 Visitor Reviews |
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Reader supplied reviews for Devuan GNU+Linux
Average rating
9.0 from 174 review(s)
Version: testing
Rating: 10
Date: 2026-05-08
Country: Iceland
Votes: 14
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Devuan 7 continues the project’s tradition of delivering a clean, stable, and transparent Linux environment without the complexity and overhead of systemd. After running it extensively on modern hardware and a ThinkPad workstation, the experience is consistently impressive. Boot times are fast, memory usage is lean, and the system remains responsive even under heavy multitasking.
What stands out most is Devuan’s architectural clarity. With SysVinit, OpenRC, or runit available as first‑class init systems, service management is predictable and easy to audit. Tools like Lynis integrate naturally, and the absence of systemd’s monolithic stack results in a noticeably smaller attack surface. Logs are readable, services behave consistently, and nothing runs unless you choose it.
Performance is excellent. Devuan 7 uses significantly less RAM than systemd‑based distros, and CPU load remains low even with KDE Plasma on Wayland. Firefox, PipeWire, and modern desktop components run smoothly without any of the overhead or background churn typical of systemd environments.
Despite being a testing release, Devuan 7 is remarkably stable. Package management with APT 3 is fast and reliable, hardware support is solid, and the system feels lighter and more responsive than Debian or Ubuntu on the same machine.
Devuan 7 may not be aimed at beginners — and that’s because it prioritizes transparency and user control over automation. It is a distribution for users who value control, transparency, and technical integrity. If you want a modern Linux system that respects UNIX principles and avoids unnecessary complexity, Devuan 7 is one of the best choices available today.
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Version: 6.1.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2026-04-02
Country: Indonesia
Votes: 48
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recently installed Devuan on my aging Lenovo V310, and the results are impressive. Despite its age, the laptop runs incredibly smooth and feels faster than ever. The system is rock-solid and hasn't encountered a single issue since the installation. If you're looking for a stable, systemd-free distribution that can revitalize older machines, Devuan is easily the best choice. Highly recommended for its reliability and performance.
I’ve been testing several distributions on my aging Lenovo V310, and Devuan is the clear winner. I previously tried installing Ubuntu, but the experience was disappointing; the system felt heavy, sluggish, and struggled with basic multitasking.
Switching to Devuan changed everything. It is incredibly lightweight and runs flawlessly on this older hardware. The stability is top-notch, and the entire system feels much more responsive without the overhead of systemd. If you have an older laptop that feels 'slow' on mainstream distros, I highly recommend giving Devuan a try. It’s rock-solid, fast, and very reliable.
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Version: unstable
Rating: 9
Date: 2026-03-27
Country: New Zealand
Votes: 15
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What can I say, this is Debian without systemd, so if you like Debian then you'll like Devuan, Devuan gives you the option of sysvinit, openrc, and runit, I briefly tried all three, and I found openrc was the easiest, simple commands to add or remove a service, and without the complexity of systemd units, want to run a command on boot? just put it in rc.local, just like the old days, no writing a systemd service that wants multi-user.target, or graphical.target, or whatever, I chose the net install iso, my wifi card was supported out of the box, I chose the no desktop, minimal install, then once installed I rebooted and installed labwc, and all the other components I required, I switched to the unstable branch and installed the liquorix kernel, now I have an arch like experience, but on debian, and without having to deal with .pacnew files and so on
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Version: 6.1.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2026-01-03
Votes: 69
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Asus B75M-A mobo, Intel 3220 cpu, 1Tb Seagate HDD, Intel integrated graphics, 16Gb memory. Downloaded this latest point release and did a clean install. The install is hands down a lot faster, and smoother, than Debian 13 Trixie proper. I like this new point release, it's quick, clean and has just about as much as I need or want from my OS. I choose to remove any firefox or thunderbird offerings if there are any after installation and go with derivatives Betterbird and Waterfox as I prefer them to the main line based upon. I went with the Xfce desktop and like the graphics. Had a problem with how to pin my Internet offerings onto the panel and a quick question to the wonderful world of the web I was directed to activate a little plug-in to the panel which helped me and to show which program was open when I minimized it from the desktop screen.
I like that it's based on Debian for support purposes and don't find this non-systemd offering lacking in anything to me. Desktop is crisp, software is snappy when open and running and I am able to install a couple of odds & ends through CLI, or synaptic that gets me to be where I want to be. I believe Devuan 6.1 to be well supported, alive & very active and am not concerned about if it will be here next year or the next.
Very good job indeed to the Devuan team! Thanks!
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Version: 6.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-12-18
Votes: 43
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Upgraded from Daedalus to Excalibur via the instructions a few weeks ago. So far so good!!
Been using Devuan & before systemd, Debian. Before Devuan was a choice it was Slackware/Salix; until it was feeling really stale. Fortunately Devuan had it's bearing by then and have been there for quite a bit.
It's not like I don't try some others in VM's; (mxlinux, Mint, Slackware-Salix, ??) but just haven't found anything yet to really want me to make a change the network. If there was it could possibly be Slackware/Salix but don't know if something happened to Patrick V what the result would be.
Getting tired & old; late nights dinking with puters til odd hours is over.
Devuan - good & stable; XFCE - light & good enough to get the job done. Personally don't need a bunch of eye candy.
Been using computers when you either got a green or amber screen. No mouse needed. Miss it sometimes.
I still use a computer to get some work done. I'm done now.
PS - I couldn't believe it when "xsane" recognized and worked with my old Canon scanner. No drivers in Windoze worked since XP I think. Canon-ugh! another story.
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Version: 6.0.0
Rating: 7
Date: 2025-12-03
Votes: 0
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I would not recommend Devuan for beginners in Linux as the text-based installer is not as user-friendly as the ones for easier distros like Linux Mint, MX or Tuxedo. Also, it seems more buggy and less well configured than Debian stable on which it is based.
For example, when I installed Devuan 6 with KDE Plasma desktop, the SDDM login screen had white text on a white background, making it impossible to see the various icons and menus on the login screen such as the option to choose between Wayland and X11 sessions. This is due to a badly configured SDDM theme files and requires reinstalling and re-applying the Debian breeze SDDM theme to fix it. Next, entering local hard disk partitions in /etc/fstab does not result in the OS auto mounting them at boot time. You have to manually create the mount point directories before it will mount to them. Maybe this ability to automount fstab partitions is something that systemd does in other distros and so is missing from Devuan since it does not have systemd, but MX Linux sysvinit flavours also auto mount partitions found in fstab.
Thus, first impressions are that it is not as well tested and configured as upstream Debian and has more bugs.
