Every time a new Ubuntu-based distro appears, the same question comes up: why Ubuntu? And it’s a fair one. Many users have strong opinions about Canonical, Snaps, and Ubuntu’s overall direction. Others swear by Arch, Fedora, or Debian, and for them, Ubuntu is the last place they’d consider building a new project.
But here’s the reality: for all its controversies, Ubuntu remains one of the most widely supported Linux bases. Hardware vendors target it. Developers build and test against it. That broad support makes it a reliable foundation for innovation.
Take Rhino Linux as an example. Yes, it’s Ubuntu under the hood, but the goal isn’t to adopt everything Canonical does. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Rhino removes features many users dislike — like mandatory Snaps — and adds its own innovations: a rolling release model, Pacstall (a community-driven package system similar to Arch’s AUR), Flatpak support, and its own meta-package manager (rpk) to tie it all together.
In other words, it’s not just “another Ubuntu spin.” It asks a different question: what if you could combine Ubuntu’s hardware compatibility and ecosystem advantages with the freshness and flexibility of Arch-like rolling releases?
Of course, it won’t convince everyone. If you’re already happy in Arch land, Rhino may not be for you. But for new users, or anyone who wants rolling software without the full DIY overhead, it’s an exciting approach.
And that’s the beauty of Linux: you don’t have to love every distro, or even install them all. Sometimes it’s enough to watch new projects grow, push boundaries, and see which ideas stick.
Curious but skeptical? Keep watching. Every question and critique helps make the Rhino Linux ecosystem stronger.
