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Arch Linux RSS Feed DistroWatch.com: Arch Linux

Arch Linux

Last Update: 2018-04-25 02:20 UTC

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

Popularity (hits per day): 12 months: 13 (604), 6 months: 14 (603), 3 months: 13 (621), 4 weeks: 15 (558), 1 week: 18 (550)

Average visitor rating: 9.27/10 from 186 review(s).


Arch Linux Summary
Distribution Arch Linux
Home Page http://www.archlinux.org/
Mailing Lists https://lists.archlinux.org/listinfo/
User Forums http://bbs.archlinux.org/
Alternative User Forums
Documentation http://wiki.archlinux.org/
Screenshots DistroWatch Gallery
Screencasts
Download Mirrors http://www.archlinux.org/download/ • LinuxTracker.org
Bug Tracker http://bugs.archlinux.org/
Related Websites Planet Arch • Arch for Raspberry Pi • Wikipedia • Arch Brazil • Arch Chile • Arch Denmark • Arch France • Arch Germany • Arch Hungary • Arch Italy • Arch Russia • Arch Spain • Arch Turkey
Reviews 2016: Keith Curtis
2015: DistroWatch • Keith Curtis • LWN
2011: Guillermo Garron
2010: ITworld • LWN
2009: It's A Binary World • DistroWatch • Adventures in Open Source • Polishlinux
2008: Guia do PC (Portuguese) • DistroWatch • OStatic • Blogspot • Wordpress
2007: Blogspot
0.8: Polishlinux • Pro-Linux (German) • Skatox (Spanish) • Tuxmachines
0.7: USALUG • Wordpress • OSNews • LinMagazine (Hebrew) • Linux Magazine (PDF) • LinuxUser (German) • ABC Linuxu (Czech) • OSNews • LWN • OSNews
0.5: OSNews • OSNews
0.3: OSNews
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Recent Related News and Releases
  Releases, download links and checksums:
 • 2012-11-02: Distribution Release: Arch Linux 2012.11.01
 • 2012-10-07: Distribution Release: Arch Linux 2012.10.06
 • 2012-09-08: Distribution Release: Arch Linux 2012.09.07
 • 2012-08-05: Distribution Release: Arch Linux 2012.08.04
 • 2012-07-22: Distribution Release: Arch Linux 2012.07.15
 • 2011-08-20: Distribution Release: Arch Linux 2011.08.19
 • 2010-05-18: Distribution Release: Arch Linux 2010.05
 • 2009-08-09: Distribution Release: Arch Linux 2009.08
 • 2009-02-17: Distribution Release: Arch Linux 2009.02
 • 2008-06-24: Distribution Release: Arch Linux 2008.06
 • 2008-04-16: Development Release: Arch Linux 2008.04 RC
 • 2007-10-07: Distribution Release: Arch Linux 2007.08-2
 • More Arch releases...

  Headlines:
 •2017-11-08 Arch drops 32-bit x86
 •2017-01-24 Arch Linux phasing out 32-bit
 •2016-06-27 Updated screen may not reattach
 • More Arch headlines...

Table Notes and Explanations

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

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Feature current 2011.08.19 2010.05 2009.08 2009.02 2008.06
overlord		 2007.08
dontpanic		 0.8
voodoo		 0.7
wombat		 0.6
widget		 0.5
nova		 0.4
dragon		 0.3
firefly		 0.2
vega		 0.1
homer		 Feature
Release Date 2018-04-25 2011-08-19 2010-05-17 2009-08-09 2009-02-17 2008-06-24 2007-08-05 2007-04-01 2005-01-24 2004-03-01 2003-07-21 2002-12-18 2002-08-07 2002-04-17 2002-03-11 Release Date
End Of Life                               End Of Life
Price (US$) Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Price (US$)
Image Size (MB)   1-659                           Image Size (MB)
Free Download PKG ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO Free Download
Installation Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Text mode Installation
Default Desktop                               Default Desktop
Package Management Pacman Pacman Pacman Pacman Pacman Pacman Pacman Pacman Pacman Pacman Pacman Pacman Pacman Pacman Pacman Package Management
Release Model Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling Release Model
Office Suite GOffice, Calligra, LibreOffice -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- KOffice KOffice KOffice     Office Suite
Processor Architecture i686, x86_64 i686, x86_64 i686, x86_64 i686, x86_64 i686, x86_64 i686, x86_64 i686, x86_64 i686, x86_64 i686 i686 i686 i686 i686 i686 i686 Processor Architecture
Init Software systemd SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV SysV Init Software
Journaled File Systems Btrfs, ext3, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext3, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext3, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext3, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext3, ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext3, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext3, ReiserFS ext3, ReiserFS ext3, ReiserFS ext3, ReiserFS ext3, ReiserFS Journaled File Systems
Multilingual                               Multilingual
Asian Language Support                               Asian Language Support
Full Package List current 2011.08.19 2010.05 2009.08 2009.02 2008.06 2007.08 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 Full Package List

