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Void
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Reader supplied reviews for Void
Average rating
9.3 from 145 review(s)
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-09-17
Votes: 19
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Void is an absolutely minimal yet pragmatic distribution that is rock solid and completely seamless in usage.
As a former arch user it is the stability (if you can say that about a rolling release distro) that wins me over, because I know I won't have to dedicate any more of my time to maintain it, than I am personally willing to.
It is the perfect "blank-canvas" to make your own linux environment on top of, especially the no-DE install which is as light as it gets.
Personally, one thing I'd like to see is most major versions of python available in the main repo as packages, as many libraries just aren't forward compatible with latest python and you de'facto need to use pyenv or whatever python version manager to use them.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-09-11
Votes: 22
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Void gets an unusual 10 from me because it is a perfect "small" distribution. It is also a rare isolate, with no dependency on any other distribution.
I installed the xfce desktop version on a 8th-generation i5 desktop. The installer is text-based and linear - a series of questions one after the other, of which the only slightly tricky one is about disk partitioning. You do need to know a bit about this, but there are good guides online which, if you want, can simply be followed.
Reboot and you have a vanilla xfce desktop, literally - the only non-xfce application is Firefox, and there is no theming.
So quite a bit of work is required to get things as you like them.
Why bother with that? There are two main reasons other than the ISO being a now-tiny 966MB:
- Everything is lightning fast. Firefox opens in about 0.6 seconds, which is comparable to my (three generations newer) Windows laptop; Ubuntu, on the same machine, takes 3-4 seconds. Even the package manager is fast; xbps-install -Syu, the default command to query the repository and update any out-of-date packages, comes back in less than a second if there are no updates.
- You have complete control. As I noted, there are no extras - xfce is about as small as it could be to be capable of functioning - and everything above the minimum must be installed. I developed a scripted install which can do everything from a standing start.
As an aside, I was amused to note that my VPN (Mullvad), which on the well-known distributions is encouraged to be used from a clumsy GUI, works far better when set up directly in OpenVPN using two commands.
Void is a contradiction at first sight - a conservative rolling release distribution. There are only a few package updates a day, sometimes none, most are infrastructural, and it is clear that everything is carefully considered. It is not the type of rolling release where huge swathes of packages live or die.
The repository has 14,000 packages, which is a fraction of better-known distributions. However, I was finding everything I needed including, crucially, flatpak and restic (excellent command line backup and restore), and the flatpaks I installed were of obscure applications which would probably have required flatpaks even on Debian.
I have given a lot of praise; demerits depend on your point of view. Those not familiar with Linux might have some trouble with the installer, the need to install and configure everything, and the emphasis on the command line - there is a graphical installer (octopi, the Arch/Manjaro installer, altered to work with xbps), but it is weak - but a bit of learning is a good thing and the astounding performance makes it all worthwhile.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-09-08
Votes: 12
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Void Linux is an excellent distribution that stands out for its speed and lightness. Its focus on simplicity and performance makes it an attractive option for users looking for an agile and efficient system.
However, one aspect that could be improved is the documentation. Although the Void Linux community is active and supportive, more complete and organized documentation would be a great help to users, especially those just starting out.
Another point to consider is the installer, which could benefit from the ability to create Btrfs subvolumes more easily. This would make it easier to manage the file system and make backups.
Regarding the availability of mirror servers (mirrors) in South America, it is an area in which Void Linux could improve. Having Tier 1 mirrors in this region would help speed up downloads and provide a smoother experience for South American users.
Additionally, it would be great to see popular apps like Brave Browser in the Void Linux repositories, which would make installing additional software even more convenient.
Despite these small points of improvement, Void Linux has earned a place in my top three Linux distributions alongside Arch and EndeavourOS. Its speed and lightness are its strong points, and with some adjustments and expansions, it could become an even more attractive option for users around the world.
Translated by Google Translator.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-09-06
Votes: 5
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I love Void, have used nothing else for about 5 years on various laptops, desktops and Raspberry π's. Before that it was generally Ubuntu, or Suse (since about 2003, I've been around a long time :-)
I love its simplicity, understandability, speed, stability and community. The Void Linux Reddit channel has helpful and knowledgeable members if you ever need anything.
Of all its many positives, I think for me the most important one is that Void Linux is something one can understand! It has not deviated from the Unix principles of small tools for specific jobs, unlike every systemd distro. If something goes wrong with Void, I can fix it, because there's no magic...
Also, it's a rolling release, but amazingly stable. I've left my main desktop powered off for about a year (I was travelling), and then updated it (sudo xbps-install -Syu). Nothing spectacular, it just worked.
All in all a big 10 out of 10, I'm not moving anywhere else anymore.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-08-29
Votes: 11
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Sure, installing and running Void Linux is more difficult than the same for Zorin, but Void itself is much easier for the same than Arch Linux. Incredibly fast bootup and performance using runit and the XBPS pkg management suite.
The Void Wiki pages were also surprisingly easy to follow along with for someone like myself who tends to get lost in more extensive distro documentation such as the Arch Wiki.
Have been using Void in its glibc version with its pre-made Xfce desktop for ease-of-use.
Haven't had any need to install packages (e.g., from Flatpak) that aren't already directly installable thru XBPS.
Definitely ready to upvote Void's many 10-rated reviews here.
Excellent job, Void devs!
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-08-28
Votes: 10
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I love what Void is doing. The docs are perfect - no wiki with opinionated or out-of-date or opinionated-and-out-of-date articles, just stuff specific to Void and it's use. You want a ZFS root filesystem and ZFSBootMenu? Not a problem - just follow the linked guide from the docs.
XBPS is quick and does everything you'd expect and if there is some esoteric package missing from the repo, use xbps-src to build it and then get it added (with you being the maintainer)
My only complaint is the lack of a forum. Yes, there is reddit, but it's not quite as good as being able to search a particular subforum for specifics. But then again, forums have their own headaches so it's not like this is something that keeps me awake at night.
Finally, it's nice that I can run Void on ARM/x86/x86_64 with GLIBC/MUSL depending on my needs. The maintainers are doing an amazing job.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-08-13
Votes: 15
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this is the most boring distro i have tried so far – in a good way. i am not hi-tech person. i just wanted something reliable i don't had to bother with upgrading and troubleshooting every so often. the issue i had with video while setting it up were easily fixed via the documentation. since it's not arch, debian or ubuntu, there was a software not officially available by a service i needed, but there was unofficial flatpak so it was fine. the lack of gui interface for updates and install was mildly confusing but i solved it with a text file on the desktop with the relevant commands to copy-paste. glad i could leave windows behind. i can't believe i am saying this about a linux os, but it's LESS high maintenance.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-08-12
Votes: 11
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It is a rolling release but stable, best of both worlds. In 6+ months of use I have not once broken my system with an update. xbps package manager is the best package manager, extremely fast (timed at second fastest in a popular youtube video comparing them) and has a lot of packages. It uses runit, arguabely the best init system. You can easily get .deb and .rpk packages to work by making your own .xbps package or if you don't want to you can use something like flatpak or distrobox or nix-package-manager which work flawlessly on void. It also has the option of musl instead of glibc. It is so minimal it installs in about 20 seconds on my laptop. It is also extremely easy to install with the install script but you can install it manually using chroot. The review below mine complains that it is too hard to install but I figured it out in a few minutes after never doing manual partitioning in my life before and got it right the first time.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 8
Date: 2023-08-09
Votes: 7
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Void is a super interesting it is fast and most importantly stable, however the install process wasn't that great for me, only been using Linux for a few months and I came to Void from Debian, which has a nice graphical installer as an option that helps you set up the partitioning part as a new user by using a "guided partitioning", this is not the case in Void, there you have to do it yourself, or they recommended it.
Anyway I had to stop the installer *sigh* and boot back into Debian and open a browser to read the partitioning notes in their "handbook", but I'm still not sure if I did it the right way in setting up the partitioning, can't even retrace in my mind what I did, plus I'm bad at math, either way everything seems to work as it should. I went with their Xfce edition, and it is just stock Xfce, boring, but I know how to make Xfce look better, just wish they could've given it their own kind of theme, in the Void spirit.
If Void had an installer similar to Debian's or like the Calamares installer then I'd give Void a 10 in rating.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-08-08
Votes: 1
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Stable rolling release, community driven, super fast boot, awesome xtools, fast package manager.
Nvidia drivers easy to install and work.
So far using it for all my development work, as well as gaming by installing Steam, which
works fully. The repositories aren't the richest thing around but they contain everything I needed so far
for my work as a C developer as well as a casual gamer. If anything ain't there, you can either install it
through flatpak if available, or even consider adding the package to the repos by opening a PR.
Void cured my distro hopping.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-07-24
Votes: 16
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Using Void Linux for almost two years now, it has firmly established itself as my go-to Linux distribution for various reasons. Its simplicity, minimalism, stability, ease of use, beauty of design, up-to-date packages, and versatility make it an exceptional choice for both newcomers as well as the more experienced Linux users like myself (I am a Linux user since the late 1990s -- Red Hat Linux 4.2 was the first Linux distro I used, soon followed by Slackware). I have found myself relying on Void Linux across different machines for my production work in creative design, particularly for video productions.
One of the primary reasons I am drawn to Void Linux is its simplicity. The distribution is designed to be straightforward and uncluttered, providing a clean and efficient user experience. This simplicity extends to the installation process, making it quick and painless to set up on various machines. Whether it's a powerful desktop workstation or a lightweight laptop, Void Linux seamlessly adapts to different hardware configurations without any fuss.
Its minimalist approach is another aspect that resonates with me. Void Linux offers a bare-bones installation, allowing users to customize and tailor their environment to their specific needs. I appreciate the freedom it provides in building a system that suits my preferences and workflows without unnecessary bloat.
One of the standout features of Void Linux is its stability. Even with its rolling release model, I have experienced consistent performance and reliability throughout my usage. Frequent package updates keep the system fresh, and the Void Linux team ensures that updates are well-tested before release, contributing to its rock-solid stability.
Moreover, the ease of use makes Void Linux an ideal choice for users of all levels. The user-friendly package manager, XBPS, offers a simple and intuitive interface for installing, updating, and managing packages effortlessly. I've found myself spending less time tinkering with the system and more time focusing on my creative projects.
Beyond functionality, Void Linux boasts a visually pleasing design that enhances the overall user experience. The choice of desktop environments and window managers complements the clean and elegant aesthetics of the system. Its beauty adds to the enjoyment of working on my projects, making it an environment where creativity can flourish.
In my work as a filmmaker, Void Linux has consistently met and surpassed my expectations. Its performance, combined with the availability of a wide range of multimedia software and drivers, makes it a capable platform for handling video editing (I use Blender), audio (Audacity), and other creative tasks.
In conclusion, Void Linux has become my go-to Linux distribution for its simplicity, minimalism, stability, ease of use, beauty of design, up-to-date packages, and compatibility with my creative design work. Its versatility and reliability across various machines make it an ideal choice for users looking for a productive and visually appealing Linux experience. As I continue to rely on Void Linux for my production work, I look forward to its continued development and growth in the Linux community.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 9
Date: 2023-07-22
Votes: 5
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not just another "based on" linux os. Stands on its own, no sysd but runit instead. Packages are more limited than if you were using arch or forked arch (artix) for a sysd free install. However, works fine, a bit of cli config., so not really suitable to someone totally fresh to linux, but if you already have a reasonable amount of knowledge, fancy something different and non-sysd, then this works very well. Got it with lxqt, lightdm, lightlocker, touchpad gestures and all good. You can package your own apps too, if something you use is essential but absent from void repo.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 8
Date: 2023-07-16
Votes: 7
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Tried this on my aged AMD Am3 4 core Phenom CPU based motherboard and Nvidia graphics card. I am presently running Devuan as my daily driver for about 4 years after jumping ship from Solus. My observations are that VOID takes ages, 70 seconds to start and 60 seconds to shut down, unlike Solus that starts in about 18 seconds and 2 seconds to shut down. Devuan takes about 20 seconds to start and 4 seconds to shut down. Once started they all behave virtually the same except that Devuan takes the least memory of about 345mb with Solus taking 1.4gb. Void takes about 580mb. I did not find anything amiss with Void, but it ain't what I expected it to be after reading all the hype about it in the XFCE environment. The only benefit I found out about it was that it has the latest Firefox browser and uses Runnit as the initializer, just like Devuan does. I left Solus mainly due to the fact that it uses SystemD to initialize, which is tantamount to going against the spirit of Linux.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-07-16
Votes: 2
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- minimal init system and package manager
- rolling release and stable*
- up to date
- highly customizable
and the devs make the most based decisions (they were first to adopt libressl once (although dropped bc most programs rely on openssl), they dropped systemd without being cringe about it, first-class musl support and the mininal and high performing package manager and init system both have been built from scratch)
i gotta add its one of the few distros to still support 32bit systems
kudos to them void devs, theyve absolutely killed my distro hopping
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 9
Date: 2023-07-12
Votes: 0
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stable rolling release, supports multiple cpu architectures and an optional alternative libc (musl). uses xbps, a fast and simple package manager, supports flatpak and nix in their repos (you can use flatpak to install glib-compatible programs in musl if necessary for example, although a good amount of packages are natively supported) and uses runit, minimal init system, instead of systemd, which wont let you down in most use cases at all. popular desktop enviroments like gnome, kde plasma and xfce are supported and xbps-src can be seen as an alternative to getting software not found in the repos (similar to aur)
only disadvantage i can think of is the installer itself is a bit incomplete compared to most for example, it'll get the work done but manual work is required to set up full disk encryption (or any way of disk encryption), which is already supported in most other distro installers, automatic partitioning or automatic btrfs installation with subvolumes. but it does get the work done and i notice it does get more features with each update
great distro overall, definitely worth a try
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-07-11
Votes: 15
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Void is just the #1 distro by project ranking with over a hundred vote so what can we expect? Astonishing stability for a rolling release distro, speed, low memory footprint, fully customizable. Runit is simple to use and very solid. I personally use Void with Gnome 44.2 at the time of writing this review: a killer combo. The Documentation contains all you need to know really. Those updated images are released at a perfect timing when voidbuilds unofficial images don't ship with void-installer for a undetermined period of time. I'm not afraid of systemd distros but Void kills distro-hopping: it's that good! There's even a funny reddit post entitled "Void is boring" because of how rock solid it is and once you're done installing what you want and customizing it, you simply "sudo xbps-install -Su" to stay up-to-date. Try it in a VM if you're skeptical and if you like your experience, go ahead and install it on bare metal. I had the best downloading speeds with the Global mirror. You've been warned: once you go void, you never go back!
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-06-12
Votes: 9
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Wow, what a great distro.
It is incredibly stable & fast.
I have been running Void for about a year, and I have never had any crashes, nor major & minor bugs.
The installation process is straightforward, the only work you have to do is installing the partitions manually.
XBPS is a solid package manager, very fast, never had any issues with it.
Void Linux is pretty minimal, allowing users to build their systems from the ground up.
My only complaint is that the user base is quite small, leading to some packages & apps just not having the same amount of TLC that they would get on other big name distros.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-06-08
Votes: 18
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Void Linux is an independent Linux distribution that is renowned for its speed, versatility, and simplicity. Here are some of the pros and cons of Void Linux:
Pros:
Fast and lightweight compared to many other distributions.
