Fedora Guide

Overview

Fedora was launched in 2003 as a community-driven project sponsored by Red Hat. It's known for being on the leading edge of Linux technology while maintaining stability and security.

Quick Facts

Based On	Independent (upstream for RHEL)
Package Manager	DNF
Default Desktop	GNOME (Workstation)
Release Cycle	Every 6 months
Support Period	13 months per release
Init System	systemd

Who Should Use Fedora?

Developers - Latest tools and technologies
Open source enthusiasts - Strong commitment to free software
RHEL users - Similar experience, preview of future RHEL features
Tech enthusiasts - Cutting-edge features with reasonable stability
Container developers - Excellent Podman and container support

Tip

Fedora Workstation is excellent for developers, while Fedora Server is great for learning enterprise Linux administration.

Installation

Fedora uses the Anaconda installer with a clean, modern interface:

Download Fedora from fedoraproject.org
Use Fedora Media Writer to create a bootable USB
Boot from the USB drive
Select "Start Fedora" then "Install to Hard Drive"
Configure installation options and complete setup

bash

# Download Fedora Media Writer (on Linux)
flatpak install flathub org.fedoraproject.MediaWriter

# Verify your download
sha256sum Fedora-Workstation-Live-x86_64-40-1.14.iso

Package Management

Fedora uses DNF (Dandified YUM) for package management:

bash

# Update system
sudo dnf upgrade

# Install a package
sudo dnf install package-name

# Remove a package
sudo dnf remove package-name

# Search for packages
dnf search keyword

# Show package info
dnf info package-name

# List installed packages
dnf list installed

# Clean cache
sudo dnf clean all

# Enable RPM Fusion (additional packages)
sudo dnf install \
  https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm \
  https://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm

Info

Fedora also supports Flatpak out of the box. Enable Flathub for access to thousands of additional applications.

Key Features

Cutting-Edge Technology

Fedora often debuts new Linux technologies first, including Wayland, PipeWire, and Btrfs.

Podman

Fedora includes Podman, a daemonless container engine that's Docker-compatible but doesn't require root privileges.

Toolbx

Create isolated development environments using containers without affecting your base system.

Fedora Editions

Official Editions

Workstation	GNOME desktop for developers and users
Server	For server deployments with Cockpit management
IoT	For Internet of Things devices
CoreOS	Container-focused minimal OS
Silverblue	Immutable desktop with atomic updates
Kinoite	Immutable KDE Plasma desktop

FAQ

Is Fedora stable enough for daily use?

Yes, despite being cutting-edge, Fedora maintains good stability. Updates are well-tested before release.

How does Fedora relate to RHEL?

Fedora serves as the upstream for RHEL. Technologies proven in Fedora are later incorporated into Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

How do I upgrade to a new Fedora release?

Use sudo dnf system-upgrade download --releasever=XXfollowed by sudo dnf system-upgrade reboot.

Summary

Fedora offers the latest Linux technologies with reasonable stability, making it ideal for developers and enthusiasts. Key takeaways:

Cutting-edge technology with 6-month release cycle
Sponsored by Red Hat, upstream for RHEL
DNF package manager with RPM Fusion for additional packages
Excellent container support with Podman
Multiple editions for different use cases