUSE 12.3 seems to satisfy that just like Kubuntu does. The versions of the packages seem to be in the same pallpark as the Kubuntu packages. I also have a couple small projects and tools that I like to package for local install. Packing RPM seems fine and I get done pretty quickly with my experience with Debian packages.

Before I switch, I would like to know if there are more good reasons to switch to openSUSE. Currently, I only have rather “soft” reasons to do so:

  • A rolling release would be possible, although I am probably not going to use it.
  • If I reinstall, I have the opportunity to set up full disk encryption and ditch ecryptfs. (That is not specific to openSUSE, though.)
  • zypper has a search --provides. Apt hat apt-file, which is another extra program.
  • I do not have to see how Mir will work out with KDE, since openSUSE will just use KDE with Wayland, right?
  • I get a distribution with systemd and do not have to worry about creating both Upstart and systemd files for my projects.
  • I could use the Build Service.
  • I might end up programming up numerical simulations in my job in a couple years. For that, I probably need to administrate some servers, which are probably going to run on RHEL or SLES. I assume that some experience with an RPM based distibution might come in handy.

None of those are really compelling me to sit down a couple days and get all the packages that I need installed and so on.

There are disadvantages that I fear, on the other hand:

  • I need to repackage all my packages as RPM. This is doable, but will take a little time. Additionally, I have to adapt the script, that handles the complete workflow to RPM.
  • I need to migrate all the data to the new system, probably from a backup disk.
  • Conversion will take at least a day. That is not a real problem since I have summer break.
  • Some of the programs that I use might have a version conflict that I do not have currently.
  • Some hardware could not work, or not without little work. I have a Lenovo ThinkPad X220 Tablet which happens to be a Ubuntu reference device, so I am not sure whether openSUSE will get WLAN, Bezel Buttons, Touchscreen and so on to work properly.

I hope this is the right forums category for this. Could you please help me decide whether I should exchange the working Kubuntu for openSUSE? Thanks!

2

On Tue, 17 Sep 2013 14:16:02 +0000, martinueding wrote:

> - I need to repackage all my packages as RPM. This is doable, but will
> take a little time. Additionally, I have to adapt the script, that
> handles the complete workflow to RPM.

For this issue, I would look at the open build service - it can handle
the packaging for you for multiple distributions.

Jim

–
Jim Henderson
openSUSE Forums Administrator
Forum Use Terms & Conditions at http://tinyurl.com/openSUSE-T-C

3

On 2013-09-17 16:16, martinueding wrote:
> I hope this is the right forums category for this. Could you please help
> me decide whether I should exchange the working Kubuntu for openSUSE?
> Thanks!

That’s a very difficult question to answer. Maybe only somebody using
both distributions can really answer.

I would simply “try”. I don’t know if trying the live CD would serve in
your case, you have too many question. At least to see how well your
computer works :slight_smile:

I have seen some proprietary companies producing some version for Linux
doing it only for Ubuntu because they consider it more popular.

–
Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 12.3 x86_64 “Dartmouth” at Telcontar)

4

My wife owns a Lenovo ThankPad X220, but not the Tablet version. I believe thou, the wireless is the same in the two different X220 versions.

The wireless works well with openSUSE and WLAN connections are fine with my wife’s X220.

5

I have used both OS’s quite extensively, including the Mint range based on Ubuntu. And whilst I favour Mint over Ubuntu, particularly for customers. I still find openSUSE more stable, it’s not perfect, but what is?
I was playing on brand new £1000 Mac the other day and quite frankly I had to chuckle

But everyones hardware is different, so as suggested by @Carlos, you just have to try and see.

6

Reasons to switch to openSUSE, next to already mentioned:

  • The Open Build Service ( though that builds packages for other distros as well
  • SUSE Studio: allows you to build your own spin of openSUSE / SUSE. I use this f.e. to create install media with fully updated packages, f.e. openSUSE 12.3 with Packman enabled + KDE 411 + LibreOffice 4.0.3
  • Yast
  • Yast
  • Yast
7

I might end up programming up numerical simulations in my job in a couple years. For that, I probably need to administrate some servers, which are probably going to run on RHEL or SLES. I assume that some experience with an RPM based distibution might come in handy.

It’s your future, and I wouldn’t regard that as a “soft reason”. openSUSE being backed by a commercial organization selling Enterprise level software and services could and should provide you with a better platform with some flexibility for that future, particularly when it comes to website infastructures and services (today’s e.g. Build Service). Those are some of the main reasons I chose openSUSE (or SUSE Linux as it was) for my distro about 7 years ago, in competition with Mandriva.

By reputation (even in press reviews), system administration tools (YaST is excellent) especially when coupled with networking, and a polished desktop, are all key strengths and have been for years. Software package management is a breeze these days, but powerful when you need it. It probably has the best integrated KDE desktop of all the distros.

I have used Kubuntu in the past, and found it to be easy (except kernel updates and their forum back then), and a good performer. If I was looking for an openSUSE replacement today, it probably wouldn’t include Kubuntu or any of Ubuntu’s stepchildren.

8

On 2013-09-17, martinueding <martinueding@no-mx.forums.opensuse.org> wrote:
> I use my main laptop as a production system for the university, so
> although I am curious, I am a bit conservative about it. The subject
> that I study is Physics and I need a programming environment with Vim,
> git, Python, Bash, make, C and C++.

