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Arch Linux RSS Feed DistroWatch.com: Arch Linux

Arch Linux


Last Update: 2026-09-28 01:15 UTC


arch-2026.07.01 (more screenshots in our gallery)  
Arch Linux is an independently developed, x86_64-optimised Linux distribution targeted at competent Linux users. It uses 'pacman', its home-grown package manager, to provide updates to the latest software applications with full dependency tracking. Operating on a rolling release system, Arch can be installed from a CD image or via an FTP server. The default install provides a solid base that enables users to create a custom installation. In addition, the Arch Build System (ABS) provides a way to easily build new packages, modify the configuration of stock packages, and share these packages with other users via the Arch Linux user repository.

Popularity (hits per day): 12 months: 14 (643), 6 months: 15 (570), 3 months: 21 (430), 4 weeks: 16 (534), 1 week: 15 (593)

Average visitor rating: 9.1/10 from 308 review(s).


Arch Linux Summary
Distribution Arch Linux
Home Page http://www.archlinux.org/
Mailing Lists https://lists.archlinux.org/mailman3/lists/
User Forums http://bbs.archlinux.org/
Alternative User Forums
Documentation http://wiki.archlinux.org/
Screenshots DistroWatch Gallery
Screencasts
Download Mirrors http://www.archlinux.org/download/ • DistroWatch Torrent Archive
Bug Tracker http://bugs.archlinux.org/
Related Websites Planet Arch • Arch Linux ARM • Wikipedia • Arch Brazil • Arch Chile • Arch Denmark • Arch France • Arch Germany • Arch Hungary • Arch Italy • Arch Russia • Arch Spain • Arch Turkey
Reviews 2024: MichlFranken (German)
2023: DistroWatch
2019: Ordinatechnic
2016: Keith Curtis
2015: DistroWatch • Keith Curtis • LWN
2011: Guillermo Garron
2010: LWN
2009: It's A Binary World • DistroWatch • Adventures in Open Source • Polishlinux
2008: Guia do PC (Portuguese) • DistroWatch • OStatic • Blogspot • Wordpress
2007: Blogspot
0.8: Polishlinux • Pro-Linux (German) • Skatox (Spanish) • Tuxmachines
0.7: USALUG • Wordpress • OSNews • LinMagazine (Hebrew) • Linux Magazine (PDF) • LinuxUser (German) • ABC Linuxu (Czech) • OSNews • LWN • OSNews
0.5: OSNews • OSNews
0.3: OSNews
Where To Donate, Buy or Try

Recent Related News and Releases
  Releases announcements with download links and checksums:
 • 2012-11-02: Distribution Release: Arch Linux 2012.11.01
 • 2012-10-07: Distribution Release: Arch Linux 2012.10.06
 • 2012-09-08: Distribution Release: Arch Linux 2012.09.07
 • 2012-08-05: Distribution Release: Arch Linux 2012.08.04
 • 2012-07-22: Distribution Release: Arch Linux 2012.07.15
 • 2011-08-20: Distribution Release: Arch Linux 2011.08.19
 • 2010-05-18: Distribution Release: Arch Linux 2010.05
 • 2009-08-09: Distribution Release: Arch Linux 2009.08
 • 2009-02-17: Distribution Release: Arch Linux 2009.02
 • 2008-06-24: Distribution Release: Arch Linux 2008.06
 • 2008-04-16: Development Release: Arch Linux 2008.04 RC
 • 2007-10-07: Distribution Release: Arch Linux 2007.08-2
 • More Arch releases...

  Headlines:
 • 2026-09-09 Arch seeks volunteers to help triage bug reports
 • 2026-08-03 Arch project to block new pushes to AUR
 • 2026-06-19 Arch User Repository hit with more attacks
 • 2026-06-12 Arch Linux reports malicious incident in AUR repository
 • 2026-04-06 Arch Linux changes firewall packages
 • 2026-01-12 Progress on the Arch Linux Package Management project
 • 2025-08-19 Arch Linux experiences denial of service attack
 • 2025-08-01 Arch User Repository hit by more malware
 • 2025-07-19 Arch Linux discovers and removes malware from AUR
 • 2025-06-20 Arch splits Plasma session options into separate packages
 • More Arch headlines...