The one advantage that Devuan has over Debian is that, perhaps because it does not have systemd, it saves you 700-800 MB of RAM overhead. Yes, Devuan KDE uses 700-800 MB less RAM at idle than Debian KDE on my hardware. Devuan KDE uses even less RAM than Mint XFCE. This could be an important consideration for those with older computers with less RAM, or those who want the OS to be as light on system resources as possible in order to maximise gaming or app performance (in which case try Devuan with XFCE rather than KDE for even lighter system resource usage).
However, if stability and well-configuredness are important, Debian stable or Linux Mint are a better choice.
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Version: 6.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-11-23
Votes: 39
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Devuan 6 Excalibur is a pleasant surprise for anyone who, like me, prefers a stable system without the hassle of systemd. The installation is straightforward, and it feels light and fast, even on older machines. I appreciate the focus on keeping a clean, customizable environment, with XFCE doing its job without unnecessary extras. It’s not perfect, but solid and reliable—ideal for those wanting a simple yet functional Linux.This version emphasizes stability and control, which you can feel in everyday use, with improvements in audio quality and package management thanks to PipeWire and APT 3. Perfect for users who like everything under their control without unnecessary compromises.
Devuan 6 Excalibur is a refreshing choice for users wanting a stable, systemd-free Linux. Installation is easy, and it feels lightweight even on older machines. XFCE is clean and customizable, with other desktops available like KDE and Cinnamon. The Linux 6.12 kernel adds real-time support and better hardware compatibility. One standout is the new merged-/usr filesystem and tmpfs for /tmp, giving a noticeable boost to speed and system consistency. APT 3.0’s smarter package handling makes updates smoother. It’s not perfect, but solid, efficient, and ideal for those craving control without the extra complexity. PipeWire improves audio quality with low latency, rounding out a well-thought-out system for everyday.
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Version: 6.0.0
Rating: 9
Date: 2025-11-12
Votes: 0
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I'm writing this review from an old Acer netbook that was meant to become e-waste after a couple of years. But it is still alive, thanks to devuan.
In order to install it, I tried the netinstaller, but it didn't work (pretty sure that the issue is that I didn't write it directly on the USB but I used ventoy instead. Works just fine using a VM). Then I used the xfce live image and everything went smoothly. Not perfect but it works.
Devuan doesn't rely on systemd, which is great in such an underpowered machine: the boot time is decent (way faster than Fedora Lxqt which I installed before; I also obviously replaced the spinning hard drive with an SSD) and the RAM usage is quite good.
On the other hand, xfce is a good desktop, a good compromise between performance and functionality; I'm amazed on how responsive the system is in general when doing some basic stuff. You can also browse the internet, but obviously the Intel Atom CPU will start to struggle on modern websites.
I have to admit that I had devuan 5 previously installed and upgrading to 6 didn't go well (got stuck in a login loop), hence I had to do a fresh install. I also have to admit that I didn't do a backup before the update, which is not ideal, but yeah, whatever.
Also, I know that there may be better options like antiX, but for now I'm just happy like this.
In conclusion what can I say: it is a distro that you should definitely try, it is basically Debian without systemd. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the average systemd hater, but in this case I'm glad there isn't.
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Version: 6.0.0
Rating: 5
Date: 2025-11-08
Votes: 0
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As a server OS this distro is a gem, rock solid stable ever since I have been using it since version 3 Beowulf and without systemd infestation. I'm very happy in that regard.
The issues arise using it as a desktop. As a passionate KDE user I wanted to upgrade my Devuan clients to plasma 6 (fresh install). I was dismayed to see the sddm white background login issue where the text isn't readable is still present just like in the previous version. Changing the background fixed this. That alone wouldn't have been so bad. However, this time there was no sound! The volume control says "Connection to the sound service lost" and I can't find a solution. It occurs on wayland and x-session. It was expecially infuriating since I only noticed it when wanting to play a youtube video after I already migrated all my data and configurations back onto the machine.
I know the primary focus of this distro is removing systemd from Debian, but come on. First impressions matter a lot. You can't tell me nobody noticed this when testing the installation options. Just as a test I installed Debian Trixie and no sound issue were present. If the KDE option is this broken then they shouldn't offer it at all. I'm now considering Artix (another systemd-free alternative) for my clients (although I'm a bit afraid that bleeding edge package may break things.). This is sad because otherwise this distro has the potential to easily be a 9 or even 10 out of 10. Hope making you aware of this was helpful.
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Version: testing
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-11-04
Votes: 26
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I've been using Devuan with the runit init system for a few weeks now, and I must say, the experience has been nothing short of exceptional. It is genuinely great. Coming from a long-term relationship with Debian, a distribution I relied on and respected for years, I was prepared for a period of adjustment, perhaps even a slight step back in convenience. The reality has been the complete opposite. The system is remarkably fast, and in basic desktop use, I've observed it to be even a little bit faster and more responsive than Debian. For its sheer performance, clean philosophy, and unwavering stability, it absolutely deserves a 10/10.
The performance difference, while not earth-shattering, is perceptible. On Debian, the boot process felt like a modern car with a complex electronic dashboard: lots of services initializing in a specific, inter-dependent order, which, while fast, had a certain "orchestrated" feel to it. With Devuan and runit, the boot is more like a light, precision-engineered sports car turning over. It's immediate, direct, and feels almost analog in its simplicity. The same applies to service management. Using sv commands to check the status of, start, or stop a service is instantaneous. There's no parsing through layers of journal logs with journalctl for a simple status check; the feedback is immediate and unambiguous. This responsiveness translates to the desktop environment as well. Application startup feels snappier, and the system as a whole feels lighter on its feet, even if the actual resource usage difference in a idle state is minimal. It's a feeling of direct control, of reduced latency between my command and the system's action.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-10-30
Votes: 14
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Thanks for this review. Devuan is allowing me to do what I need on my Dell Optiplex9020 Desktop. It is a quad-core and my external drives with 14 other Linux distributions. I have used Devuan 6, code-name Excalibur, currently in testing, and I find it also to my liking.
I am also tinkkrering with the Devuan 5-based Vuudo 5.03 It has an XFCE and a Mate desktop iso at Sourceforge.net. I plan
to have Devuan largely fill the void left with the end of security support for Windows 10, with the end of life for Windows 11 to follow within a year. Of course I have only been am occasional Windows user for about 14 years. Plenty of exciting releases of Linux have come ut over that time.I use my computers mainly for internet, email, and fiction as well as-nonfiction reading. Often the fiction has excerpts of stories based on real events, and that's what interests me.It's a shame that schooling since the middle of the 20th century
hs been light on history and social studies, but reading can help fill some of that void even if I just retain bits of information for future use.Meanwhile, I can't say that Devuan is an OS newbies should jump into, it is an improvement over some of the Linux available.