It comes with runit as the default service manager, which is lightweight and efficient.
Void Linux has a rolling release model, meaning that the user always has access to the latest software updates.
It uses the XBPS package manager, which is simple and easy to use.
Void Linux prioritizes simplicity and stability over fancy features.
Cons:
Void Linux has a small user base, which can lead to a lack of community support and documentation compared to more popular distros.
The installation process can be complicated and may require some technical expertise to complete.
Some proprietary software may not work due to conflicts with Void Linux's open-source philosophy.
While it's not difficult to use, it may take some time for users who are new to Linux to get comfortable with its minimalistic design.
Overall, Void Linux is a great option for experienced Linux users looking for a simple and lightweight distribution with a rolling release model. While it may not be the best choice for beginners or users who need access to proprietary software, its speed, simplicity, and efficiency make it an attractive option for those who value those qualities.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-06-07
Votes: 16
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What I appreciate most about Void is its exceptional clarity, allowing me to understand every aspect of my operating system.
Void is the most user-friendly Linux distribution I have ever used. It simplifies everything remarkably, adhering closely to the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) principle. Moreover, it boasts impressive speed and stability, while also evoking a BSD-like experience.
The package manager is incredibly straightforward to configure and operates at lightning speed. I have never encountered any issues with upgrades, as they have always been stable and reliable. Though the number of available packages is impressive for a niche distribution, I personally prefer running Nix in parallel for greater control and access to additional packages.
Working with runit (the init process) is a pleasure, as I can comprehensively understand each step of the boot process and customize it according to my requirements.
I had reservations about Arch due to systemd, Gentoo due to lengthy compilation times and portage, and Artix due to its inconsistent package manager. However, I love Void for its utilization of runit, xbps (the package manager), and its overall stability.
Every one of my machines runs on Void, and I am currently in the process of testing it on my server, where it has performed flawlessly so far.
The positives of Void are:
Runit (I highly recommend trying it; it is truly remarkable)
xbps and its impressive mirror speed
Strong documentation
However, there are a few downsides:
While the documentation is excellent, it could be more comprehensive, similar to the Arch Wiki or the Gentoo Wiki.
It would be beneficial to have an option in xbps to test a package, either through a subshell like Nix or with the ability to remove a package using xbps-remove -o.
The installation process is not as enjoyable as Gentoo or Arch, as it provides more guidance (although this does not result in a bloated system).
I have tried numerous distributions, including Ubuntu, Debian, Arch, Gentoo, Artix, and OpenBSD. In my opinion, Void comes closest to OpenBSD in terms of consistency and simplicity while still delivering the performance expected from a modern desktop system.
Once you enter the Void, you will find that Void becomes your final Linux distribution.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-06-04
Votes: 2
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Void Linux is exceptional!
I use Void Linux since 2016-2017. It is fast, stable, most stable distro I have ever used after trying many of them, like Slackware, Mandrake, RedHat, Debian, Ubuntu, Arch. I am not saying that other distros are bad! Void Linux can work out of the box. If not ,you may need to configure a few things. Thus you learn and tell to Void Linux doing what you want! Once you configure you will enjoy of the simplicity of Void Linux. I use for studying and streaming movies, listening music etc... No bullshit bloatware or braking changes. No systemd! Runit is amazing, fast, configurable. Xbps package manager is great! I don't need to install 3rd party packages. Because Void Linux has what you need. If it doesn't the sure you can install.
My setup is fully encrypted installation with LUKS, LVMM Glibc
for graphics reverse prime sometimes optimus
for security apparmor, nftables with encrypted dns over tor
desktop dwm, bspwm
login/display manager emptty
terminal alacritty
This must be Void slogan :)
I highly recommend Void Linux. It is like addiction, you cannot go back and use some other distro after using Void Linux for many years!
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 9
Date: 2023-05-28
Votes: 5
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I'm new to linux, and so far I'm very happy with Void. It took me a few tries to install it correctly, as I kept messing stuff up, but at the end, it feels very rewarding when everything is up and running as it should, and I learned a lot from the process. It feels light, using 1GB of ram with KDE, and very fast. Runit is great and simple. The package manager as well. I'm dual booting with Windows but have no need to go back. Some of the software isn't the latest, but for most of the things that I need and use regularly, they are. I highly recommend this distribution, and am looking forward to becoming a better linux user through it.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-05-27
Votes: 5
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Void Linux is fantastic!
It's simplicity, stability, performance and no-nonsense approach is exceptional!
It boots so fast it's borderline hard to believe! (and this is on old T420s with a cheap ass used SSD)
I literally hit power on, took a sip of my tea and the dam thing was at the login screen! Holy fast!
The package manager is very good and easy to use.
Updating is super easy as well.
The OS is very resource efficient. Sitting at about 250MB with XFCE4 desktop loaded.
In essence, everything you need and nothing you don't need.
I wish more distributions would follow this as an example.
I literally am blown away with how amazing this distro is. It's a breath of fresh air and a welcome change from all of the over complicated (for nothing) distributions out there.
Please give it a try you absolutely will not be disappointed.
A big thank you to the developers of Void for making such a beautiful thing!
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-05-26
Votes: 0
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if you have gotten at least a little used to the structure of linux systems and the use of the command line, try Void Linux. The fast boot and package management; low memory consumption; stability of the system even though it is continuously being released; and many other things make this distro amazing.
On one of my notebooks I decided to install a very basic gnome-shell, giving preference to flatpak applications, and this was perfect for me; on the other I installed a version with plasma kde, and with applications from the repository: this brought my old notebook back to life.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-05-20
Votes: 9
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void is not for everyone, but it is for sure for me
no other distribution allows me to tinker arround with it while it stays as stable as void does
the rolling aspect frees me from the need to upgrade every half year
also the packages are fresh, just few days (sometimes hours) behind arch linux, so i usually don't have to deal with any containerized software because i already get the newest versions, but as i understand it, the packages are tested to run properly, that's where stable comes into play
the package manager is blazing fast, from my experience the only one faster is pacman when in multithreading mode and even then it's a close one. there's no software store out-of-the-box but there are some available in the repos in addition to several little helper tools to ease your workflow with package management
only downside for new to void users might be the installer which isn't your fancy calamares or ubiquity, but an ncurses interface, but well, you only need to install it once and void will run pretty much forever so that's that
also there's no branding or custom versions of desktop environments, for example xfce, plasma or gnome all come in vanilla versions, so customizing is up to you
the software available is pretty complete, some proprietary software is not in the repos, but available via the void-packages github repo full of templates to build it yourself if needed, these void-packages are way less cluttered than the AUR
the learning curve is quite steep, but worth it, not necessarily for linux beginners
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-05-01
Votes: 6
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stable,modular,fast,systemd-free but not that user friendly but its great it can run on everything you can so much things on void linux the documentation is well done you can find anything you want or troubleshoot your problems the runit init system is so simple and easy to use you just have to practice it i tried so many linux distirbutions and couldnt be comfortable with them but when i tried void it was so great its like building a really tiny small machine with using the most simplest tools and putting things together to your liking.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-04-08
Votes: 1
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It seems to me that without a doubt al guna is one of the most optimized GNU/Linux distributions I have tried, it is authentic, although its focus is on advanced users, those who know how to handle the distro correctly can get a lot out of it, great project, I hope they keep improving, that is the definition of Rolling Release stable, it is impressive the optimization of xbps packages, and the lightness when booting the system, and with Runit that complements to have a very stable, fluid and fast system!
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 8
Date: 2023-04-02
Votes: 1
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After reading a lot of positive reviews, I have installed it with XFCE. The installation process was very straightforward and went really fast.
It's been over three months in use. No doubt, the OS is lightweight and stable, and works very well. With the rolling release, the kernels and libraries as well as some very popular packages are up to date. As a pretty long time (15+ years) Linux user and distro hopper, I feel that Void Linux is a great distro, probably as excellent as Arch Linux.
The only disappointment is that some packages (such as vokoscreen, retext etc.) are way too outdated, even about a couple of years behind. I know some people woud say you can get the newest versions installed via Flatpak. Of course, I can. But that's not the point and the ideal solution.
All in all, I really appreciate the great work done by the dev team. I love Void Linux and look forward to seeing it getting better and better.
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Version: 20191109
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-03-28
Votes: 0
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void linux is a pretty badass little distro which I have found refreshingly stable and having pretty wide compatibility... it was one of the first nix distros that I was successfully able to install and bring up and running on a Raspberry PI board, which was pretty outstanding a feat in my mind, because none of my usual "go-to" distros like manjaro or slackware proved to be "embedded-system ready" enough that the ordinary old burn-and-boot from ISO routine was sufficient to bringing those systems up and running ... but void linux's RPI iso's really were that simple all I had to do was burn the ISO to a pen disk and stick that f--ker in there and BAAMM the installer successfully copied the whole image straight to the mini SD-card, and after removing the pen and rebooting; alas, the newly installed system went up without a hitch... so cudos to the makers/maintainers of this distro, because it really is a damn good one..,
--Nathan A. Wallace
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-02-25
Votes: 1
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void is a breath of fresh air and my immediate favorite after a lot of distro hopping--I knew I had a winner once I had tried it.
The void-installer was simple to use and I appreciated how it did not make choices for me such as partitioning scheme--it does require you to create /boot/efi and set the types correctly, but the text is helpful so it was straightforward. I've installed both the xfce and non-graphical images and both are great and work without a hitch.
It eveb ran just fine on a cheap corei3 4-port appliance I bought off of amazon as a replacement for a pc running pfsense--it boots up in about 5 sec. On my dev box running a gen1 ryzen cpu, it boots up lightning fast in a couple of 1-2 seconds.
xbps package system is really fast and easy to use. Also, I really like the simplicity of runit for running daemons and I do not miss systemd at all.
The docs are informative without spelling out everything and the community seems friendly and helpful afaict. I'm installing it on all my devices I love it so much.
I've tried running both the musl and glibc flavors and the musl one felt even lighter weigh but was still rock solid. I didn't have any musl-related issues with the packages I used.
It seems really well thought out and has a BSD feel. I haven't had any complaints yet and the rolling releases are stable.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-02-19
Votes: 2
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I've been running Void Linux on servers, desktops and laptops now for two years and have absolutely no reason to turn elsewhere. I'd originally come from a commercial Unix past, then FreeBSD, then Debian when I needed the capabilities of virtualization on Linux, then Arch for a short while. I landed on Void because it, like Arch, is a rolling release, but with a focus on stability.
Void is well thought out, stable, rolling distribution.
The community is friendly, knowledgeable and helpful.
Void's package manager is quick and won't leave you with an unstable system.
I simply couldn't ask for more.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-02-03
Votes: 8
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the only distro that makes you want to scream of joy because it's THAT good:
-Rolling release while being super robust
-nice package selection in the repositories (qtile and pfetch and alacritty are there)
-runit is simple to use
-good wiki
-unofficial daily builds available
-installs on SD card
-if an app is missing from the official repository, you can always install flatpaks
-light on ressources
-my favorite game runs smoothly without stuttering
-Wish I've discovered this hidden gem sooner because it puts an end to distro hopping
I use Void btw!
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 9
Date: 2023-01-23
Votes: 1
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Kind of an incredible distro. I've been using it for about 3 or 4 months now. Installing it took me a bit to understand. The installer is straightforward enough but I had no previous experience partitioning drives, so I basically copied someone else's recommended settings from a youtube tutorial. I broke the system, but then read some more and finally figured it out. In the end, ironically, it only takes about 5 minutes to compile and install the system. I used xbps to pull down most of my list of software apps, and I was able to use my Ubuntu i3 dotfiles pretty close to 1-for-1 for all my software. I haven't needed to mess around much with runit yet but the few times I did it was straightforward and I found examples from other folks online of what I needed to do.
For package management I installed vpm to use (a wrapper around xbps that simplifies it), which makes it work pretty much the same as apt or even slightly simpler now (since updating also upgrades). I love that the packages are newer than the options on my previous Ubuntu-based system, and that even though they're more up to date, I don't fear them breaking. Just to be safe I back up my files and programs at least weekly, but I don't anticipate any major breakages in case one day the rolling release messes me up, but so far everyone on the (mostly) friendly void subreddit have seem to say that updates breaking things rarely or almost never happen.
Once getting a nice setup going on Void I haven't been continually tweaking and refining the way I used to do on i3/Ubuntu or other systems. I'm just straightforwardly happy with my system. I'm running this on an Alienware desktop a couple years old. It flies so fast. Have been able to get games to work fine for me. I don't feel like I'm missing anything. And it's a pleasure to write code and do development work and graphic design and game design on this system.
I'm feeling really thankful I've stumbled across Void and I pushed through the slight complications of getting it installed properly.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-01-07
Votes: 17
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Void is a great distro for experienced Linux admins/devs, offering even more flexibility than Arch. The core is very minimalist and may not be immediately functional, as it is not built for a "distro-hopper" but for someone who understands and is interested in the functional aspects, such as: musl libc option, ARM option (e.g. raspberry pi), ability to cross-compile pacakges with xbps-src, optional systemd (and almost everything else). I have installed void on both a fairly powerful tower (ryzen 7, rx 580) and a fairly crappy laptop (dual-core celeron N3050, 2G ram) and have been daily driving it on the tower for nearly two years. In that time I experienced one instance where I froze during the boot sequence, due to a kernel regression (this can happen with any rolling release distro). I was able to boot using the live ISO from a USB drive, mount my hard drive manually, and roll back the kernel. Within an hour or two, Void linux IRC chat had helped me identify the problem and I used a workaround until the next kernel release.
I do NOT recommend Void for new users, certainly not the musl option. I myself started with Ubuntu (at work), then Mint, then Manjaro, then Arch and now Void (still on glibc). This progression from "it just works" distros down to Void makes for a more reasonable learning experience. And now that I'm here, I'm not going back. I still use Arch linux on one of my machines only because I haven't been bothered to switch over yet. But the setup is mostly the same: sway WM with autotiling, qutebrowser for web, alacritty (terminal) for almost everything else. No login manager or DM. Like another review said, void is best administered from the command line. I have briefly tried BSD as well which felt similar, but less modern and functional in my opinion. For example, on Void, I was able to run steam games using Proton.
Here's an overview of the pros/cons:
Pros:
- very light core, even systemd is optional
- very flexible, offering ARM and musl versions and a package creation suite with cross-compilation capability
- active IRC chat for support
- large repositories considering the size of the community and age, partly because of the nice xbps-* suite
- one of the best package modern management suites (xbps-* tools) that is fully functional like pacman unlike the rather academic guix or nix experiments (which are interesting in their own right)
- offline manual with decent basic documentation (accessible even in roff format from the vt console)
- rolling release (I consider this a pro, not everyone likes this e.g. for servers)
- good hardware support, basically like Arch
Cons:
- takes time to set up, not a plug-n-play distro (it's Linux after all)
- small community means updates to niche packages can be slow
- repository mirrors can be slow and need to be monitored, the Australian mirror stopped pulling upstream updates and I didn't realise for a while (someone should port Arch's reflector...)
