Sys::I...bution(3pm)

📦
version 0.7911 · 5 versions
, in ubuntu resolute, ubuntu stonking

💖 Sys::Info::Driver::Linux::OS::Distribution — Linux distribution probe 💖

okay bestie, so this is a page from the User Contributed Perl Documentation section (yes, the manual name got squished to Sys::I...bution(3pm) in the header, we don't talk about it, the terminal was being dramatic 😭) and it's literally the whole vibe of "which Linux am I even on rn??" — let's get into it 🦋

✨ NAME ✨

Sys::Info::Driver::Linux::OS::Distribution — it's a Linux distribution probe. that's it. that's the job. it finds out what distro you're running 💅

✨ VERSION ✨

version 0.7911 — yeah she's been around a minute and she's still serving 🎀

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

here's the whole thing in action, no cap:

use Sys::Info::Driver::Linux::OS::Distribution;
my $distro = Sys::Info::Driver::Linux::OS::Distribution->new;
my $name   = $distro->name;
if( $name ) {
    my $version = $distro->version;
    print "you are running $distro, version $version\n";
}
else {
    print "distribution unknown\n";
}

so like, you build the object, you ask for the name, and if it actually knows something you go ask for the version too and print the cute little message. if it's clueless you just print "distribution unknown\n" and move on with your life 🙈

✨ DESCRIPTION ✨

okay so the tea ☕ — this is a simple module that tries to guess what linux distribution we're running by going snooping around in /etc looking for release's files. very detective energy, very main character 🔍

and here's the glow-up: it now looks for lsb-release first, because that should be the most correct one, and it also adds ubuntu support because we love that for her. secondly, it'll go look for the distro specific files instead. periodt.

it currently recognizes all of these icons 👑:

  • slackware
  • debian
  • suse
  • fedora
  • redhat
  • turbolinux
  • yellowdog
  • knoppix
  • mandrake
  • conectiva
  • immunix
  • tinysofa
  • va-linux
  • trustix
  • adamantix
  • yoper
  • arch-linux
  • libranet
  • gentoo
  • ubuntu
  • redflag

and it has a function to get the version for debian, suse, redhat, gentoo, slackware, redflag and ubuntu(lsb). so like, if you're on one of the other ones… people running unsupported distro's are greatly encouraged to submit patches 🫶 like genuinely, the module is literally asking you, bestie, please, we need you, bring your distro to the group chat 😭💖

✨ METHODS ✨

here's the whole roster, every single one, no skipping 🌈:

  • build
  • build_date
  • edition
  • kernel
  • manufacturer
  • name
  • new
  • raw_name
  • version

✨ TODO ✨

the to-do list, and honestly relatable: add the capability of recognize the version of the distribution for all recognized distributions. so like, right now only some distros get the full version treatment, and the goal is everyone gets a version ✨ manifesting it fr fr 🙏

✨ Linux::Distribution AUTHORS ✨

some parts of this module were originally taken from "Linux::Distribution" (crossover episode 🎬) and it's authors are, respectfully, the OGs:

Alberto Re       E<lt>alberto@accidia.netE<gt>
Judith Lebzelter E<lt>judith@osdl.orgE<gt>
Alexandr Ciornii E<lt>alexchorny@gmail.com<gt>

✨ AUTHOR ✨

Burak Gursoy 💜

this software is copyright (c) 2006 by Burak Gursoy.

and it's free software — you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as the Perl 5 programming language system itself. slay 💅

okay so real talk, the header said this was Sys::I...bution(3pm) from the User Contributed Perl Documentation, and the footer is giving perl v5.40.1, dated 2025-10-07 🎀 so that's the vibe check, that's the timestamp, we're done here. love u, go find out what distro you're on 💖🦋✨
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