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Refracta


Last Update: 2023-05-05 03:11 UTC



Refracta is a Linux distribution based on Devuan GNU+Linux (a systemd-free fork of Debian), designed primarily for home computer users and also for use as a system rescue and recovery disk. It provides a simple and familiar layout using the Xfce desktop. Other desktop environments and additional software packages are available from the Devuan package repository. Besides providing a Linux distribution on a live CD, the project also develops useful tools, such as refractainstaller, refractasnapshot and refracta2usb which allow users to customize the installation and create custom live CD or live USB images.

Popularity (hits per day): 12 months: 203 (41), 6 months: 179 (52), 3 months: 135 (72), 4 weeks: 172 (38), 1 week: 218 (29)

Average visitor rating: 7/10 from 3 review(s).


Refracta Summary
Distribution Refracta
Home Page https://refracta.org/
Mailing Lists --
User Forums https://dev1galaxy.org/viewforum.php?id=9
Alternative User Forums
Documentation https://refracta.org/documents.html
Screenshots DistroWatch Gallery
Screencasts
Download Mirrors https://get.refracta.org/files/stable/DistroWatch Torrent Archive
Bug Tracker --
Related Websites  
Reviews 8.x: TechNewsWorldDistroWatch
Where To Buy or Try

Recent Related News and Releases
  Releases announcements with download links and checksums:
 • 2019-02-08: Distribution Release: Refracta 9.0
 • More Refracta releases...

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 11.2-20230504 10.2-20201114 9.0-20190206 8.3-20170305
Release Date 2023-05-04 2020-11-14 2019-02-08 2017-03-05
End Of Life        
Price (US$) Free Free Free Free
Image Size (MB) 1100-1200 800-900 700-800 600-700
Free Download ISO ISO ISO ISO
Installation Graphical Graphical Graphical Graphical
Default Desktop Xfce Xfce Xfce Xfce
Package Management DEB DEB DEB DEB
Release Model Fixed Fixed Fixed Fixed
Office Suite -- -- -- GOffice
Processor Architecture i386, x86_64 i386, x86_64 i386, x86_64 i386, x86_64
Init Software SysV SysV SysV SysV
Journaled File Systems        
Multilingual Yes Yes Yes Yes
Asian Language Support Yes Yes Yes Yes
Full Package List 11.2-20230504 10.2-20201114 9.0-20190206 8.3-20170305
Package 11.2-20230504 10.2-20201114 9.0-20190206 8.3-20170305
abiword (3.0.5) 3.0.4 3.0.2 3.0.2 3.0.0
alsa-lib (1.2.9) 1.2.4 1.1.8 1.1.3 1.0.28
amdgpu (23.0.0) 19.1.0 18.1.99 -- --
bash (5.2.15) 5.1 5.0 4.4 4.3
bind (9.18.15) -- -- -- --
chromium (114.0.5735.106) -- -- -- --
cups (2.4.4) -- -- 2.2.1 1.7.5
dhcp (4.4.3-P1) 4.4.1 4.4.1 4.3.5 4.3.1
e2fsprogs (1.47.0) 1.46.2 1.44.5 1.43.4 1.42.12
firefox (114.0.1) 102.10.0 78.4.1 60.5.0 45.7.0
freetype (2.13.0) 2.10.4 2.9.1 2.6.3 2.5.2
gcc (13.1.0) 10.2.1 8.3.0 6.3.0 4.9.2
gimp (2.10.34) 2.10.22 2.10.8 2.8.18 2.8.14
glibc (2.37) 2.31 2.28 2.24 2.19
gnome-shell (44.2) -- -- -- --
gnucash (5.1) -- -- -- --
gnumeric (1.12.55) -- -- -- 1.12.18
grub (2.06) 2.06 2.02 2.02beta3 2.02beta2
gtk (4.10.4) 3.24.24 3.24.5 3.22.11 2.24.25
httpd (2.4.57) -- -- -- --
inkscape (1.2.2) -- -- -- --
k3b (23.04.2) -- -- -- --
kmod (30) 28 26 23 18
krita (5.1.5) -- -- -- --
libreoffice (7.5.4) -- -- -- --
linux (6.3.7) 5.10.178 4.19.152 4.9.130 3.16.39
Package 11.2-20230504 10.2-20201114 9.0-20190206 8.3-20170305
lxpanel (0.10.1) -- -- -- --
mariadb (11.1.1) -- -- -- --
mate-desktop (1.26.1) -- -- -- --
mesa (23.1.2) 20.3.5 18.3.6 13.0.6 10.3.2
mysql (8.0.33) -- -- -- --
nautilus (44.2.1) -- -- -- --
NVIDIA (530.41.03) -- -- -- --
openbox (3.6.1) -- -- -- --
openjdk (20.0.1) -- -- -- 7u91
openssh (9.3p1) 8.4p1 7.9p1 7.4p1 6.7p1
openssl (3.1.1) 1.1.1n 1.1.1d 1.1.0j 1.0.1t
perl (5.36.1) 5.32.1 5.28.1 5.24.1 5.20.2
php (8.2.7) -- -- -- --
plasma-desktop (5.27.5) -- -- -- --
postfix (3.8.1) -- -- -- --
postgresql (15.3) -- -- -- --
Python (3.11.4) 3.9.2 3.7.3 2.7.13 2.7.9
qt (6.5.1) 5.15.2 -- 5.7.1 --
samba (4.18.3) -- -- -- --
systemd (253.5) -- -- -- --
thunderbird (102.12.0) -- -- -- --
vim (9.0) 8.2 8.1 8.0 7.4
vlc (3.0.18) -- -- -- --
wayland (1.22.0) -- -- -- --
xfdesktop (4.18.1) 4.16.0 4.12.4 4.12.3 4.10.2
xorg-server (21.1.8) 1.20.11 1.20.4 1.19.2 1.16.4