- lacking polish in some areas, of the top of my head e.g. the recommended log reader svlogtail is underdocumented, ISO images can be old and use dash shell (not user friendly) and the manual is a bit too spartan (there is always the Arch wiki for most things)
I haven't tried musl nor ARM yet but I'm waiting for a raspberry pi pico (and some free time) to see what I can do with it. I have seen multiple blogs from people who have installed it on rPi though, so it should work.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-12-09
Votes: 15
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Void Linux is extremely minimalist. Its installer is the fastest, easiest and simplest I've ever seen. The user needs to search for the necessary and correct packages to install the applications. The result is a very fast, customized, lean distro.
Excellent for old machines. The xbps package manager is incredibly fast and easy, the best Linux package manager.
Void Linux is a great alternative to Arch Linux, it has its qualities without systemd. Runit is cleaner. I am very satisfied with the end result.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-11-29
Votes: 24
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After years of distro hopping, I settled on Fedora for a few years. After more and more obscure tools that powered my workflow weren't available on Fedora, I jumped ship and went back to hopping. A friend recommended Void, and it's been working great for me the past 3 years now. It's very stable, while still providing fairly up-to-date packages. Support for less common architectures, and a very welcoming community that makes contributing easy were the other things that drew me in, because as a user on a Pinebook Pro, I didn't want to locally compile each updated package. So, the solution was to contribute the slow compiling rust packages I needed to the official repository, and my PBP would receive binary packages from there. Worked out great for me.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-11-23
Votes: 25
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Void is a very simple, minimalistic and bloat-free. Linux distro. I have installed it on my laptop without any problems so far. It reminds me of Arch with which they share the same "kiss" philosophy but without systemd. It boots very fast, faster than Arch i'd say, its repositories include a large number of software and it has xbps which is a nice package manager and easy to use. I have installed my printer sofrtware and also nvidia optimuss for my secondary graphics with prime without any issues. I use xfce desktop but changed the default lxdl display manager with lightdm which for me has better interface.
I have no cons to report yet.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 1
Date: 2022-11-22
Votes: 0
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I foolishly tried this distro because of YouTube recommendations. Big mistake! Couldn't get thunar or pcmanfm to recognise external hdd or usb until I found a suggestion about using udevil. Vim keeps throwing error messages. Basically, this distro is just a dreadful waste of my time, unlike every other de or tiling window manager that I have installed on Arch. As an example of Void time wasting, I always install gvfs with thunar. The preferences page then kept telling me that 'perhaps gvfs isn't available'. It took me hours to work out how to get the startup to recognise the SDDM display manager. The documentation makes no mention of needing to add a symbolic link for dbus. I am quite a seasooned Linux user and I won't give Void Linux another second of my time.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-11-08
Votes: 22
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My Background
I am new to Linux; after 20 years of using windows, I needed to breath life back into an aging laptop. I started looking into Linux systems, as they were rumored to be light on resources. I started with Linux Mint, then moved to Fedora. After a few months, I felt comfortable enough in the command line to want to try and configure a system without a point and click installation.
Enter Linux Void!
After reading through the documentation, I decided to dual boot Void. It took me a few tries to successfully install and here we are. It forced me to learn how to partition and then mount the partition, as well as Swap and EFI. I'm sure this will get a few chuckles but what I'm getting at, is this is a great experience. When things don't work, the documentation is available and the answer is buried inside it somewhere. As it does not seem to be a 'mainstream' Operating System, a web search usually does not yield the answers to a problem I'm facing. This forces me to understand what the problem is, instead of to solve it with a simple copy and paste from the web. Had I attempted becoming proficient at using this distribution without other introductory experiences (LM, Fedora) I would have most likely gone back to windows out of frustration.
This leads to my review. Without a strong computer background, I would recommend this not be an introduction to Linux. I found everything well organized, simple, and clean. I have not discovered any errors or discrepancies from the documentation during my use. BUT, not everything is available and integrated like with other systems. It takes some tinkering to get things going. My usual web browser is not available from the xbps package manager. So that means I'm building it (or resorting to flatpak). I also have been discovering bash scripts out of necessity. I cannot stress enough, this has been and continues to be a learning experience. So if you are not proficient with Linux be prepared to learn or this might not be an enjoyable experience.
Thank you to the development team for the excellent work!
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-10-27
Votes: 23
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Easy to work with, without excessive layers of abstraction. The Runit init system is excellent both for package installed daemons and for daemons you code up yourself. Lots of packages, all the usual suspects, although a few esoteric packages are missing. Due to the rolling release model, packages tend to be more modern than most other distros. Unlike some rolling releases, Void seldom chokes on updates, and when it does, you can usually wait a few hours until the packages are rebuilt. However, updates become harder if you wait more than a month between updates. I do updates every couple days. Void packages a full compliment of window managers and desktop environments so you can have the exact workflow you want. Support via the #voidlinux IRC channel is quick and helpful.
Void isn't for the raw newbie. Installation isn't dead-bang obvious, and Void isn't as hardware-forgiving as Ubuntu or Mint. Void is an outstanding distro for those who graduate the newbie stage and take off the training wheels.
My perception of Void Linux is it's a distribution for people who want to boss their computer rather than having their computer boss them.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-10-27
Votes: 24
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Challenging, but rewarding.
Install only those applications you need, the desktop you want. Services are enabled by the user manually and run via runit, not systemd. You'll find no odd, unknown, or other software that is not needed running on your machine. Unless you put it there.
The documentation is short and to the point. Everything that you need to know in order to install, configure, and add a desktop with applications is explained on the void website.
After going into distro hopping mode for a few weeks I came back to void, mainly because everything that I need works without fluff or drama. KDE/Plasma, Steam, printing, scanning, sound, Falkon browser and kdeconnect all up and running fine.
If new to Linux you will learn a lot during setup. Read through the documentation and understand it before you begin. If you are old to Linux you will appreciate the control and speed that void provides.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-10-26
Votes: 25
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After many years with most famous Linux distros, Void feels like a fresh and new world, so fast and bloat free !
It makes linux experience delightful with fast, extremely responsive. simple OS.
Runit init system should be default in all Linux OS for its speed and simplicity!
Gives control to users to decide what they want from their OS and does not come in between user and thier jobs.
Such a quality Linux OS should be in top 20 list.
Thanks to the developers of this excellent OS!
Try it once to see the difference!
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-10-24
Votes: 26
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Minimal and lightweight. I like that it feels similar to BSD in many ways. The XBPS package manager seems fine and dandy so far. I much prefer the runit init system over systemd. Fast and simple. No black boxes.
My initial intention was to configure Openbox or dwm, but I am still groovin' on Xfce for the time being. It feels very fast and responsive on my not-so-stellar hardware.
I really can't think of anything bad to say about Void. True, it does require additional effort to get a fully working system, so it is not for everyone. But the reward for your extra effort is a fast, minimal system that works just the way you want it to.
If you have a bit of Linux experience under your belt, give Void a try!
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-09-10
Votes: 21
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A small, minimalist distribution with good repositories, a lightning fast package manager, comes with the packages it needs to function while remaining smaller than arch, doesn't need internet to install, and honestly seems to "just work". I found this to be a far better way of doing minimalist linux than arch, and the runit system is easy enough to use. I would most definitely recommend this distro for anyone looking for something lightweight and extremely functional. As an added bonus it also if fast to get up and running, as much as the arch style chroot install gives you control, having to do everything manually when all you need is a basic installation is a waste of time, the chroot style install is still there for those that want it, but the option to use an installer is very nice.
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Version:
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-09-06
Votes: 17
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Straight to the point, lightweight, stable and cohesive system. Running this on an ancient 2005 laptop with only 2GB of RAM, Intel 1.6Ghz processor, and no SSD. Installation is a cake-walk with just 5GB of installation with all software I need (6GB if I add wine and some windows) and everything runs fine without bottlenecks/freezes, but of-course I don't do activities that are resource intensive. Documentation - to the point and mostly adequate.
I used it for about six months when version 20210218 ISOs were released and I was very satisfied with the CINNAMON desktop. Briefly was away to windows and missed void too much. Finally returned to void couple of weeks ago. Disappointed to see that they now publish only XFCE ISO. I would request to publish the CINNAMON ISO instead. Their CINNAMON desktop is exceptionally well-cooked and is anytime better than XFCE!
Nonetheless, I installed the 20210218 CINNAMON ISO and XBPS upgraded it to latest, with just one hiccup - that of the 'certificate invalid' error which seem to be a more general issue at one point and that is not because of upgrading from an age old installation ISO.
I would like void to add MotionBox or some application that can play videos not just from youtube, but from general web.
Cheers to the Void team and the community around it.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-08-28
Votes: 10
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Very good distro if you are looking for something simple and fast, that at the same time, can make you learn more about Linux. Void's documentation is very easy to understand and straight to the point, so it doesn't get too tiring to read.
Here you don't have systemd, but runit, which is much less resource-hungry and extremely simple to use, as well as to script your own services. On the other hand, it does not have a service manager, nor can it handle their dependencies by itself, so it is something to keep in mind.
Void's xbps package manager is also quite solid and fast and although it doesn't quite catch up to pacman in this sense, it is much more cohesive with the commands, although they are a bit lengthy and can be a bit awkward at first, but nothing that an alias can't handle if you want to. Void also offers a recipe repository for packages that are not in the "official" ones, similar to AUR, which can be used to package them. Although some packages are not on pair with upstream, here the stability will be greater than in a bleeding edge distro, which I particularly prefer.
Another point I like is that it is independent, and has its "own" style, with some of its own tools written from scratch. I am very satisfied with Void as a whole, long life to it.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-08-27
Votes: 10
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Straight to the point, lightweight, stable and cohesive system. Running this on an ancient 2009 laptop with only 2GB of RAM, Intel Atom 1.86Ghz processor, and a 160GB HDD, no SSD. Surprisingly everything I need runs fine and without bottlenecks/freezes, but obviously I don't do any activity that consumes too much of it. I used to use Debian before, but I wanted something that I could "dynamically" update without having to eventually reinstall to a newer version and stuff like that. So I heard about the Void and got interested. I've been using it constantly for about two months now and I'm very satisfied.
Cheers to the Void team and all the community around it.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 1
Date: 2022-08-25
Votes: 1
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Very strange distro in many ways to be considered a continuous release. The provided ISO images are almost a year old, several packages haven't been updated in a long time, some of extreme importance, like both libc implementations (glibc, for example, still uses a version from two years ago!). Many people keep asking if the Void "died" for some of these reasons, and despite the answer being "no", it constantly seems to be in a terminal state. I've been on Void for a few months, and it's complicated, even some PRs you open sometimes seem to be simply ignored for the time they take to be accepted or denied (when there is any response), as it will depend solely on the interest of some core team member. Apparently there aren't any devs who work full time on Void, so even update PRs sometimes take a while to get accepted. The system itself is ok, when it doesn't have certain bugs on certain hardware, as was my case with touchpad (maybe something with the kernel), and bluetooth. It's a bit overrated for the current situation, which seems to be degrading over time.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-08-21
Votes: 9
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The best experience I've had in the last few weeks of distrohopping trying to find something that fits my tastes, or at least most of them.
Void is quite fast and stable; frequent updates; supports more than one implementation of the libc libraries; supports multiple architectures; has tools to build from templates, such as slackbuilds; does not use systemd and opts for a simpler and more cohesive init system with what it proposes; it has a pretty sick name. :)
It's only my second week on the Void, so so far I have nothing but praise for the team and the community that keeps it alive. My computer, which is practically a calculator for today, has been running like a ferrari since installing Void. Maybe it's a little scary right away, but the documentation is quite enlightening about most of the doubts you might have. Strongly recommend trying it!
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-08-01
Votes: 14
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A distro for the enthusiast who desires to learn more about Linux.
Very minimal and diy-oriented, with some nice documentation.
The repositories aren't massive like debian or arch, but they'll have everything you truly need.
(Never forget that you can install flatpaks, download appimages, and clone programs with git.)
The "runit" init system is fairly fast and lightweight, with my system running at ~200mb of ram on idle. (w/ graphical session and daemons)
Enabling/disabling services is not as simple at first compared to systemd, but a quick look at the documentation or a tutorial video will help with that.
Don't forget to check "/usr/share/doc/" for further documentation, specifically with installing steam.
Final thoughts: Void was the first distro I tried after using Mint for a month, and at the time I wasn't experienced enough to properly use it. After a few months of watching linuxtubers and using Fedora, I had learned enough to be comfortable with "The Terminal(tm)", man pages, and general troubleshooting. I was merely an enthusiast who desired to learn more about linux, so Void just werked.
10/10
ps: set bash aliases for the xbps commands and nevah gib up.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-07-25
Votes: 14
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I like it. Not much else to say. I think it does everything it needs to do correctly and doesn't get in the way of the user as much as many other distributions. This is freedom at its peak.
What's so good about it?
It's fast
Blazing fast because it's based on a modern kernel and uses a modern toolchain. It's also a lot smaller than the other distributions so there isn't much software that gets in the way.
Unlike trillions of other existing distros, Void is not a modification of an existing distribution which makes it immune to upstream issues. Void's package manager and build system have been written from scratch and they are well worth the switch. They're wa better compared to package managers like apt, pacman or even emerge.
Void uses stable rolling release, which means it focuses on stability, rather than on being bleeding-edge. Install once, update routinely and safely every time.
XBPS (while it can be hard at first) allows you to quickly install/update/remove software in your system and features detection of incompatible shared libraries and dependencies while updating or removing packages (among others). Refer to the Handbook for an overview.
Additionally, Void has a system called xbps-src, inspired by NetBSD's pkgsrc, that can build natively or cross compile for the target machine, and supports multiple C libraries (glibc and musl currently) letting the user use the more secure and fast C library alternative.
Overall, if you have not tried Void, do it. Enter the void and see order in the chaos.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-07-23
Votes: 9
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void is for powerusers. solid stable, fast pkg manager, simple init management using runit, user-friendly void-packages on github, supoprts multiple archs, suports muscl.......etc.
Unlike trillions of other existing distros, Void is not a modification of an existing distribution. Void's package manager and build system have been written from scratch.
void is fastest linux distro on earth.
runit is a simple and effective approach to initialize the system with reliable service supervision. Refer to the Void Handbook for an introduction.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 9
Date: 2022-07-21
Votes: 5
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Nice "distro"but i have some "problems":
-The installer does not save the keyboard layout and time zone clock option, nor does it tell you anything about the file system except when you go to the installation section.
-The default servers are excessively slow, with no option to easily change them.
-Compiling e.g. firefox froze my computer, on other systems like Linux Mint there were no problems.
-No option to install ZFS in the installer
Apart from these "problems" it is a distro that I recommend, the "feeling" of stability and speed are remarkable.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 9
Date: 2022-07-18
Votes: 5
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It looks like Arch Linux but package installs are even faster than Arch. Hard to break, stable. You have the possibility to convert any deb package you need into a void package. Turning on and off the computer is quite fast, especially on old computers, this is evident.
There is a small shortcoming, which is that it is not very famous and therefore you may not be able to easily handle a problem you may experience. But these problems are also minimal.
