User:Ctyler/draft/what is fedora the distro

This page is a draft only
It is still under construction and content may change. Do not rely on the information on this page.

Issue

How is the Fedora distribution defined? Is it a universe of packages, a specific spin, or is it something else?

Background

• The predecessors to the current Fedora distribution (Fedora Core and Red Hat Linux) had a very clearly defined, bootable and installable form, which fit on either a DVD or (earlier) one or more CDs. It was possible to install all packages without significant conflict.
• The current Fedora distribution consists of a package set which does not fit onto a single DVD (and would barely fit on a Blu-Ray disc). Multiple bootable and installable subsets of this package set are composed and distributed (spins). It's considered unwise to install all of the packages because some are very specialized, multiple packages provide alternate forms of the same functionality, and there are package conflicts.
• The question is this: which is the focus of the project? What are we trying to produce?

Possible Solutions

The Fedora distribution could be considered in many different ways. Here are two of the main ways of viewing the distribution product:

1. A Package Universe
   • This universe may be distributed as various installable/bootable subsets
   • Spins are highly valued, and the primary spin is first among equals
2. A Primary Spin
   • The distribution is has a clearly-identifiable bootable/installable form
   • Other spins can be prepared, but are not the primary focus of the distribution

Note that this is not a question of whether there should be a primary spin, or which spin should be primary. Rather, the question here is whether the package universe or the primary spin is the main product focus.