Exploring the world of Arch Linux derivatives
Children of Arch
Several projects have used Arch as a starting point and shaped it in different ways. We describe some leading Arch derivatives.
Arch's efficient package manager and rolling release format are attractive to many Linux users – including users who are not so inspired by Arch's minimalist hacker aesthetic. Several derivative projects have started with the Arch code base and modified it in various ways. The Arch Linux project currently lists over 30 active derivatives in its Wiki [1]. The list is divided into distributions that directly use Arch, and those that only use parts, such those that use the Pacman package management system but also maintain their own package archives. Some offshoots address specific tasks, such as UBOS, which is aimed at users who want to build devices for the Internet of Things.
This article takes a close look at five Arch derivatives and considers how close they stay to the original. In addition to better-known candidates such as Antergos [2] and Manjaro [3], I'll also look at the newcomer Apricity OS [4], the minimalist ArchBang [5], and the KDE distribution Chakra [6]. All these distributions benefit from Arch's extremely extensive documentation.
Antergos
Antergos was first launched in 2012 under the name Cinnarch, so named because a developer (from Galicia) used Cinnamon as the desktop environment. Later, the developers switched to Gnome and changed the name of the distribution to Antergos. Like Arch Linux, Antergos works on a rolling-release principle and mainly uses Arch sources in addition to some of its own repositories.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Hannah Montana Linux Is Back!
Developer Noah Cagle decided the world needed the once obscure but beloved Linux distribution and gave it a decidedly pink refresh.
-
System76 Refreshes the Lemur Laptop
If you're looking for a laptop with tons of power and battery, look no further than the latest iteration of the System76 Lemur Pro.
-
More than 43 Million Lines of Code in Linux Kernel 7.2
Using the cloc utility, Michael Larabel of Phoronix discovered that Linux kernel 7.2 has over 43 million lines of code.
-
Kubuntu Focus Goes Ultra
The Kubuntu Focus team has upped the performance ante of its M2 and Zr laptops with the latest, greatest CPUs from Intel.
-
Linux Gamers May Soon See Less Mouse Lag in KDE Plasma
Gamers using KDE’s Plasma desktop have been suffering from a slight input delay in mouse movement that could lead to getting fragged.
-
Three Lines of Code Improve Linux Storage Performance
A developer changed three lines of code, giving Linux storage performance a 5% bump.
-
AUR Hit Again with Malicious Packages
Once again the Arch User Repository is plagued by a high volume of malicious packages.
-
Alpine Linux 3.24 Features Fresh Desktops and a Newer Kernel
If you're a fan of Alpine Linux, it's time to upgrade because the latest version has been released with KDE Plasma 6.6, Gnome 50, and Linux kernel 6.18 LTS.
-
EU Open Source Strategy Plays Key Role in Tech Sovereignty Package
Comprehensive measures adopted by the European Commission aim to reduce dependency on non-EU countries.
-
Linux Foundation Report Indicates AI Driving Tech Hiring
Within growing security and skills gaps, AI has been found to be a positive driving force behind tech hiring trends in Europe.