In my opinion, despite everything, it is an operating system that deserves the first place in the Linux World.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 7
Date: 2022-07-18
Votes: 0
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If you're somebody who wants to move along away from Windows you're NOT GOING TO LIKE THIS DISTRO. On the main site I couldn't find an ISO for desktop style other than XFCE. (Now I wish for *this one* I had the look of Salix.) Personally I prefer MATE because I need to save my sanity. This distro doesn't even come with the screenshooter which is just sad, had to acquire that package right after "screenFetch".
Had to decide between "glibc" or "musl" for 64-bit. Felt adventurous and thus picked the latter. Maybe it's just my computer. It's a 10-year-old laptop that was handed down, originally came with Windows8 and actually has last year's disgusting update instead, and also Manjaro and Solus. It has a *real* hard drive not internal SSD, but it's very slow. This OS is difficult to recommend because, after install and updating, it comes up with no sound and one has to install packages to fix it. Not sure if I obtained Pulse Audio successfully. If someone really wants a volume icon on the system tray, must install another package for that and must add it to the "session". Be forewarned: Wine is 64-bit only on "musl". Even worse it *refuses to run anything* that comes in a Windows installer. I managed to run the latest 64-bit OpenMPT but that's all, and it produced no sound. It forced me to dump "musl" in favor of "glibc". Went to install 32-bit Wine after the "standard" Wine but the "xbps" packaging system refused unless I downloaded *another package* to enable "multilib" repositories. No problems afterward. Ah well at least the "xbps" is better than the horrible GUI options on other distributions, and better than the command counterparts of the others mentioned. It would be even better if it were like the Fedora 35 GNOME terminal.
I want to like this but I have at least one other "independent" distribution which is a bit better, but not recommendable neither. I don't consider myself an intermediate Linux user but I'm no beginner neither.
One more thing: this OS has one of the latest Linux kernels (v5.18.9) at time of this writing, if it means anything.
by "mnrv-ovrf-year-c"
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 3
Date: 2022-07-17
Votes: 1
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Since Void hasn't had a new ISO release for nearly 10 months in order to test it out on my laptop (that needs kernel 5.15 or later) I had to download the unofficial Void live ISO which came with kernel 5.15, so I opted for the LXQt ISO, it booted up fine, suspend and resume worked fine, but my touchpad didn't work correctly, quite often clicks and movements didn't register, which made it very annoying to navigate, so I opened up the LXQt touchpad settings and it complained about only supporting libinput but synaptics was being used, so after a quick google search I discovered that you need to remove xf86-input-synaptics, which I did, then I logged out and logged back in again but it still didn't work correctly, and still complained about using synaptics even though it wasn't installed anymore.
So I gave up on it, too much hassle, but in my short time trying Void I noticed tab completion didn't work, which was pretty annoying because you had to type the commands out fully, and what made it even worse still was that it didn't seem to store any command line history either, so pressing the up or down arrow keys would do nothing but fill the terminal with some weird symbols, which meant a lot of repetitive typing, overall it just felt like it lacked polish, which is understandable for a small distro with few developers, so despite trying all the major distros and some more obscure ones I've yet to find one that can topple Tumbleweed.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-07-10
Votes: 15
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Void Linux is such a great Distro. I have tried many, many Distros, however no other Distro (even Arch) has a better base than Void Linux. The things that I look at a Distro is the package manager, the init system, the bloat that a Distro may have and if the Distro suits my use case. My biggest use cases are:
- Playing video games on Steam while talking to friends (if applicable ;-;) on Discord and listening to Music on Spotify
- Recording videos on OBS and editing them in Shotcut
- Programming
- Customizing a desktop (Cinnamon or Xfce suits me)
What I also would like to have in a Distro as an option (it is not mandatory to be pre-installed):
- Flatpak
- AppImageLauncher
- NVIDIA Drivers
- adb
Void Linux does all of that the best because of how fast it is. No other Distro takes less resources than Void Linux does, which I have searched for some time as well as I only have 8 GB. I use Void Linux with a Cinnamon Desktop Environment, and it feels responsive and fast. After the installation, you only have a Xfce Desktop, Mozilla Firefox as a web browser and a display manager in terms of graphical software, which I really like. From that on you can start including things that you would like to have on your operating system.
Here are the pros and cons that I have:
Pros:
- Fast installer: Maybe not an easy installer, but very fast. It takes like less than 5 minutes to install it if you know what you're doing.
- Runit: Very fast and is a breath of fresh air from all the systemd-based Distros
- Xbps: Huge repositories as well (see above).
- Not bloated.
- Stable: Void Linux is bleeding edge with being stable as well.
- Good documentation: Not Arch Linux level, but pretty good as well as a helpful Subreddit.
- Independent Linux Distro: I like Independent Distros. I like it when a Distro doesn't have to rely on another Distro because it's a fork. With that Void Linux is free from flaws that Distros such as Salix have.
+/- Some desktop environments had issues. GNOME's version was a little behind before (now changed though). KDE Plasma's themes store had an error that I couldn't fix as well.
+/- It's not easy to use. Now for me this is not a problem, but may be.
Cons:
- Void Linux still uses LXDM: I would like to have LightDM by default instead because LXDM is not really maintained. Sure you can change it, but this is a change, that they could've made.
- ISOs are very old: Now this is not really needed, but for a rolling release Distro, these are damn old.
- Some symbols are not being rendered: I couldn't fix it sadly, but I believe that it may not be Void Linux's problem.
So this review is very long because I appreciate Void Linux. It's unique, not for everybody, it's fast, and it suits my needs. I want to see this Distro be better and better.
Also, to that one person who had issues with Steam: Use the Steam xbps package as I had many issues with Steam as a Flatpak. So it's not Void Linux's problem. Just get the nonfree repos (see Void Linux's documentation) and do (for NVIDIA users at least)...
sudo xbps-install -S libgcc-32bit libstdc++-32bit libdrm-32bit libglvnd-32bit nvidia nvidia-libs-32bit
This distro is amazing. Try it out if you're distrohopping.
|
Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-07-03
Votes: 18
|
Void Linux... oh man! this is a brilliant distro which is a hidden gem in linux world imo.
I'm currently running Void on everything! from an old Dell laptop with 512MB of RAM (which i use for readings), to my main Desktop and Laptop which is an optimus laptop, and the installation of nvidia drivers was a breeze!
it is compact, not bloated and fast thanks to runit.
PROS:
-simple, fast, tiny
-runit init software (super fast boot even with HDD in comparison to other init softwares)
-xbps package manager
-damn stable
-the installer is fast and also gives much flexibility.
CONS:
-documentation could be more thoroughly written.
-not beginner friendly.
-a lot of configuration needs to be applied after install, depending on your use.
one more thing which is very nice is that Void ended my frustrating days of distro-hopping.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-06-21
Votes: 11
|
Void is an excellent distribution, although it is not as popular as other distros you would be take into account if you are looking for a Rolling Release distro without SystemD, I have not had any problem finding packages with the Chrome exception that I resolved by building with the same tools that Void provides for 3rd party packages. It is a hidden gem in the sea of distributions.
This is one of my favorite distros along with Ubuntu LTS, Fedora, and Arch because is easy install any package for programming or anything else.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-06-21
Votes: 7
|
excellent distro. Stable to use. It uses flatpak and can install google, firefox, steam, GIS software, libreoffice, onlyoffice, WPS office, CAD software, golang, freeplane, musescore, inkscape, gimp. I have installed it on several workstations for our employees and the others with other distros are asking that it is installed on their computers as well. The advantage here is as a rolling stable release, i do not need to install it every so often when doing upgrades.
I installed GNOME and it works brilliantly.
It boots superfast.
I find it is more stable than manjaro (which broke within 3 weeks of using it)
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 9
Date: 2022-06-01
Votes: 7
|
Void is the system a lot of folks will graduate to when they get fed up with what they've tried before. First off, as a rolling release, it really is stable as opposed to just promising to be that way and then acting the opposite. The installation certainly isn't Calamares but it's logical to navigate and there are ample step-by-step guides you can follow. I used one of them to install KDE after completing a base network install and the whole process was flawless. There was no sound but a quick Google search threw up a Reddit post for this and two terminal commands later everything was working. The speed is amazing even on a low powered Celeron desktop. What additional software that isn't in their own repos will be in Flatpak for most users. A great system.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 9
Date: 2022-05-31
Votes: 7
|
Excellent distro. Low footprint, about 750 MB live usb that has xfce. I installed on an old weak machine, not even sure I’d be able to put anything in it (Intel Atom N255, Acer Aspire D257, 1 gb RAM, 320 gb space). I tried other distros in it, but not with much luck. Some distros were not compatible with a 32 bit machine, and others, while they booted, made the machine so slow that it was unworkable.
Void filled that void.
Small footprint yet speedy and a complete feel to it. Burning the usb with ‘dd if= …’ was a breeze. The live usb loaded but networking needed some work. But as it uses wpa_supplicant, it was not difficult to work with. I learned that you need to get the networking first before running ‘void-install’. Once you set the partition the disk and create the Mount points, installation was painless. The guided install is reasonably straightforward, and stepwise guidance worked.
… And fast! It took under 30 minutes from start to finish.
It booted into an xfce desktop. Networking needed tweaking. It needed an updating of the packages.
After that, the speed was impressive, even for such an old, feeble machine. I could install Ungoogled Chromium, and with five tabs open, the fan whirred a little. I have not extensively tested yet, but the most impressive thing about it is the speed.
The handbook is quite detailed.
It needs a decent forum and a community.
I will use it in my other machines as well. Made me happy.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 9
Date: 2022-05-29
Votes: 5
|
Void on the base is the best Linux Distro. XBPS is extremly fast and has many packages for a niche distro, Runit is extremly fast and it's not very resource heavy. Developers should really try to fork Void instead of the usual Ubuntu/Debian and Arch. I would really recommend this distro if you are a experienced Linux user, but for a new user I can't recommend it. It doesn't do many things automatic and it's very bare bones in terms of the desktop side. I wish that this distro would end my distrohopping though :(
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-05-18
Votes: 12
|
Void is amazing! it resurrected my old ASUS laptop that has an Intel Pentium Dual Core T4200 @2.00GHz processor, a 250GB HDD and only 2GB RAM. The system boots using only 230MB of RAM, with xfce as desktop environment. I try to keep my system as simple as possible, but even I was still surprised at the low resource consumption. Maybe it can consume even less resources by using just some window managers instead of a full DE. Anyway, I highly recommend Void if you are looking for something simple, fast and stable. And even more if you are looking for something to use on a computer with few resources and/or an old computer like I was.
|
Version: 20210930
Rating: 8
Date: 2022-05-15
Votes: 2
|
Void is good for everything, besides gaming compatibility.
There is simply too much involving Steam and Proton that relies on System D. Of my usual test games (RE8, Red Orchestra 2, CSGO, Super Animal Royale, Insurgency Sandstorm, Day of Defeat, Warframe) three of them did not launch, and the ones that did had terrible performance despite gamemode being active. OBS Studio lags unless you set the process priority to high.
Besides games. Once Void's up and running and configured it stays that way. Perfectly stable. But if I can game with better performance using the same software and drivers using other distros, I will continue to look elsewhere.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-05-04
Votes: 22
|
Void is a pretty cool distro. Although it is a rolling release one, the packages are not always the latest possible, in order to ensure greater system stability and integrity, making it more reliable and safer to use.
That said, it is obviously lightweight, fast and stable. This fact is also due to the init system that comes by default with Void, called Runit, which has a very small code base, making it safe and simple to use.
The repositories are good, though you might not find one package or another, but it is not too difficult to build one yourself from a template. Something similar to PKGBUILD in Arch, but much simpler, which is a plus. The only downside in this context for me is the fact that there are few mirrors, so depending on your location, it may or may not make downloads a bit slow.
If you are not a big fan of documentation or reading, perhaps Void is not for you, because for one thing or another, it will be of paramount importance. On the other hand, once you get your system set up, it will be one of the best environments to work in out there. :)
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 8
Date: 2022-05-01
Votes: 8
|
I want to make Void perfect, it is my favorite distro. But it's hard to recommend to users at this point without also helping set it up for them.
The ISO is very old for a rolling release. And it isn't being updated because they can't seem to get it reliable enough for new stable installations. Hence why there is only an old base and xfce iso available.
If you are outside of the USA, the default mirrors are going to be WAY too slow for you to use, and to change them isn't exactly hard, but it's a thing that is easy to mess up and requires outside knowledge to understand from the getgo. Then having to use the one enabled mirror to install the other mirrors/repos, then changing the newly installed repo's mirrors as well. It isn't exactly difficult but it'll take some time to sort it out and can be frustrating at first. It isn't the installation that is difficult, it's a script that resembles the archfi installer script, the difficult part is the initial setup to get to a working desktop.
That is where my complaints stop, because once Void is set up and ready to go, it stays that way through upgrades, forever. I say forever because in my 2 years using Void I have not had to manually intervene (beyond xcheckrestart and xpurge) at ALL for anything with my Void installation through upgrades. How static it remains at this point for a rolling release seems too good to be true. A miraculously stable and reliable rolling system with powerful and simple tools for service management. When it's set up, it's a Linux dream come true. There are just some roadblocks you need to overcome to get it, ones that go beyond "just learn from the wiki or documentation" and instead go into the realm of "yeah they should probably fix this."
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 9
Date: 2022-04-30
Votes: 1
|
Very fast(responsive) and stable. One downside: no google browser.
|
Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-04-27
Votes: 5
|
I have been using void for about a year now.
The installation process is quite simple using the void-installer. Although it does not offer btrfs automatic volume creation, I am using ext4 so far. It's very light weight and the runit system is quite easy to use.
The xbps package manager is simple to use and have't run into any issues yet. For the general use case its enough.
I have found most of the packages I need and even the xbps-source offers some more options.
I have used the xfce version, then the base install with bspwm, dwm, spectrwm and now I even managed to install qtile 0.20+ as well using pip. Good instructions on reddit for qtile. Even xmonad package is now available.
It's very fast and stable. I will recommend to anyone who want a fast, light weight and stable linux.
Arch overall is great - you will find all the packages you need and great wiki. The only issue I have run into with it some times the updates break your system. Happened on Arco KDE where I could not login with correct credentials and then the internet just stopped working. I replaced that with Garuda +Zen + BTRFS and KDE.. and so far it's stable and fast.
But I still prefer using void and only occasionally switch to Garuda.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-04-18
Votes: 16
|
Perfect Linux distribution. Very simple and fast. Huge repositories.... Stumbling upon some software that I want, that is not in the official repositories, is a rarity that has not yet happened to me.
Ultra-lightweight package manager that lacks some of the functionalities of more mainstream Linux package managers, like interactive queries during install, yet supports depsolving and all the features I could possibly need.
Ultra-lightweight init system that is homegrown, super stable, and stupid simple. Does what you tell it to, and nothing more.
I would say this is the best Linux distro out there for general use.
Void would particularly appeal to tinkerers, power users, and people who dislike systemd.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-04-18
Votes: 14
|
I'm a long-time Slackware user who looked for something smaller to run on old machines, on SBCs, and in virtual machines.
I'd say Void is, like Slackware, a stick-shift distribution best administered from the command line. Some differences are:
Void's runit init system is different from, though in my limited experience no better or worse, than classic SysV init. Once you get used to it it's straightforward to configure.
Void's rolling release model keeps things up-to-date. I haven't used Void long enough to find out if this introduces stability issues. I don't plan to run any servers with Void so I can put up with occasional minor glitches.
Void's XBPS package manager is convenient on a small system which doesn't come out of the box with everything installed. The repositories contain plenty of packages and they're already compiled, which is great for small machines. The multilib repo contains 32-bit software which runs on a 64-bit system, I installed 32-bit Wine and it ran perfectly. With XFCE and a few random smaller packages the root filesystem showed 3.4 GB used. Adding Wine with its 32-bit libraries brought that up to 4.5 GB.
Void has excellent documentation on its web site, that's a big help for new users. In that respect it resembles FreeBSD.
Some Void device drivers, like network interfaces, have names which resemble BSD more than Linux. Since I use FreeBSD as well as Slackware that's not a problem, but it could surprise Linux people.
I started with XFCE but tried both IceWM and JWM from the repository. Both worked fine, as did booting to a character console. I also tried the base (glibc, no GUI) version and had no problems.
Two other lightweight distros I looked at were Alpine and AntiX. For me Alpine is a little too lightweight, musl and busybox don't support everything I'm used to. FWIW Void also has musl versions and lists busybox in its repo.
For me AntiX is a little too automatic, I prefer manual configuration. Also the AntiX repos are a bit limited and not every Debian package works as it should on AntiX.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-04-14
Votes: 11
|
For some time I heard that Void was a super lightweight distro that could run on a potato and was also very stable. So I decided to give it a try and get my conclusions for myself, based on my experience using it on my work computer, which is not very good by the way.
I must say that I was pretty impressed, I had no problems with the installation or post installation process and everything was running smoothly on my Lenovo L4070 with only 4GB RAM and a Core i3 processor. There aren't many mirrors options to download the packages and also repositories aren't as big as in some other distributions out there... but at least in my experience, I didn't miss anything that wasn't already there or there wasn't a template ready to compile from source.
The learning curve is a bit accented (which may be a negative point for some), since it is not a distro that comes with practically everything ready to use out of the box after installation. However, it is something that particularly pleases me, I like to leave things the way that is best useful for my needs, and thus, consequently I end up learning more about the system.
Enjoying the experience so far, 10/10 for me.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-04-07
Votes: 9
|
Reviews FR
C'est LA distribution qui m'aura fait switcher de windows 10 Pro à linux.
Mais surtout, c'est linux sans systemd !
Très simple de prise en main et super versatile il est aussi super bien desservi par xbps et sa collection de paquets ainsi que runnit pour les services (je lui prefere personnellement vsv qui simplifie grandement le processus de gestion des services).
On arrive meme a jouer a Elden Ring dessus c'est dire !
Hyper stable pour une rolling release, ça fait plus de 6 mois que c'est ma dailydistribution.
Les paquets sont assez a jour pour ne pas avoir a crasher tout le systeme comme sur une arch.
Je recommande cette distribution qui pour moi respecte ce que devrait etre un OS :
Libre
Leger
Versatile
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-04-01
Votes: 11
|
I am using Void on my 7 year old Dell 3612 it only has 2GB of soldered RAM but with Void it is extremely useable.
The install process is easy if yoy simple install XFCE from the live system and then you simply have to navigate your way through setting up all the basic stuff like printers, zip, sound etc. It is not difficult you'll learn a bit a long the way, a quick online search will find all the answers.
This is my second dable with Void and I will stick around.
Nice light on resources I love it.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-03-30
Votes: 14
|
I've been on Void for a few weeks now, and I have to say that it is one of the least resource-hungry systems I've tried so far, you can easily run it smoothly even on a well-dated machine, without too many headaches. Here you have runit as the boot system, which is much lighter and much faster than the bloated systemd. In addition, it gives you much greater control over which services you want or don't want to keep running, and nothing but the necessary. To download its packages, Void has xbps, which is also very easy to use, efficient and fast, I would say it is second only to pacman in these terms. Here you don't have an extremely large repository like the AUR on Arch, but here you have xbps-src, similar to pkgbuild, which is able to create for you a package based on a template file, and the best, isolated from the system. But it's not all roses, you have to keep in mind that configuring and maintaining it requires some effort, but at the end of the day it totally pays off because you end up learning many aspects of the system and how Linux and other useful tools work in general. So, it's a great travel into the Void, after all.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-03-22
Votes: 12
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void linux is the system that consumes the least, even alpine linux consumed more. I highly recommend for any PC as you get more performance, the installation is really simple, excellent documentation, of course void linux is suitable for beginners but nevertheless I really liked this system. before there were few programs in the repositories but now everything is there but I added a nix package manager. in general, my feelings from the whole system are very good I recommend to those who understand Linux and want to get minimal consumption, very fast startup, and just a great system
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-03-19
Votes: 6
|
Voidlinux give me full control on PC and laptop, it give me easier why to manage services by runit init system. voidlinux faster than any distro that I use (Arch, Artix, Fedora, Gentoo) also give me choice to build my distro as I like by minimal build. On other hands, XBPS package manager that give full control in system. It gives (install, query, change version of package by alternative software, and reconfiguration) . Void Linux supports both the musl and GNU libc implementations, patching incompatible software when necessary and working with upstream developers to improve the correctness and portability of their projects.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-02-17
Votes: 12
|
Void simply is great. I feel like it's a middle ground between Arch and Debian somehow - something I was searching for for quite some time now! Very satisfied also with runit. While I'm not opposed to systemd at all, runit feels like Void as a whole: refreshing, fast and easy-to-use. Also, the installation process is super easy and the process itself takes like only a second or two. Give it a try if you haven't already!
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 7
Date: 2022-02-16
Votes: 0
|
I honestly think that void Linux is pretty good. I don't really understand why people think that systemd is horrible. Sure it may have a tiny bit of performance but it doesn't really have that much of performance lost. Also void linux package manager does not have that much packages. But besides that void linux is pretty good. A
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 9
Date: 2022-02-16
Votes: 0
|
It feels refreshing to get out of the dependency entanglement imposed by some packages. Void Linux is simple and crisp.
|
Version: 20210218
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-01-25
Votes: 2
|
Void is a game changer. It recaptures the spirit and feeling of BSD era with something new, very minimal, and for general purpose use.
Furthermore, Void with Budgie desktop is a distrohopping repellent. It's such a good combination that you will never want to leave. The Gnome Wayland session, that comes installed alongside Budgie as dependency, also works wonderfully with everything I've thrown at it.
All without systemd. It somehow isn't too good to be true, Void is fantastic.
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Version: 20210218
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-01-24
Votes: 0
|
i really like it, runit is just amazing and xbps is fast and simple. i have not had any issues with something i want not being an available package, but will admit that there are people who will probably be missing things.
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Version: 20210218
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-01-18
Votes: 0
|
In short, Void Linux is like a new playground on the block for OS/Linux enthusiasts. It provides an independent alternative to Arch, with its own unique but very easy-to-learn in-house tools that are more simple than Arch, but no less powerful. Lack of systemD to boot if that's your thing.
I got around to trying Void Linux after years of hearing about it hear and there. During my experience I repeatedly found myself surprised at how little issues I was having, and how reliable the system stays through upgrades. It's perhaps the only ultra-minimal distribution besides Arch to get KISS right, from the ground up. Basically, Arch and Void are Linux phenomenons.
The handbook is tiny, but I love its simplicity and handiness. The installation script works wonderfully and gives you a very lean system with XFCE desktop, or even a completely empty one if that's your thing. The package count is tiny, the RAM usage is microscopic, it's just a blast to use for those who enjoy learning new things...things that just work :)
My only reason for not sticking with Void is my preference of DE is GNOME, which overtime is becoming increasingly reliant on systemD. This isn't on Void, it's on upstream GNOME. If I were to ever ditch GNOME for Cinnamon or XFCE, I know where my new home will be.
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Version: 20210218
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-01-13
Votes: 2
|
Oh my god do I love this distro. It's been my daily driver for about half a year now and it pretty much stopped my distrohopping-odyssey.
Due to it being rolling release the software is always up to date without losing any stability whatsoever. And while the selection of packages is smaller than for example Debian or Arch based distros there's pretty much every package I could ever want.
The xbps package manager is great. It's fast, easy to use and simple. Along with Void's own runit init system the OS feels extremely fast and responsive.
While the installing process does require some basic knowledge of GNU/Linux, it was pretty clear. The installation is pretty different from most other distros however; Void uses an ncurses based installer, very similar to many of the BSD distributions.
It's also incredibly lightweight. My current setup with BSPWM, along with SXHKD and picom uses only around 300 - 400 MiB in idle. Furthermore, the basic installation is pretty barebones, lacking any sort of bloat.
You can also get it on ARM platforms, which is pretty neat. Haven't tried it on a raspberry PI yet, but I suppose that Void would be a great choice for such a use case.
If you already know a bit about GNU/Linux or you're open to do some reading on the wiki, please give this awesome distro a shot. It's worth it, trust me ^^
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Version: 20210218
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-01-10
Votes: 0
|
Void has been my daily driver on several computers since August 2021. Excellent distro. Only 1 minor hiccup in chromium update on one machine but it was quickly resolved by updating again.
I read some had problems with Void's hands-on minimalist approach; I absolutely like it and don't want to switch to another distros. It's good to have choices.
However, Void can be better with more packages available but that's a decision the dev team has to make.
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Version: 20210218
Rating: 10
Date: 2021-12-23
Votes: 3
|
Bar none the best distro I've had the pleasure of using. Void is dependable and very quick, the package management is straight forward and the runit init system is excellent. Void has been my daily driver for over 3 years now and haven't considered jumping to any other including my previous goto Mint.
If you're new to Linux this may not be the right choice but if you take the time you'll find the simplicity that it is and come to welcome it. The speed of which the system works will make it difficult to use any other distro IMO.
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Version: 20210218
Rating: 2
Date: 2021-12-19
Votes: 0
|
pros: void of anything. clean desktop I guess.
cons:
-really horrible installation experience. Time consuming and tedius and not user friendly at all.
-to even begin anything you need put in a login name and password before even getting the live CD going? Is this really still necessary in 2021? You have to literally open your handphone and check what is the password for the live ISO.
-Just not an enjoyable experience installing it
|
Version: 20210218
Rating: 7
Date: 2021-12-07
Votes: 0
|
One of very few independent distributions suitable for workstation/desktop use. I have it installed on my laptop. I've been using it for less than a week. I'm using the xfce desktop environment.
PROS:
- very fast with low usage of resources
- once configured for productivity, it is unobtrusive with little unnecessary software
CONS:
- not as many software packages available from the repositories as in Arch-based or Debian-based distributions. I had to compile grsync from source and spyder is only available using pip in Python.
- the package manager has some rough spots and I don't think it offers much advantage over apt or pacman. One example: I wanted to replace mousepad with gedit, but it is impossible to remove mousepad without removing the xfce environment completely because mousepad is flagged as a dependency.
- I've discovered one package (retext) that is broken in the repositories. It makes me wonder how much quality control is being done.
It is remarkable what such a small team of developers has put together here. It is a fun distribution for playing around with and learning. I'm reluctant to use it on my main workstation until it grows into a larger community.
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Version: 20210218
Rating: 10
Date: 2021-12-04
Votes: 6
|
Switched from Windows 10 to Void. Yes, the transition was challenging but that's what I wanted. I chose Void because I feel the difficulty is between Mint (easy) and NisOX/CRUX (too hard). The fact is that once I got the hang of things, it's not that hard to maneuver around. I never thought typing commands can be so liberating.
I am not in computer science major. Just someone who values privacy. I don't know why Windows is always scanning files when idle, even when s search service is turned off.
Let me tell you: I DO NOT WANT TO GO BACK TO WINDOWS! Void is so much fun.
Devs, if you're reading this, big THANK YOU and kudos!
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Version: 20210218
Rating: 10
Date: 2021-11-29
Votes: 5
|
Boots fast; runit is the best init system; I even tried writing a package script and it was straightforward + well-documented.
|
Version: 20210218
Rating: 9
Date: 2021-11-25
Votes: 6
|
PRO
- init system is fast
- package manager is fast and easy to use
- distribution is modulat: you can do whatever you want
- documentation is good
- rolling but stable
CON
- small community and developers team
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Version: 20210218
Rating: 10
Date: 2021-11-24
Votes: 4
|
Everything that I've managed to achieve in Arch, I've been able to achieve it on Void. Truly a high-quality distro. I wish I would have heard about Void earlier in my Linux days. My distro-hopping could seriously be over because I'm pretty sure Void will include Pop's upcoming new desktop environment based on Rust in their repositories ;)
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Version: 20210218
Rating: 10
Date: 2021-11-20
Votes: 4
|
The best "serious" distro I've used since 2004. Very efficient and small team behind it. Great choice of native (non-Flatpack) packages to install, great choice of CPU and kernel architectures supported, great freedom to select and customize your DE, unobstrusiveness, respect for the user.
Ideal for work, development. Everything runs fast!
Good for fun, although not your #1 gaming platform.
Best way to just lose no time as a result of other distros' shortcomings.
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Version: 20210218
Rating: 10
Date: 2021-11-16
Votes: 1
|
I like this distro because of it's good package manager (xbps is awesome!), and the well structured package system. I use void with KDE and I like the way, void structured the packages. You get exactly what you want, to too much other packages but also not too few. I find that this is much better than Arch does it.
I like runit too and don't miss systemd. Void is well documented, if you get in troubles there is mostly a solution. The setup is easy if you have a little bit of linux expirence. I found it easier than Arch and straitforward such as ubuntu (if you like the old bsd'ish terminal style for the installation).
All run out of the box. I love this distro. Well done, void team!
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Version: 20210218
Rating: 7
Date: 2021-11-10
Votes: 1
|
it lives up to the name, applications in the repository broken, xbps-src can become powerful (maybe it's my fault here), creating the environment for productivity was very complicated
|
Version: 20210218
Rating: 10
Date: 2021-11-06
Votes: 15
|
Best ever!!! Rolling release, good repository, source packaging, stable and no systemd.
Very light, games run faster and smoother, much better than Arch Linux.
With runit-init and is very fast and responsive.
|
Version: 20210218
Rating: 10
Date: 2021-10-30
Votes: 8
|
10/10 distro for me. For a rolling release a very stable distro (the only time I bother with system was when moving from libressl to openssl but again that was for the best)
Pros
Light weight, easy to manage and maintain
Well manage runit as init system
xbps especially xbps-src are excellent package manager (and fastest I've experienced) so if you want to compile a package with custom flags and dependencies - easy peasy
Up to date packages
Officially supported musl-libc in addition to glibc (very rare) and all src packages worked with musl libc
Cons
default kernel is somewhat slow to be updated in official repos (but you can always have custom kernel)
limited number of packages in repos (not actually that limited, official repos has almost everything for a daily driver but yea number of packages aren't that much)
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Version: 20210218
Rating: 10
Date: 2021-10-26
Votes: 4
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No matter what i keep ending up on Void. This distro has so much potential...