It is especially strong in software management and file management. I use Caja with the Mate desktop and generally lean on
PCmanfm in XFCE or whenever I need user-friendly, reliable file browsing.Sadly, I am not into programming and don't have the skillset to help in development. I really appreciate the folks who do put heavy work into Linux development and bug fixing. I use a number of Debian derivatives, mostly stable, and I have recently added Debian Forky (14) to my collection.Here's to the users who just have fun with this. Linux is busy work but not strenuous activity.I would be interested in a Devuan store or hardware with Devuan pre-installed.
Hopefully that time will be down the road, when economics justify computer purchases.
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Version: testing
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-10-07
Votes: 34
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Review: Devuan 6 (Testing)
Devuan 6 (testing) offers excellent stability and performance. The system runs smoothly with the dependable SysVinit init system, giving users full control over service management. Security hardening through Lynis integrates well with nftables and kernel lockdown features, providing a robust defense layer. Squid proxy operates efficiently, and KDE Plasma on Wayland delivers a responsive and modern desktop experience. Devuan 6 is a strong choice for users seeking a secure, systemd-free Linux environment with clarity and precision.
Pros
Exceptional stability — ideal for both desktop and server environments
Transparent init system — SysVinit offers simplicity and reliability
Effective hardening — Lynis, nftables, and kernel lockdown work seamlessly together
Wayland support — KDE Plasma performs impressively with smooth graphics and input handling
Minimalist architecture — no unnecessary background services or socket activation
Full control — ideal for users who value manual oversight and customization
Cons
Some configuration may be manual — especially for advanced setups or custom hardware
Testing branch — generally rock stable, but occasional package transitions can occur
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 1
Date: 2025-10-06
Votes: 0
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I tried Devuan with SysVinit and I've never experienced these issues: Round 1, I installed Devuan with LXQt which would not even boot into the DE.
Then round 2: Installed it with LXDE instead which worked and booted up, but then I went to do a "sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y" and it started lagging like nothing I've seen lagging before and all it said was "failed to fetch" the repos, it was almost like the terminal was having a stroke.
I have installed countless of other distros and never had any of these things happening before, howerver it could be that I maybe missed something, but then again I did it twice and installed it like I would with Debian.
One more thing, the machine when I booted the ISO sounded like a car doing a "jump-start", not a joke.
I'm gonna give it another shot when Devuan Excalibur version 6.0 is out.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-10-02
Votes: 7
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I have been using Devuan 5 Daedalus with XFCE x64 on all my desktops with intel mobo's, a panasonic touhgbook & a HP laptop and it's been working beautifully, No problems at all, for me it works better and more efficient in some aspects than debian and MX Linux, I give it 10 out of 10, the only drawback is that it doesn't have the tools of MX Linux, like the snapshot tool, yeah you can use "refracta-snapshot" tool but it is a little more complicated to use than the MX Linux one, however I like the init freedom of choice between SysVinit, Runit and OpenRC and that is free of systemd, cheers!
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-08-14
Votes: 34
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Devuan is a Debian-based Linux distribution that stands out by eschewing systemd in favor of traditional init systems like SysVinit or OpenRC. This makes it a solid choice for users who value simplicity, stability, and control over their system processes.
Pros:
Lightweight and efficient
Ideal for older hardware or minimal setups
Offers greater transparency in init handling
Strong community support for systemd-free computing
Cons:
Smaller user base than mainstream distros
Some packages may require manual tweaks
Verdict: Devuan is perfect for Linux users who prefer a lean, systemd-free environment without sacrificing the reliability of Debian. While its visual presentation depends on your desktop choice, Devuan delivers a solid and impressive experience beneath the surface. Almost perfect: 20/20.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 6
Date: 2025-08-06
Votes: 0
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Meh. Installed a few days ago on a drive with 3 other distros.
Xfce sucks the air out of lightness, so loaded up JWM, which I'm using on another distro WITH systemd. After some trimming of things that aren't needed, it came up using ~312 MB. Not bad until considering the other distro I use JWM on boots up to ~330 MB, but WITH conky, tint2,nm-tray/applet, thermald, iwd, parcellite, and and automatic update notifier daemon.
Can't seem to trim the Xfce stuff down much.
Not sure what's so bad with systemd if the system is well crafted.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-07-28
Votes: 31
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I've used Devuan for several years, and for me is best choice at the moment.
Systemd-free environment grounded in reliability, transparency, and user choice.
Unlike many mainstream distributions, it puts control back into the hands of the user by separating itself from systemd’s complexity and integration.
It supports multiple init systems: full-featured SysVinit, OpenRC, and Runit.
This means Devuan offers greater flexibility than Debian, on which it's based, combining advantages that provide even greater freedom.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-07-13
Votes: 26
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I’d been looking for a more predictable, lightweight alternative to Debian with its systemd quirks, and switching to Devuan made a real difference. The installation went off without a hitch: the familiar installer let me choose between SysVinit, OpenRC or runit, with none of the extra “init magic.” From the first boot, memory usage dropped, and services start quickly with no hidden dependencies.
Full compatibility with Debian’s repositories was a pleasant surprise—every package I needed installed with the same commands, old configs required no tweaking, and applications ran out of the box. The confusion of multiple daemon-like processes disappeared: the boot sequence is straightforward, and manual service restarts and monitoring work flawlessly.
The Devuan community turned out to be far more responsive than I’d expected. In chat and on the forums you can get help refining OpenRC scripts or finding the best MySQL tuning parameters. The documentation is well organized and filled with real-world examples, so even nuanced tasks like setting up secure permissions for daemons are covered step by step.
All in all, Devuan gives you everything you love about Debian—familiar environment, the same packages, the same tools—without unnecessary dependencies and with total control over your init system. I haven’t once regretted leaving systemd behind or thought about going back to Debian.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-07-09
Votes: 21
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Devuan: A Linux Distribution for Technical Integrity and User Autonomy
Devuan offers a systemd-free environment grounded in reliability, transparency, and user choice. Unlike many mainstream distributions, it puts control back into the hands of the user by separating itself from systemd’s complexity and integration.
Fact-based rebuttals to common misconceptions:
• Devuan supports multiple init systems: fully functional SysVinit, OpenRC, and runit — not half-hearted stubs, but usable options.
• Running a tool like lynis clearly shows that SysVinit is the default and active init system — not systemd or any systemd-related layer.
• Presence of systemd-tied files or libraries in Devuan does not mean systemd is running — these are inert compatibility layers that fulfill upstream requirements, not executable components.
• KDE Plasma with Wayland works beautifully in either Stable or Testing — including PipeWire, Bluetooth, and other modern features often falsely assumed to require systemd.
• Devuan's Live ISO is stable and functional for standard use cases, and advanced setups (like ZFS-on-root) are possible using standard Debian-compatible methods.
• Community support is active and knowledgeable, and documentation relevant to init systems and configuration is accessible on Devuan's forums and project pages.
