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Canaima GNU/Linux RSS Feed DistroWatch.com: Canaima GNU/Linux

Canaima GNU/Linux


Last Update: 2026-01-17 13:48 UTC


Canaima GNU/Linux is a Venezuelan desktop distribution based on Debian GNU/Linux. It is primarily designed as a solution for the computers of National Public Administration in accordance with the presidential decree number 3.390 about the use of free technologies in National Public Administration in the country.

Popularity (hits per day): 12 months: 216 (57), 6 months: 191 (78), 3 months: 144 (121), 4 weeks: 55 (284), 1 week: 200 (49)

Average visitor rating: 6.6/10 from 5 review(s).


Canaima Summary
Distribution Canaima GNU/Linux
Home Page https://canaima.softwarelibre.gob.ve/
Mailing Lists --
User Forums https://foro-canaima.softwarelibre.gob.ve/
Alternative User Forums Mastodon
Documentation https://canaima.softwarelibre.gob.ve/documentacion/
Screenshots DistroWatch Gallery
Screencasts
Download Mirrors https://canaima.softwarelibre.gob.ve/descargas/
Bug Tracker https://bugs-canaima.softwarelibre.gob.ve/my_view_page.php
Related Websites GitLabWikipedia
Reviews  
Where To Donate, Buy or Try

Recent Related News and Releases
  Releases announcements with download links and checksums:
 • 2025-12-28: Distribution Release: Canaima GNU/Linux 8.3
 • 2013-12-05: Distribution Release: Canaima GNU/Linux 4.0
 • 2013-05-16: Development Release: Canaima GNU/Linux 4.0 Alpha 1
 • 2012-11-17: Distribution Release: Canaima GNU/Linux 3.1
 • 2011-02-11: Development Release: Canaima GNU/Linux 3.0 VC1
 • 2009-05-06: Distribution Release: Canaima GNU/Linux 2.0.1
 • 2009-04-16: Development Release: Canaima GNU/Linux 2.0.1 RC1
 • More Canaima releases...

Table Notes and Explanations

(Please refer to the table below.)
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  • 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 8.3
kavanayen
7.3
imawari
5.1
chimantá
4.1
kerepakupai
3.1 2.1
Release Date 2025-12-28 2024-07-19 2017-09-06 2014-09-04 2012-11-14 2010-07-20
End Of Life            
Price (US$) Free Free Free Free Free Free
Image Size (MB) 4100-9100 2700-3800 1500-1600      
Free Download ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO ISO
Installation Calamares Calamares Graphical Graphical Graphical Graphical
Default Desktop Cinnamon, GNOME, KDE Plasma, LXDE, LXQt, MATE, Xfce GNOME, KDE Plasma, LXDE, MATE, Xfce Cinnamon, MATE GNOME GNOME GNOME
Default Browser Firefox ESR Firefox ESR Firefox ESR      
Package Management DEB, Flatpak DEB DEB DEB DEB DEB
Release Model Rolling Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed
Office Suite OnlyOffice LibreOffice LibreOffice LibreOffice LibreOffice OO.o
Processor Architecture aarch64, i386, x86_64 i386, x86_64 i586, i686, x86_64 i386, x86_64 i386, x86_64 i386
Init Software systemd systemd systemd SysV SysV SysV
Journaled File Systems Btrfs, ext4, JFS, XFS Btrfs, ext4 ext4, XFS ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext4, JFS, ReiserFS, XFS ext3, XFS
Multilingual es es es es es es
Asian Language Support Yes Yes -- -- -- --
Full Package List 8.3 7.3 5.1 4.1 3.1 2.1
Package 8.3
kavanayen
7.3
imawari
5.1
chimantá
4.1
kerepakupai
3.1 2.1
alsa-lib (1.2.15.3) 1.2.14 1.2.4 1.0.28 1.0.25 1.0.23 1.0.19
amdgpu (25.0.0) 25.0.0 19.1.0 -- -- -- --
apparmor (4.1.3) 4.1.0 2.13.6 -- -- -- --
apt (3.1.13) 3.1.12 2.2.4 1.0.9.8.4 0.9.7.9 0.8.10.3 0.7.20.2
bash (5.3) 5.3 5.1 4.3 4.2 4.1 3.2
bind (9.20.18) -- -- -- -- -- --
chromium (144.0.7559.96) -- -- -- -- -- --
cinnamon (6.6.5) 6.4.13 4.8.6 2.8.4 -- -- --
cups (2.4.16) 2.4.15 2.3.3 1.7.5 1.5.3 1.4.4 1.3.8
e2fsprogs (1.47.3) 1.47.2 1.46.2 1.42.12 1.42.5 1.41.12 1.41.3
ffmpeg (8.0.1) 7.1.2 4.3.5 -- -- -- svn
firefox (147.0.1) 140.5.0 102.10.0 52.3.0 27.0 8.0 3.0.11
flatpak (1.16.3) 1.16.1 -- -- -- -- --
freetype (2.14.1) 2.13.3 2.10.4 2.5.2 2.4.9 2.4.2 2.3.7
gcc (15.2.0) 15.2.0 10.2.1 4.9.2 -- -- 4.3.2
gimp (3.0.6) 3.0.4 2.10.22 -- -- -- 2.6.2
git (2.52.0) 2.51.0 2.30.2 -- -- -- --
glibc (2.42) 2.41 2.31 2.19 2.13 2.11.2 2.7
gnome-shell (49.3) 49.2 3.38.6 -- 3.4.2 -- --
grub (2.14) 2.12 2.06 2.02beta2 -- -- 1.96
gtk (4.20.3) 4.20.3 3.24.24 3.14.5 3.4.2 2.20.1 2.12.12
httpd (2.4.66) 2.4.65 2.4.56 -- -- -- --
inkscape (1.4.3) 1.4.2 1.0.2 -- -- -- 0.46
kmod (34.2) 34.2 28 18 9 -- --
krita (5.2.14) 5.2.13 -- -- -- -- --
LibreOffice (25.8.4) -- 7.0.4 4.3.3 4.1.4 3.4.3 3.1.1
Package 8.3
kavanayen
7.3
imawari
5.1
chimantá
4.1
kerepakupai
3.1 2.1
libselinux (3.9) 3.9 3.1 2.3 2.1.9 2.0.96 2.0.65
linux (6.18.7) 6.12.43 5.15.124 3.16.43 3.11.10 2.6.32 2.6.26
mariadb (12.1.2) 11.8.3 -- -- -- -- --
mate-desktop (1.28.2) 1.28.2 1.24.1 1.12.0 -- -- --
mesa (25.3.4) 25.2.6 20.3.5 10.3.2 8.0.5 7.7.1 7.0.3
mysql (9.6.0) -- -- -- -- -- --
nautilus (49.3) 49.2 3.38.2 -- 3.4.2 2.30.1 2.20.0
NVIDIA (590.48.01) 570.133.07 -- -- -- -- --
openjdk (25) 25.0.1 11.0.18 7u151 -- -- --
openssh (10.2p1) 10.2p1 8.4p1 6.7p1 6.0p1 5.5p1 5.1p1
openssl (3.6.0) 3.5.4 1.1.1n 1.0.1t 1.0.1e 0.9.8o 0.9.8g
perl (5.42.0) 5.40.1 5.32.1 5.20.2 5.14.2 5.10.1 5.10.0
php (8.5.2) 8.4.11 -- -- -- -- --
plasma-desktop (6.5.5) 6.5.3 5.20.5 -- -- -- --
postfix (3.10.7) -- -- -- -- -- --
postgresql (18.1) 18.1 -- -- -- -- --
Python (3.14.2) 3.13.9 3.9.2 2.7.9 2.7.3 2.6.6 2.5.2
qt (6.10.1) 6.9.2 5.15.2 4.8.6 -- -- 4.4.3
samba (4.23.5) 4.23.3 4.13.13 4.2.14 -- -- 3.4.3
systemd (259) 259rc1 247.3 215 -- -- --
thunderbird (147.0) 140.5.0 102.10.0 52.2.1 17.0.10 8.0 2.0.0.23
vim (9.1) 9.1 8.2 7.4 7.3 7.2 7.1
vlc (3.0.23) 3.0.22rc2 3.0.18 2.2.1 -- -- 0.9.6
wayland (1.24.0) 1.24.0 1.18.0 1.6.0 -- -- --
xfdesktop (4.20.1) 4.20.1 4.16.0 -- -- -- --
xorg-server (21.1.21) 21.1.21 1.20.11 1.16.4 1.12.4 1.7.7 1.4.2

Reader Ratings
Reader supplied reviews for Canaima GNU/Linux

Average rating
6.6
from 5 review(s)



What are your thoughts on Canaima GNU/Linux?
Please include a few pros and a few cons, along with your overall impression of the operating system.
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Version:

Rating:    out of 10

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Past reviews - sort by:

Version: 8.3
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-12-31
Votes: 1


Canaima GNU/Linux: The Hidden Gem of Efficiency. If you are looking for a distribution that balances extreme stability with a "light-as-a-feather" feel, Canaima is a top-tier contender. Based on Debian Stable, it is designed to be a workhorse for regions where hardware needs to last for a decade or more—making it perfect for your old PC. Canaima’s greatest strength is its heritage. By using Debian as its base, it inherits a "bug-free" DNA. While modern Ubuntu versions try to be "fancy," Canaima remains pragmatic. It doesn't waste CPU cycles on background telemetry or heavy desktop effects.


Was this review helpful? Yes No
Version: 8.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-07-17
Votes: 8


I’ve recently spent some time using Canaima GNU/Linux, and I have to say, I’m genuinely impressed! As someone who’s always bouncing between different Linux distributions, I’m always curious to see what makes each one special, and Canaima definitely stands out in a few ways.

Honestly, you can feel that this operating system was built with education and public service in mind. There are educational apps and a kind of guided experience that would be perfect for students or anyone just getting into computers.

I also love the philosophy behind Canaima. It’s completely free and it has this cool community vibe since a lot of people and government organizations in Venezuela actually use it and contribute to it. It feels like real open-source in action, not just in name.

My daily workflow was smooth. I'm using Cinnamon. Overall, Canaima left me with a great impression. It’s easy to use, surprisingly complete right after installation, and I really appreciate the commitment to open-source principles and local community needs. I’d definitely recommend it if you want a simple and robust Linux distro.


Was this review helpful? Yes No
Version: 8.0
Rating: 7
Date: 2025-06-12
Votes: 4


I wanted to test Canaima Linux for one reason, to look if countries are abel to make a Linux Distro foa wide purpose use. I am from Germany and till now the EU is only willing to speak but in real they can't design a Linux distro for the use in the EU. With the new situation (US Gov.) all countries shall look to reduce the US -Centric IT-Structure. If countries like Venezoela can do it why can't the EU do it?. The Install was smooth ....my hardware is a Dell Optiplex 9020 SFF with a Xeon E3-1246 E3 with 32GB of Ram a 128GB NVME with riser-card and 500 GB 3.5" Seagate. If didn't get any hardware related problems. It's installed with dual boot with a Win11 Pro.The language is German only the apps which are not standard linux (made by venezuelan authority) which are only in spanish . The DE i choose was the Cinnamon Desktop. There is only one repo activated which reside inVenezuela. But for common use all necessary apps are there. Sorry for my english but i am not a native speaker.i didn't get any bluescreens or so. So for me it's ok.
For personal use i use arch related distros. i hope somebody find this usefull. have a nice day and may LInux on Desktop earn the role which belongs to linux.


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See all 5 reader reviews of Canaima GNU/Linux...



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