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Version: 20210218
Rating: 1
Date: 2021-10-25
Votes: 0
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I don’t recommend this distro, although it has an appropriate name because with my experience, it keeps on sucking up my system resources and is sluggish. There is not much help of a forum to turn to. It feels experimental and not that polished, I thought my wifi card would be recognized and to be able to connect to it, but it doesn’t. Void is not quite stable because trying to install some packages, I’ve gotten some freezing/OS not responding.
I can’t recommend this distro.
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Version: 20210218
Rating: 10
Date: 2021-10-07
Votes: 30
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I've been on Void for a little over two weeks now, and am extremely pleased with the experience so far.Being an independent distribution, I expected a few problems along the way, but surprisingly I haven't encountered any! Everything is running very smooth and fast.
I hope the guys keep up the fabulous work behind this project! Long live the Void.
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Version: 20210218
Rating: 10
Date: 2021-10-04
Votes: 1678
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I love this distribution. Fast. Good. Stable. Rolling :)
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Latest Reviews
Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-09-17
Votes: 19
|
Void is an absolutely minimal yet pragmatic distribution that is rock solid and completely seamless in usage.
As a former arch user it is the stability (if you can say that about a rolling release distro) that wins me over, because I know I won't have to dedicate any more of my time to maintain it, than I am personally willing to.
It is the perfect "blank-canvas" to make your own linux environment on top of, especially the no-DE install which is as light as it gets.
Personally, one thing I'd like to see is most major versions of python available in the main repo as packages, as many libraries just aren't forward compatible with latest python and you de'facto need to use pyenv or whatever python version manager to use them.
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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-09-11
Votes: 22
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Void gets an unusual 10 from me because it is a perfect "small" distribution. It is also a rare isolate, with no dependency on any other distribution.
I installed the xfce desktop version on a 8th-generation i5 desktop. The installer is text-based and linear - a series of questions one after the other, of which the only slightly tricky one is about disk partitioning. You do need to know a bit about this, but there are good guides online which, if you want, can simply be followed.
Reboot and you have a vanilla xfce desktop, literally - the only non-xfce application is Firefox, and there is no theming.
So quite a bit of work is required to get things as you like them.
Why bother with that? There are two main reasons other than the ISO being a now-tiny 966MB:
- Everything is lightning fast. Firefox opens in about 0.6 seconds, which is comparable to my (three generations newer) Windows laptop; Ubuntu, on the same machine, takes 3-4 seconds. Even the package manager is fast; xbps-install -Syu, the default command to query the repository and update any out-of-date packages, comes back in less than a second if there are no updates.
- You have complete control. As I noted, there are no extras - xfce is about as small as it could be to be capable of functioning - and everything above the minimum must be installed. I developed a scripted install which can do everything from a standing start.
As an aside, I was amused to note that my VPN (Mullvad), which on the well-known distributions is encouraged to be used from a clumsy GUI, works far better when set up directly in OpenVPN using two commands.
Void is a contradiction at first sight - a conservative rolling release distribution. There are only a few package updates a day, sometimes none, most are infrastructural, and it is clear that everything is carefully considered. It is not the type of rolling release where huge swathes of packages live or die.
The repository has 14,000 packages, which is a fraction of better-known distributions. However, I was finding everything I needed including, crucially, flatpak and restic (excellent command line backup and restore), and the flatpaks I installed were of obscure applications which would probably have required flatpaks even on Debian.
I have given a lot of praise; demerits depend on your point of view. Those not familiar with Linux might have some trouble with the installer, the need to install and configure everything, and the emphasis on the command line - there is a graphical installer (octopi, the Arch/Manjaro installer, altered to work with xbps), but it is weak - but a bit of learning is a good thing and the astounding performance makes it all worthwhile.
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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-09-08
Votes: 12
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Void Linux is an excellent distribution that stands out for its speed and lightness. Its focus on simplicity and performance makes it an attractive option for users looking for an agile and efficient system.
However, one aspect that could be improved is the documentation. Although the Void Linux community is active and supportive, more complete and organized documentation would be a great help to users, especially those just starting out.
Another point to consider is the installer, which could benefit from the ability to create Btrfs subvolumes more easily. This would make it easier to manage the file system and make backups.
Regarding the availability of mirror servers (mirrors) in South America, it is an area in which Void Linux could improve. Having Tier 1 mirrors in this region would help speed up downloads and provide a smoother experience for South American users.
Additionally, it would be great to see popular apps like Brave Browser in the Void Linux repositories, which would make installing additional software even more convenient.
Despite these small points of improvement, Void Linux has earned a place in my top three Linux distributions alongside Arch and EndeavourOS. Its speed and lightness are its strong points, and with some adjustments and expansions, it could become an even more attractive option for users around the world.
Translated by Google Translator.
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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-09-06
Votes: 5
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I love Void, have used nothing else for about 5 years on various laptops, desktops and Raspberry π's. Before that it was generally Ubuntu, or Suse (since about 2003, I've been around a long time :-)
I love its simplicity, understandability, speed, stability and community. The Void Linux Reddit channel has helpful and knowledgeable members if you ever need anything.
Of all its many positives, I think for me the most important one is that Void Linux is something one can understand! It has not deviated from the Unix principles of small tools for specific jobs, unlike every systemd distro. If something goes wrong with Void, I can fix it, because there's no magic...
Also, it's a rolling release, but amazingly stable. I've left my main desktop powered off for about a year (I was travelling), and then updated it (sudo xbps-install -Syu). Nothing spectacular, it just worked.
All in all a big 10 out of 10, I'm not moving anywhere else anymore.
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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-08-29
Votes: 11
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Sure, installing and running Void Linux is more difficult than the same for Zorin, but Void itself is much easier for the same than Arch Linux. Incredibly fast bootup and performance using runit and the XBPS pkg management suite.
The Void Wiki pages were also surprisingly easy to follow along with for someone like myself who tends to get lost in more extensive distro documentation such as the Arch Wiki.
Have been using Void in its glibc version with its pre-made Xfce desktop for ease-of-use.
Haven't had any need to install packages (e.g., from Flatpak) that aren't already directly installable thru XBPS.
Definitely ready to upvote Void's many 10-rated reviews here.
Excellent job, Void devs!
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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-08-28
Votes: 10
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I love what Void is doing. The docs are perfect - no wiki with opinionated or out-of-date or opinionated-and-out-of-date articles, just stuff specific to Void and it's use. You want a ZFS root filesystem and ZFSBootMenu? Not a problem - just follow the linked guide from the docs.
XBPS is quick and does everything you'd expect and if there is some esoteric package missing from the repo, use xbps-src to build it and then get it added (with you being the maintainer)
My only complaint is the lack of a forum. Yes, there is reddit, but it's not quite as good as being able to search a particular subforum for specifics. But then again, forums have their own headaches so it's not like this is something that keeps me awake at night.
Finally, it's nice that I can run Void on ARM/x86/x86_64 with GLIBC/MUSL depending on my needs. The maintainers are doing an amazing job.
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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-08-13
Votes: 15
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this is the most boring distro i have tried so far – in a good way. i am not hi-tech person. i just wanted something reliable i don't had to bother with upgrading and troubleshooting every so often. the issue i had with video while setting it up were easily fixed via the documentation. since it's not arch, debian or ubuntu, there was a software not officially available by a service i needed, but there was unofficial flatpak so it was fine. the lack of gui interface for updates and install was mildly confusing but i solved it with a text file on the desktop with the relevant commands to copy-paste. glad i could leave windows behind. i can't believe i am saying this about a linux os, but it's LESS high maintenance.
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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-08-12
Votes: 11
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It is a rolling release but stable, best of both worlds. In 6+ months of use I have not once broken my system with an update. xbps package manager is the best package manager, extremely fast (timed at second fastest in a popular youtube video comparing them) and has a lot of packages. It uses runit, arguabely the best init system. You can easily get .deb and .rpk packages to work by making your own .xbps package or if you don't want to you can use something like flatpak or distrobox or nix-package-manager which work flawlessly on void. It also has the option of musl instead of glibc. It is so minimal it installs in about 20 seconds on my laptop. It is also extremely easy to install with the install script but you can install it manually using chroot. The review below mine complains that it is too hard to install but I figured it out in a few minutes after never doing manual partitioning in my life before and got it right the first time.
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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 8
Date: 2023-08-09
Votes: 7
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Void is a super interesting it is fast and most importantly stable, however the install process wasn't that great for me, only been using Linux for a few months and I came to Void from Debian, which has a nice graphical installer as an option that helps you set up the partitioning part as a new user by using a "guided partitioning", this is not the case in Void, there you have to do it yourself, or they recommended it.
Anyway I had to stop the installer *sigh* and boot back into Debian and open a browser to read the partitioning notes in their "handbook", but I'm still not sure if I did it the right way in setting up the partitioning, can't even retrace in my mind what I did, plus I'm bad at math, either way everything seems to work as it should. I went with their Xfce edition, and it is just stock Xfce, boring, but I know how to make Xfce look better, just wish they could've given it their own kind of theme, in the Void spirit.
If Void had an installer similar to Debian's or like the Calamares installer then I'd give Void a 10 in rating.
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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-08-08
Votes: 1
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Stable rolling release, community driven, super fast boot, awesome xtools, fast package manager.
Nvidia drivers easy to install and work.
So far using it for all my development work, as well as gaming by installing Steam, which
works fully. The repositories aren't the richest thing around but they contain everything I needed so far
for my work as a C developer as well as a casual gamer. If anything ain't there, you can either install it
through flatpak if available, or even consider adding the package to the repos by opening a PR.
Void cured my distro hopping.
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Project: Void
Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-07-24
Votes: 16
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Using Void Linux for almost two years now, it has firmly established itself as my go-to Linux distribution for various reasons. Its simplicity, minimalism, stability, ease of use, beauty of design, up-to-date packages, and versatility make it an exceptional choice for both newcomers as well as the more experienced Linux users like myself (I am a Linux user since the late 1990s -- Red Hat Linux 4.2 was the first Linux distro I used, soon followed by Slackware). I have found myself relying on Void Linux across different machines for my production work in creative design, particularly for video productions.
One of the primary reasons I am drawn to Void Linux is its simplicity. The distribution is designed to be straightforward and uncluttered, providing a clean and efficient user experience. This simplicity extends to the installation process, making it quick and painless to set up on various machines. Whether it's a powerful desktop workstation or a lightweight laptop, Void Linux seamlessly adapts to different hardware configurations without any fuss.
Its minimalist approach is another aspect that resonates with me. Void Linux offers a bare-bones installation, allowing users to customize and tailor their environment to their specific needs. I appreciate the freedom it provides in building a system that suits my preferences and workflows without unnecessary bloat.
One of the standout features of Void Linux is its stability. Even with its rolling release model, I have experienced consistent performance and reliability throughout my usage. Frequent package updates keep the system fresh, and the Void Linux team ensures that updates are well-tested before release, contributing to its rock-solid stability.
Moreover, the ease of use makes Void Linux an ideal choice for users of all levels. The user-friendly package manager, XBPS, offers a simple and intuitive interface for installing, updating, and managing packages effortlessly. I've found myself spending less time tinkering with the system and more time focusing on my creative projects.
Beyond functionality, Void Linux boasts a visually pleasing design that enhances the overall user experience. The choice of desktop environments and window managers complements the clean and elegant aesthetics of the system. Its beauty adds to the enjoyment of working on my projects, making it an environment where creativity can flourish.
In my work as a filmmaker, Void Linux has consistently met and surpassed my expectations. Its performance, combined with the availability of a wide range of multimedia software and drivers, makes it a capable platform for handling video editing (I use Blender), audio (Audacity), and other creative tasks.
In conclusion, Void Linux has become my go-to Linux distribution for its simplicity, minimalism, stability, ease of use, beauty of design, up-to-date packages, and compatibility with my creative design work. Its versatility and reliability across various machines make it an ideal choice for users looking for a productive and visually appealing Linux experience. As I continue to rely on Void Linux for my production work, I look forward to its continued development and growth in the Linux community.
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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 9
Date: 2023-07-22
Votes: 5
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not just another "based on" linux os. Stands on its own, no sysd but runit instead. Packages are more limited than if you were using arch or forked arch (artix) for a sysd free install. However, works fine, a bit of cli config., so not really suitable to someone totally fresh to linux, but if you already have a reasonable amount of knowledge, fancy something different and non-sysd, then this works very well. Got it with lxqt, lightdm, lightlocker, touchpad gestures and all good. You can package your own apps too, if something you use is essential but absent from void repo.
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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-07-16
Votes: 2
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- minimal init system and package manager
- rolling release and stable*
- up to date
- highly customizable
and the devs make the most based decisions (they were first to adopt libressl once (although dropped bc most programs rely on openssl), they dropped systemd without being cringe about it, first-class musl support and the mininal and high performing package manager and init system both have been built from scratch)
i gotta add its one of the few distros to still support 32bit systems
kudos to them void devs, theyve absolutely killed my distro hopping
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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 8
Date: 2023-07-16
Votes: 7
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Tried this on my aged AMD Am3 4 core Phenom CPU based motherboard and Nvidia graphics card. I am presently running Devuan as my daily driver for about 4 years after jumping ship from Solus. My observations are that VOID takes ages, 70 seconds to start and 60 seconds to shut down, unlike Solus that starts in about 18 seconds and 2 seconds to shut down. Devuan takes about 20 seconds to start and 4 seconds to shut down. Once started they all behave virtually the same except that Devuan takes the least memory of about 345mb with Solus taking 1.4gb. Void takes about 580mb. I did not find anything amiss with Void, but it ain't what I expected it to be after reading all the hype about it in the XFCE environment. The only benefit I found out about it was that it has the latest Firefox browser and uses Runnit as the initializer, just like Devuan does. I left Solus mainly due to the fact that it uses SystemD to initialize, which is tantamount to going against the spirit of Linux.
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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 9
Date: 2023-07-12
Votes: 0
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stable rolling release, supports multiple cpu architectures and an optional alternative libc (musl). uses xbps, a fast and simple package manager, supports flatpak and nix in their repos (you can use flatpak to install glib-compatible programs in musl if necessary for example, although a good amount of packages are natively supported) and uses runit, minimal init system, instead of systemd, which wont let you down in most use cases at all. popular desktop enviroments like gnome, kde plasma and xfce are supported and xbps-src can be seen as an alternative to getting software not found in the repos (similar to aur)
only disadvantage i can think of is the installer itself is a bit incomplete compared to most for example, it'll get the work done but manual work is required to set up full disk encryption (or any way of disk encryption), which is already supported in most other distro installers, automatic partitioning or automatic btrfs installation with subvolumes. but it does get the work done and i notice it does get more features with each update
great distro overall, definitely worth a try
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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-07-11
Votes: 15
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Void is just the #1 distro by project ranking with over a hundred vote so what can we expect? Astonishing stability for a rolling release distro, speed, low memory footprint, fully customizable. Runit is simple to use and very solid. I personally use Void with Gnome 44.2 at the time of writing this review: a killer combo. The Documentation contains all you need to know really. Those updated images are released at a perfect timing when voidbuilds unofficial images don't ship with void-installer for a undetermined period of time. I'm not afraid of systemd distros but Void kills distro-hopping: it's that good! There's even a funny reddit post entitled "Void is boring" because of how rock solid it is and once you're done installing what you want and customizing it, you simply "sudo xbps-install -Su" to stay up-to-date. Try it in a VM if you're skeptical and if you like your experience, go ahead and install it on bare metal. I had the best downloading speeds with the Global mirror. You've been warned: once you go void, you never go back!