Full Package List:   Arch Linux 0.4
  Number of packages: 323 (download as TXT)
  ------------------------------------------------------------------
  •  abiword 1.0.2
  •  alsa-driver 0.9.0rc6
  •  alsa-lib 0.9.0rc6
  •  alsa-utils 0.9.0rc6
  •  apache 1.3.27
  •  apmd 3.0.2
  •  arts 1.1.0
  •  at-spi 1.0.2
  •  aterm 0.4.2
  •  atk 1.0.3
  •  audiofile 0.2.3
  •  aumix 2.8
  •  autoconf 2.57
  •  automake 1.7.2
  •  bash 2.05b
  •  bc 1.06
  •  bftpd 1.0.22
  •  bin86 0.16.10
  •  bind 9.2.1
  •  binutils 2.13.1
  •  bison 1.75
  •  blackbox 0.65.0
  •  bonobo activation 1.0.3
  •  bug-buddy 2.2.0
  •  bzip2 1.0.2
  •  cdparanoia 9.8
  •  cdrdao 1.1.7
  •  cdrtools 2.0pre3
  •  clisp 2.30
  •  control-center 2.0.1.1
  •  cpio 2.5
  •  cups 1.1.17
  •  curl 7.10.2
  •  cvs 1.11.2
  •  cvsup 16.1f
  •  db 4.0.14
  •  dcron 2.3.3
  •  devfsd 1.3.25
  •  dhcpcd 1.3.22pl1
  •  dialog 0.7
  •  diffutils 2.8.1
  •  dillo 0.6.6
  •  divx4linux 5.01
  •  docbook xml 4.1.2
  •  docbook xsl 1.55.0
  •  dosfstools 2.8
  •  doxygen 1.3rc1
  •  e2fsprogs 1.32
  •  ed 0.2
  •  eel 2.0.7
  •  emacs 21.2
  •  enlightenment 0.16.5
  •  eog 1.0.3
  •  esd 0.2.29
  •  ethereal 0.9.7
  •  exim 4.10
  •  expat 1.95.4
  •  fetchmail 6.2.0
  •  file 3.39
  •  file roller 2.0.4
  •  filesystem 0.4
  •  fileutils 4.1
  •  findutils 4.1
  •  flashplugin 6.0r69
  •  flex 2.5.4a
  •  fluxbox 0.1.14
  •  fnlib 0.5
  •  freetype1 1.3.1
  •  freetype2 2.0.9
  •  fvwm 2.4.12
  •  gail 0.17
  •  gaim 0.59.6
  •  gcc 3.2.1
  •  gconf-editor 0.3.1
  •  gconf 1.2.1
  •  gd 2.0.8
  •  gdb 5.2.1
  •  gdbm 1.8.3
  •  gdk-pixbuf 0.18.0
  •  gdm 2.4.0.11
  •  gdsl 1.0
  •  gedit 2.0.5
  •  gentoo 0.11.34
  •  gettext 0.11.5
  •  gftp 2.0.14
  •  ggv 1.99.95
  •  ghostscript 7.05.5
  •  gimp-print 4.2.4rc1
  •  gimp 1.2.3
  •  gkrellm 2.1.3
  •  glib2 2.0.7
  •  glib 1.2.10
  •  glibc 2.3.1
  •  gmp 4.1
  •  gnome-applets 2.0.3
  •  gnome-common 1.2.4
  •  gnome-desktop 2.0.9
  •  gnome-games 2.0.4
  •  gnome-media 2.0.2.5
  •  gnome-mime data 2.0.1
  •  gnome-panel 2.0.10
  •  gnome-session 2.0.8
  •  gnome-system monitor 2.0.2
  •  gnome-terminal 2.0.1
  •  gnome-utils 2.0.5
  •  gnome-vfs 2.0.4
  •  gnome-vfs extras 0.99.5
  •  gnome2-user-docs 2.0.1
  •  gnupg 1.2.1
  •  gpm 1.20.0
  •  gqview 1.2.0
  •  grep 2.5
  •  groff 1.17.2
  •  gtk-doc 0.9
  •  gtk2 2.0.9
  •  gtk 1.2.10
  •  gtk engines 1.9.0
  •  gv 3.5.8
  •  gvim 6.1
  •  gzip 1.2.4a
  •  hdparm 5.2
  •  icewm 1.2.2
  •  imagemagick 5.5.2
  •  imap 2002.RC5
  •  imlib 1.9.14
  •  initscripts 0.4
  •  intltool 0.22
  •  ion 20020207
  •  ipfm 0.11.4
  •  iptables 1.2.7
  •  ircd 2.10.3p3
  •  ircii-pana 1.0c19
  •  irssi 0.8.6
  •  ispell 3.2.06
  •  joe 2.9.7
  •  jpilot 0.99.3
  •  kbd 1.08
  •  kdeaddons 3.1rc5
  •  kdeadmin 3.1rc5
  •  kdeartwork 3.1rc5
  •  kdebase 3.1rc5
  •  kdebindings 3.1rc5
  •  kdeedu 3.1rc5
  •  kdegames 3.1rc5
  •  kdegraphics 3.1rc5
  •  kdelibs 3.1rc5
  •  kdemultimedia 3.1rc5
  •  kdenetwork 3.1rc5
  •  kdepim 3.1rc5
  •  kdesdk 3.1rc5
  •  kdetoys 3.1rc5
  •  kdeutils 3.1rc5
  •  kdevelop 2.1.4
