This simple Linux tool lets you try multiple distros safely on one desktop - for free

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What is Distrobox and however tin it assistance you larn Linux?

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

Distrobox allows you to tally antithetic Linux distributions.
This is simply a large mode to larn the basics of Linux.
Distrobox is escaped to instal and use.

I usage Linux… a lot. I usage it for conscionable astir everything I do. Oftentimes, I usage aggregate instances of Linux. How bash I bash that? If you privation to spell the virtual instrumentality route, there's VirtualBox. However, if you'd similar to simplify things adjacent much (without having to download multi GB ISO files), you tin instrumentality the way of containers.

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One mode to bash this is via Distrobox.

What is Distrobox?

Distrobox is simply a nifty instrumentality that allows you to easy rotation up antithetic Linux distributions from your desktop computer. Say, for example, your desktop runs Ubuntu and you privation to effort Fedora. You could rotation up a Fedora instrumentality with Distrobox and experimentation with it. And though Distrobox is simply a bid enactment tool, you tin besides instal GUI apps and past export them to your desktop.

It's truly cool.

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It's besides safe, due to the fact that it doesn't monkey with your big OS, truthful you tin rotation up a antithetic organisation with Distrobox, participate the caller container, bash immoderate you want, and spot that immoderate you are doing won't harm your host.

I'm going to locomotion you done the process of installing Distrobox and past however to usage it. I'll besides show however you tin instal a GUI app and past usage that app connected the big OS. Fun times.

How to instal Distrobox

What you'll need: To usage Distrobox, you'll request a Linux desktop organisation and a idiosyncratic with sudo privileges. I'll show this connected Linux Mint.

The archetypal happening we'll bash is update APT with the command:

sudo apt-get update

Next, we'll instal Distrobox and a instrumentality instrumentality (docker-compose volition bash the trick). For that, contented the command:

sudo apt-get instal distrobox docker-compose -y

That's it. Distrobox is installed.

How to usage Distrobox

Distrobox pulls images from a centralized repository and past uses those images to make containers for a circumstantial distribution.

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1. Create the Fedora instrumentality

For our example, we're going to make a caller instrumentality for Fedora, which is done with the command:

distrobox-create --name fedorainnabox --image fedora

Note: You tin sanction your caller instrumentality thing you like.

You tin instal respective antithetic distributions. To presumption a database of disposable distros for Distrobox, cheque retired the official organisation database page.

2. Enter the instrumentality

You tin present participate the recently created instrumentality with the command:

distrobox participate fedorainnabox

Remember to usage the sanction you chose for your caller container.

3. Use the instrumentality

You present person a full-blown Fedora organisation to use. You tin update it with:

sudo dnf update

You tin instal bundle (such arsenic the nano substance editor) similar this:

sudo dnf instal nano

Here's a truly chill trick. Let's accidental you privation to instal an app connected your Distrobox Fedora instrumentality and past tally it connected your host. That app mightiness beryllium disposable lone connected Fedora and not Linux Mint. Or possibly you cognize that Fedora has a newer mentation of an app you request than is disposable connected your host. How bash you bash this?

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It's simple: First, marque definite to participate the Fedora container. Once you've done that, instal the app. For example, you mightiness privation to instal the latest mentation of the Chromium web browser. For that, contented the command:

sudo dnf instal chromium -y

Once the installation is complete, you person to export the app to the big with the command:

distrobox-export --app chromium

You tin present tally that app from the big desktop menu.

You mightiness beryllium amazed to find retired that the exported apps tally astir arsenic accelerated arsenic if they were installed natively connected your host.