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-06-12
Votes: 9
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Wow, what a great distro.
It is incredibly stable & fast.
I have been running Void for about a year, and I have never had any crashes, nor major & minor bugs.
The installation process is straightforward, the only work you have to do is installing the partitions manually.
XBPS is a solid package manager, very fast, never had any issues with it.
Void Linux is pretty minimal, allowing users to build their systems from the ground up.
My only complaint is that the user base is quite small, leading to some packages & apps just not having the same amount of TLC that they would get on other big name distros.
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-06-08
Votes: 18
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Void Linux is an independent Linux distribution that is renowned for its speed, versatility, and simplicity. Here are some of the pros and cons of Void Linux:
Pros:
Fast and lightweight compared to many other distributions.
It comes with runit as the default service manager, which is lightweight and efficient.
Void Linux has a rolling release model, meaning that the user always has access to the latest software updates.
It uses the XBPS package manager, which is simple and easy to use.
Void Linux prioritizes simplicity and stability over fancy features.
Cons:
Void Linux has a small user base, which can lead to a lack of community support and documentation compared to more popular distros.
The installation process can be complicated and may require some technical expertise to complete.
Some proprietary software may not work due to conflicts with Void Linux's open-source philosophy.
While it's not difficult to use, it may take some time for users who are new to Linux to get comfortable with its minimalistic design.
Overall, Void Linux is a great option for experienced Linux users looking for a simple and lightweight distribution with a rolling release model. While it may not be the best choice for beginners or users who need access to proprietary software, its speed, simplicity, and efficiency make it an attractive option for those who value those qualities.
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-06-07
Votes: 16
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What I appreciate most about Void is its exceptional clarity, allowing me to understand every aspect of my operating system.
Void is the most user-friendly Linux distribution I have ever used. It simplifies everything remarkably, adhering closely to the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) principle. Moreover, it boasts impressive speed and stability, while also evoking a BSD-like experience.
The package manager is incredibly straightforward to configure and operates at lightning speed. I have never encountered any issues with upgrades, as they have always been stable and reliable. Though the number of available packages is impressive for a niche distribution, I personally prefer running Nix in parallel for greater control and access to additional packages.
Working with runit (the init process) is a pleasure, as I can comprehensively understand each step of the boot process and customize it according to my requirements.
I had reservations about Arch due to systemd, Gentoo due to lengthy compilation times and portage, and Artix due to its inconsistent package manager. However, I love Void for its utilization of runit, xbps (the package manager), and its overall stability.
Every one of my machines runs on Void, and I am currently in the process of testing it on my server, where it has performed flawlessly so far.
The positives of Void are:
Runit (I highly recommend trying it; it is truly remarkable)
xbps and its impressive mirror speed
Strong documentation
However, there are a few downsides:
While the documentation is excellent, it could be more comprehensive, similar to the Arch Wiki or the Gentoo Wiki.
It would be beneficial to have an option in xbps to test a package, either through a subshell like Nix or with the ability to remove a package using xbps-remove -o.
The installation process is not as enjoyable as Gentoo or Arch, as it provides more guidance (although this does not result in a bloated system).
I have tried numerous distributions, including Ubuntu, Debian, Arch, Gentoo, Artix, and OpenBSD. In my opinion, Void comes closest to OpenBSD in terms of consistency and simplicity while still delivering the performance expected from a modern desktop system.
Once you enter the Void, you will find that Void becomes your final Linux distribution.
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-06-04
Votes: 2
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Void Linux is exceptional!
I use Void Linux since 2016-2017. It is fast, stable, most stable distro I have ever used after trying many of them, like Slackware, Mandrake, RedHat, Debian, Ubuntu, Arch. I am not saying that other distros are bad! Void Linux can work out of the box. If not ,you may need to configure a few things. Thus you learn and tell to Void Linux doing what you want! Once you configure you will enjoy of the simplicity of Void Linux. I use for studying and streaming movies, listening music etc... No bullshit bloatware or braking changes. No systemd! Runit is amazing, fast, configurable. Xbps package manager is great! I don't need to install 3rd party packages. Because Void Linux has what you need. If it doesn't the sure you can install.
My setup is fully encrypted installation with LUKS, LVMM Glibc
for graphics reverse prime sometimes optimus
for security apparmor, nftables with encrypted dns over tor
desktop dwm, bspwm
login/display manager emptty
terminal alacritty
This must be Void slogan :)
I highly recommend Void Linux. It is like addiction, you cannot go back and use some other distro after using Void Linux for many years!
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 9
Date: 2023-05-28
Votes: 5
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I'm new to linux, and so far I'm very happy with Void. It took me a few tries to install it correctly, as I kept messing stuff up, but at the end, it feels very rewarding when everything is up and running as it should, and I learned a lot from the process. It feels light, using 1GB of ram with KDE, and very fast. Runit is great and simple. The package manager as well. I'm dual booting with Windows but have no need to go back. Some of the software isn't the latest, but for most of the things that I need and use regularly, they are. I highly recommend this distribution, and am looking forward to becoming a better linux user through it.
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-05-27
Votes: 5
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Void Linux is fantastic!
It's simplicity, stability, performance and no-nonsense approach is exceptional!
It boots so fast it's borderline hard to believe! (and this is on old T420s with a cheap ass used SSD)
I literally hit power on, took a sip of my tea and the dam thing was at the login screen! Holy fast!
The package manager is very good and easy to use.
Updating is super easy as well.
The OS is very resource efficient. Sitting at about 250MB with XFCE4 desktop loaded.
In essence, everything you need and nothing you don't need.
I wish more distributions would follow this as an example.
I literally am blown away with how amazing this distro is. It's a breath of fresh air and a welcome change from all of the over complicated (for nothing) distributions out there.
Please give it a try you absolutely will not be disappointed.
A big thank you to the developers of Void for making such a beautiful thing!
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-05-26
Votes: 0
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if you have gotten at least a little used to the structure of linux systems and the use of the command line, try Void Linux. The fast boot and package management; low memory consumption; stability of the system even though it is continuously being released; and many other things make this distro amazing.
On one of my notebooks I decided to install a very basic gnome-shell, giving preference to flatpak applications, and this was perfect for me; on the other I installed a version with plasma kde, and with applications from the repository: this brought my old notebook back to life.
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-05-20
Votes: 9
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void is not for everyone, but it is for sure for me
no other distribution allows me to tinker arround with it while it stays as stable as void does
the rolling aspect frees me from the need to upgrade every half year
also the packages are fresh, just few days (sometimes hours) behind arch linux, so i usually don't have to deal with any containerized software because i already get the newest versions, but as i understand it, the packages are tested to run properly, that's where stable comes into play
the package manager is blazing fast, from my experience the only one faster is pacman when in multithreading mode and even then it's a close one. there's no software store out-of-the-box but there are some available in the repos in addition to several little helper tools to ease your workflow with package management
only downside for new to void users might be the installer which isn't your fancy calamares or ubiquity, but an ncurses interface, but well, you only need to install it once and void will run pretty much forever so that's that
also there's no branding or custom versions of desktop environments, for example xfce, plasma or gnome all come in vanilla versions, so customizing is up to you
the software available is pretty complete, some proprietary software is not in the repos, but available via the void-packages github repo full of templates to build it yourself if needed, these void-packages are way less cluttered than the AUR
the learning curve is quite steep, but worth it, not necessarily for linux beginners
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-05-01
Votes: 6
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stable,modular,fast,systemd-free but not that user friendly but its great it can run on everything you can so much things on void linux the documentation is well done you can find anything you want or troubleshoot your problems the runit init system is so simple and easy to use you just have to practice it i tried so many linux distirbutions and couldnt be comfortable with them but when i tried void it was so great its like building a really tiny small machine with using the most simplest tools and putting things together to your liking.
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-04-08
Votes: 1
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It seems to me that without a doubt al guna is one of the most optimized GNU/Linux distributions I have tried, it is authentic, although its focus is on advanced users, those who know how to handle the distro correctly can get a lot out of it, great project, I hope they keep improving, that is the definition of Rolling Release stable, it is impressive the optimization of xbps packages, and the lightness when booting the system, and with Runit that complements to have a very stable, fluid and fast system!
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 8
Date: 2023-04-02
Votes: 1
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After reading a lot of positive reviews, I have installed it with XFCE. The installation process was very straightforward and went really fast.
It's been over three months in use. No doubt, the OS is lightweight and stable, and works very well. With the rolling release, the kernels and libraries as well as some very popular packages are up to date. As a pretty long time (15+ years) Linux user and distro hopper, I feel that Void Linux is a great distro, probably as excellent as Arch Linux.
The only disappointment is that some packages (such as vokoscreen, retext etc.) are way too outdated, even about a couple of years behind. I know some people woud say you can get the newest versions installed via Flatpak. Of course, I can. But that's not the point and the ideal solution.
All in all, I really appreciate the great work done by the dev team. I love Void Linux and look forward to seeing it getting better and better.
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Project: Void
Version: 20191109
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-03-28
Votes: 0
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void linux is a pretty badass little distro which I have found refreshingly stable and having pretty wide compatibility... it was one of the first nix distros that I was successfully able to install and bring up and running on a Raspberry PI board, which was pretty outstanding a feat in my mind, because none of my usual "go-to" distros like manjaro or slackware proved to be "embedded-system ready" enough that the ordinary old burn-and-boot from ISO routine was sufficient to bringing those systems up and running ... but void linux's RPI iso's really were that simple all I had to do was burn the ISO to a pen disk and stick that f--ker in there and BAAMM the installer successfully copied the whole image straight to the mini SD-card, and after removing the pen and rebooting; alas, the newly installed system went up without a hitch... so cudos to the makers/maintainers of this distro, because it really is a damn good one..,
--Nathan A. Wallace
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-02-25
Votes: 1
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void is a breath of fresh air and my immediate favorite after a lot of distro hopping--I knew I had a winner once I had tried it.
The void-installer was simple to use and I appreciated how it did not make choices for me such as partitioning scheme--it does require you to create /boot/efi and set the types correctly, but the text is helpful so it was straightforward. I've installed both the xfce and non-graphical images and both are great and work without a hitch.
It eveb ran just fine on a cheap corei3 4-port appliance I bought off of amazon as a replacement for a pc running pfsense--it boots up in about 5 sec. On my dev box running a gen1 ryzen cpu, it boots up lightning fast in a couple of 1-2 seconds.
xbps package system is really fast and easy to use. Also, I really like the simplicity of runit for running daemons and I do not miss systemd at all.
The docs are informative without spelling out everything and the community seems friendly and helpful afaict. I'm installing it on all my devices I love it so much.
I've tried running both the musl and glibc flavors and the musl one felt even lighter weigh but was still rock solid. I didn't have any musl-related issues with the packages I used.
It seems really well thought out and has a BSD feel. I haven't had any complaints yet and the rolling releases are stable.
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-02-19
Votes: 2
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I've been running Void Linux on servers, desktops and laptops now for two years and have absolutely no reason to turn elsewhere. I'd originally come from a commercial Unix past, then FreeBSD, then Debian when I needed the capabilities of virtualization on Linux, then Arch for a short while. I landed on Void because it, like Arch, is a rolling release, but with a focus on stability.
Void is well thought out, stable, rolling distribution.
The community is friendly, knowledgeable and helpful.
Void's package manager is quick and won't leave you with an unstable system.
I simply couldn't ask for more.
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-02-03
Votes: 8
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the only distro that makes you want to scream of joy because it's THAT good:
-Rolling release while being super robust
-nice package selection in the repositories (qtile and pfetch and alacritty are there)
-runit is simple to use
-good wiki
-unofficial daily builds available
-installs on SD card
-if an app is missing from the official repository, you can always install flatpaks
-light on ressources
-my favorite game runs smoothly without stuttering
-Wish I've discovered this hidden gem sooner because it puts an end to distro hopping
I use Void btw!
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 9
Date: 2023-01-23
Votes: 1
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Kind of an incredible distro. I've been using it for about 3 or 4 months now. Installing it took me a bit to understand. The installer is straightforward enough but I had no previous experience partitioning drives, so I basically copied someone else's recommended settings from a youtube tutorial. I broke the system, but then read some more and finally figured it out. In the end, ironically, it only takes about 5 minutes to compile and install the system. I used xbps to pull down most of my list of software apps, and I was able to use my Ubuntu i3 dotfiles pretty close to 1-for-1 for all my software. I haven't needed to mess around much with runit yet but the few times I did it was straightforward and I found examples from other folks online of what I needed to do.
For package management I installed vpm to use (a wrapper around xbps that simplifies it), which makes it work pretty much the same as apt or even slightly simpler now (since updating also upgrades). I love that the packages are newer than the options on my previous Ubuntu-based system, and that even though they're more up to date, I don't fear them breaking. Just to be safe I back up my files and programs at least weekly, but I don't anticipate any major breakages in case one day the rolling release messes me up, but so far everyone on the (mostly) friendly void subreddit have seem to say that updates breaking things rarely or almost never happen.
Once getting a nice setup going on Void I haven't been continually tweaking and refining the way I used to do on i3/Ubuntu or other systems. I'm just straightforwardly happy with my system. I'm running this on an Alienware desktop a couple years old. It flies so fast. Have been able to get games to work fine for me. I don't feel like I'm missing anything. And it's a pleasure to write code and do development work and graphic design and game design on this system.
I'm feeling really thankful I've stumbled across Void and I pushed through the slight complications of getting it installed properly.
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-01-07
Votes: 17
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Void is a great distro for experienced Linux admins/devs, offering even more flexibility than Arch. The core is very minimalist and may not be immediately functional, as it is not built for a "distro-hopper" but for someone who understands and is interested in the functional aspects, such as: musl libc option, ARM option (e.g. raspberry pi), ability to cross-compile pacakges with xbps-src, optional systemd (and almost everything else). I have installed void on both a fairly powerful tower (ryzen 7, rx 580) and a fairly crappy laptop (dual-core celeron N3050, 2G ram) and have been daily driving it on the tower for nearly two years. In that time I experienced one instance where I froze during the boot sequence, due to a kernel regression (this can happen with any rolling release distro). I was able to boot using the live ISO from a USB drive, mount my hard drive manually, and roll back the kernel. Within an hour or two, Void linux IRC chat had helped me identify the problem and I used a workaround until the next kernel release.
I do NOT recommend Void for new users, certainly not the musl option. I myself started with Ubuntu (at work), then Mint, then Manjaro, then Arch and now Void (still on glibc). This progression from "it just works" distros down to Void makes for a more reasonable learning experience. And now that I'm here, I'm not going back. I still use Arch linux on one of my machines only because I haven't been bothered to switch over yet. But the setup is mostly the same: sway WM with autotiling, qutebrowser for web, alacritty (terminal) for almost everything else. No login manager or DM. Like another review said, void is best administered from the command line. I have briefly tried BSD as well which felt similar, but less modern and functional in my opinion. For example, on Void, I was able to run steam games using Proton.
