Artix Linux

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Artix Linux
The logo for Artix Linux, containing a blue arrow on the left and the word "Artix" in lowercase, also blue on the right.
DeveloperCore team,[1] Developer team,[2] Support staff[3]
Written inC
OS familyLinux (Unix-like)
Working stateCurrent
Source modelOpen-source
Latest release20250310 / March 10, 2025; 4 months ago (2025-03-10) [note 1]
Latest previewWeekly ISO's
Repositorygitea.artixlinux.org
Package managerpacman
Supported platformsAMD64 and ARM64[4]
Kernel typeMonolithic (Linux)
UserlandGNU
Default
user interface		Unix shell, LXQt, LXDE, MATE, Cinnamon, Plasma, XFCE
Official websiteartixlinux.org

Artix Linux (or simply Artix /ɑːrtɪks/) is a rolling-release Linux distribution based on Arch Linux that avoids using systemd, instead allowing users to choose between OpenRC, runit, s6, and dinit.[5]

Artix Linux has its own repositories, and it is not recommended by developers to use Arch packages due to differences such as naming conventions and contrasting init systems.

Arch OpenRC[6] and Manjaro OpenRC were started in 2012. In 2017,[7][8] these projects were merged and Artix Linux was created.

Screenshot of Artix community-gtk edition 2020-02 showcasing the default dark theme
Screenshot of Artix community-gtk edition 2020-02 featuring a mix of GTK and Qt applications Kdenlive, the GIMP, LibreOffice Writer, Claws mail, Smb4K and a Neofetch dump

Release history

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Artix initially offered two installation environments, a base command-line ISO image and the graphical Calamares installer based on LXQt desktop,[9] with an i3 version following later.[10] Those early versions featured the OpenRC[11] init system. The latest installation media are also available in a variety of desktop environments like LXDE, LXQt, XFCE, MATE, Cinnamon and KDE Plasma.[12] Additionally, two unofficial community editions featuring GTK (XFCE and MATE) and Qt (KDE Plasma) desktops and a larger software base are offered, aiming at too-busy-to-customise or less experienced, novice users.[13] All current installation media come in OpenRC, runit, s6, and dinit versions, with the exception of the community ISOs that offer OpenRC only.

XLibre Release

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In July of 2025 the Artix Development Team released packages for Xlibre, the fork of the X Server of X.org. The Xlibre project is supported equally to X.org, and Wayland [14]

Reception

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An early review published on DistroWatch on 27 November 2017 found a few bugs, but overall "Artix is working with a good idea [...] It's minimal, it is rolling and it offers a little-used init system. All of these I think make the project worthwhile."[15] More critical, another review at the time from linux-community.de concluded "the results so far are not exactly motivating."[16] Much more favourable reviews were later featured in both sites.[17][18] A review from Softpedia gave Artix a 5 out of 5 stars rating, noting its "beautiful and pleasant graphical environments."[19] Distrowatch readers' reviews on Distrowatch are mostly very favourable, with an average rating of 9.3 out of 10.[20]

Notes

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  1. ^ Artix Linux releases stable and weekly ISOs; stable images are tested to ensure Artix will boot and install the intended way and are released bi-annually. However, it is recommended to try the weekly ISOs first and only fallback to the stable ones in case of issues.

References

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  1. ^ "These people started Artix". ArtixLinux.
  2. ^ "These people make Artix run". ArtixLinux.
  3. ^ "These people take care of the community". ArtixLinux.
  4. ^ "ARMtix".
  5. ^ "Dinit — service manager, init system".
  6. ^ "Archlinux, systemd-free". systemd-free.artixlinux.org. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  7. ^ "Return of the Jedi". systemd-free.artixlinux.org/news.php. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  8. ^ "Manjaro-openrc will be discontinued". Manjaro Linux Forum. July 28, 2017. Archived from the original on April 29, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  9. ^ "Early Artix Linux ISOs". Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  10. ^ "Early Artix Linux ISOs / i3". Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  11. ^ "OpenRC".
  12. ^ "Artix Linux minimal ISOs". Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  13. ^ "Artix Linux community ISOs". Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  14. ^ "XlibreOnArtix". Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  15. ^ "First Artix Linux review at Distrowatch". Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  16. ^ "New Arch Linux variant without systemd". Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  17. ^ "Artix Linux 20200125". Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  18. ^ "Small and compact: Artix - Arch Linux without Systemd". Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  19. ^ "A simple, fast, systemd-free operating system based on Arch Linux and OpenRC or Runit". July 2, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  20. ^ "Reader supplied reviews for Artix Linux". Retrieved January 31, 2024.
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