OK different ones for different hardware devices, sure.
But I asked ChatGPT of the difference between openSUSE and Debian (since you mentioned those) and everything listed seems like it could be just variants within the same OS not a fundamentally different OS
> Package Management: > openSUSE uses the Zypper package manager and supports the RPM package format. > Debian uses the APT (Advanced Package Tool) package manager and supports the DEB package format.
This comes back to my original question - they need different package managers because the OS's are different, the OS's aren't different because they wanted different package managers
> Release Model: > openSUSE typically follows a fixed release model with regular releases of a stable version, like openSUSE Leap, which has a predictable release cycle. > Debian follows a more flexible "when it's ready" release model. There are three main branches: stable, testing, and unstable.
you could have unstable, testing, stable, and then on top of that have a predictable stable release cycle. These aren't incompatible with each other.
> Philosophy: > openSUSE is known for its strong integration with the open-source community and its adherence to the principles of the Free Software Movement. It emphasizes stability and ease of use. > Debian is known for its commitment to free software principles, as outlined in the Debian Free Software Guidelines (DFSG). It prioritizes stability, security, and freedom.
This just feels like a ChatGPT hallucination. It sounds like both are focused on Free Software. That said, I suppose noone is stopped from creating a Linux OS extremely focused on FSM, a commercial one not-at-all interested in FSM, and one somewhere in between.
> Default Desktop Environment: > openSUSE offers various desktop environments, including KDE Plasma and GNOME, but its default desktop environment may vary depending on the edition (Leap or Tumbleweed). > Debian offers a wide range of desktop environments, including GNOME, KDE Plasma, Xfce, LXQt, and more. Its default desktop environment is GNOME.
Like the package manager, inverted cause and effect.
> Community and Support: > Both distributions have active and supportive communities, offering forums, mailing lists, documentation, and other resources for users seeking help or guidance.
> System Configuration: > openSUSE uses YaST (Yet Another Setup Tool), a comprehensive system configuration tool that allows users to manage various aspects of the system through a graphical interface. > Debian relies more on manual configuration files and command-line tools for system administration, although there are also some graphical tools available.
I wonder what YaST uses underneath, I bet it's a series of...configuration files :)
No reason why both couldn't work on the same OS.