While it is often used for electronics projects, in much the same way as a microcontroller, the Raspberry Pi is a complete computer capable of running a full operating system.
With the wide selection of operating systems available for the line of single-board computers, Raspberry Pi users can be said to be spoilt for choice. Not every operating system will fit your specific use case though, so it is necessary to choose one that has been optimized to serve your purpose.
General-Purpose Operating Systems
Operating systems in this class are not optimized for a particular purpose but are rather created to serve the average computer user’s needs, which typically includes internet browsing, basic productivity tasks, media consumption, and light gaming.
1.Raspberry Pi OS
Based on Debian Linux, the Raspberry Pi OS (formerly Raspbian) is the official operating system for the Raspberry Pi family. It is available for free download and comes preloaded on a microSD card in most Raspberry Pi kits. According to Raspberry Pi’sImager stats website, Raspberry Pi OS is the most-used operating system on the Raspberry Pi by far, followed by Ubuntu.
It comes in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. There are only subtle differences, but the64-bit Raspberry Pi OS offers certain key benefits.
Raspberry Pi OS uses a modified version of the Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment (LXDE), which is simple to navigate. It also comes with over 35,000 pre-compiled software packages for easy installation on your Raspberry Pi.
2.Ubuntu MATE
Ubuntu MATE is an official derivative of Ubuntu Linux that uses the lightweight MATE desktop environment as its default user interface, which means it’s less taxing on the Raspberry Pi’s modest resources than vanilla Ubuntu.
Ubuntu MATE is more suited for users who already have a Linux background and are looking for something a bit closer to that experience on Raspberry Pi. It offers a complete desktop environment for desktop computing and hardware tinkering.
Alternatively, you can opt for the standard version of the Ubuntu Desktop OS. Our guide walks you through the process ofinstalling Ubuntu Desktop, Server, and Core on a Raspberry Pi, along with Ubuntu MATE.
Media Center Operating Systems
Raspberry Pi computers are often used as media centers to serve videos, music, and images to other devices. A media center operating system makes it much easier to organize those files and share them to connected users.
3.LibreELEC
LibreELEC is a Linux JeOS (Just enough Operating System) for the Kodi media player. It is a fork of the now-discontinued OpenELEC project and comes with a preconfigured version of Kodi and several other optional third-party, personal video recorder (PVR) back-end software applications.
The LibreELEC operating system is small, lightweight and optimized for flash-based storage. If you want to run only Kodi on your Raspberry Pi, it is arguably the best option for you.
OSMC (Open Source Media Center) is a Debian-based media center which mainly ships a Kodi front-end for Raspberry Pis and other devices. It is easy to use, quick to install and offers more functionality than LibreELEC. If you want touse your Raspberry Pi for a home theater PCprimarily, but you also want to run other projects from time to time, OSMC might be the best choice for you.
Internet of Things and Home Automation
A Raspberry Pi can be used to control a network of internet-enabled devices with the help of home automation platforms such as Home Assistant.
5.Home Assistant OS
The Home Assistant OS (HAOS) is free and open source software that is optimized to run Home Assistant and its add-ons on SBCs and x86-64 systems. Home Assistant puts you in charge of your smart home network by enabling local access to your devices.
6.OpenHABian
OpenHAB (Open Home Automation Bus) is an open-source platform for home automation. It allows you to control your smart home devices, regardless of the manufacturer. To use it on a Raspberry Pi, download the preconfigured image and flash it onto an microSD card or a USB flash drive.
Retro Operating Systems
you may also runclassic operating systemssuch as RISC OS, MS DOS, and Amiga on a Raspberry Pi, which can be useful for emulation and education purposes.