Bottom line:
Devuan it’s focused. It trades flash for clarity, vendor lock-in for modularity, and complexity for composability. Whether you’re building a lean server or a sophisticated desktop environment, Devuan empowers you to do it without compromise or dependency chains you never asked for.
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Version: testing
Rating: 4
Date: 2025-07-08
Votes: 0
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I've used Devuan for several years now, but more I use it more Devuan brings continuous disappointment to me.
Pros:
- It is extremely stable for the the ever shrinking range of Debian programs and servers it provides while filtering systemd dependencies;
- Lack of systemd makes it more snappy compared to Debian in performance and less resources.
Cons:
- Devuan only blacklists and blocks in repo insolvable systemd-bound packages, and this list grows each day. This is it;
- No attempts for workarounds for problems as other systemd-free distros at least try to provide for gnome, kde, wayland composers, pipewire, bluetooth, etc, etc. ...;
- No attempts to include other init systems as S6, Dinit that are more appropriate to fight and mitigate the incompatibilities that systemd generates for the systemd-free world. Devuan devs attitude is passive - Debian does not provide them, we don't care. We only filter!
- Even their implementations of runit, OpenRC are not fully implemented. Just use SysV and this is it;
- Devuan does not have its own Wiki to differentiate from Debian Wiki for specific Init cases;
- The Live image is an unbelievable joke as installation. Even more - one cannot use it in cases such as install zfs-on-root manually! It is far more easy one to use a Debian Live image and then convert Debian to Devuan.
Overall:
Devuan is a fading glory distro in the X11 world and has a dubious future in the Wayland world that comes with piling systemd problems for other Init systems, that developers of this distro don't bother and don't care to address.
For Desktop use cases Devuan moves steadily to a lost cause.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 8
Date: 2025-07-07
Votes: 0
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Overall Devuan is an excellent distro once you get it setup.
Kernel wise it is a heavily intel leaning distro on 5.x as I have both amd and intel based systems.
Pros:
Stable
Fast
Minimal bugs
Excellent support on forums as debian on top of Devuan forums work a treat.
More honest and true to linux and original ethos.
Does not follow the crowd which creates an insulating layer for security.
Package range is huge and they are hosted on their own servers.
Cons:
Being intel leaning, amd tends to be left by the wayside. Eg. amd graphics firmware is not included by default requiring manual install.
Intel wifi drivers not loaded by default in the installer requiring search. It finds them but why does it have to say it needs the firmware and have to search for it in the first place.
CDrom set as top default in sources which indicates that the Devuan team lean a bit too heavy on Debian output instead of real world usage. They could make simple changes to better the experience.
Uses debian installer which is unforgiving so not good for new users.
The cons are very easily worked out if you are an experienced linux user but I would not recommend for new users. Once setup, this distro is an excellent stable distro and I have encountered no issues with it at all. All software works just fine on it.
I am an xfce user but tested gnome on it which did not work correctly which is understandable as gnome is heavily dependent on systemd and this distro does not use it.
I love the ethos of this distro and see why they are doing it which is why the cons are a non issue for me.
If a new user does get it installed as the wifi driver issue might create a barrier, the install continues but no wifi is available at all after rebooting if the user continues without searching for drivers.
Additionally, if they do get past this stage, they wont be able to update because the cd rom is the primary source and terminal is required to fix this.
So for experienced users, this distro is a must try. I think you have to be of a specific mindset to understand the ethos but if you do, this distro is a critical tool. I am lucky that I do understand and love this distro for what it represents.
Id the devuan team ironed out the above cons, I would give it a 10. I do not believe they are irrational observations but they are my two cents.
I am extremely greatful for this distro and the teams efforts and wish I heard of this distro sooner.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-07-05
Votes: 6
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Devuan Linux: A Refreshing SystemD-Free Experience
Devuan stands out as a clean, efficient, and rock-solid Linux distribution — especially for users who prefer simplicity, transparency, and control over their systems. By intentionally steering clear of `systemd`, it restores the classic UNIX-style init freedom that many developers and power users crave.
Seamless KDE Plasma + Wayland Integration
Devuan pairs beautifully with KDE Plasma, offering a crisp and responsive desktop experience:
Wayland support is smooth and stable — rendering modern graphics with noticeably low input latency and excellent fractional scaling
- Plasma runs fast and fluidly, without the overhead you might see in bloated distros
- KDE’s modularity is right at home in Devuan’s minimalist ecosystem, while remaining remarkably feature-rich!
Whether you're customizing widgets or using heavy graphical tools, the desktop remains remarkably snappy.
Outstanding Hardware Compatibility
Despite being systemd-free, Devuan doesn't compromise on device support:
ThinkPads (like the T-line) work flawlessly — fan control with `zcfan` is rock-solid and keeps the system cool without fuss
- Graphics, sound [installed pipewire], networking, and input devices all integrate easily, thanks to Devuan’s Debian-based drivers
- Power management behaves exactly as expected — no surprises, no tweaking marathons
Init Freedom: SysVinit or Runit [openRC]
One of Devuan's core strengths is its support for alternative init systems:
- SysVinit provides traditional, battle-tested init scripts with predictable boot behavior
- Runit offers a sleek and fast alternative with parallel startup and simple service supervision
You get to choose your init philosophy — with no coercion or abstraction layers.
Performance & Efficiency
With no `systemd` overhead:
- Power usage drops noticeably
- CPU heat stays impressively low, even under load
- The system runs lean — memory footprint is minimal, and startup times are lightning-fast
This isn’t just minimalism for its own sake — it’s precision engineering where every daemon and process does exactly what it should.
Devuan Feels Right
It’s the kind of operating system that behaves exactly how a great OS should: secure, efficient, and respectful of user choice.
There’s no hidden agenda, no intrusive services, no background mysteries. Everything is under your control — just the way Linux was meant to be.
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Version: testing
Rating: 1
Date: 2025-07-04
Votes: 0
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One of of the attractive things about linux is its ability to be installed on most devices including slim books and this is where this version falls down.
If you use the net install, the intel wifi drivers are not there and the install wont proceed because there is no lan cards in thin books.
What makes this even more irritating is the fact that the intel firmware is present on the 5.11 release. This shows a lack of consistency across distro versions which i do not like because 5.11 works well enough.
If you do have a lan and complete the install, it does not have the wifi drivers installed.
The live version is worse because it comes with the refracta installer which does not work. You open it and it produces an error saying that it is missing a file.
If you make a distro available to install, its probably a good idea to test if users can install it.
Its a shame because 5.11 is not bad at all but driver issues seem to plague devuan as I installed 5.11 on an amd laptop and the graphics drivers had to be manually installed.
I switched over to expirion based off excalibur and it worked flawlessly out of the box for my intel devices, the amd laptop required an acpi_backlight=vendor value in the grub boot parameters to be able to save brightness settings.
