Void Linux

Overview

Void Linux is a free, open-source, independent Linux distribution designed with simplicity, efficiency, and performance as its core principles. Built from the ground up, it's not a fork of another distribution. Developed by the Void Linux team, it supports x86_64, i686 (community-supported), and ARM architectures (including the Raspberry Pi), making it suitable for desktops, servers, and embedded devices. Void Linux adopts a rolling release model, using the runit init system by default, providing the XBPS package manager, and optionally musl libc. It emphasizes minimalism and customization. The base installation includes only the core components, and users can add desktop environments (such as Xfce and KDE Plasma) as needed. The latest version is based on a rolling repository and supports Linux kernel 6.10. ISOs include base (minimal) and flavors (pre-configured with Xfce, etc.).

History and Development

• Origin:
  • 2010: Initiated by Juan RP as an alternative to Arch Linux, the goal was to provide an independent, minimalist rolling-release distribution. Initially using glibc, it later incorporated musl libc.
  • The name "Void" symbolizes "void," representing simplicity and lack of redundancy.
• Development History:
  • 2011: Void Linux 0.1 was released, based on Linux kernel 2.6.38 and using the XBPS package manager.
  • 2013: The runit init system was introduced, replacing sysvinit, emphasizing simplicity and speed.
  • 2016: Support for musl libc was added as a standard option, optimizing memory usage.
  • 2019: Void Linux 2019.11 was released, with improved ARM support and the xbps-src build system.
  • 2022: Void Linux 2022.03, introducing more desktop environment options (such as KDE Plasma and GNOME).
  • 2025: The current rolling release supports kernel 6.10 and optimizes ZFS and Wayland.
• Community and Support:
  • Maintained by a small team, hosted at voidlinux.org, GitHub, and the forum (forum.voidlinux.org).
  • Supports English and some Chinese (via community translations). Documentation is available at docs.voidlinux.org.
  • A Reddit user called Void Linux "a lightweight alternative to Arch, with faster runit startup."
• Open Source License:
  • BSD-2-Clause (XBPS), GPL v2 (core).

Key Features

Void Linux is built around minimalism, runit init, and the XBPS package manager, making it suitable for advanced users. Here are its key features:

1. Standalone Build and Minimalistic Design
   • Built from scratch, not based on other distributions, providing a minimal base system.
2. XBPS Package Manager
   • XBPS is Void's native package manager, supporting binary packages and source code builds (xbps-src), and detecting dependency conflicts.
   • Supports musl libc (lightweight) or glibc (compatibility).
3. Runit Init System
   • Using runit as the init system is lightweight and simple, with fast startup.
4. Rolling Update Model
   • Rolling updates ensure the latest packages.
5. Desktop Environment Support
   • Supports KDE Plasma, GNOME, Xfce, and others, pre-configured via flavor ISOs.
6. Hardware Compatibility
   • Supports x86_64, i686 (community), and ARM (Raspberry Pi). Minimum requirements: 256 MB RAM and 1 GB disk (1 GB RAM and 10 GB disk recommended).
7. Security and Development
   • Supports AppArmor and firewalld (installation required). The default minimal installation reduces the attack surface.
   • Pre-installed Python and Git, and supports Flatpak.

Advantages and Limitations

Advantages

• Simplicity and Efficiency:
  • XBPS and runit are lightweight and fast to boot, surpassing Arch Linux's systemd.
  • X post claims, "Void Linux's XBPS is as simple as apt, but faster."
• musl libc option:
  • Lightweight libc with low memory usage, surpassing glibc.
• Independent Build:
  • Not based on other distributions, a pure ecosystem.
• Community-Friendly:
  • Active forum, providing tutorials for building from source code.
• ARM Support:
  • The community ARM version supports Raspberry Pi.

Limitations

• Limited Documentation:
  • The documentation is not as comprehensive as Arch Linux; beginners should refer to the ArchWiki.
• Small Package Count:
  • The repository is smaller than Arch Linux, requiring the AUR or manual builds.
• Rolling Update Risks:
  • May cause instability.

Summary

Void Linux is a free, open-source, standalone Linux distribution based on a rolling release model. It supports x86_64 and ARM, and its latest version is based on kernel 6.10. It focuses on simplicity, runit init, and XBPS package management, and offers a musl libc option. Void Linux is characterized by its lightweight and independent build capabilities, but it suffers from limited documentation and a small package count.