Artix Linux

Overview

Artix Linux is a free, open-source Linux distribution based on Arch Linux, using a rolling release model. It focuses on providing a systemd-free alternative, allowing users to choose between OpenRC, runit, or s6 as their init system. Developed by the community, it supports the x86_64 architecture (with partial ARM support) and offers a variety of desktop environments by default, including KDE Plasma, GNOME, MATE, LXQt, LXDE, and Cinnamon. Using the pacman package manager and the Arch User Repository (AUR), Artix Linux inherits the flexibility and performance of Arch without the complexity of systemd, providing a lighter, faster boot experience. The latest version is based on Arch's current repositories and supports Wayland and ZFS file systems.

History and Development

• Origins:
  • 2017: Artix Linux forked from Arch Linux, driven by developers' dissatisfaction with systemd, with the goal of providing a systemd-free Arch alternative. Early versions were based on Arch's repository, but replaced the init system with OpenRC and runit.
• Development History:
  • 2018: Introduced the s6 init system option, supporting more desktop environments (such as KDE Plasma and LXQt).
  • 2020: Artix Linux stabilized its repository with support for ZFS and Wayland.
  • 2021: ISOs released with support for desktops such as Cinnamon and MATE.
  • 2024: Artix Linux 2024.01 optimized runit and s6, with ARM beta support.
  • 2025: Plans to introduce more init system options and RISC-V support.
• Community and Support:
  • Community-maintained, hosted at artixlinux.org, GitHub, and the forum (forum.artixlinux.org).
  • Supports English and some Chinese (depending on the desktop environment). Documentation covers installation and init system configuration.
  • Reddit users call Artix "a community-friendly, systemd-free version of Arch."
• Open Source License:
  • GPL v3 (core), MIT (some tools).

Key Features

Artix Linux is built around systemd-free, rolling updates, and Arch compatibility, making it suitable for advanced users and developers. Here are its key features:

1. Systemd-free initialization
   • Supports OpenRC, runit, and s6 init systems, with users choosing which one to use.
   • OpenRC: Fast startup, simple configuration.
2. Desktop Environment Support
   • Supports KDE Plasma, GNOME, MATE, LXQt, LXDE, Cinnamon, and more.
3. Performance Optimization
   • Rolling updates ensure the latest software, consuming approximately 400-600 MB of RAM.
4. Security and Configuration
   • Supports firewalld and AppArmor (installation required), with secure default configurations.
5. Development Support
   • Inherits Arch's AUR, supporting Python, Node.js, Go, and more.

Advantages and Limitations

Advantages

• No systemd:
  • Faster startup and lower resource usage, superior to Arch Linux's systemd.
  • X post claims, "Artix's runit init makes the system lighter."
• Arch Compatibility:
  • Inherits Arch's AUR and pacman, offering greater flexibility.
• Multiple init systems:
  • OpenRC, runit, and s6 options, better than Slackware's SysVinit.
• Lightweight:
  • Suitable for low-spec devices, better than Mageia's multiple desktops.
• Community support:
  • Active forum with init system tutorials.

Limitations

• Compatibility issues:
  • Systemd-related packages require patches, which may cause instability.
• Community size:
  • Smaller than Arch Linux, with limited Chinese documentation.
• Limited ARM support:
  • The official ARM version is a beta version, inferior to Raspberry Pi OS.

Summary

Artix Linux is a free, open-source Arch Linux derivative. The latest version is based on Arch's current repositories, supports x86_64 (and some ARM), uses a rolling release model, and focuses on systemd-free (OpenRC, runit, s6) and Arch compatibility. It inherits Arch's pacman and AUR, and provides desktops such as KDE Plasma and GNOME. Artix Linux is characterized by its lack of systemd and lightweightness, but compatibility requires patches and the community is small.