Why are some linux iso files so much larger than others?

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…newfags to internets don’t need to be using linux
More code = moar bytes
less code = less bytes

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Linux is just a core kernel, the heart of the operating system. When developers make the distribution, they choose other things to go in there, like Gnome or KDE, a web browser, an office suite, and so on. The small ones only include the bare essentials. Then, you can use the package manager to download other programs off the Internet. The gigantic ISOs include every program you could ever think you’ll possibly want. Makes it easier to give to someone with a slow Internet connection.

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Basically, you have the Linux kernel and a GUI. On top of that, most people install many other packages (server functions, productivity, games, utilities, whatever). Some Linux install discs include many or all of the available packages so that you can select the programs during the initial install and do it all in one step. Others only include the bare necessities to get Linux installed and then the packages will be downloaded later when you choose to install them. Some Linux packages even offer the Net Install option, where you only have a 50MB boot disc and then everything is downloaded from the net when you install it.

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First of all every release is different from any other. So you can’t expect a bootable Madriva ISO to be the same size as a Ubuntu’s.
Plus you also need to count the fact that there might be different ISO sizes according to installation: is it a complete ISO, a net ISO or just a small basic??

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Because it has extra data on it!
The only thing worth knowing about this is that you still need to download software in either case. The CD download gives you more options which is what Linux is about.
If you are new to Linux then you should only consider Ubuntu, Linux Mint or Mandriva. There are of course others and you might need a media version like Ubuntu Studio but really the software you need is hardly ever likely to be unavailable depending on the distro you have picked so you might as well get the best there is (in a great many respects!) and go on from there.

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Most major Linux distros. are around 690mb in size however some distros. work literally out of the box as all software is preinstalled ie. multiple desktop environments etc. making the ISO. image somewhat larger

An example of this is Sabayon 4.2 which has a 2gb ISO. image

LUg.

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It’s a good question with many answers. Some of the ones that exceed the capacity of a regular CD and require a DVD, normally have the files included and therefore you don’t really need to go online and use the repositories. Others are simply loaded down with everything possible for Linux without having to use anything.

I may choose to distribute a Multimedia Disc, or a gaming disc or a programming disc and, include everything for that purpose, then my disc would be within the range of 4BG. I may decide to create one that is the bare minimum but still be useful for the normal computer user, then it may be 350MB or smaller. I agree that this tends to confuse people who want to use Linux. Linux runs from the General purpose to the very Specific Linux distributions. I have over 250 distributions downloaded from the Internet. They all have the same underlying base system from version to version.

I hope this helps. Best of luck.

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It’s the various packages you get on your installation disk. Some include more than others while some distros expect you to install some later.

One friend spent two weeks doing an install of Debian because it expects you to download the whole package and burn it to disk whether you are going to install the programs or not. I usually just install it from an internet install disk — about 200 MB last time I checked — which downloads everything from the net.

That’s why.

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Different distros have different features and pre-installed software.