Reader Ratings
Reader supplied reviews for Refracta

Average rating
7.0
from 3 review(s)



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Past reviews - sort by:

Version: 11.1-20220914
Rating: 1
Date: 2023-02-18
Votes: 2


I love Debian (or Devuan) distros with Xfce so I tried this almost unknown distro (number 230 in DistroWatch list).
The installer is a little bit cryptic for just a user like me, but in the end I was able to install it in my test laptop.
Everything seemed OK so I updated the system with Synaptic.
Suddenly anti-aliasing disappeared (appeared with a complete re-start). Later I realized that the internet connection icon in the panel didn't work, so I thought there was no connection, but connection worked. I downloaded several more addons for the panel but when I was installing them the panel disappeared. I tried to recover it with the settings panel button but there was only a cryptic message. I re-started the system but it didn't appeared. I reinstalled it with Synaptic, but it didn't work either. With no panel I abandoned Refracta.
It is the worst Xfce Debian/Devuan derivative I know, and believe me: I know a lot..


Was this review helpful? Yes No
Version: 10.2-20201114
Rating: 10
Date: 2021-09-05
Votes: 53


In the past, I used a few years mint as daily driver, but I wasn't satisfied, especially systemd, and how I hate libreoffice. Meanwhile, I tested many distros in search of the 'perfect' linux distro for my needs. The closest was Devuan, but the look and feel was oldish. Then, I discovered Refracta, this was/is it! Refracta is very clean, but I cleaned it more. I made it as clean as possible. Then, I installed the applications I need. You know, I am a 'paranoid'. So, I decided to make a kind of 'Tails' or 'Heads' of my own. I am very satisfied. Now, I'm busy to build an ISO-image for persistent live USB-sticks (copy of my entire system) including full encryption. Everything goes through Tor (Swordfish Browser), Encryption Wizard, VeraCrypt, Paranoia Text Encryption, encrypted Tutanota email app-image, and so on. My purpose is to use the exactly same system, which I have on PC, to use on persistent USB-stick, where I need it safely, private and anonymous. Therefor, I give Refracta a 10. Thank you!


Was this review helpful? Yes No
Version: 10.2-20201114
Rating: 10
Date: 2021-07-23
Votes: 12


Everything you like about Debian, minus the systemd(isease)!

I tried the Chimaera experimental build. Refracta in many ways is more minimal than even Devuan. AbiWord being installed instead of LibreOffice is a part of it, but the lack of metapackages installed by default helps keep the package count low. It also uses trusty old ALSA instead of PulseAudio (yet more Poettering software to avoid...) for sound. Very stable, even with a development branch repository.


Was this review helpful? Yes No



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