Rolling vs. Fixed release Linux Distros?

Linux is a free and open-source operating system that is quite popular among students and developers alike. However, choosing the best distro is not easy. In this article we we delve deeper to understand What are Rolling release distros and fixed release distros and which one is better for you.

So let’s first start with the basics

What is a Linux distro?

A Linux Distro or Distribution is a complete Operating System based on the Linux “Kernel” and contains extra packages, package managers, desktop environments, and some default software to make them ready to run from the get-go.

Now that we know what is a Distro let’s look more into rolling release distro and fixed release distro to understand their respective advantages and disadvantages.

Fixed Release Distro

These distros are also known as Point Release Distros. Such distributions often follow a particular release schedule, where they bundle updates to the kernel and the core operating system services and deliver them to the users as a new release. These distros, do get frequent security updates and some feature updates, but generally, they do not get core system updates or updated packages as often as rolling release distros.

These distros allow for a stable and predictable user experience. And less updates mean more time to test the updates that are shipped in the first place. All this makes these distros more appealing to people looking for systems that do not break, for example in servers.

Ubuntu

Ubuntu is one of the most popular fixed release distro and is often the distro most people would first begin their journey with, in the Linux ecosystem. Ubuntu has a release schedule where they release non-LTS versions of their distro every 6 months and LTS versions every 2 years. Here, LTS stands for Long Term Support and is basically the most stable and longest supported version of Ubuntu. With a focus on stability and ease of use, Ubuntu makes for a great Linux distro overall.

Not to mention Ubuntu has the largest community support of any Linux distro ever, which also means that even among Linux distros it is Ubuntu that most companies will develop their software for. So, for those looking for a reliable, fairly updated system with lots of software resources Ubuntu might be your best bet.

Ubuntu

Linux Mint

Linux Mint is also a very popular fixed release distro, and uses Ubuntu as a base, though it also has a variant LMDE which uses Debian as a base. Sine Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu its release schedule also follows a similar release cycle. With minor versions released every 6 months and LTS releases every 2 years Linux Mint ensures that there is not gap between Ubuntu and Linux Mint. In fact Linux Mint arguably offers a better experience that stock Ubuntu, and is increasingly becoming the new recommendation for the best distro in recent years.

Unlike Ubuntu which has been in some controversy over the years regarding telemetry and snap packages. Linux Mint just gets rid of all those by default. All these means that Linux Mint makes for a good User Experience. Not to mention, its cinnamon desktop is easy to use even for those coming from Windows. Overall there is no doubt that in 2023 Linux Mint is the best distro to use overall.

Linux Mint

Debian

At last we have Debian, one of the oldest and most stable Linux distros of all time. Debian is also one of the few independent distros, which means it does not depend on any other distro as base, hence the Debian team is free to work on its own pace. Debian has 3 active branches the stable branch is the officially released version of debian which is the most reliable and recommended one, then comes the testing branch which is not quite stable yet but is a work in progress, finally it also has an actively developed and frequently updated testing branch, which is recommended only for the developers.

It should be noted, Debian is one of the finest choice for servers, since Debian tries to keep the most reliable packages it official releases. Debian also has one of the largest amount of software available through its official repositories. But these packages often lag behind the current versions and might be outdated, in such cases one can use formats like flatpak or appimages to get over this downside.

Debian

Rolling Release Distro

Rolling Release Distros generally do not follow a fixed release schedule. These distros generally aim to provide latest features, kernels and packages to the users as soon as those features arrive, and are considered to be stable enough.

These distros are extremely popular among Linux veterans who are familiar with using Linux and are not afraid of tinkering. These distros also provide access to the latest versions of most applications. However it should be noted that frequent updates also make the entire OS less stable, and more prone to crashes, and is thereby not recommended for servers or beginners.

Arch Linux

Arch is one of the most famous Rolling release distro of all time and is definitely a great choice for Linux power-users. For those looking for a bleeding-edge up to date Linux experience Arch is an amazing choice. With arch users do not get a graphical user installer, instead they have to use the command line to install the distro, this allows for more customization experience. Unlike Debian or Ubuntu, Arch does not follow a fixed release cycle, in fact it doesn’t have a version number to start with. It just keeps on updating every few days or so.

However it should be noted that since the Distro since it is a rolling release distro, and does not offer a GUI based installer, it is generally not considered suitable for most beginners. So if you are a linux beginner, you should probably avoid Arch and stick with some other rolling or fixed release distro.

Arch Linux (A Rolling Release Distro)

Manjaro

Manjaro is a popular arch based Linux distro that is easy on hardware and gets the latest updates as arch. It is a rolling release distro, and is a little more cautious than Arch. Unlike arch where updates are very frequent and often break system, Manjaro waits just a little longer making it just so slightly stable than Arch.

