Clear Linux is not a general purpose distribution since it is primarily designed for the cloud. There are also other distributions that are designed for cloud computing, such as Ubuntu, CentOS, and Oracle Linux. However, Clear Linux is primarilygeared towardsdevelopers and other IT professionals.
Most Linux distributions manage and update data via a package system. Clear Linux OS also uses the popular RPM format for binary packages. However, Clear Linux groups packages in bundles for specific purposes that are updated together. This approach falls somewhere between traditional package management and atomic updates. As a result, each automatic update creates a new version of the operating system. This process also involves the recently developed package manager swupd which is used for versioning at the file level.
This brings us to the next difference between Clear Linux and other distributions. Each version and component of Clear Linux OS has a unique version number. The system only downloads the components that are actually required. This means that Clear Linux also performs better than other Linux distributions when updating the system. Additionally, the detailed version identification for all packages and bundles makes it possible for system administrators to accurately document and correct security fixes and tests.
In the following video titled “Why Clear Linux”, the manufacturer summarizes what makes this performant operating system stand out from the rest: