Linux Mint Forums

In this article I will list the distros that are based on Linux mint and/or use Linux Mint desktop environments sorted by popularity, according to distrowatch:

1- Distros that come with Mate interface:


1. Linux Mint (1)
Linux Mint is an Ubuntu-based distribution whose goal is to provide a more complete out-of-the-box experience by including browser plugins, media codecs, support for DVD playback, Java and other components. It also adds a custom desktop and menus, several unique configuration tools, and a web-based package installation interface. Linux Mint is compatible with Ubuntu software repositories.

2. Fedora (4)
The Fedora Project is an openly-developed project designed by Red Hat, open for general participation, led by a meritocracy, following a set of project objectives. The goal of The Fedora Project is to work with the Linux community to build a complete, general purpose operating system exclusively from open source software. Development will be done in a public forum. The project will produce time-based releases of Fedora about 2-3 times a year, with a public release schedule. The Red Hat engineering team will continue to participate in building Fedora and will invite and encourage more outside participation than in past releases. By using this more open process, we hope to provide an operating system more in line with the ideals of free software and more appealing to the open source community.

3. Snowlinux (10)
Snowlinux is a set of Linux distributions based on Debian's latest stable release and featuring four different desktop environments - GNOME, KDE, LXDE and Xfce. It aims to be user-friendly, incorporating many useful tweaks and carefully selected software applications. The project also develops a separate, Ubuntu-based edition featuring the MATE (a GNOME 2 fork) desktop.

4. Manjaro Linux (19)
Manjaro Linux is a desktop-oriented, user-friendly distribution based on Arch Linux. Some of its more pronounced features include an intuitive installation process, automatic hardware detection, special Bash scripts for managing graphics drivers, and extra desktop configuration options. Manjaro Linux comes in three editions featuring the Xfce, GNOME 3 (with the Cinnamon Shell) and KDE desktops.

5. Sabayon Linux (21)
Sabayon Linux is a Gentoo-based distribution which follows the works-out-of-the-box philosophy, aiming to give the user a wide number of applications that are ready for use and a self-configured operating system. Sabayon offers the user an easy-to-use workspace with a captivating look, good hardware detection and a large number of up-to-date software packages installed by default, with additional software available from a repository. Sabayon is available in several flavors featuring respectively the KDE, GNOME, LXDE, Xfce and Enlightenment desktop environments.

6. Salix OS (50)
Salix OS is a Slackware-based Linux distribution that is simple, fast, easy to use and compatible with Slackware Linux. Optimised for desktop use, Salix OS features one application per task, custom package repositories, advanced package management with dependency support, localised system administration tools and innovative artwork.

7. Descent|OS (64)
Descent|OS is an Ubuntu-based desktop Linux distribution featuring a traditional desktop environment (GNOME 2 in the 2.x series, MATE in later versions). The project's mission is to provide an intuitive and modern desktop environment anybody can use.

8. UberStudent (101)
UberStudent is an Ubuntu-based distribution on a DVD designed for learning and teaching academic computing at the higher education and advanced secondary levels. UberStudent comes with software for everyday computing tasks, plus a core set of programs and features designed to teach and make easier the tasks and habits common to high-performing students of all academic disciplines. Lifelong learners, as well as any sort of knowledge worker, will equally benefit. UberStudent is supported by a free Moodle virtual learning environment.

9. Comfusion (107)
Linux Comfusion (previously known as Uberyl) is a desktop Linux distribution that combines an Ubuntu base system with the latest 3D desktop technologies on a live DVD.

10. CAINE (122)
CAINE (Computer Aided INvestigative Environment) is an Ubuntu-based GNU/Linux live distribution created as a project of digital forensics. It offers a complete forensic environment that is organised to integrate existing software tools as software modules and to provide a friendly graphical interface. The main design objectives that CAINE aims to guarantee are: an interoperable environment that supports the digital investigator during the four phases of the digital investigation, a user-friendly graphical interface, and a semi-automated compilation of the final report.

11. Leeenux (148)
Leeenux is an Ubuntu-based Linux distribution tailored to netbooks. Several editions, depending on the user interface are available; these include Unity 2D, MATE, LXDE and the original Ubuntu Netbook Edition interface.


