Devuan project aims to made a complete Linux distribution, but the fact its that tracks 90% of the Debian work. This article are up to date to Aug 2021 with release of bullseye.
Debian its the mother of most famous distros, including Devuan! But must be considering that Devuan are now more faster but more. so lest see some important thing respect the recently "/usr merge" and "systemd home invassion" incoming things in future:
We have two parts, overall differences, and more deep technical differences, recommended for those that will be used more than only to see movies or browse the internet!
Before read the complete article, i currently used Devuan as main system, but please take in consideration that almost all notes seems negative; why? well Devuan are more efficient rather than Debian.. but if we take the overall user vision.. Devuan will fail as complete solution.
Before read the complete article, please take in consideration that almost all notes seems negative i currently used Devuan as main system, why? well are more efficient rather than Debian.. but if we take the overall user vision.. Devuan will fail as complete solution.
Obviously need more tune rather than Devian, due the systemd will have lack of thirth party support in many programs, but will gain in performance.
Devuan has the advantages that are more faster, light and customizable, it can change the init system, begin with SysVinit and now can choose beetween Openrc and Sysvinit, and may in future will change to Openrc due technically reasons.
Devuan has the disadvantage that must track Debian packages so will also track their issues and apart must resolve own issues; unless winbuntu and winmint projects Devuan does not have a great company behing.
Debian has the advantage that are a universal OS, due are equal (almost 99%) instalable in any hardware that have a CPU and a GPU in the world. Meantime Devuan only support IPM-PC x86/x64 and ARM compatible hardwares. Inclusivelly Debian list Devuan as a derivative work as https://wiki.debian.org/Derivatives/Census/Devuan.
If you are a hacker:, if you want to develop in common technologies and want stability and performance Devuan are your system, due you always can tune up your programs if there's no systemd support, as example to develop in php, golang, gambas, androit Devuan are the most recommended system due it proximity to Debian.
If you wants to evoluted from normal user: or a better user or advanced user.. can started with Devuan, almost always tracking debian as alternate system.
If you have specific programs and systems to use.. sorry meantime you must use Debian .. due those program are close and only uses systemd of course.
Not for stupids, mongolic, monostatic user.. its' better to use those inneficient windoser like distros or Debian.
Debian its the mother of most famous distros, including Devuan! But must be considering that Devuan are now more faster but more. so lest see some important thing respect the recently "/usr merge" and "systemd home invassion" incoming things in future:
We have two parts, overall differences, and more deep technical differences, recommended for those that will be used more than only to see movies or browse the internet!
Before read the complete article, i currently used Devuan as main system, but please take in consideration that almost all notes seems negative; why? well Devuan are more efficient rather than Debian.. but if we take the overall user vision.. Devuan will fail as complete solution.
Before read the complete article, please take in consideration that almost all notes seems negative i currently used Devuan as main system, why? well are more efficient rather than Debian.. but if we take the overall user vision.. Devuan will fail as complete solution.
1) Overall Information differences
There's no great differences at the user level (in fact none respect usage), due Devuan its just a Debian to removal of systemd, all the rest of packages its a Debian copy/proxy and a different scheme color (vage, horrible, that does not have contrast like the red vs white of debian).
