GoboLinux
Shares rank 48 of 63 Linux distributions by recommenders
Linux distribution that installs many versions of the same software side by side without conflicts, with a filesystem layout that separates programs cleanly. Critics note weak documentation.
Linux distribution that installs many versions of the same software side by side without conflicts, with a filesystem layout that separates programs cleanly. Critics note weak documentation.
9 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 7
- criticize it
- 2
- approval share
- 78%
Recommended in 6 of 13 months
- November 2025: not recommended
- December 2025: recommended
- January 2026: recommended
- February 2026: recommended
- March 2026: recommended
- April 2026: not recommended
- May 2026: not recommended
- June 2026: recommended
- July 2026: not recommended
- August 2026: recommended
- September 2026: not recommended
- October 2026: not recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it doesn’t carry the badge
- 7 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, not met.
- 3.5 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
- Recommended in 6 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Installs multiple package versions without conflicts
“These two Linux distros essentially allow two different versions of same software/libraries (glibc/python whatever) installed”
Comment from 22 Mar 2026 in “Why I love NixOS” “gobo's a neat idea. I for one really like that its package management can have multiple packages without conflicts”
Comment from 4 Jan 2026 in “Understanding the bin, sbin, usr/bin, usr/sbin split (2010)” Clean separation of programs in filesystem
“that's an awesome idea to get rid of those awful splits and focus on apps”
Comment from 4 Jan 2026 in “Understanding the bin, sbin, usr/bin, usr/sbin split (2010)” “Gobo Linux has the best separation of programs in it's filesystem”
Comment from 4 Dec 2025 in “Micron Announces Exit from Crucial Consumer Business” Influential idea, done early
“This approach was already done by GoboLinux in 2005.”
Comment from 31 Jan 2026 in “Guix System First Impressions as a Nix User” “GoboLinux solved that already. Back in 2005.”
Comment from 2 Jan 2026 in “Can Bundler Be as Fast as Uv?” “Others realised this too - see GoboLinux.”
Comment from 4 Jan 2026 in “Understanding the bin, sbin, usr/bin, usr/sbin split (2010)” - Comment from 2 Jan 2026 in “Can Bundler Be as Fast as Uv?”
Fans who love the distro
“Re Gobo -- yes please. I love that little distro.”
Comment from 2 Mar 2026 in “Bootc and OSTree: Modernizing Linux System Deployment” “I really enjoyed the idea of gobolinux as well.”
Comment from 4 Jan 2026 in “Understanding the bin, sbin, usr/bin, usr/sbin split (2010)”
What people warn about
Each mark is one comment
Lacks documentation compared to LFS
“GoboLinux unfortunately lacks documentation, LFS/BLFS has better documentation”
Comment from 21 Jan 2026 in “Linux from Scratch” Philosophy trapped some users
“I myself fell victim to the GoboLinux philosophy”
Comment from 29 Jun 2026 in “Replacing Systemd with OpenRC in Debian” Seen as a missed opportunity
“Gobolinux was really a missed opportunity!”
Comment from 26 Aug 2026 in “Omarchy development practices lead to predictable security issues”
Other Linux distributions people recommend
The four most recommended other Linux distributions, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
| Product | Recommend | Criticize | Approval | Months | Owned | Badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu | 560 | 493 | 53% | 12 | 10 yrs116 owners | — |
| Debian | 552 | 191 | 74% | 13 | 10 yrs62 owners | Approved |
| NixOS | 454 | 112 | 80% | 13 | 2 yrs69 owners | Approved |
| Fedora Linux | 437 | 131 | 77% | 12 | 2 yrs72 owners | Approved |
| GoboLinuxThis page | 7 | 2 | 78% | 6 | — | — |
What people said
14 of the 17 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“Gobolinux was really a missed opportunity!”
“my scripts originated from GoboLinux's philosophy since I did not want to use shell scripts”
“I myself fell victim to the GoboLinux philosophy”
“These two Linux distros essentially allow two different versions of same software/libraries (glibc/python whatever) installed”
“Re Gobo -- yes please. I love that little distro.”
“This approach was already done by GoboLinux in 2005.”
“GoboLinux unfortunately lacks documentation, LFS/BLFS has better documentation”
“Others realised this too - see GoboLinux.”
“that's an awesome idea to get rid of those awful splits and focus on apps”
“I really enjoyed the idea of gobolinux as well.”
“gobo's a neat idea. I for one really like that its package management can have multiple packages without conflicts”
“GoboLinux gave the correct idea though.”
“GoboLinux solved that already. Back in 2005.”
“Gobo Linux has the best separation of programs in it's filesystem”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.