Differences between Kubuntu/Xubuntu/Lubuntu/Ubuntu?

[ShadowVegan]

I have been using Ubuntu for a few years, but aside from a little bit of playing around it's pretty much the only Linux based OS I have used. To my understanding, Xubuntu, Kubuntu, and Lubuntu are just Ubuntu with different desktop environments and default applications. The Lubuntu page on the Ubuntu wiki specifically says that, and that it shares Ubuntu's repositories. However, to my understanding, Kubuntu has its own repositories. Is this correct? Is there any way to access Ubuntu repositories on Kubuntu and vise versa? And what about Xubuntu, does it share repositories with Ubuntu in the same way that Lubuntu does?

Secondly, are there any differences between Ubuntu, Kubuntu, and Xubuntu besides DE and default applications (and maybe different repositories)? Is installing Ubuntu, then installing kubuntu-desktop/xubuntu-desktop/lubuntu-desktop the exactly the same as installing Xubuntu/Kubuntu/Lubuntu and then installing Unity?

Thank you.

[snowpine]

Same repositories, same "core" system, different desktop environments.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desktop_environment

[Irihapeti]

I've done a few installs starting with a command-line system and then installing (X)Ubuntu-desktop. If there's a difference, I've not been able to find it. :)

You can get much the same result by using the methods in the Playing Around portion of the menu in http://psychocats.net/ubuntu/. There's even instructions on how to get back to where you were originally.

I strongly suggest that you back up your system (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BackupYourSystem) before you start doing this, just in case something goes haywire. That is, unless you don't mind doing a reinstall. And it doesn't hurt to back up your documents, photos etc anyway.

[GameX2]

So a difference would probably be, the default login manager, I guess?

[snowpine]

So a difference would probably be, the default login manager, I guess?

There is never any reason to guess when it comes to open-source software. All the details, right down to the source code, are freely available to the public.

For starters, see here:

http://packages.ubuntu.com/raring/ubuntu-desktop
http://packages.ubuntu.com/raring/kubuntu-desktop
http://packages.ubuntu.com/raring/lubuntu-desktop
http://packages.ubuntu.com/raring/xubuntu-desktop

Now you know the exact differences and you don't need to guess. :)

[Irihapeti]

If an install pulls in another login manager, you have the choice of which one you want to use. (You can't have both active at the same time.)

[ShadowVegan]

Thanks for the replies.


Same repositories, same "core" system, different desktop environments.
This applies to Xubuntu and Kubuntu as well? Because of this (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Repositories/Kubuntu) page I was unsure on Kubuntu, because it says 'There are thousands of programs available to install on Kubuntu.' and 'each program you install is thoroughly tested and built specifically for Kubuntu.'
This seemed to imply that the repositories and software are built specifically for Kubuntu as opposed to Ubuntu in general.

[Irihapeti]

Kubuntu uses the same repositories. See http://askubuntu.com/questions/168586/replacing-default-repositories-with-kubuntu-repositories

Xubuntu also does.

You might want to get special repositories if you use PPAs, but that's a separate issue altogether.

[vasa1]

There is never any reason to guess when it comes to open-source software. All the details, right down to the source code, are freely available to the public.

For starters, see here:

http://packages.ubuntu.com/raring/ubuntu-desktop
http://packages.ubuntu.com/raring/kubuntu-desktop
http://packages.ubuntu.com/raring/lubuntu-desktop
http://packages.ubuntu.com/raring/xubuntu-desktop

Now you know the exact differences and you don't need to guess. :)

I've left out Kubuntu, but here is a link to a spreadsheet (Google Docs) listing the components of the other three DEs using the links Snowpine provided. Errors are probably mine!
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aogs9P5_zkgedG9qdnBnTjU3VHo3dVVzeExXSGpRV FE&usp=sharing

[ShadowVegan]

Thank you to everyone who has replied. Your answers along with installing and trying KDE, XFCE, LXDE, and Cinnamon have given me a much better understanding.

[mörgæs]

You should also keep in mind that the lightest of them (Lubuntu) does not provide long term support.