Table Notes and Explanations

(Please refer to the table below.)
  • Select view:
  • To compare the software in this project to the software available in other distributions, please see our Compare Packages page.
  • Notes: In case where multiple versions of a package are shipped with a distribution, only the default version appears in the table. For indication about the GNOME version, please check the "nautilus" and "gnome-shell" packages. The Apache web server is listed as "httpd" and the Linux kernel is listed as "linux". The KDE desktop is represented by the "plasma-desktop" package and the Xfce desktop by the "xfdesktop" package.
  • Colour scheme: green text = latest stable version, red text = development or beta version. The function determining beta versions is not 100% reliable due to a wide variety of versioning schemes.
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NovaCustom
NovaCustom PrivacyGuard Laptop

NovaCustom PrivacyGuard Laptops - Escape from Big Tech

The NovaCustom PrivacyGuard Laptop is ideal for anyone who prioritizes privacy. Comes with Dasharo coreboot open source firmware and Zorin OS Pro, free from influence of Big Tech.

Star Labs

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Star Labs - Laptops built for Linux.
View our range including the highly anticipated StarFighter. Available with coreboot open-source firmware and a choice of Ubuntu, elementary, Manjaro and more. Visit Star Labs for information, to buy and get support.


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Feature current 2011.08.19 2010.05 2009.08 2009.02 2008.06
overlord
2007.08
dontpanic
0.8
voodoo
0.7
wombat
0.6
widget
0.5
nova
0.4
dragon
0.3
firefly
0.2
vega
0.1
homer
Feature
Release Date 2026-09-28 2011-08-19 2010-05-17 2009-08-09 2009-02-17 2008-06-24 2007-08-05 2007-04-01 2005-01-24 2004-03-01 2003-07-21 2002-12-18 2002-08-07 2002-04-17 2002-03-11 Release Date
End Of Life                               End Of Life
Price (US$) Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Price (US$)
Image Size (MB) 1400-1500 600-700                           Image Size (MB)
Free Download PKG ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO Free Download
Installation Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Installation
Default Desktop                               Default Desktop
Default Browser                               Default Browser
Package Format pkg pkg pkg pkg pkg pkg pkg pkg pkg pkg pkg pkg pkg pkg pkg Package Format
Package Management                               Package Management
Release Model Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Release Model
Office Suite GOffice, Calligra, LibreOffice -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- KOffice KOffice KOffice     Office Suite
Processor Architecture x86_64 i686, x86_64 i686, x86_64 i686, x86_64 i686, x86_64 i686, x86_64 i686, x86_64 i686, x86_64 i686 i686 i686 i686 i686 i686 i686 Processor Architecture
Init Software systemd SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV Init Software
Journaled File Systems Btrfs, ext3, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext3, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext3, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext3, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext3, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext3, ReiserFS ext3, ReiserFS ext3, ReiserFS ext3, ReiserFS ext3, ReiserFS Journaled File Systems
Multilingual                               Multilingual
Full Package List current 2011.08.19 2010.05 2009.08 2009.02 2008.06 2007.08 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 Full Package List
Package current 2011.08.19 2010.05 2009.08 2009.02 2008.06
overlord
2007.08
dontpanic
0.8
voodoo
0.7
wombat
0.6
widget
0.5
nova
0.4
dragon
0.3
firefly
0.2
vega
0.1
homer
Package
alsa-lib (1.2.16.1) 1.2.16.1 -- -- -- -- -- 1.0.14 1.0.13 1.0.8 1.0.2 0.9.4 0.9.0rc6 0.9.0rc2 -- -- alsa-lib (1.2.16.1)
amdgpu (25.0.0) 25.0.0 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- amdgpu (25.0.0)
apparmor (5.0.2) 4.1.7                             apparmor (5.0.2)
apt (3.3.3) 3.3.3 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- apt (3.3.3)
bash (5.3) 5.3 4.2 4.1 4.0 3.2.48 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.0 2.05b 2.05b 2.05b 2.05b 2.05a 2.05a bash (5.3)
bind (9.20.29) 9.20.29 -- -- -- -- -- 9.4.1-P1 9.4.0 9.3.0 9.2.3 9.2.2 9.2.1 9.2.1 -- -- bind (9.20.29)
chromium (154.0.8037.57) 153.0.8010.52 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- chromium (154.0.8037.57)
cinnamon (6.6.9) 6.6.9 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- cinnamon (6.6.9)
cups (2.4.19) 2.4.19 -- -- -- -- -- 1.2.12 1.2.10 1.1.23 1.1.20 1.1.19 1.1.17 1.1.15 -- -- cups (2.4.19)
e2fsprogs (1.47.4) 1.47.4 1.41.14 1.41.11 1.41.8 1.41.4 1.40.8 1.40.2 1.39 1.35 1.35 1.33 1.32 1.27 1.27 1.25 e2fsprogs (1.47.4)
ffmpeg (9.0.2) 9.0.2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ffmpeg (9.0.2)
firefox (157.0) 156.0.1 -- -- -- -- -- 2.0.0.6 2.0.0.3 1.0 0.8 -- -- -- -- -- firefox (157.0)
flatpak (1.18.4) 1.18.3 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- flatpak (1.18.4)
freetype (2.14.3) 2.14.3 -- -- -- -- -- 2.3.5 2.3.1 2.1.9 2.1.7 2.1.4 2.0.9 2.0.9 -- -- freetype (2.14.3)
gcc (16.2.0) 16.2.1 -- 4.5.0 4.4.1 -- 4.3.1 4.2.1 4.1.2 3.4.3 3.3.3 3.3 3.2.1 2.95.3 2.95.3 2.95.3 gcc (16.2.0)
gimp (3.2.6) 3.2.6 -- -- -- -- -- 2.2.17 2.2.13 2.2.2 2.0pre3 1.2.5 1.2.3 1.2.3 -- -- gimp (3.2.6)
git (2.55.0) 2.55.0 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- git (2.55.0)
glibc (2.44) 2.44 2.14 2.11.1 2.10.1 2.9 2.8 2.6 2.5 2.3.4 2.3.2 2.3.2 2.3.1 2.2.5 2.2.5 2.2.5 glibc (2.44)
gnome-shell (51.0) 50.5 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- gnome-shell (51.0)
grub (2.16) 2.16 0.97 0.97 0.97 0.97 0.97 0.97 0.97 0.95 0.94 0.93 -- -- -- -- grub (2.16)
gtk (4.24.0) 4.22.5 -- -- -- -- -- 2.10.13 2.10.11 2.6.1 2.2.4 2.2.2 2.0.9 -- -- -- gtk (4.24.0)
httpd (2.4.68) 2.4.68 -- -- -- -- -- 2.2.4 2.2.4 2.0.52 2.0.48 -- -- -- -- -- httpd (2.4.68)
hyprland (0.56.2) 0.56.2                             hyprland (0.56.2)
inkscape (1.4.4) 1.4.4 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- inkscape (1.4.4)
