Knowlegde Through Fun Welcome To Mady's Site.

A Linux distribution includes the Linux kernel plus utilities,
programming tools, window managers, and other software that make up a
full operating system. Distribution companies, such as Caldera, Red
Hat, SuSE, Turbo Linux, and nonprofit organizations such as Debian,
download the latest Open Source packages from the Internet, QA them,
add utilities such as installation programs, and package them on a
CD-ROM with a manual.

The underlying code in each distribution is exactly the same. Slight
differences may occur in the following:
• Hardware installation programs
• Default X-windows configuration
• Graphical systems management tools
• Proprietary software packages (very few)
In the vast majority of cases, Linux applications are compatible with
all distributions of Linux, which accounts for the aphorism "Linux is
Linux is Linux."
Distribution vendors take the kernel as is, with all changes and fixes
that are contributed by members of the development community. Each
distribution company releases new distributions about twice a year.
The Open Source development model discourages distribution vendors
from forking the Linux code base into incompatible code streams. The
GPL specifies that additions, modifications, and extensions to Linux
be distributed in source code form whenever executables are made
available. If a distribution company were to acquire development
expertise and attempt to build unique features into Linux, its
innovations would be released back to the development community. Truly
valuable changes would then be included in the next release of Linux
and/or freely adopted by other distribution vendors, eliminating any
competitive advantage. Currently, independent developers contribute
the vast majority of fixes, patches, and additions to Linux. Each one
of these modifications improves the stability and functionality of
Linux.