2- Distros that come with Cinnamon:

1. Linux Mint (1)
Linux Mint is an Ubuntu-based distribution whose goal is to provide a more complete out-of-the-box experience by including browser plugins, media codecs, support for DVD playback, Java and other components. It also adds a custom desktop and menus, several unique configuration tools, and a web-based package installation interface. Linux Mint is compatible with Ubuntu software repositories.

2. Fedora (4)
The Fedora Project is an openly-developed project designed by Red Hat, open for general participation, led by a meritocracy, following a set of project objectives. The goal of The Fedora Project is to work with the Linux community to build a complete, general purpose operating system exclusively from open source software. Development will be done in a public forum. The project will produce time-based releases of Fedora about 2-3 times a year, with a public release schedule. The Red Hat engineering team will continue to participate in building Fedora and will invite and encourage more outside participation than in past releases. By using this more open process, we hope to provide an operating system more in line with the ideals of free software and more appealing to the open source community.

3. Snowlinux (10)
Snowlinux is a set of Linux distributions based on Debian's latest stable release and featuring four different desktop environments - GNOME, KDE, LXDE and Xfce. It aims to be user-friendly, incorporating many useful tweaks and carefully selected software applications. The project also develops a separate, Ubuntu-based edition featuring the MATE (a GNOME 2 fork) desktop.

4. Manjaro Linux (19)
Manjaro Linux is a desktop-oriented, user-friendly distribution based on Arch Linux. Some of its more pronounced features include an intuitive installation process, automatic hardware detection, special Bash scripts for managing graphics drivers, and extra desktop configuration options. Manjaro Linux comes in three editions featuring the Xfce, GNOME 3 (with the Cinnamon Shell) and KDE desktops.

5. Sabayon Linux (21)
Sabayon Linux is a Gentoo-based distribution which follows the works-out-of-the-box philosophy, aiming to give the user a wide number of applications that are ready for use and a self-configured operating system. Sabayon offers the user an easy-to-use workspace with a captivating look, good hardware detection and a large number of up-to-date software packages installed by default, with additional software available from a repository. Sabayon is available in several flavors featuring respectively the KDE, GNOME, LXDE, Xfce and Enlightenment desktop environments.

6. Cinnarch (41)
Cinnarch is a modern, elegant and powerful Linux distribution and live CD based on Arch Linux. It uses LightDM as the login manager, Cinnamon as the graphical desktop and Chromium as the web browser. Cinnarch is a rolling-release distribution and the Cinnarch live CD includes a simple text-mode system installer.

7. VAST (VIPER Assessment Security Tools) (307)
VAST is a Linux-based security distribution specifically designed for penetration testing VoIP and UC networks. It enables security professionals and UC administrators to rapidly perform VoIP security assessments and enumerate vulnerabilities in IP Phones or IP PBX servers in a lab environment. With VAST, a security consultant has every tool necessary to carry out a successful on-site or remote penetration test or vulnerability assessment against a UC network. VAST is built on Linux Mint and includes all of the open source VIPER Lab tools, in addition to some other network penetration testing tools.


3- Mint-based distributions:

1-quantOS: quantOS is a hardened Linux distribution, based on Linux Mint 11, for secure daily use as a desktop operating system. QuantOS leverages AppArmor application security profiles, Arkose Desktop Application Sandboxing and Vidalia for creating secure Tor connections to enhance online privacy.

2- ultumix: Check this thread for more infohttp://code.google.com/p/ultumix/

4- Peppermint OS:

It should be noted that MATE is it's own independent project separate from Linux Mint and that Cinnamon is the DE developed "in-house" here.

Clem including MATE as a default DE option in the project's early days gave them good press and exposure that was parlayed into more widespread adoption, so Mint definitely deserves some measure of credit when discussing MATE, but to count up all the distros now shipping MATE and attribute that to Mint is stretching the point a mite too far; many users and distro maintainers were looking for an alternative to GNOME 3, and MATE fit the bill nicely on it's own merits.

I don't think any of these distros are in any way "Mint-based," as the thread title suggests.