I so want to run devuan testing but its plagued with silly issues on basic install which should not exist.
If device firmware is present in 5.11, it should be there in 6.0. If expirion can do this, why cant devuan.
I like devuan very much but some things are just plain irritating like having the cdrom in the sources list at the top resulting in updates failing due to no cdrom present.
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Version: unstable
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-05-31
Votes: 35
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Devuan Linux is one of the best linux distros. It's not perfect, but it just works! Most systemd-free distros have huge compromises that makes using them annoying and a waste of time. I'm using devuan unstable because having slightly newer packages suits my needs. Devuan, although I'm using unstable is actually very stable, much more stable than arch or even fedora.
My setup is Devuan unstable with i3wm on an old dual core thinkpad (x201). It is speedy, minimal and just works!
The installer is good too. If you choose the netinstaller it will be the same as the normal debian installer, only with an option to choose what init system you want. The options are; sysvinit, runit (the one I chose) or openrc. Sysvinit is the default and works well, but i chose runit because I love the simplicity and the speed.
Devuan is a great distro!
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-03-07
Votes: 100
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Both of the companies I work for are in the process of retooling Linux workstations and servers. The companies are leveraged heavily into Linux, but were decidedly biased toward RedHat and RedHat derived distributions. It wasn't until systemd arrived on the scene that anything else would have even been considered. And shortly after systemd locked up the first systems in testing, something other than Redhat and Debian distributions became a requirement.
Hence the selection of Devuan.
There was a considerable amount of culture shock moving from to Devuan as one would expect moving from Redhat to Debian. Everything from the package manager to how the network was configured changed. I can't say there were not numerous annoyances with how things used to look/feel/work when you were comfortable in another environment.
But looking backward, it was ... TOTALLY WORTH IT
We played with Devuan ASCII. Got serious with Beowulf. Used Chimaera in the first production systems. And now it's been mandated to upgrade all Linux servers and workstations with Devuan Daedalus even as the release of Excalibur is eagerly awaited.
Devuan just works.
I have nothing but good things to say about uptime, stability, boot speed, and hardware support. I did have a little trouble with the ISO installer on one laptop, but nothing I could not handle. All other equipment has been a breeze to install, harden, and provision services upon once I was comfortable with the "debian way" of doing things. The community is great and I love finding my questions already answered on the Galaxy forum.
No regrets. Highly recommended.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-03-01
Votes: 65
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Devuan Linux is a remarkable distribution that excels in stability, speed, and reliability. As a fork of Debian, it offers a system free from systemd, making it an ideal choice for users who prefer alternative init systems. The performance is impressive, with fast boot times and efficient resource management, ensuring a seamless experience.
One of Devuan's standout features is its ease of maintenance. The straightforward package management system allows users to keep their systems updated with minimal effort. Additionally, the supportive community provides ample resources and documentation, making it accessible for both newcomers and seasoned users.
Security is another strong point for Devuan. The security index is notably higher than in systemd-based systems, and users can achieve robust security with less effort, especially when utilizing tools like Lynis for auditing and hardening.
In summary, Devuan Linux is a solid choice for anyone seeking a dependable, secure, and user-friendly operating system. Whether for personal use or server environments, it delivers the stability and performance that users can rely on. Highly recommended!
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-02-28
Votes: 32
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The most stable OS on my hardware, this is actually what I need.
Maybe Debian could be good to, but I'm don't want Systemd+Linux instead GNU+Linux.
My setup is like: laptop with Intel CPU (with graphics) and N(o)vidia videocard.
~ N(o)vidia is work
It's sad to use nvidia in Linux, especially when developers push upload drivers like in Void/Artix/...(rolling)
But here it perfectly work and I very happy.
~ Stability
No random bugs after each N updates, just stable.
I don't know why but I'm get many bugs in Void, a little less in Artix.
~ No systemd
You know.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-12-07
Votes: 119
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Devuan works very well, it uses the classic init system 'sysvinit' and it is a good alternative to Debian which uses 'systemd' instead. If you don't want to use systemd, Devuan will work for you and it gives you the freedom to choose the init mode you prefer (SysV, OpenRC or runit). Compared to Debian, not much changes: if you know how to use Debian, then you know how to use Devuan. The installer is intuitive, easy to use and fast. There is a wide choice of desktop environments: Xfce, MATE, Cinnamon, KDE (it uses Wayland by default), etc.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 8
Date: 2024-11-26
Votes: 0
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There still are some aspects where you have to go "under the hood" when you have to manually disable some (few) systemd references, but it works very well and is a good alternative if you are familiar with debian. If you cannot or don't want to use systemd, Devuan may be well worth a 2nd look. It's a pity the graphical installation menus aren't yet ported. Devuan closes a gap left open when more and more distros switched exclusively to systemd. There's also no problem, of course, to switch to an alternative desktop environment like Mate.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-11-21
Votes: 29
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I am using devuan GNU/Linux 5 daedalus xfce for many months. I am very impressed with its performance since first day. its running very fast and smooth. its theme clearlooks -saphire is quiet impressive and I like it most.I have installed chromium browser that is running very fast on my computer. I am very happy with this linux distro . It should be the best linux distro in my opinion. overall performance is very good. Earlier I would use debian but this devuan is running fast on my old system without any errors.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-11-08
Votes: 21
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Coming from Gentoo with an old laptop. Yes there are binary packages in Gentoo now but not every single packages in the repos are available in that format and my slow laptop still struggles to compile some stuff. I do love openrc from Gentoo but since when I wanted to select it as init system in Devuan, it said that it relies on sysvinit, I've decided to just use sysvinit lol. I love the stability and I got the feeling future upgrades are going to be smooth. I've pretty much tried every distros out there you name it and my final destination is Devuan which I believe will not disappoint a linux enthusiasm such as myself. Good job to the devs behind dev1 you're doing a wonderful job keep up the good work don't you quit!
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-09-19
Votes: 83
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I use Devuan 5.0 KDE Plasma to get rid of ‘systemd’ and all its absurd and unnecessary complications. The recommended installation medium is the ‘netinstall CD’. The installation procedure is almost identical to that of Debian and it is very simple and intuitive. All the proprietary firmware your computer needs is installed automatically. KDE Plasma uses Wayland by default and everything works perfectly. You get all the software available for Debian: 59,000 packages. The default desktop environment is Xfce, but KDE Plasma works just fine. Available desktop environment are: Xfce, KDE Plasma, Cinnamon, LXQt, MATE. The operating system support is five years long. Install and forget. Devuan is recommended for those seeking stability, those who like freedom of init choice, Xfce users and KDE Plasma users.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-09-16
Votes: 51
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Today I installed devuan GNU/Linux 5 (daedalus) on my 32 bit computer, and I was amazed to see that my system is running very fast and smooth, xfce theme is also impressive. I installed chromium browser on it and its running very smooth and fast. earlier I was using debian linux but I also wanted to try devuan linux. it is my first devuan linux installation and its quiet impressive in performance and also nice looking themes. all other applications are also running very smooth and fast. overall perfomance is very good and impressive. I would certainly recommend this distro to everyone. I compliment all the developers for their hard work.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 6
Date: 2024-08-08
Votes: 0
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Distro is okay, the installer however is one of the worst applications I've ever used. If you're not careful you can easily wipe out sensitive data without an extra step of precaution. I was curious about triying Debian w/o SystemD, this distro is the often recommended. Didn't even make an impression, it felt like a school project instead of a real operating system. The default "themes" are all ugly and bright, supposedly "exclusive" to this distro (why? Just install adwaita themes at this point). XFCE is the only live environment available, so you'll have to do extra steps to get KDE, MATE, LXQT, or Cinnamon installed.
