Debian, Sidux, Ubuntu, reference distributions for Rev

[Peter Alcibiades]

This is an interesting interview which repays thought by anyone thinking 
about the issue of Linux reference distros.

http://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20100412#feature

Debian has two package collections and two distributions.  There is an 
important difference. The collections are

	experimental

	unstable

The distributions are

	testing

	stable.

Ubuntu is mainly made up of packages from Debian Experimental.  Sidux is 
like Ubuntu but using a different collection, its made up of packages from 
Debian Unstable, ie one step closer to what Debian thinks is suitable for 
general release.

Read between the lines of the interview, and you will see why you don't 
want to use either Sidux or Ubuntu as a reference distribution.  Its not 
that they are bad, or I don't like them.  Use them by all means, just not 
for this.  Its about what you need in a reference distro, and that is, 
something tested properly as a distro, with a long life when it will be 
maintained and updated as a distro.  I would also not use a Windows release 
candidate as a reference distribution for Windows, its similar.

I also would not use Sidux in a production environment - Debian Testing, 
maybe, after its been out for a year, but preferably Debian Stable.  For a 
server, only Debian Stable.  Sidux is an admirable and interesting effort, 
but it too is a step too far for me in personal use.

Peter