| Aspect | Debian | Devuan | Observations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web page | www.debian.org | www.devuan.org | Debian have a too heavy landing page, but really improve the web organization, user now have clear vision to do.. main page have all related main resources. Devuan main page have vage contrast, all the Devuan pages not have unified styles neither domian unification so user dont see if are devuan valid resource. |
| Easy of use | Medium | Hard | Devuan or Debian are base/universal distros, after install you must know what to do. Devuan has advantages here due are more faster and have good performance, making ideal for special needs. |
| Novice version | Mint Debian edition | Exe GNU/Linux | Without ExeGNU users dont have a easy Devuan derived work |
| VenenuX related | VenenuX 0.5 to 0.9 | VenenuX gaming version only | Venenux was based on Debian, now on Devuan |
| Theme color | red, white base, great contrast | iris, lila, aluminum base, vague contrast | Devuan colors does not make contrast, very vague for readers, uncomfortable. |
| Main desktop | Gnome | XFce | Debian gnome are very limited in CD/Live, Devuan in one disk inclusivelly without network connection will have a complete desktop solution. But maybe ugly and dificult to use for novice users. Debian choose only work if you have networking. |
| User doc? | Great and extended, but there's many on the web! | very fractured and inconsistent | All Debian non-systemd documentation are valid for Devuan! And almost all recent documentation. |
| Releases | Debian releases are toy story based names, and releases are each 3 years in overall, uses stability cicle of: unstable>testing>stable | Devuan releases are minor planets based names, and releases are after Debian stables does, using stability cicle of: unstable>testing>stable | Devuan Jessie tracks Debian Jessie, Ascii is tracking Stretch, and so on.. in fact Devuan will always be behind Debian that already are behind all other distros Devuan are like Centos does, as those gold days of Debian where performance and stability are the main targets. Does not have experimental branch |
| Uasge for? | Almost all Linux users/servers that need great stability and dont like win-hat rpm related! | Servers and/or Linux users, programmers only; Those systemd detractors! seems more faster rather than | Devuan its Recommended for server and programing/ development but with tracking of Debian support, but will have problems for third party programs, due the lack of systemd, by example installing ISPConfig panel software. |
| Overall support | Always take part of the stable related bugs. Are huge organized and working | Take more priority on testing to unstable related, that's make sense due support are very weak and have lack of manpowers | Well Debian has too much bureau and politic in structure! But take seriously those bug reports agains stable releases, menatime in Devuan there's no target in that, always have target in testing to unstable. |
Official Equivalent Resources
It should be noted that it is not an exact copy of, because it is an independent project where only its birth is a fork of the original Debian. So not all the resources must have and exact equivalent of course.
| Resource type | Debian | Devuan | Observations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main official site | https://debian.org/ | https://devuan.org/ | Debian site its more simple and easy to navigate, simple colors, with good contrast, devuan use a soft not well separate violet/lila based colors, the Devuan web page does not have all resources listed and advanced users must navigate too much for. |
| Packages info site | https://packages.debian.org/ | https://pkginfo.devuan.org/ | Its a pain fault for Devuan not have a package info site |
| Bug and reports | https://bugs.debian.org | https://bugs.devuan.org/ | Same workflow based on emails: Both uses reportbug package BUT Devuan still have issues (due are a copy cat only), same subsystem, the only differences are style, rest are same workflow. Git system of devuan track some issues from bugtracking system. |
| Release pages | https://www.debian.org/releases/ | https://devuan.org/releases/ | Devuan releases does not offer detail info pages like Debian does, only have a overall mayor releases page for each mayor version. That's are obvious due lack of resources and lack of manpowers. |
| Projects and developing | https://salsa.debian.org/ | https://git.devuan.org | Complete different systems, but both based on git workflow, Debian are well organized due git system are only for coding merge, meantime in Devuan there a mixture of groups and issues that some track bugtracking |
| Package previews reviews | http://mentors.debian.org | https://git.devuan.org/devuan | Debian have a good mentors based pre-debian inclusion program.. Devuan only have a dictatorship way using directly the gitlab project management system! |
| All derived works | https://www.debian.org/misc/children-distros | https://devuan.org/os/partners/devuan-distros | Debian have a good page for those pure-blends and derived works.. Devuan only have forums with dictatorships rules. A note all Devuan derived work are hard to manage due need of well knowledge of Linux respect Debian ones. Devuan are a derived work of Debian! Debian are a mother of almost all knowed famous distros.. |
Release equivalents
Devuan tracks Debian packages like Winbuntu does! Devuan Jessie tracks Debian Jessie, Ascii is tracking stretch, and so on.. in fact Devuan will always be behind Debian that already are behind all other distros (of course but very stable.. hil Debian.. )
Debian releases are toy story based names, Devuan releases are minor planets based names.
