Source: https://drupal.org/documentation/build/distributionsDistributions are full copies of Drupal that include Drupal Core, along with additional software such as themes, modules, libraries, and installation profiles. There are two main types of Drupal distributions:
Full-featured distributions
All-inclusive products: complete solutions for specialized use cases.
Other distributions
Quick-start tools: starting points for developers and site builders.
2. Drupal 8 distributions.
Let us say that you are interesting in testing drupal 8. One option is explained in this thread:
http://www.oopschool.com/phpBB3/viewtop ... f=24&t=292
But you can also install a drupal 8 distribution. Then you search on the Distributions page (Download and Extend) :
https://drupal.org/project/project_distribution
We set the following search criteria:
Core compatibility 8.x
and hit search. Today January 29 2014 I get:
6 Distributions match your search. Read well before you choose a distribution. Since I am personally interested in Responsive Web Design (RWD) I find the following two distributions of special interest:
1. Spark in Drupal 8 core
2. Project KickstartOur primary aim is to affect Drupal authoring experience significantly. The following improvements are included in Drupal 8 thanks (in part) to Spark:
A responsive toolbar that works well on mobile devices
The main purpose of Project Kickstart distribution is to start the Drupal project development quickly with the best recommended libraries / modules / themes. Site builders can also use this distribution as it has features like responsive design for mobile devices, in-place content editing, pre-configured CKEditor WYSIWYG tool!
As an example of RWD with Ken Burns animation see my personal home page: http://www.kjellbleivik.com/
3. How to find a drupal distribution?
You can always search on the Distributions page which is all-inclusive: Today January 29 2014 there are 405 Distributions:
https://drupal.org/project/project_distribution
or you can look at the list of distributions.
https://drupal.org/node/1085574
4. Building a site of drupal distributions.
Articles:
http://chocolatelilyweb.ca/tips-on-buil ... stribution
http://chocolatelilyweb.ca/upgrading-to ... stribution