Are Ubuntu GNOME and Ubuntu Xfce different distros or just variations?Solved

From your question, I can tell you are quite new to Linux, and that is completely fine. Everyone starts somewhere. 

Those names that come after the distro, like GNOME or Xfce, refer to something called a desktop environment (DE). 

A linux distribution (distro) is the complete operating system that includes the linux kernel, utilities, and package management tools. 

A desktop environment (DE) is the graphical interface layer on top of that system. It provides everything you see and use, such as windows, menus, icons, and panels. 

You can think of it like this. The distro is the engine and frame of a car, while the desktop environment is the dashboard and seats. The engine determines how it runs, and the interior determines how it feels to use. 

@stevenhere That’s a great analogy to explain the difference between the two. To put it simply, the distro defines what is inside, and the desktop environment defines what you see and interact with. 

So, Ubuntu with Gnome and ubuntu with Xfce are both the same distro underneath, but the interface and user experience differ completely. 

GNOME has a modern design and uses more system resources. Xfce is lightweight and performs well on older hardware. There are other desktop environments too, such as KDE, LXDE, and Budgie. Each has its own strengths, so you can try a few and choose what suits you best. 

I feel you @_janet, I was in the same boat just a few weeks ago. 

Here is what happened. I was trying to figure out why a password policy was not working on my system. The documentation mentioned that it was not supported on KDE and Linux Mint. I was using Ubuntu and could not understand why it failed. Later, I realized that my system was actually Ubuntu with the KDE desktop environment. 

Once I understood that, everything made sense. I had also thought KDE was a separate distro. It was a relief to finally solve that mystery.