Overall I wouldn't recommend using this distro. I'm going back to LMDE after this review.
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Version:
Rating: 3
Date: 2024-08-07
Votes: 0
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I'm glad they offer a Raspberry PI 4 installer, so I could try it. But, it was really buggy and unusable. I tried to install exactly the same software as I had on a Debian-based installation, so as to have the closest comparison possible. While the boot-up process was a few seconds faster on Devuan, a lot of the software was slower. I wouldn't say that anything is really zippy on a Raspberry PI 4B, but Thorium was significantly slower on Devuan for some reason. I had a similar experience with Chromium and Mercury browsers. There was a rendering issue with Picom and the Chrome-based browsers. Part of it seemed to be Picom, another part just seemed to be an issue with the browsers, themselves. There would be rendering issues just trying to do a simple web search. Jellyfin was pretty non-functional for some reason. There wasn't a lot of support documentation on what the problems might be with a Devuan system, and with everything else working so poorly, I didn't really care to mess around with it. I'd definitely give Devuan another chance (and I have tried it before on other hardware), but in this state, it's unusable for me. I'd love to have the wonderful experience other reviewers had. I'll check back with Devuan in the future in the hope that the bugs are ironed out.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-07-31
Votes: 103
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I have replaced Neon (KDE Plasma) with latest Devuan. Install was not as plush as what I am used to, but it worked just fine. This was installed on one of my Desktop computers. I chose sysvinit plus full disk encyrption. After first boot I installed KDE desktop, Nvidia drivers and Steam. This Distro seems faster to boot, also I have no issues, so I plan to replace the other 4 desktops to Devuan later this year.
My next device is a Odroid m1s similar to a raspi4. I put a image of Debian Bookworm on it, then followed the instructions on Devuan's homepage to change it over. I ran into a few hickups that was not Devuans fault, but on Devuans IRC channel they are very helpful and told me what to do, several people inn fact. I hope this Distro is around for a long time. I recommend if your want to get away from systemd.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 8
Date: 2024-07-29
Votes: 0
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First of all, it works and is quite stable.
If you managed to cope with the specific interface of the installer. My score is 2 remote partitions /home on different computers.
The installer formats them without asking "are you sure?" Alas, spoiled by gparted, Yast and the like.
The speed of the OS itself is slightly higher than that of Linux with sistemd, this is noticeable only with weak processors, such as AMD E-300. With the CoreDuo Ee 8400 processor, similar to DE, there is no difference.
Attempts to implement the ancient idée fixe - minimalism in everything, right down to the cli, with a weak processor are doomed to failure. Modern browsers and sites literally "bring it to its knees"
If you are tired of computer games and want to deal with the computer itself, and not with application programs and Internet content - this is entertainment for you. :)
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Version: 4.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-07-26
Votes: 19
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Hey thanks for approving my review. Got Devuan 4.0 when it was released in fall 2021, still rock solid today in summer 2024. It's simply the most stable experience I ever had on Linux. With backports, I can use 6.1 kernel, so no reason to jump to Devuan 5.0 anytime soon. I plan on staying until LTS support ends, because what I have works perfectly for me.
The availability of applications is the same as Debian, minus systemd of course. Traditional init works without an issue. Thanks to Devuan, it sometimes doesn't even seem like Debian adopted systemd after all. Which explains why I'm using XFCE, probably would have been problematic if I was using GNOME though. But I think it still would have been doable at the very least.
They say, "you can just take systemd out of Debian"... TRUE, but: Debian still has systemd-isms lurking by, like udev, whereas Devuan supplements with eudev. You can also use elogind if needed so your GNOME and KDE apps work. Still keeps the systemd roaches off your machine.
That's how Linux should be, fast, stable, reliable. Any distro that ends your distrohopping cycle is the right distro, and Devuan is that distro if you like Aptitude more than the other package managers.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-07-18
Votes: 21
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I have been using Devuan/runit with no de, but with fluxbox, bspwm, & awesome window managers for about two weeks, and I am loving it. Its on a Accer Aspire 15 with 1gb hd & 6gb or ram, probably about 6 yrs old. I am experiencing fast boot up time as well as shutdown. I don't particularly care about sytemd one way or the other until recently of what they are planning for future kernel updates, so I figure it was time for a change. I knew Mxlinux was bloat and antix uses tools that are too old for me, and since I wanted to stay with debian derivatives, that pretty much was Devuan. I am so glad I did. The only other distro that I considered was Void, but it is too hard to install and configure besides it is not debian. I have been a linux mint user for the past 3 years, and before that Arch. I really love the easy base install of Devuan, it it so much better than debian, I know it is basically the same, but my hardware likes Devuan so much better. As far as the three init systems, runit is much faster than open-rc. Open-rc seems to be buggy which slows bootup time, at least for me. As a linux user for the past seven years, my Devuan setup is my favorite. I don't see myself changing distros, but I may do away with fluxbox and Awesome wm. I have no complaints as Devuan works with my wifi card and graphics are great. Battery life seems to be sufficient. I can say about the forums or other support as I hadn't needed any help. I went with a base install as de have become boring for me, It would be great if you offered a bspwm as an option. I hope you know that Devuan is not just a beginner friendly distro, but intermediate to expert users love it as a base. I like to send the linux dabbler congrats for putting me on to Devuan. He has channel worth taking the time to watch if there is anyone looking for another linux youtubet. Before I forget, I have not experience any screen tearing at all. Congrats to the developers; you have done an excellent job.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 8
Date: 2024-07-08
Votes: 0
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A solid Debian based distribution which does not use SystemD. It simply exists for people who don't want that on their systems, nothing more, nothing less. That can be both a pro and a con, to me that's a pro. Devuan doesn't try to change anything beyond what the non-init defaults are for Debian, so if you install xfce on Devuan it's the same as the xfce on Debian. Everything is plain and vanilla, BORING. Just the way I like it. Installer could be more user friendly, but then even Debian's installer is mediocre. I actually recommend the smoothness of just loading a netinstall and following the TUI instructions. It can otherwise be difficult for newcomers to understand.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-07-02
Votes: 30
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Devuan is the dream came true. The perfectness of Debian with systemd filtered to oblivion, some systemd unseparatable packages too. Thanks to the great effort of the Devuan devs.
