Regardless of the operating system (OS), we’re used to the idea that our computer will become obsolete and that we’ll upgrade to the latest one after a few years. However, some Linux distros have adopted a different approach. Instead of having new versions, they provide a system that continuously rolls out updates over time. In this article, we’ll look at the rolling release model for Linux distros and its benefits and pitfalls.
Content
- The Rolling Release Model: No More Reinstallation
- Benefits of the Rolling Release Model
- Pitfalls of the Rolling Release Model
- The Rolling Release Linux Distribution You Can Use
The Rolling Release Model: No More Reinstallation
At its core, rolling release is a software distribution model that focuses on providing the latest packages and updates to a target system. Also known as “Continuous Delivery,” any Linux distro that adopts this model has two main characteristics.
First, the developers of rolling Linux systems expect their users to install the system only once and never again. This is because these systems don’t have major versions that require an upgrade or a full-blown reinstall.
Second, rolling distros receive continuous feature updates through their package manager, allowing them to stay close to a package’s upstream. This means that rolling systems are usually more up-to-date and bleeding-edge compared to point release systems.
Benefits of the Rolling Release Model
With the ability to continuously provide upstream packages, the rolling release model is a great tool for building systems that push the latest and greatest in Linux. In this section, we’ll look deeper into the strengths of the rolling release model to help you gauge whether it’s for you.
Rolling release systems are always up-to-date
The biggest selling point of rolling release distros is that you get the latest version of your software almost immediately. This is because rolling repositories are usually up-to-date with every package it’s offering. Further, some distros can even get package updates as soon as they come out of a developer’s GitHub.
Aside from that, rolling release systems are also at the forefront of the Linux kernel development. This means they receive the bleeding-edge kernel drivers ahead of regular systems, allowing you to take advantage of the latest hardware compatible with Linux.
Good to know: having some hardware compatibility issues? Learn how you can compile your custom Linux kernel on Ubuntu.
Very easy to perform system upgrades
Another advantage of rolling release distros is that they are straightforward to upgrade. This is because, unlike in point systems, rolling package managers integrate the upgrade process into their regular update subcommand. This means that even if you’re performing a basic update, a rolling distro will always ensure you’re at the latest available version of the OS.
One benefit of this approach is that it significantly reduces your machine’s downtime. With rolling release systems, you don’t need to set aside an entire day to prepare your system for an upgrade. This, in turn, allows you to quickly get back up to speed on your work without too much interruption whenever you update.
Highly flexible and customizable
Apart from being constantly up-to-date, the maintainers of rolling Linux distros often provide a larger selection of packages on their repositories compared to a point system. This makes it easy to customize your machine to your specific workflow demands. For example, you can quickly configure Arch Linux to be a minimal server OS or a full desktop workstation.
On top of that, some rolling distros, such as Arch and Gentoo, also have massive community repositories of third-party packages. Both the Arch User Repository and Gentoo Overlays extend the possibilities of what you can do with your system.
FYI: looking to spice up your workstation? Check out some of the best desktop environments you can install today.
Pitfalls of the Rolling Release Model
While rolling release distros come with massive benefits, it’s not without its fair share of challenges, especially for a regular desktop user. Below are some of the pitfalls that you might encounter while using a rolling release Linux distribution.
Rolling release systems can be unstable
One of the downsides of using a rolling system is that its packages are usually untested and unstable. This means that you’re more likely to encounter system-breaking bugs and glitches, especially with third-party tools and utilities.
Further, the fast update cadence of a rolling release can sometimes result in “partial upgrades.” This is a state where some of your packages would look for a dependency that doesn’t exist in your package repository. While this rarely happens nowadays, a partial upgrade can break your system if you’re not careful enough.
That said, some rolling distros are trying to amend this issue. Manjaro Linux, for example, holds back its repositories by two weeks behind the upstream source. This gives the developers time to look and test for any potential issues before releasing updates to their users.
On a side note: learn how you can fix broken packages on your Linux system today.
Maintaining a rolling release system takes work
Another downside of using a rolling release distro is that it takes work to maintain it in the long run. This includes keeping up-to-date with the latest announcements for your distro and learning how to configure both system and third-party packages.
In addition to that, it can also be challenging to diagnose and troubleshoot potential issues in a rolling system. This is because bleeding-edge software often has new features that are usually undocumented and sometimes incompatible with the software in your machine.
Lastly, some rolling systems are designed with the power user in mind. This means the available documentation skips the basics and focuses more on advanced Linux topics. For example, the Gentoo Handbook assumes you’re already comfortable with manually formatting disks and compiling the Linux kernel.
Increased exposure to software vulnerabilities
In general, both rolling and point release distros are secure enough for any regular user. However, the nature of constant and fast updates in a rolling release means it’s more likely to encounter zero-day vulnerabilities compared to a point release system.
Having said that, rolling release distros are also quick to distribute security patches for any potential vulnerability that might be present in their repositories. This means the best way to mitigate this issue is by keeping your machine constantly up-to-date.
