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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Why does no distro utilise BitTorrent to distribute packages? (lemm.ee)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

55 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Just had this idea pop up in my mind. Instead of relying on volunteers mirroring package repositories all around the world, why not utilise BitTorrent protocol to move at the very least some some load unto the users and thus increase download speeds as well as decrease latency?

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Some distros do this already.

Alternative downloads

There are several other ways to get Ubuntu including torrents, which can potentially mean a quicker download, our network installer for older systems and special configurations and links to our regional mirrors for our older (and newer) releases.

BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer download network that sometimes enables higher download speeds and more reliable downloads of large files. You need a BitTorrent client on your computer to enable this download method.

https://ubuntu.com/download/alternative-downloads

[–] [email protected] 12 points 5 months ago (1 children)

They're talking about packages you install, not the ISOs.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

Ah, oops!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago

That's not packages, that's images. People download images relatively infrequently, but with rolling release distros, people download hundreds of packages on a regular basis