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As of April 2017, Void Linux supports [[Flatpak]], which allows the installation of the latest packages from upstream repositories.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://voidlinux.org/news/2017/04/Flatpak.html |title=Flatpak |date=2017-04-14}}</ref>
As of April 2017, Void Linux supports [[Flatpak]], which allows the installation of the latest packages from upstream repositories.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://voidlinux.org/news/2017/04/Flatpak.html |title=Flatpak |date=2017-04-14}}</ref>

== Installation ==
[[Void Linux]] installation is a straightforward process designed to accommodate various hardware configurations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-01 |title=How to Install Void Linux: A Minimalist and Fast Distro |url=https://www.jittotech.com/2023/10/install-void-linux.html |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=Jitto Tech |language=en-gb}}</ref> The recommended system specifications for a standard experience include a [[dual-core]] [[Processor Technology|processor]] with a minimum clock speed of 2 GHz, 4 GB of [[Random-access memory|RAM]], and 25 GB of available [[Computer data storage|disk space]].

Void Linux supports multiple [[Computer architecture|architectures]], including [[x86-64]] ("AMD64"), [[ARM architecture family|ARM]], and [[Power ISA]], catering to a broad range of hardware environments. Users can choose the architecture that aligns with their [[system requirements]].

The [[Installation (computer programs)|installation]] process typically begins with [[Live USB|live images]], available for download in the disk image ([[Optical disc image|.iso]]) format.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-01 |title=How to Install Void Linux: A Minimalist and Fast Distro |url=https://www.jittotech.com/2023/10/install-void-linux.html |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=Jitto Tech |language=en-gb}}</ref> These images can be burned onto a [[DVD]] or [[USB flash drive]], facilitating the installation process. Users can utilize tools like [[UNetbootin]] or the pre-installed [[Startup Disk Creator]] to run the live environment directly from a [[USB flash drive|USB drive]] without altering the [[host system]].

Void Linux provides an archive of disk images for both current and past [[Software versioning|versions]] on its [[official website]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-01 |title=How to Install Void Linux: A Minimalist and Fast Distro |url=https://www.jittotech.com/2023/10/install-void-linux.html |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=Jitto Tech |language=en-gb}}</ref> This resource caters to users seeking specific releases or [[Archive|archival]] purposes.


==Editions==
==Editions==
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* {{Official website}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{GitHub|void-linux|VoidLinux}}
* {{GitHub|void-linux|VoidLinux}}
* [https://www.jittotech.com/2023/10/install-void-linux.html Installation Guide]


{{Linux distributions}}
{{Linux distributions}}

Revision as of 05:53, 25 November 2023

Void Linux
Developer
  • Void Linux Team,
  • Void Linux Community,
  • Original developer: Juan Romero Pardines (xtraeme)
OS familyLinux (Unix-like)
Working stateCurrent
Source modelOpen source
Initial release2008
Latest releaseRolling release / installation medium 28 June 2023; 17 months ago (2023-06-28)[1]
Marketing targetGeneral purpose
Package manager
  • XBPS,
  • XBPS-SRC
Platforms
Kernel typeMonolithic (Linux)
UserlandGNU + Glibc or GNU + Musl
Default
user interface		Command-line interface (Bourne shell as the default shell), Xfce
LicenseVarious licenses; Void-made software is mostly licensed under BSD 2-clause
Official websitevoidlinux.org Edit this at Wikidata

Void Linux[3] is an independent Linux distribution that uses the X Binary Package System (XBPS) package manager, which was designed and implemented from scratch, and the runit init system. Excluding binary kernel blobs, a base install is composed entirely of free software (but users can access an official non-free repository to install proprietary software as well).[4][5]

History

Void Linux was created in 2008 by Juan Romero Pardines, a former developer of NetBSD,[6] to have a test-bed for the XBPS package manager. The ability to natively build packages from source using xbps-src is likely inspired by pkgsrc and other BSD ports collections.[7]

In May 2018, the project was moved to a new website and code repository by the core team after the project leader had not been heard from for several months.[8][9][10]

As of July 2023, Void is the third highest rated project on DistroWatch, with a score of 9.23 out of 10.[11]

Features

Void is a notable exception to the majority of Linux distributions because it uses runit as its init system instead of the more common systemd used by other distributions such as Arch Linux, Debian and Fedora.[12] It is also unique among distributions in that separate software repositories and installation media using either glibc or musl are available.

Void was the first distribution to have incorporated LibreSSL[3] as the system cryptography library by default.[2] In February 2021, the Void Linux team announced[citation needed] Void Linux would be switching back to OpenSSL on March 5, 2021. Among the reasons were the problematic process of patching software that was primarily written to work with OpenSSL, the support for some optimizations and earlier access to newer algorithms.[13] A switch to OpenSSL began in April 2020 in the GitHub issue of the void-packages repository where most of the discussion has taken place.[14]

Due to its rolling release nature, a system running Void is kept up-to-date with binary updates from the repositories in contrast with a point release. [15] Source packages are maintained on GitHub and can be compiled using the xbps-src build system.[16] The package build process is performed in a clean environment, not tied to the current system, and most packages can be cross-compiled for foreign architectures.

