PCLinuxOS

Overview

PCLinuxOS (PCLOS for short) is a free, open-source Linux distribution designed for x86_64 desktops and laptops, centered around user-friendliness, rolling updates, and a Windows-like experience. It's based on Mandrake Linux (later renamed Mandriva and now Mageia), independently forked in 2003 by Bill Reynolds (nicknamed Texstar) with the goal of providing packaging freedom without having to deal with "egos, arrogance, and politics." PCLinuxOS offers KDE Plasma, MATE, and XFCE as default desktop environments, uses APT (from Debian) combined with Synaptic for RPM package management, and boasts over 12,000 packages. It supports Live CD/DVD/USB modes for lossless trials and provides the mylivecd script for creating custom ISOs. PCLinuxOS emphasizes security (virus- and malware-free) and multilingual support (over 85 languages).

History and Development

• Origins:
  • 2000-2003: Texstar created RPM packages for Mandrake Linux, hosted on the PCLinuxOnline website.
  • October 2003: Texstar forked Mandrake Linux 9.2 to create PCLinuxOS, collaborating with the Live CD Project to develop an independent distribution.
  • Texstar's motivation: "To provide an outlet for packaged source code without having to deal with egos, hubris, and politics."
• Development History:
  • 2006: MiniMe (minimal), Junior (basic desktop), and Big Daddy (including OpenOffice.org) ISOs were released, optimizing the Live CD.
  • 2007: PCLinuxOS 2007 (.94) was based on Mandriva 2007, introduced a new codebase, required a complete reinstall, and added a "Dark" login screen and 3D effects. - 2008: Released PCLinuxOS 2008 MiniMe and GNOME Community Edition (similar to Windows Vista), with Live USB support.
  • 2009: PCLinuxOS 2009.2, featuring KDE 3.5, the last version compatible with the 2007 series.
  • 2010: PCLinuxOS 2010, introducing KDE SC 4.4.2, the ext4 file system, and support for XFCE, LXDE, Enlightenment, and Openbox.
  • 2011-2013: PCLinuxOS 2011.6 (June 2011), 2012.02 (February 2012), 2012.08 (August 2012), and 2013 (the first 64-bit release, April 2013), featuring KDE 4.10.1 and Kernel 3.2.18. - 2016: 32-bit support discontinued, only 64-bit ISOs and updates available.
  • 2017: KDE FullMonty edition discontinued due to the end of KDE 4 support.
  • 2025: PCLinuxOS 2025.07, offering KDE Plasma 5.27, MATE 1.30, XFCE 4.18, and Flatpak support.
• Community and Support:
  • Maintained by Texstar and a small team, with community support via forum.pclinuxos.com and pclosmag.com.
  • User feedback states that "PCLinuxOS is more stable than Linux Mint, without systemd."
• Open Source License:
  • GPL.

Key Features

PCLinuxOS is designed with user-friendliness, rolling updates, and multiple desktop environments at its core, making it suitable for Windows users and developers. Here are its key features:

1. User-Friendly Desktop Environments
   • Available in KDE Plasma (modern, feature-rich), MATE (stable, fast), and XFCE (lightweight, stable).
   • KDE Plasma mimics the Windows interface, making it suitable for users transitioning from Windows.
2. Rolling Updates
   • A rolling update model ensures you stay up-to-date without reinstalling.
   • RPM packages are managed using APT and Synaptic.
   • Weekly or bi-weekly updates are required to avoid system instability.
3. Software and Multimedia Support
   • Pre-installed Firefox, Thunderbird, LibreOffice, GIMP, VLC, and Clementine, along with multimedia format support.
   • Addlocale is provided to support 85+ languages.
4. Hardware Compatibility
   • Supports NVIDIA, ATI, and Intel graphics cards, with pre-installed drivers. - Minimum requirements: 2 GB RAM (4 GB recommended), 12 GB disk (20 GB recommended).
   • Supports Live USB and virtualization (VMware, VirtualBox).
5. Security and Privacy
   • No systemd, uses SysVinit, virus- and malware-free.
   • No default sudo, requiring a root password for enhanced security.

Advantages and Limitations

Advantages

• User-Friendliness:
  • KDE Plasma offers a Windows-like interface, superior to Deepin's unique style.
  • X post claims, "PCLinuxOS's KDE interface is like Windows 10, but more stable."
• Rolling Updates:
  • No need to reinstall, keeping your system up-to-date.
• Multimedia Support:
  • Pre-installed codecs, including support for VLC and Clementine.
• Hardware Compatibility:
  • Supports NVIDIA, ATI, and Intel graphics cards, making it suitable for older hardware. - Community Support:
  • Active community, with tutorials available in PCLinuxOS Magazine.

Limitations

• Single-Developer-Led:
  • Maintained primarily by Texstar and a small team, which may impact long-term stability.
• Rolling Update Risks:
  • Extended periods without updates may lead to system instability, requiring a reinstall.
• Package Delays:
  • Packages are rigorously tested, resulting in slower updates than Arch or Fedora.
• No 32-Bit Support:
  • Only 64-bit support has been available since 2016.

Summary

PCLinuxOS is a free, open-source Linux distribution centered around the user-friendly, rolling-update-friendly KDE Plasma interface. It is based on the Mandrake Linux fork (2003) and supports the x86_64 architecture. It offers KDE Plasma, MATE, and XFCE desktops, uses APT and Synaptic for RPM package management, and supports Flatpak and multimedia codecs. PCLinuxOS is suitable for Windows users and desktop applications.