Another great thing about Manjaro is its intuitive installer and desktop experience. It makes it so that the power and updates of arch is available even to the Linux beginners. Unlike Arch which has a bare bones install, Manjaro offers additional features, functionalities and basic applications over base Arch, some might call it bloat, but at the end it does makes for a better experience for someone just starting with Rolling Release distros.

Manjaro

openSUSE Tumbleweed

openSUSE Tumbleweed is another interesting rolling release distro, and unlike previous two options that are Arch or Arch based openSUSE is not based on Arch, and has its own development team behind it. Its not as talked as the distros we have discussed so far, but it is in fact a really great rolling release distro.

Unlike most rolling release distros that call them self bleeding edge, openSUSE Tumbleweed takes a different approach in the sense that it is a “Leading Edge” distro. So it does offer the latest software and does not have any big major updates as such. But unlike most rolling release distros that ship untested or lightly tested packages, openSUSE tests the packages thoroughly before shipping them, thereby giving a stable and yet up-to date modern Linux experience. Another interesting feature is its rollback capabilities. Therefore it is in fact one of the best rolling release distro out there.

openSUSE Tumbleweed

Comparison

	Fixed Release Distro	Rolling Release Distro
Release Model	Aims at providing stable releases every few months or years. Most Fixed Release distros have a release schedule, such that they provide major version updates on a yearly or half-yearly basis.	Aims to provide the latest and greatest at the earliest. Rolling Release distros on the other-hand do not have version releases, therefore they provide frequent updates every day or week.
Software Versions	Generally more out-dated. Since Fixed Release distros tend to get updated less frequently than Rolling Release, they generally lag a couple of versions behind the upstream for most packages.	Generally most up-to-date. The continuously updating nature of a Rolling Release distro makes sure that its packages are always up to date with the upstream versions
Maintenance Requirements	Requires less maintenance. Since the core system gets fewer updates, this ensures that all updates get thoroughly tested before being shipped to the users	Require more and frequent maintenance. Rolling Release Distros have to push frequent updates to users, hence they lack the time to ensure the stability of their updates and packages, leading to higher maintenance requirements
Server Suitability	Better for servers. Fixed Release distros provide a stable base for servers. Since servers need to run 24×7, they require a stable and thoroughly tested system, which is exactly what a Fixed Release Distro like Debian can deliver	Not recommended for use in servers The overall instability and need for constant updates make Rolling Release Distros like Arch Linux unsuitable for the constant operations and stability that servers are expected to have.
Ease for Beginners	Easier to use and get help. The overall stability and dependence of system make them a prime choice for new to Linux Users. And since most Beginners already use Fixed Release distros as their first distro, it builds a friendly community where getting help is easier.	Requires more technical know-how. Rolling release distros are prone to breakage from time to time, this means that users know about the inner workings of Linux to be able to figure out the problems they encounter. Since a lot of these problems are unique, getting help is harder and thus knowing technical details is helpful.
User Experience	Offers a predictable and stable experience but with outdated packages. Fixed Release Distros have a fixed version of core packages for each new release, this means that the entire system is very stable and predictable. But this also means that users sometime have to wait for months to get the updates for which they were really excited about.	Provides a latest, bleeding edge experience with occasional breakages. Rolling Release Distros have a fast release cycles ensuring that the users do not have to wait long, most of the latest software is available within days. But this also means developers and users can have mismatching versions leading to an instablity and breakages.
Updates (Size & Frequency)	Less updates but larger in size. Since these distros only get updated only once or twice a year, they have a large number of changes and software to be introduced each time. This causes their ISOs and updates to be very large.	Frequent updates but smaller in size. These distros do not have a backlog of unshipped updates, hence they do not require large updates. Most of the updates are dispatched as soon as they can be, leading to frequent but small updates.
Examples	Ubuntu Linux Mint Zorin OS	Arch Gentoo openSUSE Tumbleweed

Conclusion

Overall both kinds of distros have there own set of advantages and disadvantages, none of these type is inherently better than the other, it all depends. For stability fixed release might be better and updates are better with rolling release. At the end its you who has to decide, what you value the most or which distro is your personal favorite, because there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to the best distro type.

1. If you want a stable system for general usage or you are new to Linux and not especially tech savvy and don’t really want to fix your system if it breaks often, then you should go with a Fixed Release distro like Ubuntu, Debian or Linux Mint.

2. If you want latest versions of software or have a latest piece of hardware like a new GPU or you just like tinkering and are tech savvy enough that you don’t mind occasional breakage of system, then Rolling Release distro like Arch, Gentoo or openSUSE Tumbleweed might work great for you.