10-01-2021, 11:10 AM
TRS-80
Armbian is essentially "Debian for Single Board Computers (SBC)."[0] In fact, that is basically their raison d'être. Because SBC are so different from x86/desktop at a low (kernel / hardware) level, there are many little details they take care of in order to provide a good base experience, especially on supported devices. And that is why they are light years ahead of everyone else, including upstream Debian (at least on SBCs, anyway).
The user space is all regular Debian (or Ubuntu) packages anyway. Armbian only tweak things having to do with the low level stuff (and then they add a few convenience features).
[0] A more accurate (if cumbersome) way to put it would be "Debian (or Ubuntu) for [many] SBCs [which are not RPi]."
Armbian makes for an enjoyable desktop experience. I'm still using their Ubuntu release because everything just works for what I need it to. The only real advantage of a 'pure' Ubuntu or Debian O/S, in my view, is the simplicity in updating your kernel from the common Ubuntu (or Debian) repositories, whereas Armbian requires specialized ones for that purpose. Sometimes I have to wonder if it's such a big deal considering what's being accomplished.
Thanks, TRS-80.
(09-28-2021, 04:38 PM)Pete Tandy Wrote: BTW: My experience with Armbian was very good. It's only that I wanted classic Debian.
Armbian is essentially "Debian for Single Board Computers (SBC)."[0] In fact, that is basically their raison d'être. Because SBC are so different from x86/desktop at a low (kernel / hardware) level, there are many little details they take care of in order to provide a good base experience, especially on supported devices. And that is why they are light years ahead of everyone else, including upstream Debian (at least on SBCs, anyway).
The user space is all regular Debian (or Ubuntu) packages anyway. Armbian only tweak things having to do with the low level stuff (and then they add a few convenience features).
[0] A more accurate (if cumbersome) way to put it would be "Debian (or Ubuntu) for [many] SBCs [which are not RPi]."
Armbian makes for an enjoyable desktop experience. I'm still using their Ubuntu release because everything just works for what I need it to. The only real advantage of a 'pure' Ubuntu or Debian O/S, in my view, is the simplicity in updating your kernel from the common Ubuntu (or Debian) repositories, whereas Armbian requires specialized ones for that purpose. Sometimes I have to wonder if it's such a big deal considering what's being accomplished.
Thanks, TRS-80.