kmod (34.2) 34.2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- kmod (34.2)
krita (6.0.4) 6.0.4 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- krita (6.0.4)
Package current 2011.08.19 2010.05 2009.08 2009.02 2008.06
overlord
2007.08
dontpanic
0.8
voodoo
0.7
wombat
0.6
widget
0.5
nova
0.4
dragon
0.3
firefly
0.2
vega
0.1
homer
Package
LibreOffice (26.8.0) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- LibreOffice (26.8.0)
libselinux (3.11) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- libselinux (3.11)
linux (7.2.8) 7.2.7 3.0.3 2.6.33.4 2.6.30.4 2.6.28.4 2.6.25.6 2.6.22.1 2.6.20.4 2.6.10 2.6.3 2.4.21 2.4.20 2.4.19 2.4.18i 2.4.18 linux (7.2.8)
mariadb (13.0.2) 13.0.2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- mariadb (13.0.2)
mate-desktop (1.28.2) 1.28.2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- mate-desktop (1.28.2)
mesa (26.2.3) 26.2.3 -- -- -- -- -- 6.5.2 6.5.2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- mesa (26.2.3)
nautilus (51.0.1) 50.3.1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 2.2.4 2.0.7 -- -- -- nautilus (51.0.1)
NVIDIA (615.71.09) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- NVIDIA (615.71.09)
openjdk (27) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- openjdk (27)
openssh (10.5p1) 10.5p1 5.8p2 5.4p1 5.2p1 5.1p1 5.0p1 4.6p1 4.6p1 3.9p1 3.8p1 3.6.1p2 3.5p1 3.4p1 -- 3.1p1 openssh (10.5p1)
openssl (4.0.2) 3.6.4 1.0.0d 1.0.0 0.9.8k 0.9.8l 0.9.8h 0.9.8e 0.9.8e 0.9.7e 0.9.6l 0.9.6i 0.9.6h 0.9.6e -- 0.9.6c openssl (4.0.2)
perl (5.44.0) 5.42.2 5.14.1 5.10.1 5.10.0 5.10.0 5.10.0 5.8.8 5.8.8 5.8.6 5.8.3 5.8.0 5.8.0 5.8.0 5.6.1 5.6.1 perl (5.44.0)
php (8.5.11) 8.5.11 -- -- -- -- -- 5.2.3 5.2.1 5.0.3 4.3.4 4.3.2 4.2.3 4.2.2 -- -- php (8.5.11)
plasma-desktop (6.7.5) 6.7.5 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- plasma-desktop (6.7.5)
postfix (3.11.7) 3.11.7 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- postfix (3.11.7)
postgresql (18.6) 18.6 -- -- -- -- -- 8.2.4 8.2.3 7.4.6 7.4.1 7.3.3 -- -- -- -- postgresql (18.6)
Python (3.14.7) 3.14.7 -- -- -- -- -- 2.5.1 2.5 2.4 2.3.3 2.2.3 2.2.2 2.2.1 -- -- Python (3.14.7)
qt (6.11.2) 6.11.2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 3.3.3 3.3.0 3.1.2 3.1.1 3.0.5 -- -- qt (6.11.2)
samba (4.25.0) 4.25.0 -- -- -- -- -- 3.0.25b 3.0.24 3.0.10 3.0.2 2.2.8 2.2.7 2.2.5 -- -- samba (4.25.0)
systemd (262) 262 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- systemd (262)
thunderbird (156.0.1) 156.0 -- -- -- -- -- 2.0.0.6 1.5.0.10 1.0 -- -- -- -- -- -- thunderbird (156.0.1)
vim (9.2) 9.2 -- -- -- -- -- 7.1 7.0 6.3 6.2 6.2 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.0 vim (9.2)
vlc (3.0.24) 3.0.23_2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- vlc (3.0.24)
wayland (1.26.0) 1.26.0 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- wayland (1.26.0)
xfdesktop (4.20.2) 4.20.2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 3.8.18 4.0.3 3.8.18 3.8.18 -- -- -- xfdesktop (4.20.2)
xorg-server (21.1.24) 21.1.24 -- -- -- -- -- 1.2.0 1.2.0 (6.8.1) -- -- -- -- -- -- xorg-server (21.1.24)