  •  kdoc 2.0a54
  •  kernel 2.4.20
  •  koffice 1.2
  •  lame 3.92
  •  less 378
  •  lesstif 0.93.36
  •  lesstifextensions 9.0.9
  •  lftp 2.6.2
  •  libao 0.8.3
  •  libart lgpl 2.3.10
  •  libbonobo 2.0.0
  •  libbonoboui 2.0.3
  •  libgail-gnome 1.0.1
  •  libglade 2.0.1
  •  libgnome 2.0.5
  •  libgnomecanvas 2.0.4
  •  libgnomeprint 1.116.0
  •  libgnomeprintui 1.116.0
  •  libgnomeui 2.0.5
  •  libgtkhtml 2.0.2
  •  libgtop 2.0.0
  •  libidl2 0.8.0
  •  libidl 0.6.8
  •  libjpeg 6b
  •  libogg 1.0
  •  libpcap 0.7.1
  •  libpng 1.2.5
  •  librep 0.16.1
  •  librsvg 2.0.1
  •  libtiff 3.5.7
  •  libtool 1.4.3
  •  libungif 4.1.0
  •  libvorbis 1.0
  •  libwnck 0.17
  •  libxml2 2.4.24
  •  libxslt 1.0.22
  •  libzvt 2.0.1
  •  licq 1.2.0a
  •  lilo 22.3.4
  •  linc 0.5.2
  •  links 2.1pre7
  •  logrotate 3.6.5
  •  m4 1.4
  •  mad 0.14.2b
  •  mailman 2.0.13
  •  mailx 8.1.1
  •  make 3.80
  •  man 1.5k
  •  manpages 1.53
  •  mawk 1.3.3
  •  mc 4.5.55
  •  metacity 2.4.3
  •  mktemp 1.4
  •  mm 1.2.1
  •  modutils 2.4.22
  •  mozilla 1.2.1
  •  mpg321 0.2.10
  •  mplayer 0.90rc1
  •  mtx 1.2.17
  •  mutt 1.4
  •  mysql 3.23.54
  •  naim 0.11.4.12
  •  nano 1.0.9
  •  nasm 0.98.35
  •  nautilus 2.0.7
  •  ncurses 5.3
  •  net-tools 1.60
  •  netcat 1.10
  •  netkit-base 0.17
  •  netkit-ftp 0.17
  •  netkit-telnet 0.17
  •  nfs utils 1.0.1
  •  ngrep 1.40.1
  •  nmap 3.00
  •  openldap 2.1.8
  •  openssh 3.5p1
  •  openssl 0.9.6h
  •  orbit2 2.4.3
  •  pacman 2.2
  •  pango 1.0.5
  •  parted 1.6.4
  •  patch 2.5.4
  •  pccts 1.33mr
  •  pcmcia cs 3.2.0
  •  pcre 3.9
  •  perl 5.8.0
  •  php 4.2.3
  •  pilot link 0.11.5
  •  pine 4.51
  •  pkgconfig 0.14.0
  •  popt 1.7
  •  portmap 5beta
  •  ppp 2.4.1
  •  procinfo 18
  •  procmail 3.22
  •  procps 3.1.4
  •  proftpd 1.2.7
  •  psmisc 21.2
  •  python 2.2.2
  •  qt 3.1.1
  •  rar 3.0
  •  ratpoison 1.1.1
  •  rcs 5.7
  •  rdate 990821
  •  readline 4.3
  •  reiserfsprogs 3.6.4
  •  rep-gtk 0.17
  •  ripperx 2.4
  •  rsync 2.5.5
  •  ruby 1.6.7
  •  rxvt 2.6.4
  •  samba 2.2.7
  •  sawfish 1.2
  •  screen 3.9.11
  •  scrollkeeper 0.3.11
  •  sdl 1.2.5
  •  sed 4.0.5
  •  sh-utils 2.0
  •  shadow 4.0.3
  •  slocate 2.6
  •  snarf 7.0
  •  strace 4.4
  •  sudo 1.6.6
  •  sysklogd 1.4.1
  •  sysvinit 2.84
  •  tar 1.13
  •  tcl 8.4.1
  •  tcp_wrappers 7.6
  •  tcpdump 3.7.1
  •  tcsh 6.12
  •  textutils 2.1
  •  tin 1.4.6
  •  tk 8.4.1
  •  totem 0.10.0
  •  traceroute 1.4a12
  •  unzip 5.50
  •  util-linux 2.11y
  •  vim 6.1
  •  vorbis tools 1.0
  •  vsftpd 1.1.3
  •  w32codec 0.90pre7
  •  w3m 0.3
  •  wget 1.8.2
  •  which 2.14
  •  whois 4.5.33
  •  windowmaker 0.80.2
  •  wine 20021125
  •  wvdial 1.53
  •  wvstreams 3.70
  •  x2x 1.27
  •  xautolock 2.1
  •  xaw3d 1.5
  •  xchat 1.8.10
  •  xemacs-sumo 20020919
  •  xemacs 21.4.9
  •  xfce 3.8.18
  •  xfree86 4.2.1
  •  xine-lib 0.9.13
  •  xine-ui 0.9.13
  •  xlockmore 5.05
  •  xmlto 0.0.10
  •  xmms 1.2.7
  •  xplanet 0.94
  •  xscreensaver 4.06
  •  yelp 1.0.6
  •  yp tools 2.7
  •  ypbind mt 1.12
  •  ypserv 2.6
  •  zip 2.3
  •  zlib 1.1.4