The Rolling Release Linux Distribution You Can Use
With that in mind, picking the right rolling release system largely depends on whether it can fit your current workflow, your tolerance for instability, and the potential for broken updates. For this section, we’ll go through the different rolling release Linux distros you can install today, as well as their pros and cons.
1. Arch Linux
When it comes to the rolling release model, Arch Linux is the first Linux distro that comes to people’s mind, and for a good reason. Arch linux provides a minimalist, “general purpose” OS which you can shape to your specific needs. Unlike a traditional Linux desktop, a default installation of Arch doesn’t come with any fancy bells and whistles, making it quick to run even on old hardware.
That said, Arch Linux is not without its flaws. For instance, after installing the system, it expects you to configure the rest on your own. From your desktop environment to the tools you’ll use, Arch Linux doesn’t impose any default apps aside from Systemd and GNU coreutils. This can be incredibly offputting if you’re looking for a system that works immediately out of the box.
Pros
- Provides the latest bleeding-edge binary software for Linux
- Incredibly lightweight to install and run
Cons
- Requires a lot of work to use as a suitable desktop
- Susceptible to partial upgrades which can put the system in a broken state
2. Gentoo Linux
Similar to Arch, Gentoo is a rolling release Linux distro that provides a simple and minimalist environment for tinkerers. Often touted as a “metadistribution,” the Gentoo developers designed the system to be flexible enough that you can craft your own custom Linux distro through it.
One unique quirk of Gentoo is that it uses a “source-based” package manager. This means that the distro’s repositories only distribute the source code of the packages that they provide. As a result, you’ll need to compile most of the software that you want to run on your Gentoo system. While compiling gives you the most flexibility, this can also take a lot of time especially for large programs.
Pros
- Offers the most flexibility out of all rolling release Linux distros
- Comes with a reliable and powerful package manager
Cons
- Compiling and installing packages can range from minutes to hours
- Requires a good understanding of Linux internals to use properly
3. Fedora Rawhide
Fedora Rawhide is the bleeding-edge, rolling release version of Fedora Linux. It is the primary development branch for Fedora and serves as a testing ground for its upcoming stable releases.
The biggest selling point of Fedora Rawhide is that it already comes with a prebuilt desktop environment. This means that you don’t have to spend time building your system from the ground up, and you can focus on using the latest packages for Linux.
Further, Rawhide is also built to be stable enough for general use. While this doesn’t guarantee that the system won’t break, most of the packages that release under Rawhide will run properly and should be usable for most users.
Pros
- Comes with a complete desktop environment similar to Fedora Stable
- Ensures that its packages are stable enough to run on the system
Cons
- Requires daily to weekly updates just to keep up with the upstream
- Doesn’t come with the same level of support in Fedora Stable
Good to know: looking to move to a new Linux distro? Learn some of the reasons why Fedora is my new favorite workstation OS.
4. Manjaro Linux
Manjaro is a fully-featured rolling release distro based on Arch Linux. Unlike its upstream system, Manjaro comes with an installer ISO that bundles a desktop environment right out of the box. This completely removes the need to manually install and configure the system, making it a lot easier to use for a regular user.
Another difference of Manjaro over Arch Linux is that it staggers its system updates between one to four weeks from its upstream. This allows the Manjaro developers to test the updates for any bugs and issues before releasing it to their userbase. As a result, Manjaro is often more stable and reliable to use compared to more bleeding-edge systems.
Pros
- Generally more stable and reliable compared to Arch Linux
- Comes with a lot of prebuilt options for regular desktop users
Cons
- Can be behind in updates compared to other rolling release systems
- The prebuilt desktop environment can be limiting to power users
5. OpenSUSE Tumbleweed
OpenSUSE Tumbleweed is a powerful rolling release Linux distro that strikes a balance between reliability and bleeding-edge. It comes with a prebuilt desktop environment, an innovative filesystem, as well as some tools to get you started with the system.
One of the defining features of OpenSUSE Tumbleweed is that it ensures that every package in its repositories are well-tested and reliable to use. It also provides an easy-to-use interface for rolling back packages, making it really simple to jump back to any previous version. Because of that, OpenSUSE Tumbleweed is a great option if you’re looking for a rolling release system that provides a similar experience to a fixed release.
Pros
- Packages are well-tested before they’re released to the userbase
- Extremely stable and rock solid compared to other rolling release distros
Cons
- Support for proprietary graphics drivers can be lacking
- Can be significantly behind in updates compared to more unstable distros
Learning what rolling release is, its strengths and weaknesses, as well as the different systems that use it are just the first few steps in understanding how distros differ from each other. Explore this wonderful and diverse world of Linux systems by looking at some of the best Linux distros you can install today.
Image credit: Lukas via Unsplash. All alterations and screenshots by Ramces Red.
Ramces Red –
Staff Writer
Ramces is a technology writer that lived with computers all his life. A prolific reader and a student of Anthropology, he is an eccentric character that writes articles about Linux and anything *nix.
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