As of April 2017, Void Linux supports Flatpak, which allows the installation of the latest packages from upstream repositories.[17]

Installation

Void Linux installation is a straightforward process designed to accommodate various hardware configurations.[18] The recommended system specifications for a standard experience include a dual-core processor with a minimum clock speed of 2 GHz, 4 GB of RAM, and 25 GB of available disk space.

Void Linux supports multiple architectures, including x86-64 ("AMD64"), ARM, and Power ISA, catering to a broad range of hardware environments. Users can choose the architecture that aligns with their system requirements.

The installation process typically begins with live images, available for download in the disk image (.iso) format.[19] These images can be burned onto a DVD or USB flash drive, facilitating the installation process. Users can utilize tools like UNetbootin or the pre-installed Startup Disk Creator to run the live environment directly from a USB drive without altering the host system.

Void Linux provides an archive of disk images for both current and past versions on its official website.[20] This resource caters to users seeking specific releases or archival purposes.

Editions

Void Linux can be downloaded as a base image or as a flavor image. The base image contains little more than basic programs; users can then configure an environment for themselves. The flavor image contains a pre-configured Xfce desktop environment. Cinnamon, Enlightenment, LXDE, LXQt, MATE, and GNOME used to be offered as pre-packaged live images, but are no longer offered "in order to decrease the overhead involved with testing."[21][22]

The live images contain an installer that offers a ncurses-based user interface. The default root shell is Dash.[15]

Void Linux live image table[1]
Platform C library Desktop environment
glibc musl Xfce
i686 Yes No Yes
amd64 Yes
ARM-based
beaglebone Yes No[note 1]
cubieboard 2
ODROID C2
Raspberry Pi 1/2/3/4
USB Armory

Derivatives

Void Linux for PowerPC/Power ISA (unofficial) was[23] a fork of Void Linux for PowerPC and Power ISA, with the project ending in early 2023. It supported 32-bit and 64-bit devices, big-endian and little-endian operation, and musl and glibc. Void-ppc maintained its own build infrastructure and package repositories, and aimed to build all of Void Linux's packages on all targets. It was a fork largely because of technical issues with Void Linux's build infrastructure.[24]

Project Trident was a Linux distribution based on Void Linux,[25] but was discontinued[26] in March of 2022.[27]

Reception

In February 2023, Jesse Smith, of DistroWatch, said "The Void distribution is one of the fastest, lightest, most cleanly designed Linux distributions I've had the pleasure of using. Everything is trim, efficient, and surprisingly fast." Also, "Void has a relatively small repository of software [but] most of the key applications are there."[28]

Notes

  1. ^ Can be installed separately.

References

  1. ^ a b "New Images! (July 2023 Edition)". Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  2. ^ a b "The Void (Linux) distribution". Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  3. ^ a b "Void". DistroWatch. Retrieved 2015-09-22.
  4. ^ Wallen, Jack (2017-10-27). "Void Linux: A Salute to Old-School Linux". Linux.com.
  5. ^ Smith, Jesse (2017-05-29). "Returning to the Void". DistroWatch Weekly. DistroWatch. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  6. ^ Baader, Hans-Joachim (2015-06-12). "Void Linux: Distribution mit XBPS-Paketverwaltung" (in German). Pro-Linux. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  7. ^ "Hackover Vortrag zu Void Linux" (in German). 2014-10-25. Retrieved 2015-09-22.
  8. ^ "Serious Issues". voidlinux.org. May 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  9. ^ "GitHub Organisation is moving". voidlinux.org. 3 June 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  10. ^ Aldridge, Michael (November 28, 2018). "ENOBDFL". Retrieved 2019-05-22.
  11. ^ "DistroWatch Project Ranking". DistroWatch. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  12. ^ "Without Systemd". Retrieved 2015-09-22.
  13. ^ "Switching back to OpenSSL". 23 February 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  14. ^ "[RFC] Switching back to OpenSSL #20935". GitHub. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  15. ^ a b Jesse Smith (2015-04-06). "Looking into the Void distribution". DistroWatch Weekly. DistroWatch. Retrieved 2015-09-22.
  16. ^ The XBPS source packages collection on GitHub
  17. ^ "Flatpak". 2017-04-14.
  18. ^ "How to Install Void Linux: A Minimalist and Fast Distro". Jitto Tech. 2023-10-01. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  19. ^ "How to Install Void Linux: A Minimalist and Fast Distro". Jitto Tech. 2023-10-01. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  20. ^ "How to Install Void Linux: A Minimalist and Fast Distro". Jitto Tech. 2023-10-01. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  21. ^ "Index of /live/20210218".
  22. ^ "Void Downloads". Retrieved 2021-11-08.
  23. ^ "Project status update for 2023".
  24. ^ "About - Void Linux for PPC (unofficial) documentation". 2019-09-20. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  25. ^ "Project Trident Ditches BSD for Linux". 2019-10-19. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  26. ^ "Project Trident Sunset". 29 October 2021. Archived from the original on 23 December 2021.
  27. ^ "After Moving From FreeBSD to Void Linux, Project Trident Finally Discontinues". It's FOSS News. 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2023-01-21.
  28. ^ Smith, Jesse (2023-02-20). "Underrated distributions". Distrowatch. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
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