In the next table "release cycle" means starting/release and end of support years, with codenames and equivalents of derivates most close to:
| Release cycle | Debian | Devuan | winbuntu | winMint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013/2015→2020 | jessie | jessie | trusty/utopic | Qiana/Rebecca |
| 2015/2017→2023 | strech | ascii | xenial/yakkety | Sarah/Sonya |
| 2016/2019→2025 | buster | beowulf | bionic/artfull | Silvia/Tarah |
| rolling release | sid | ceres | disco/eoan | Tina/tricia |
Distro repository equivalents:
Due Devuan tracks most of the packages from Debian, the same rules applies when experts users want to mix/use repositories:
| Debian linux base | oldstable | stable | new stable | unstable | experimental |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debian | jessie | stretch | buster | sid | experimental |
| Devuan | jeesie | ascii | beowulf | ceres | N/A |
| Win-buntu | xenial | bionic | focal | eoan | N/A |
| win-Mint | sonya | silva | tina | tricia | N/A |
As you can understand, some already famous Debian repositories (except for systemd depends) may work as same; if you should need some software be packaged please consult https://t.me/open_debian_devuan
| Type of repository | Debian | Devuan | Observations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multimedia focused | https://deb-multimedia.org | https://deb-multimedia.org | All 99% packs works without problems, must track Debian and must use table equivalent above to configure it. |
| High Avalibility based | https://wiki.debian.org/Debian-HA | None yet! | Debian has special works for those cases, Devuan does not! |
| Debian ports/archs | http://ftp.ports.debian.org/debian-ports/ | None related or not applied | Devuan only have i386 and AMD64... |
| Google Chrome (amd64) | http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ | http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ | Debian Focused, Devuan must track over Debian table equivalent above |
| PHP/webservers | https://packages.sury.org | https://packages.sury.org | All 80% packs works, php works 100%, webservers have systemd only depends so must need tuning, must use table equivalent above. |
| Thirth party software (ISPconfig, hestia panel, etc) | all compatible | does not work due systemd | Debian Focused, Devuan does not have equivalent |
2) Devuan vs Debian: Tecnical differences
There two main technical differences: the init system, that gives to Devuan more performance; and the release cycle modernity, always behind; the rest its just copy/proxy of the Debian packages. Debian has 16 architectures and Devuan only 6, so Devuan are more a derivative work rather than a universal system like debian are, also has too many imporant banned package due systemd close dependences.
Devuan has the advantages that can change the init system, begin with SysVinit and now can choose beetween Openrc and Sysvinit, and may in future will change to Openrc due tecnically reasons.
Devuan has the disadvantage that must track Debian packages so will also track their issues and apart must resolve own issues; unless winbuntu and winmint projects Devuan does not have a great company behing.
| Tech item | Debian | Devuan | Observations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Init: | systemd | sysvinit/openrc | you know what systemd are! a shit! |
| Cycle | 5 years | 5 years | Devuan support are behind Debian release cycle! |
| Names | Based on toy story names | Based on minor planets solar system | Theres no experimental branch in |
| modernity | mostly over 12 to 18 months | 12 to 18 months behind Debian | Devuan are based on Debian work, so will are always "behin" of! |
| Installer | Debian-installer | a mix of refracta and Debian-installer | The refractra seem back to the old days of linux, involution? |
| Media | CD/DVD/USB/FTP/NET | CD/DVD/USB/NET | Devuan does not distrribute complete system, always must use network/internet |
| Arch's | 16 | 6 | Devuan seems only have IBM-pc and ARM based/compatible |
Devuan vs Debian: special and derived works
Debian it's known as the “Mother of all distributions” as we know, like winbuntu Devuan was born from Debian, so that said a lot:
| Derived work | Debian | Devuan | Observations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novice and starter user | LMDE, Winbuntu, Xandros | none | Devuan does not have a starter recommendation based work. |
| End user | LMDE, Winbuntu | Exe GNU/Linux, Gnuinos | Devuan does not have a good end user focused work. |
| Mid-end User | Elive,KANOTIX | Exe GNU/Linux, Gnuinos,Nevlum | Almost all the derived in Devuan are miduser oriented |
| Avanced users | Univention,KNOPPIX, DSL,AntiX, Crunchbang++, Crunchbang## | All Devuan derivates | Devuan its perfect for avanced Debian users |
| Derived special work | Debian | Devuan | Observations |
| Education - general | Skolelinux | no | Devuan does not have any in general normal users for education, only track debian packages |