Yep. None of them, apart MInt itself. The title is misleading.

Cinnamon is now also in Debian Sid official repos.

Please read the introduction before commenting on this thread

Postby Brahim on Sat Jan 26, 2013 5:42 pm
Linux Mint is becoming more and more popular. More and more Linux distros are trying to have their share of mint success and bask in its glory. In this article I will list the distros that are based on Linux mint and/or use Linux Mint desktop interfaces sorted by popularity, according to distrowatch:

Already done. Nevertheless the title should be something like "Linux distributions using Mint desktop environments"

eanfrid wrote:Already done. Nevertheless the title should be something like "Linux distributions using Mint desktop environments"

You got it check the title

Brahim wrote:Linux Mint is becoming more and more popular. More and more Linux distros are trying to have their share of mint success and bask in its glory. In this article I will list the distros that are based on Linux mint and/or use Linux Mint desktop interfaces sorted by popularity, according to distrowatch:

Sorry, but even this is misleading, at the least.

Fedora is "trying to have their share of mint success and bask in its glory" because Cinnamon is available in the repos? Sabayon uses a Linux Mint desktop interface because one of their several spins is a MATE spin?

Mint's a great distro, but...

MALsPa wrote:

Brahim wrote:Linux Mint is becoming more and more popular. More and more Linux distros are trying to have their share of mint success and bask in its glory. In this article I will list the distros that are based on Linux mint and/or use Linux Mint desktop interfaces sorted by popularity, according to distrowatch:

Sorry, but even this is misleading, at the least.

Fedora is "trying to have their share of mint success and bask in its glory" because Cinnamon is available in the repos? Sabayon uses a Linux Mint desktop interface because one of their several spins is a MATE spin?

Mint's a great distro, but...

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah I have removed that "bombastic" introduction! Is everyone happy now BTW maybe you were right MALSsPa, just a lil bit, I was pushing things a bit too far,and then again just a lil bit Linux Mint rocks man!aaaaaaah

How about just "Distros using Mint DE's"?

Is it really useful to speak of "Mint-based distros", when there aren't any? It could be misleading.

Don't get me wrong, Mint is a great distro but it's not a base distro that others build on. However, you are right to point out the popularity beyond Mint of DE projects that were either developed by the Mint team or with support from the Mint team. Perhaps it's best just to limit this post to that.

As this is about other distros, moving it here. And yes, MATE is not a Linux Mint developed desktop environment--but Linux Mint was the first distro to include it on its installation and the Linux Mint team is involved with the MATE team. MATE is extremely important to Linux Mint. It is a separate project however, and so perhaps you should give them credit for their work and not attribute it to Linux Mint. Or complete the list and include Xfce and KDE also

Brahim wrote:Linux Mint rocks man!

True. As do a lot of other distros. Sorry, I guess I let myself get too bent out of shape by this sort of thing. Among Linux users, seems like there's so much "We're #1!" rah-rah stuff. Or, "The best distro is the one that I use!" But that's how it goes.

Well, the title is misleading, but it's nice to see a list of Distros supporting Cinnamon

MATE is not a Mint project, it's an independent project supported by Mint.

MATE (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmate]) is a desktop environment forked from the now-unmaintained code base of GNOME 2. The name derives from yerba mate, a species of holly native to subtropical South America used to prepare a beverage called mate. The renaming is necessary to avoid conflicts with GNOME 3 components.

The release of GNOME 3, replacing the classic desktop metaphor with a new interface built on top of GNOME Shell, led to some criticism from the Linux community. Many users refused to accept the new GNOME, calling on someone to continue development of GNOME 2. The MATE project was started by an Arch Linux user in order to fulfill this task. MATE V1.2 was released 16 April 2012. It is one of the default desktop environments shipped with version 12, "Lisa", of Linux Mint and with version 2, "Cream", of Snowlinux. Packages are also available for Arch Linux, Ubuntu, Debian, openSuse, Salix OS and Sabayon Linux. MATE is also the primary desktop in Linux Mint Debian Edition, with Cinnamon as a secondary alternative desktop. MATE was proposed for inclusion with the Fedora 18 release in autumn 2012.