Spins/What is a spin

This page is the draft to help to answer the question, 'What is a spin?' and related questions a user of the new Fedora Spins website might have.

What is a custom spin?
A custom spin is a selection of Fedora software that is contained in an ISO image that you can boot directly from a CD, DVD, USB flash drive. Using a custom spin live image you can try out a particular set of Fedora (and custom) software without touching the contents of your computer's hard disk.

What makes up a spin?
Official spins of the Fedora project only include software from the thousands of packages in the Fedora software repository, possibly with some customization of settings or changes to how services are used. However, as an individual, you can include your own software packages, data, or drivers to do anything you choose.

Can a custom spin be a Live media or regular installable DVD?
The differences between Live media and regular installable DVDs can be great. Live images are run directly from the media themselves and provide a try it out version of Fedora without affecting your machine and then perform a installation if you like it. An installable DVD will begin an installation process of Fedora to your hard disk.

Why don't I just use plain Fedora?
You can. Customized spins are merely targeted versions of Fedora so it is possible to customize plain Fedora to match any official spin. A customized spin can however save you time and effort.

Why should I choose a custom spin?
Custom spins let you experience a select set of Fedora software, possibly in a particular way. For example, a desktop live CD could boot directly to a GNOME desktop, with 3D desktop effects enabled and selected backgrounds, colors and featured applications. With further customization, a custom spin could boot directly to a movie player or launch a Web server is that ready to publish custom data.

What kind of custom spins exist now?
Official Fedora spins include GNOME desktop, KDE desktop, XFCE and LXDE desktops, Meego netbook, developer, Fedora Electronics Lab, gaming, and several specialized language spins. Check the Spins page and the Fedora download  page for up-to-date listings of spins you can download.

Spins are pretty cool. How do I create one?
Tools for creating live CDs, DVDs, and USB sticks include livecd-creator and Revisor. To create a custom set of installable software packages, you can use the pungi command. Refer CustomSpins page for more details.