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I am getting a new server as I've messed up my current box, while trying to install Postgres 9 (on my CentOS 5.8 box). To cut a long story short, I removed postgres but yum decided to remove virtualmin-base as well, which broke my virtualmin install (postfix/dovcot stopped working). Virtualmin advise a fresh install once virtualmin-base has been removed/reinstalled.

So I'll probably make a decision based on this simple criteria: which distro out of the two makes it easiest for installing the latest versions of Ruby and Postgres?

They are both equally respected as web servers, so I really don't mind either way - I just want to use the one that will work best with the software I need.

A4J
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  • Just want to add that I have googled and it appears easier for Debian - but I just want to double check. – A4J Jun 03 '12 at 21:53

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Well, from what I know, it might be easier for Debian, because you can try hooking into repositories made for Ubuntu and its forks.

My experiences with CentOS so far were rather horrible (of the "just compile custom locally already" variety).

p_l
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    Debian has something called 'backports' which allows you to use more up-to-date packages (at the cost of possible security issues) – A4J Jun 03 '12 at 22:02
  • @A4J That's what I have used in the past, and what would essentially be the solution here. It's just a matter of selecting the repositories and priorities :) – p_l Jun 03 '12 at 22:05
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From a Ruby perspective, I think RHEL/Scientific Linux/CentOS are still running Ruby 1.8.7.

I believe the Rails guys are slowly phasing out support for this version.

I know you can pull in a later version of Ruby from the Debian Testing/Unstable using pinning (YMMV - risky).

I don't know the requirements of your usage though.

bigdaveyl
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Ruby applications are usually dependent on a specific ruby version, so you better find out what ruby version you need and then take a look at what versions are in the standard repositories.

Ruby can be very picky. If the distro supports the ruby version you need then go for it. Having said that I use Centos with a self compiled version of Ruby and some Gems that didn't come with the repository.

If you go for Centos, the EPEL repository have some usually needed Gems.

drcelus
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  • I will want to use the latest Ruby version (currently 1.9.3). I have set up a Vagrant Debian box and managed to install rbenv on it successfully (wasn't able to on my Cent box). Later I am going to try and install postgres 9.1, and then downgrade PHP to 5.2. I can't think of anything else I might need. Not sure which Gems will be affected - do you have any examples? – A4J Jun 04 '12 at 11:50
  • It depends on the application you are going to run on top of ruby. – drcelus Jun 04 '12 at 12:47
  • They will be Rails (3.2.5) websites. I can't see it being a problem tbh :/ – A4J Jun 04 '12 at 14:44
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If you want to use the packages in the distro repositories instead of compiling from source:

balleyne
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