I work at a University and to be honest it really doesn’t matter which distribution you use. I use exactly those same
programs but they work equally well in almost all distributions. If you’re fussed about which distribution to use using
those programs, then you’re probably up to no good. I tell my PhD students to choose a distribution and stick with it
because they’re just wasting time poking around otherwise. Some Universities provide support for some distributions
(Red-Hat-like) more than others and this may effect your choice. I use openSUSE only because I started with S.u.S.E.
when I was a student sometime in the last century and haven’t seen any good reason to change.

> I checked it in a virtual machine,
> openSUSE 12.3 seems to satisfy that just like Kubuntu does. The versions
> of the packages seem to be in the same pallpark as the Kubuntu packages.
> I also have a couple small projects and tools that I like to package for
> local install. Packing RPM seems fine and I get done pretty quickly with
> my experience with Debian packages.

Look, the binaries of Vim, gcc, and Python aren’t going to differ very much between the distributions. Whether you
choose RPM or DEB doesn’t matter. My sample of students are roughly 50% 50% split between the two, and neither is
advantaged/disadvantaged compared to the other. I have had one or two minor issues with different gcc versions but
only in relation to badly written code.

> Before I switch, I would like to know if there are more good reasons to
> switch to openSUSE. Currently, I only have rather “soft” reasons to
> do so:

I agree any reason is soft. It’s just a matter of personal taste and preference in the end (much like choosing a desktop
environment). And if you’re really torn between two, there’s no reason why you can’t dual/triple boot.
>
> - A rolling release would be possible, although I am probably not
> going to use it.

If you’re using Vim/Bash/etc… really, why should you care about a rolling release? As long as your kernel is 3.x,
you’ll be fine unless you have odd hardware.

> - If I reinstall, I have the opportunity to set up full disk
> encryption and ditch ecryptfs. (That is not specific to openSUSE,
> though.)
> - zypper has a search --provides. Apt hat apt-file, which is another
> extra program.
> - I do not have to see how Mir will work out with KDE, since openSUSE
> will just use KDE with Wayland, right?
> - I get a distribution with systemd and do not have to worry about
> creating both Upstart and systemd files for my projects.

If these things make you happy, then good. And I must admit I don’t fully comprehend your motives. For example, why
should you care if you’re using KDE/Wayland/Mir if you’re spending most of your time in a bash shell?

> - I could use the Build Service.

OBS is your friend.

> - I might end up programming up numerical simulations in my job in a
> couple years. For that, I probably need to administrate some servers,
> which are probably going to run on RHEL or SLES. I assume that some
> experience with an RPM based distibution might come in handy.

Numerical simulations and server administration are completely different tasks, although of course they can be
combined. But indeed you are correct to observe that most server-based binaries are packaged as RPMs. But that’s more
because of Red-Hat’s legacy more than anything else.

> None of those are really compelling me to sit down a couple days and get
> all the packages that I need installed and so on.

Installing any distro of Linux from unpartitioned hard drive to everything-done shouldn’t take more than an hour. I’ve
scripted all my post-OS-install routines and this is an advantage of sticking with one distribution.

> - I need to repackage all my packages as RPM. This is doable, but will
> take a little time. Additionally, I have to adapt the script, that
> handles the complete workflow to RPM.

This would be true for any distribution that imposes a switch in binary packaging.

> - I need to migrate all the data to the new system, probably from a
> backup disk.

This would be true for any distribution, not just openSUSE.

> - Conversion will take at least a day. That is not a real problem
> since I have summer break.

If you really don’t like to switch to RPM, use Linux Mint so you continue along DEB-based lines. A couple of my students
use Mint and love it.

> - Some of the programs that I use might have a version conflict that I
> do not have currently.

This would be true for any distribution, not just openSUSE.

> - Some hardware could not work, or not without little work. I have a
> Lenovo ThinkPad X220 Tablet which happens to be a Ubuntu reference
> device, so I am not sure whether openSUSE will get WLAN, Bezel
> Buttons, Touchscreen and so on to work properly.

Lenovo, Tablet, and Ubuntu are words are do not associate with research. Cannot help you there.

> I hope this is the right forums category for this. Could you please help
> me decide whether I should exchange the working Kubuntu for openSUSE?

No you shouldn’t. Since you have voiced concerns over time spent over DEB->RPM conversion, stick to DEB. I recommend
Linux Mint. I think Olivia has a KDE version now, but I’d stick with the earlier Nadia KDE version because Olivia has a
premature EOL.

9

I thought these questions were rendered moot with virtualization? Surely the GNU/Linux world really isn’t this binary? Run both versions on the same desktop; we had this 20 yars ago with OS/2 running windows 3.1 on the desktop.

10

What I personally don’t get is the point people make of dealing with deb or rpm based distros. As if they actually use the numerous possibilities of apt or zypper on a daily basis. “Man” is your friend when necessary, both have dozens of websites explaining how to deal with certain situations.
Depending on how you use linux, Yast could be an (open)SUSE tool that could convince users who want to get into system administration, who want to get a better picture of how linux works.

11

I agree that Canonical has taken Ubuntu in its own direction and that may not be for the good of the GNU/Linux ecosystem, but time will tell. Ubuntu and its derivatives have become a commercial operating system. Ubuntu spies on its users behaviors with the Amazon and smart scopes integration. It’s getting slower and more cumbersome to manage over time. This is why I switched to OpenSuSE Tumbleweed 64 bit. I find that Ubuntu keeps getting bloated and it keeps taking up more system resources. Anyway, I stopped using Ubuntu.

12

Because openSUSE’s color is green? I think that’s a major selling point for me.