openSUSE

Table of Contents

Overview

openSUSE is a community-driven Linux distribution sponsored primarily by SUSE, a major enterprise Linux company. It is known for:

Strong graphical administration tools (especially YaST)
Stability and polish
Good balance between desktop and server use
Close relationship to SUSE Linux Enterprise (SLE)

openSUSE comes in two main flavours:

openSUSE Leap – regular, fixed-release model
openSUSE Tumbleweed – rolling-release model

Both share the same tools and philosophy, but target slightly different users.

Leap vs Tumbleweed

Although rolling vs fixed releases are covered elsewhere, here’s how that choice looks specifically in openSUSE.

openSUSE Leap

Release model: Fixed releases (e.g. Leap 15.6), with maintenance and security updates.
Base: Shares a lot of code and packages with SUSE Linux Enterprise (SLE).
Stability: Very high; software versions change slowly.
Use case:

Workstations and laptops that must “just work”
Small servers and home labs
Users who prefer stable, less frequently changing systems

Leap is a good choice if you:

Want an enterprise-like system for free
Prefer conservative updates
Run software where stability is more important than the latest features

openSUSE Tumbleweed

Release model: True rolling release; always up to date.
Base: Builds directly from the latest tested packages in openSUSE’s development process.
Stability: Very current software with good QA, but more change than Leap.
Use case:

Developers who need new compilers, libraries, and kernels
Enthusiasts who like having the latest desktop environments and tools
Hardware where newer kernels/drivers are beneficial

Tumbleweed is a good choice if you:

Are comfortable with frequent updates
Need new versions of development tools and desktop software
Don’t mind occasional breakage requiring troubleshooting

Key Features and Tools

YaST: The openSUSE Control Center

YaST (Yet another Setup Tool) is one of openSUSE’s main distinguishing features.

Available in both graphical and text-based (ncurses) interfaces
Used for system-wide configuration, such as:

Partitioning disks
Network settings
User and group management
Bootloader configuration
Software repositories and package selection
Services and systemd settings

For beginners, YaST reduces the need to edit many configuration files by hand. On servers or minimal installs, the text-based YaST works well over SSH.

Typical ways you’ll encounter YaST:

From the desktop application menu: “YaST” or “YaST Control Center”
In a terminal (as root or with sudo): yast (text) or yast2 (graphical, if installed)

Zypper: openSUSE’s Package Manager

openSUSE uses the RPM package format, but its main command-line package manager is zypper.

Common zypper operations:

Refresh repository metadata:

sudo zypper refresh

Update the whole system:

sudo zypper update (Leap)
sudo zypper dup (“distribution upgrade”; typical for Tumbleweed)

Search for packages:

zypper search firefox

Install and remove:

sudo zypper install package-name
sudo zypper remove package-name

openSUSE also has graphical tools for software management (often integrated into YaST or the desktop software center), but zypper is the core CLI tool.

Snapper and Btrfs Snapshots (Typical openSUSE Setup)

On many openSUSE installations (especially default desktop installs):

The root filesystem (/) uses Btrfs.
Snapper is used to manage filesystem snapshots.

What this means in practice:

The system automatically takes snapshots:

Before and after important operations (like updates)

You can roll back to a previous snapshot if an update breaks your system.
Integration with GRUB (the bootloader) often allows you to:

Boot into a previous snapshot from the boot menu

Typical beginner use case:

Install updates
Something goes wrong
Boot into an earlier snapshot (read-only) to recover or restore

The details of Btrfs and snapshots are covered in depth elsewhere; here, just be aware that openSUSE makes this feature relatively easy to use via Snapper and YaST.

Desktop Environments in openSUSE

During installation, openSUSE often lets you pick a default desktop:

KDE Plasma – treated as a first-class option; very well integrated
GNOME – also well supported
Others (XFCE, etc.) available via additional patterns or after installation

Some characteristics specific to openSUSE:

KDE integration: openSUSE and KDE have a long history together; Plasma is polished and well-tested.
Patterns: openSUSE uses “patterns” (groups of packages) to install a complete desktop stack (e.g., “KDE Plasma Desktop”, “GNOME Desktop”).

You can switch or add desktops later using YaST or zypper by installing the corresponding patterns.

Software Repositories and OBS

openSUSE provides:

Official repositories:

Core system and main applications, tested and supported by the project

Community repositories via OBS (Open Build Service):

OBS is a build infrastructure where developers and community members package software.
Many additional repositories are hosted here (e.g., for newer versions of desktop environments, applications, or specialized software).

Typical user interaction:

Enable an additional repository using YaST or zypper if a package is not available in the default repos.
Be cautious when mixing many extra repos, as it can complicate dependency resolution.

Installation Experience (High-Level)

Without repeating full installation steps, openSUSE’s installer is notable for:

Powerful partitioning via YaST:

Automatic suggestions (often using Btrfs for / and XFS for /home, depending on version)
Advanced manual partitioning options

Role selection:

Server, desktop, minimal, etc., often chosen via patterns

Integrated configuration:

Users, network, bootloader, and services through one interface

For a beginner:

The guided partitioning and role selection are generally safe defaults.
KDE or GNOME desktop choices can be made during installation, or you can accept the default.

Typical Use Cases: Is openSUSE for You?

openSUSE is a strong choice if you:

Want a polished, configurable Linux distribution with good tools for learning system administration
Appreciate graphical configuration tools (YaST) but also want powerful command-line tools (zypper, Snapper)
Are interested in a system similar in style to enterprise SUSE Linux Enterprise, especially with Leap
Prefer stable, predictable behavior (Leap) or enjoy being on a cutting-edge rolling release (Tumbleweed)

High-level fit:

For beginners: Leap with KDE or GNOME is friendly, stable, and well-documented.
For power users and developers: Tumbleweed offers very new software while maintaining a good level of quality control.
For learning system administration: YaST plus its text mode make openSUSE attractive for practicing both GUI and terminal-based management.

Getting Started Suggestions

If you decide to try openSUSE:

Choose edition:

Want stability: download openSUSE Leap.
Want latest software: download openSUSE Tumbleweed.

Pick a desktop:

KDE Plasma if you like a feature-rich, customizable desktop.
GNOME if you prefer a simpler, more streamlined interface.

After installation:

Explore YaST for system settings.
Learn a few basic zypper commands for package management.
Familiarize yourself with snapshots if Btrfs/Snapper are enabled.

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