Ubuntu vs Fedora

There are several similarities between the Ubuntu and the Fedora project. For instance, both projects are backed by for-profit companies and employ the top software developers that are critical to the respective projects. One difference between the two is their package management systems.

Fedora uses RPM packages in contrast to Ubuntu that uses Debs. Another difference between the two is the default desktop, with Fedora defaulting to Gnome 3. That said both Ubuntu and Fedora projects support other desktops as well via a number of distro variants.

In addition to the desktop flavour, both projects also produce server releases. However, while Fedora has long been used as a test bed for Red Hat’s subscription-based RHEL distro, Ubuntu has always focused on the desktop user. This is also why Ubuntu is better equipped for a wide variety of desktop users than Fedora.

While both Fedora’s Gnome and Ubuntu’s Unity involve a learning curve, the Gnome learning curve is much steeper than Unity’s as the desktop has made some usability tweaks starting with its 3.x release that take some time getting used to. But the desktop is tweakable and you can use official extensions to mould it as per your comfort level. Also with each subsequent release Gnome is expanding its repertoire of official apps and now includes apps for managing everything from music and graphics to running virtual machines. Due to this, Fedora, which is often regarded as the premier Gnome distro, comes out as a polished and well integrated distro with a consistent look.