Here's an overview of the pros/cons:
Pros:
- very light core, even systemd is optional
- very flexible, offering ARM and musl versions and a package creation suite with cross-compilation capability
- active IRC chat for support
- large repositories considering the size of the community and age, partly because of the nice xbps-* suite
- one of the best package modern management suites (xbps-* tools) that is fully functional like pacman unlike the rather academic guix or nix experiments (which are interesting in their own right)
- offline manual with decent basic documentation (accessible even in roff format from the vt console)
- rolling release (I consider this a pro, not everyone likes this e.g. for servers)
- good hardware support, basically like Arch
Cons:
- takes time to set up, not a plug-n-play distro (it's Linux after all)
- small community means updates to niche packages can be slow
- repository mirrors can be slow and need to be monitored, the Australian mirror stopped pulling upstream updates and I didn't realise for a while (someone should port Arch's reflector...)
- lacking polish in some areas, of the top of my head e.g. the recommended log reader svlogtail is underdocumented, ISO images can be old and use dash shell (not user friendly) and the manual is a bit too spartan (there is always the Arch wiki for most things)
I haven't tried musl nor ARM yet but I'm waiting for a raspberry pi pico (and some free time) to see what I can do with it. I have seen multiple blogs from people who have installed it on rPi though, so it should work.
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-12-09
Votes: 15
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Void Linux is extremely minimalist. Its installer is the fastest, easiest and simplest I've ever seen. The user needs to search for the necessary and correct packages to install the applications. The result is a very fast, customized, lean distro.
Excellent for old machines. The xbps package manager is incredibly fast and easy, the best Linux package manager.
Void Linux is a great alternative to Arch Linux, it has its qualities without systemd. Runit is cleaner. I am very satisfied with the end result.
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-11-29
Votes: 24
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After years of distro hopping, I settled on Fedora for a few years. After more and more obscure tools that powered my workflow weren't available on Fedora, I jumped ship and went back to hopping. A friend recommended Void, and it's been working great for me the past 3 years now. It's very stable, while still providing fairly up-to-date packages. Support for less common architectures, and a very welcoming community that makes contributing easy were the other things that drew me in, because as a user on a Pinebook Pro, I didn't want to locally compile each updated package. So, the solution was to contribute the slow compiling rust packages I needed to the official repository, and my PBP would receive binary packages from there. Worked out great for me.
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-11-23
Votes: 25
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Void is a very simple, minimalistic and bloat-free. Linux distro. I have installed it on my laptop without any problems so far. It reminds me of Arch with which they share the same "kiss" philosophy but without systemd. It boots very fast, faster than Arch i'd say, its repositories include a large number of software and it has xbps which is a nice package manager and easy to use. I have installed my printer sofrtware and also nvidia optimuss for my secondary graphics with prime without any issues. I use xfce desktop but changed the default lxdl display manager with lightdm which for me has better interface.
I have no cons to report yet.
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 1
Date: 2022-11-22
Votes: 0
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I foolishly tried this distro because of YouTube recommendations. Big mistake! Couldn't get thunar or pcmanfm to recognise external hdd or usb until I found a suggestion about using udevil. Vim keeps throwing error messages. Basically, this distro is just a dreadful waste of my time, unlike every other de or tiling window manager that I have installed on Arch. As an example of Void time wasting, I always install gvfs with thunar. The preferences page then kept telling me that 'perhaps gvfs isn't available'. It took me hours to work out how to get the startup to recognise the SDDM display manager. The documentation makes no mention of needing to add a symbolic link for dbus. I am quite a seasooned Linux user and I won't give Void Linux another second of my time.
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-11-08
Votes: 22
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My Background
I am new to Linux; after 20 years of using windows, I needed to breath life back into an aging laptop. I started looking into Linux systems, as they were rumored to be light on resources. I started with Linux Mint, then moved to Fedora. After a few months, I felt comfortable enough in the command line to want to try and configure a system without a point and click installation.
Enter Linux Void!
After reading through the documentation, I decided to dual boot Void. It took me a few tries to successfully install and here we are. It forced me to learn how to partition and then mount the partition, as well as Swap and EFI. I'm sure this will get a few chuckles but what I'm getting at, is this is a great experience. When things don't work, the documentation is available and the answer is buried inside it somewhere. As it does not seem to be a 'mainstream' Operating System, a web search usually does not yield the answers to a problem I'm facing. This forces me to understand what the problem is, instead of to solve it with a simple copy and paste from the web. Had I attempted becoming proficient at using this distribution without other introductory experiences (LM, Fedora) I would have most likely gone back to windows out of frustration.
This leads to my review. Without a strong computer background, I would recommend this not be an introduction to Linux. I found everything well organized, simple, and clean. I have not discovered any errors or discrepancies from the documentation during my use. BUT, not everything is available and integrated like with other systems. It takes some tinkering to get things going. My usual web browser is not available from the xbps package manager. So that means I'm building it (or resorting to flatpak). I also have been discovering bash scripts out of necessity. I cannot stress enough, this has been and continues to be a learning experience. So if you are not proficient with Linux be prepared to learn or this might not be an enjoyable experience.
Thank you to the development team for the excellent work!
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-10-27
Votes: 24
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Challenging, but rewarding.
Install only those applications you need, the desktop you want. Services are enabled by the user manually and run via runit, not systemd. You'll find no odd, unknown, or other software that is not needed running on your machine. Unless you put it there.
The documentation is short and to the point. Everything that you need to know in order to install, configure, and add a desktop with applications is explained on the void website.
After going into distro hopping mode for a few weeks I came back to void, mainly because everything that I need works without fluff or drama. KDE/Plasma, Steam, printing, scanning, sound, Falkon browser and kdeconnect all up and running fine.
If new to Linux you will learn a lot during setup. Read through the documentation and understand it before you begin. If you are old to Linux you will appreciate the control and speed that void provides.
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-10-27
Votes: 23
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Easy to work with, without excessive layers of abstraction. The Runit init system is excellent both for package installed daemons and for daemons you code up yourself. Lots of packages, all the usual suspects, although a few esoteric packages are missing. Due to the rolling release model, packages tend to be more modern than most other distros. Unlike some rolling releases, Void seldom chokes on updates, and when it does, you can usually wait a few hours until the packages are rebuilt. However, updates become harder if you wait more than a month between updates. I do updates every couple days. Void packages a full compliment of window managers and desktop environments so you can have the exact workflow you want. Support via the #voidlinux IRC channel is quick and helpful.
Void isn't for the raw newbie. Installation isn't dead-bang obvious, and Void isn't as hardware-forgiving as Ubuntu or Mint. Void is an outstanding distro for those who graduate the newbie stage and take off the training wheels.
My perception of Void Linux is it's a distribution for people who want to boss their computer rather than having their computer boss them.
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-10-26
Votes: 25
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After many years with most famous Linux distros, Void feels like a fresh and new world, so fast and bloat free !
It makes linux experience delightful with fast, extremely responsive. simple OS.
Runit init system should be default in all Linux OS for its speed and simplicity!
Gives control to users to decide what they want from their OS and does not come in between user and thier jobs.
Such a quality Linux OS should be in top 20 list.
Thanks to the developers of this excellent OS!
Try it once to see the difference!
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-10-24
Votes: 26
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Minimal and lightweight. I like that it feels similar to BSD in many ways. The XBPS package manager seems fine and dandy so far. I much prefer the runit init system over systemd. Fast and simple. No black boxes.
My initial intention was to configure Openbox or dwm, but I am still groovin' on Xfce for the time being. It feels very fast and responsive on my not-so-stellar hardware.
I really can't think of anything bad to say about Void. True, it does require additional effort to get a fully working system, so it is not for everyone. But the reward for your extra effort is a fast, minimal system that works just the way you want it to.
If you have a bit of Linux experience under your belt, give Void a try!
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Project: Void
Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-09-10
Votes: 21
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A small, minimalist distribution with good repositories, a lightning fast package manager, comes with the packages it needs to function while remaining smaller than arch, doesn't need internet to install, and honestly seems to "just work". I found this to be a far better way of doing minimalist linux than arch, and the runit system is easy enough to use. I would most definitely recommend this distro for anyone looking for something lightweight and extremely functional. As an added bonus it also if fast to get up and running, as much as the arch style chroot install gives you control, having to do everything manually when all you need is a basic installation is a waste of time, the chroot style install is still there for those that want it, but the option to use an installer is very nice.
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Project: Void
Version:
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-09-06
Votes: 17
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Straight to the point, lightweight, stable and cohesive system. Running this on an ancient 2005 laptop with only 2GB of RAM, Intel 1.6Ghz processor, and no SSD. Installation is a cake-walk with just 5GB of installation with all software I need (6GB if I add wine and some windows) and everything runs fine without bottlenecks/freezes, but of-course I don't do activities that are resource intensive. Documentation - to the point and mostly adequate.
I used it for about six months when version 20210218 ISOs were released and I was very satisfied with the CINNAMON desktop. Briefly was away to windows and missed void too much. Finally returned to void couple of weeks ago. Disappointed to see that they now publish only XFCE ISO. I would request to publish the CINNAMON ISO instead. Their CINNAMON desktop is exceptionally well-cooked and is anytime better than XFCE!
Nonetheless, I installed the 20210218 CINNAMON ISO and XBPS upgraded it to latest, with just one hiccup - that of the 'certificate invalid' error which seem to be a more general issue at one point and that is not because of upgrading from an age old installation ISO.
I would like void to add MotionBox or some application that can play videos not just from youtube, but from general web.
Cheers to the Void team and the community around it.
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Project: Void
Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-08-28
Votes: 10
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Very good distro if you are looking for something simple and fast, that at the same time, can make you learn more about Linux. Void's documentation is very easy to understand and straight to the point, so it doesn't get too tiring to read.
Here you don't have systemd, but runit, which is much less resource-hungry and extremely simple to use, as well as to script your own services. On the other hand, it does not have a service manager, nor can it handle their dependencies by itself, so it is something to keep in mind.
Void's xbps package manager is also quite solid and fast and although it doesn't quite catch up to pacman in this sense, it is much more cohesive with the commands, although they are a bit lengthy and can be a bit awkward at first, but nothing that an alias can't handle if you want to. Void also offers a recipe repository for packages that are not in the "official" ones, similar to AUR, which can be used to package them. Although some packages are not on pair with upstream, here the stability will be greater than in a bleeding edge distro, which I particularly prefer.
Another point I like is that it is independent, and has its "own" style, with some of its own tools written from scratch. I am very satisfied with Void as a whole, long life to it.
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Project: Void
Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-08-27
Votes: 10
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Straight to the point, lightweight, stable and cohesive system. Running this on an ancient 2009 laptop with only 2GB of RAM, Intel Atom 1.86Ghz processor, and a 160GB HDD, no SSD. Surprisingly everything I need runs fine and without bottlenecks/freezes, but obviously I don't do any activity that consumes too much of it. I used to use Debian before, but I wanted something that I could "dynamically" update without having to eventually reinstall to a newer version and stuff like that. So I heard about the Void and got interested. I've been using it constantly for about two months now and I'm very satisfied.
Cheers to the Void team and all the community around it.
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Project: Void
Version: 20210930
Rating: 1
Date: 2022-08-25
Votes: 1
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Very strange distro in many ways to be considered a continuous release. The provided ISO images are almost a year old, several packages haven't been updated in a long time, some of extreme importance, like both libc implementations (glibc, for example, still uses a version from two years ago!). Many people keep asking if the Void "died" for some of these reasons, and despite the answer being "no", it constantly seems to be in a terminal state. I've been on Void for a few months, and it's complicated, even some PRs you open sometimes seem to be simply ignored for the time they take to be accepted or denied (when there is any response), as it will depend solely on the interest of some core team member. Apparently there aren't any devs who work full time on Void, so even update PRs sometimes take a while to get accepted. The system itself is ok, when it doesn't have certain bugs on certain hardware, as was my case with touchpad (maybe something with the kernel), and bluetooth. It's a bit overrated for the current situation, which seems to be degrading over time.
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Project: Void
Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-08-21
Votes: 9
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The best experience I've had in the last few weeks of distrohopping trying to find something that fits my tastes, or at least most of them.
Void is quite fast and stable; frequent updates; supports more than one implementation of the libc libraries; supports multiple architectures; has tools to build from templates, such as slackbuilds; does not use systemd and opts for a simpler and more cohesive init system with what it proposes; it has a pretty sick name. :)
It's only my second week on the Void, so so far I have nothing but praise for the team and the community that keeps it alive. My computer, which is practically a calculator for today, has been running like a ferrari since installing Void. Maybe it's a little scary right away, but the documentation is quite enlightening about most of the doubts you might have. Strongly recommend trying it!
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Project: Void
Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-08-01
Votes: 14
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A distro for the enthusiast who desires to learn more about Linux.
Very minimal and diy-oriented, with some nice documentation.
The repositories aren't massive like debian or arch, but they'll have everything you truly need.
(Never forget that you can install flatpaks, download appimages, and clone programs with git.)
The "runit" init system is fairly fast and lightweight, with my system running at ~200mb of ram on idle. (w/ graphical session and daemons)
Enabling/disabling services is not as simple at first compared to systemd, but a quick look at the documentation or a tutorial video will help with that.
Don't forget to check "/usr/share/doc/" for further documentation, specifically with installing steam.
Final thoughts: Void was the first distro I tried after using Mint for a month, and at the time I wasn't experienced enough to properly use it. After a few months of watching linuxtubers and using Fedora, I had learned enough to be comfortable with "The Terminal(tm)", man pages, and general troubleshooting. I was merely an enthusiast who desired to learn more about linux, so Void just werked.
10/10
ps: set bash aliases for the xbps commands and nevah gib up.
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Project: Void
Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-07-25
Votes: 14
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I like it. Not much else to say. I think it does everything it needs to do correctly and doesn't get in the way of the user as much as many other distributions. This is freedom at its peak.
What's so good about it?
It's fast
Blazing fast because it's based on a modern kernel and uses a modern toolchain. It's also a lot smaller than the other distributions so there isn't much software that gets in the way.
Unlike trillions of other existing distros, Void is not a modification of an existing distribution which makes it immune to upstream issues. Void's package manager and build system have been written from scratch and they are well worth the switch. They're wa better compared to package managers like apt, pacman or even emerge.
Void uses stable rolling release, which means it focuses on stability, rather than on being bleeding-edge. Install once, update routinely and safely every time.
XBPS (while it can be hard at first) allows you to quickly install/update/remove software in your system and features detection of incompatible shared libraries and dependencies while updating or removing packages (among others). Refer to the Handbook for an overview.
Additionally, Void has a system called xbps-src, inspired by NetBSD's pkgsrc, that can build natively or cross compile for the target machine, and supports multiple C libraries (glibc and musl currently) letting the user use the more secure and fast C library alternative.
Overall, if you have not tried Void, do it. Enter the void and see order in the chaos.
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