Reader Ratings
Reader supplied reviews for Arch Linux

Average rating
9.1
from 308 review(s)



What are your thoughts on Arch Linux?
Please include a few pros and a few cons, along with your overall impression of the operating system.
Our FAQ page has tips on writing a good mini-review.

Version:

Rating:    out of 10

Your review (minimum 250 words):




Past reviews - sort by:

Version: 2011.08.19
Rating: 9
Date: 2026-09-15
Country: Canada
Votes: 5


Arch offers a modders approach to Linux. You can do what you want and make it your own. The arch install script takes away a lot of the pain that was previously involved in setting up arch. Its well thought out, relatively intuitive and easy to use.

Arch itself is stable provided you exercise common sense. Verify your ISO, install only what you need, ensure you enable UFW or another firewall and whilst some may not agree with me, stay away from the AUR. The Arch pacman repo and flatpaks should offer most users everything they need to get up and running. Update regularly but not obsessively. For me that's every fortnight unless I have a reason to do otherwise. Lastly make sure you do regular back ups using Timeshift or similar.
Its just rude and ignores the fact some many not know what they are looking for or where to begin.

I have had Arch running for years, without major incident or the need to constantly tinker and fix faults. Arch is essentially stable, you just need to be sensible.

Now I'm not going to pretend this is a perfect picture. You need to invest genuine time and effort learning to use the command line. It helps a lot if you have a technical aptitude. As far as forums are concerned I'd say treat them as a "last resort". I rarely use them and as someone who has offered help from time to time, I will say don't respect lurkers who tell newbies to "read the wiki". It ignores the fact some newcomers many not know what they are looking for or where to begin. It could also leave a bad impression in my opinion.

In conclusion Arch is my go to distro for over six years and will remain so. I would like to see more of a focus on security around mirrors and the AUR (as much as that is possible), plus Arch extend its official pacman repo. The latter is happening slowly, which is good to see. Lastly the forum needs more moderation, with lurkers shown the electronic door. (9/10 from me).


Was this review helpful? Yes No
Version: current
Rating: 10
Date: 2026-09-02
Country: France
Votes: 5


Bien qu'en Rolling Release, Arch Linux avec XFCE comme DE est la distribution la plus stable que j'aie utilisée. Il est installé sur mon ordinateur portable (Thinkpad T430) depuis début 2017, ce qui fera bientôt 10 ans.
J'étais auparavant sur Ubuntu et jamais je n'avais gardé un système sans devoir le réinstaller.

Quand j'ai un souci, celui-ci se règle facilement avec la documentation et la communauté.

Je suis un utilisateur averti, sous linux depuis les années 2000.

Bien sûr ArchLinux n'est pas destiné aux débutants mais je le conseillerais à tout utilisateur averti qui cherche un système stable à condition de maintenir son système régulièrement. Je fais les mise à jours quasi journalière.

Pacman est un gestionnaire de paquet très robuste et rapide.

AUR est un gros plus, à condition de prendre garde à ce que l'on installe.

Autre gros avantage, avec ArchLinux et XFCE mon vieil ordinateur tourne comme une horloge suisse :D

petit point négatif, il manque cruellement un installateur graphique et une session live avec un DE à partir de l'ISO. Même un utilisateur averti peut avoir envie de confort.

J'ai installé Manjaro sur d'autres ordinateurs chez moi, plus facile.

ArchLinux est paradoxalement plus stable.


Was this review helpful? Yes No
Version: current
Rating: 10
Date: 2026-08-29
Country: Azerbaijan
Votes: 20


Я полный новичок в мире Linux, но первым моим дистрибутивом стал именно Arch.

В начале было очень тяжело привыкнуть ко всему, особенно после десятилетия использования Windows, но благодаря помощи ИИ, форумов и других пользователей удалось быстро освоиться. Здесь же отмечу, что за счет скрипта archinstall установка сейчас стала гораздо проще. Кроме этого, процесс адаптации сильно ускоряет графическое окружение KDE Plasma. Оно очень гибкое в плане настроек: одним плагином можно сделать автотайлинг на уровне Hyprland, задать внутри всего свои иконки, шрифты и т.п.

Лично мне во всем этом нравится философия минимализма (когда пользователь сам выбирает, что хочет получить по итогу), скорость работы (конечно, есть дистрибутивы и побыстрее, но они либо тяжелее в установке, либо имеют другие "интересности" в работе) и возможность полной кастомизации (можно практически везде задать свой стиль оформления). Что же касается стабильности, то данный вопрос решают Flatpak и Timeshift.

Так, суммарно я уже как полгода пользуюсь этим дистрибутивом и за все время пользования не столкнулся ни с одной проблемой*. Тяжелее всего понять чего именно ты хочешь от девайса, какие компоненты важны будут в процессе дальнейшей работы.** Поэтому при рассмотрении Arch Linux в голову приходит ныне популярное выражение: "Не ты выбираешь дистрибутив, дистрибутив выбирает тебя".

*После одного обновления перестала работать ПКМ, но эта проблема решается ее выключением и повторным включением.

**У меня офисная работа, поэтому из всех пакетов нативно, еще на этапе archinstall, я выбираю только Konsole, Fastfetch, Dolphin и Timeshift (остальное загружаю из магазина Discover)

ps. Безусловно, есть дистрибутивы, основанные на Arch по типу CachyOS или EndeavourOS, но как по мне, субъективное мнение, пользоваться форком это "такое себе дело". В любом случае решать Вам.



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