Compared to Debian Devuan is snappier, faster, less memory hungry, more reliable in my use for a desktop.
All desktop environments I have tried work as expected - Xfce, KDE, LXQt.
I was pleasantly surprised too that the reliability of Ceres matches that of Sid, which is astonishing how quick devs filter newer systemd dependencies.
I have tried to run the latest Debian with sysv too, but the effort is beyond my available spare time to fiddle with nasty systemd dependencies, moreover I feel Debian is on its one-way ticket with systemd despite the claims for multi-init. Thats why I truly appreciate the non-trivial effort of the Devuan devs to provide us a systemd cleansed distro.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 4
Date: 2024-06-26
Votes: 0
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I wanted to try Debian without systemd, they told me to install Devuan, I tried it, and...
Disappointing. Bloated, resource-hungry, insecure by default. Their team clearly did not have the regular PC user's best interests in mind.
Runit and openrc are quarter-implemented on this distro, whereas Artix and Void and even antiX have accomplished more. They also force elogind (systemd's logind fork). So much for "init freedom."
I wanted to appreciate it, but it looks like Alpine Linux or the BSDs are the way.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 9
Date: 2024-06-26
Votes: 4
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Incredible distro, been using it since the first release back in 2016. They have really come a long way. Everything that made Debian 8 so great came into fruition rather fast. Second release was even better, tighter support for initscripts. I converted 6 of my friends over to Devuan, some being rather new to Linux (having used Mint or Ubuntu in the past). The others were already into Arch, ironically enough. That says a lot when you leave a rolling release distro for a stable distro. But Devuan makes it all happen in a way.
Their support community is nothing but friendly, especially fsmithred (who maintains the Devuan Installer). In my years of using Debian, I felt that their devs and maintainers put less and less focus on the users and more on themselves. Devuan figured out what actually WORKED for Debian, changed it for the better good of the UNIX world. When Bruce Perens himself, former Debian project leader 1996-1997 and who started "Debian Social Contract", gives his THUMBS UP to DEVUAN, that's one heck of an accomplishment.
Devuan certainly fits me and my friends' multiple use cases, from multimedia and close-to-modern gaming to software coding. antiX is also good, btw. We should be grateful there are non-systemd Debian derivatives for us computer enthusiasts, even intermediate and some beginner ones.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-06-23
Votes: 10
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I started using Devuan some time after Debian removed the ability to choose the init system from my installation. I like the KISS concept, and SystemD seemed like an octopus trying to put its arms into everything, which caught my attention. It just seemed to aim to do too much. The only thing I have to complain about using Devuan is that the traditional resources found online to explain how to do certain configurations are almost all made with SystemD in mind. But it's worth the effort to have a clean system without SystemD's tentacles embedded. Kudos to the folks maintaining Devuan!
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-06-05
Votes: 12
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Daedalus is the best Devuan release thus far. Things like Seatd and better Runit support are what I truly needed to get away from the clutches of Systemd. Uses kernel 6.1, but you can get 6.7 (as of this writing) from the backports. Everything is just rock-solid stable for my needs. Xfce version 4.18 on this release, which is a lot better than 4.16 because no CSD and Thunar now supports new features like split view and undo/redo actions. Truly a great tool for workplaces, servers, social platforms, and even gaming rigs.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-05-21
Votes: 18
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I've been a linux user for a little over a decade. I've gone back and forth over the years, but Ubuntu(then Lubuntu, Xubuntu) was the gateway drug that allowed me to really transition to running mostly Linux at home. I eventually got a job as a Linux Sysadmin(woohoo!) and started using RHEL/CentOS(then Rocky) at work.
Once I got a small amount of chops I transitioned to Debian to get away from the superfluous and useless bloat of Ubuntu. Snaps are a solution looking for a problem IMO. SystemD is the start of the transition to Windows. After seeing the latter train-wreck grow worse and worse over time I started experimenting with alternatives: FreeBSD, Void, AntiX, and Devuan. I really like all of them, especially BSD for my servers at home, however I've transitioned just about everything I've got to Devuan.
Devuan works great as a server and as a workstation. Almost everything is available from the repos, but if it's not or it's outdated it's not hard to compile stuff. I've recently cleansed myself of Windows completely(finally got rid of it on my gaming box) and boy does that feel great. With just a little tinkering I can play a lot of Steam stuff from Devuan and run Discord et al. to communicate with the games fam. When I first made the jump I tried out Runnit for a bit, but SysV does everything I need and shaving an super duper extra fat boot up times isn't something I'm chasing.
If you want something that is minimal, fast, and stable give it a shot. This is modern Linux at it's finest.
Shout out to the folks making Void and FreeBSD too, it's nice to have options.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-03-31
Votes: 79
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I switched from Debian 12 to Devuan few days ago, with Cinnamon interface. Couldn't boot the latest version but installed the next one before which is based on Debian 11 and then upgraded to the latest one (daedalus) which is based on Debian 12. This system is great as far as I can tell. The security issues, according to lynis, come out considerably better compared to systemd. SysVinit is working great, booting much faster than I expected. A few seconds. Now the fan is never heard, it's nothing like that the computer uses much less power, both memory and processor. Everything works as it should, fast and well. It's great to be able to choose an init system during installation. I believe that Linux systems that use e.g. SysVinit should be more widespread. SysVinit is fast and stable as a rock.
One of the big drawbacks of using systemd, in my opinion, is the security holes it creates. It is very difficult to close those holes without affecting the functionality of the computer or something simply stops working.
Debian is a very good OS, but it improves considerably with this change, using SysVinit. I thank you very much and wish the developers of this wonderful system all the best!
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-03-25
Votes: 42
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It's stable. It's working fine at work and in my private life. You can also display and input Asian languages.
I was able to start Steam and play various games.
I was able to use video sites and SNS sites without any problems.
At work, I am able to use email, Skype, Zoom, Excel files, Word files, and print with a laser printer without any problems.
I added a SATA expansion card to my PC, and it recognized it without installing any drivers.
Ryzen and Radeon can be used.
I was able to play FPS games comfortably.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-01-24
Votes: 90
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I used beowulf and chimaera and now daedalus and are lucky that it is there.
I use GNU/Linux for decades and I hold a LPIC-3 certification, therefore I know how the things are coming and going.
I prefer systemdr-free systems because of Keep it simple, and for example I use Devuan for Servers with sssd and PAM and Desktops - they do what expected with no opaque behaviour.