Reader Ratings
Reader supplied reviews for Arch Linux

Average rating
9.3
from 186 review(s)
Please selecting a rating in the range of 1-10.
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Past reviews - sort by:

Version: current
Rating: 10
Date: 2018-04-21
Votes: 3


 Once the system is running it won't get into your way. It just works. And you'll get the latest features. For example dlna support for my wireless speakers which didn't work under ubuntu.


Was this review helpful? Yes No
Version: current
Rating: 10
Date: 2018-04-16
Votes: 3


 This Linux distribution isn't for everyone but that's by design. It's designed with a specific set of users in mind, and being in that set of users myself, I can attest that Arch Linux was worth every minute I put into it and serves me better than any other distribution for work and personal computers.

It has a large software repository including both free and non-free software. x86 support is disabled by default, but once enabled will allow software that requires it like Steam and Wine. Packages are all either in official repositories or the AUR making software easy to find. The Arch Linux wiki is comprehensive enough that I reference it even when I'm working with another distribution at the time.

The drawback, of course, is that anyone outside the targeted demographic is alienated. Even for those users this distribution still makes for a solid back-end to easier, unofficial derivatives such as Manjaro Linux.

If you think a DIY distro would be for you I'd advise you check the Arch Wiki's FAQ and Arch Linux page since that paints a clear picture of what kinds of users they target their distro towards.


10/10 would install again.


Was this review helpful? Yes No
Version: current
Rating: 10
Date: 2018-04-16
Votes: 1


 The absolute best for those who want to learn about Linux and operating systems in general.


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See all 186 reader reviews of Arch Linux...

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