| Multimedia - general | VenenuX,AVLinux | no | Devuan does not have any in general normal users for multimedia |
| Multimedia - audio focused | VenenuX,AVlinux | EterTICs,Dynebolic | EterTICs and Dynebolic change to Devuan base |
| Multimedia - video focused | VenunuX,AVLinux | no | EterTICs and Dynebolic are limited in video multimedia |
| Multimedia - native GAMES | VenenuX,SteamOS, SparkyLinux | no | Devuan does not have any for games, only track debian packages |
| Multimedia - emulators/games | VenenuX,SteamOS, SparkyLinux | no | Devuan does not have any for games, only track debian packages |
| Multimedia - emulators/consoles | VenenuX,SteamOS, SparkyLinux | no | Devuan does not have any for games, only track debian packages |
| Networking - penetration | Kali | no | devuan only tracks debian packages |
| Networking - security | Kali | no | devuan only tracks debian packages |
| Electronic - general | none | Any | all the work was embebed into debian |
| Ingeniering - general | none | Any | all the work was embebed into debian |
| Programing - general | Crunchbang, VenenuX,KANOTIX | Any | Devuan its perfect and recomended for programing |
| Programing - LAMP (php,web) | Crunchbang, VenenuX,KANOTIX | Any | Devuan its perfect and recomended for programing |
| Programing - JAVA | Crunchbang, VenenuX,KANOTIX | Any | Devuan its perfect and recomended for programing |
| Embebed | Maemo | no |
Devuan vs Debian: Unofficial Minimal images
There's few projects but the most close and similar are two only. In this apart, Debian has a advanced, due in it world, the Kenshi Muto images made a refresh of the current stable and integrate more recent kernels, on Devuan there's still not that feature.
Nomadays the Debian project now has unoffricial non-free images at https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/unofficial/non-free/cd-including-firmware/
| Notes | Debian b-i Images | Devuan Minimal Images |
|---|---|---|
| The url site | http://kmuto.jp/debian/d-i/ | http://devuan.kalos.mine.nu/ |
| Author | Kenshi Muto | KatolaZ |
| Resource provided | Minimal ISO for install | Minimal ISO for live |
| Set of packages | Recent kernel, backporteds | Same of official none especial |
| Type of ISO | Minimal ISO for install | Minimal ISO for live |
| Featured | Refresh with backported | Only few more rather than standars |
3) Conclusions
Devuan still has to run a long way but are a VERY HIGH PERFORMAN SYSTEM, faster than Debian.Obviously need more tune rather than Devian, due the systemd will have lack of thirth party support in many programs, but will gain in performance.
Devuan has the advantages that are more faster, light and customizable, it can change the init system, begin with SysVinit and now can choose beetween Openrc and Sysvinit, and may in future will change to Openrc due technically reasons.
Devuan has the disadvantage that must track Debian packages so will also track their issues and apart must resolve own issues; unless winbuntu and winmint projects Devuan does not have a great company behing.
Debian has the advantage that are a universal OS, due are equal (almost 99%) instalable in any hardware that have a CPU and a GPU in the world. Meantime Devuan only support IPM-PC x86/x64 and ARM compatible hardwares. Inclusivelly Debian list Devuan as a derivative work as https://wiki.debian.org/Derivatives/Census/Devuan.
If you are a hacker:, if you want to develop in common technologies and want stability and performance Devuan are your system, due you always can tune up your programs if there's no systemd support, as example to develop in php, golang, gambas, androit Devuan are the most recommended system due it proximity to Debian.
If you wants to evoluted from normal user: or a better user or advanced user.. can started with Devuan, almost always tracking debian as alternate system.
If you have specific programs and systems to use.. sorry meantime you must use Debian .. due those program are close and only uses systemd of course.
Not for stupids, mongolic, monostatic user.. its' better to use those inneficient windoser like distros or Debian.
You should improve your English grammar cause it sucks. Also many of your comments are either wrong or outdated. Devuan webpage works just fine. Ease of use it's the same. Devuan is not faster than Debian, just the same performance. Some Devuan packages are slower than debian in including upstream fixes. My experience is just that Devuan needs less maintenance due to openrc/sysvinit/runit which are simpler than systemd.
ResponderBorraroh @amc252 i just like those devuan admins "we are best you are worng" XD lack of manpowers? yes..
ResponderBorrari use devuan by the way! but i not a blind guy! devuan is pretty SLOW IN UPDATES! so for security is nonsesnse..
i recommends devuan for play games! or slow or older computers.. is fast for those cases only! sorry is a sad true!