I use Alpine for my virtualization servers with lxc and qemu kvm, a further stage of systemdrfree, for example no udev, busybox, ...
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 5
Date: 2024-01-23
Votes: 0
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Ever since I "upgraded" to 5.0, it's been a pain getting my networking apps and graphics drivers working. Spent half a day going back and forth with support forums, IRC, and everything in-between ! I think not enough care went into polishing up this release, it's sad because I really liked they didn't use systemd on a Debian install, now I am unironically looking for tips on how to use Debian 12 but without systemd (init), it's actually possible to use sysv-init again.. Devuan was useful years ago when Debian took this *option* from us, but atleast now it seems they learned from this, also is a small project with few people supporting it (which means better off just using Debian proper).
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 6
Date: 2024-01-16
Votes: 0
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I have been using and managing Linux systems since 1997, I had the opportunity to test and configure both workstations and servers and I was a 'witness' to the entire evolution of this operating system. In the last eight years I have studied and used mostly Debian-based distributions, with or without systemd.
As far as Devuan is concerned, the change brought by removing systemd brought, compared to pure Debian:
- the impression of a faster startup, in fact systemd is practically faster,
- the feeling of a supple and fast operating system in use, although the content in the packages is identical to Debian,
- a sensibly more 'inflated' installation kit than Debian
- the feeling of 'self-satisfaction' of getting rid of the 'capitalist' system,
- big hardware detection problems on the sound side with pulseaudio, it requires interventions and additional settings, sometimes all these correct settings are useless, the sound still does not work without intervention at every start,
- the desktop manager ´lighttdm´, fully installed does not work allways and for this reason it was usually replaced with ´slim´, a bad idea because llightdm is the only one that also manages the launch of a virtual keyboard.
- it should also be noted the operational problems of NetworkManager in some cases, periodic disconnections for example.
Consequently, giving up systemd and moving from pure Debian to Devuan or other similar systems does not bring any benefit, moreover, it brings performance problems and waste of time. Plus the feeling for some older Linux users that they returned 20 years ago.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-01-07
Votes: 40
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I'm a user of Devuan since the beta of Chimaera. For the same exact period of time I used in a dual boot another top systemd-free contender - Voidlinux - similar zfs-on-root installations, the same choices of desktop, configurations, programs and servers. For a long time I was delighted by both distros and I had very difficult times of choice which has to be my main systemd-free Desktop distro. Until recently, when my preferences moved entirely to Devuan.
Pros:
Devuan stood my test of time and won me over Void. Devuan in my usage never broke, never let me down since the time I use it. All installs and upgrades I've made for my configuration never had problems. The superior driver base compared to Void never led me to the need to compile drivers under Devuan. Nor to compile any missing program from the Devuan repos from source - because in my use case there wern't any. The virtualizations I've done in Devuan were flawless. Steam and and non-steam native games work out of the box. Overall no additional tweaking was needed compared to Void in all above cases.
Cons:
Actually I haven't found yet.
The overhyped 'con' of old versions of programs in not valid, at least to me, nowadays at the times of flatpacks and distroboxes.
For me Devuan is the best distro among all the systemd-free distros I have tried.
10/10.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 7
Date: 2024-01-04
Votes: 0
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As I had to install Devuan with full disk encryption, going though multiple hard disk partitions is not my cup of tea, so I tried without encryption and I could install the OS. It's ok but the desktop/theming is quite basic out-of-the-box. No doubt it can be changed to one's desire.
Then I found out that Peppermint OS has created lately a version based on Devuan. It has the "pepper" style theme. They use the Calamares installer and this time I could install with encryption easily. Beside the buggy Peppermint Hub (buttons that not always work especialy "Suggested App" after few usage), the rest is Devuan.
So far, I could install and use all the programs I need as I don't need Snap nor Nvidia drivers.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-12-29
Votes: 26
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Overall, I'd consider Devuan as one of the more underestimated, undervalued distributions. Probably this is due to the, let's say, conservative optical appearance.
Pros:
Highly optimized non-systemd inited distro.
When directly comparing MX Linux and Devuan (both sharing a similar focus, with Xfce as primary desktop and not initing via systemd), Devuan appears to start faster, appears more optimized and "cleaner".
As compared to Debian, Devuan appears to stick much closer to traditional UNIX systems, as well as to the BSDs.
Hard to say for a non-developer, but it appears there was a lot of hard optimizing work applied to create a amazingly fast starting, straightforward, systemd-devoid descendand from Debian. Someone pointed out, that there probably exists a cooperation between Devuan and some BSD project members to create a systemd-"clean" operating system distro.
Strict Debian rules for software licenses apply, making Devuan an ideal template for customizing own installations or even rolling out own distros. For my personal taste, Devuan would probably provide the better basis for MX Linux than plain Debian.
Free choice between several init systems: sysvinit, openrc, runit, sinit, s6, sheperd
Cons:
OK, elegant artwork is obviously not the strength of Devuan, but it is apparently neither the strength of the Debian project as well. If one would claim, standard Debian 12 would look like an operating system from the early 2000s, the plain Devuan 5.0 desktop would appear as released one decade earlier. I do not consider this as a problem - in both cases one is forced to invest some work to obtain a great looking, up-to-date desktop. Fortunately, Linux and the BSDs provide great tools to achieve this goal.
As of now (2024) , most documentation is available for systemd based linux distros. Good,high quality up-to date step-by-step howtos for non-systemd based linux distros are generally scarce. Therefore it would be great, if the Devuan team could provide general documentation (system management using the three most prominently featured iinit systems included) HOWTOs for performing the most common administrative tasks (e.g. Samba / Active Directory integration, networking such as bridge setup, network manager, etc ...).
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Version: 4.0.0
Rating: 5
Date: 2023-12-25
Votes: 0
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A real showstopper for myself that the xfce edition only seems to have one sytle that was white, which really burns my eyes out - I need a dark theme; where are al the styles that should come with xfce? I looked on the web for a solution, none were to be found, so I ditched wasting my time and installed pclinuxos.
I am older, and have poor eyesight, due to a disease, and cannot, or will not, invest more time and energy trying to find a solution, as I used to do.
I have an upgraded devuan on my desktop, tried ro install fresh version on dell laptop, which to be fair did install but...
Sorry developers - my advice include everything that should come with xfce.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-11-23
Votes: 57
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I've been a Linux user since the late 90s, exploring a wide array of distributions including Mandrake, Red Hat, Slackware, PLD, Fedora, Suse, Void, Manjaro, Debian, Ubuntu, Kali, and various BSD flavors. On my fairly high end gaming PC, I use Mint for its superior FPS performance in games compared to other distros I've tested.
My stance on Linux includes a strong aversion to bloatware, particularly systemd. This led me to experiment with Devuan on my budget laptop a few months ago, driven by curiosity. Despite my previous reservations about Debian, mainly due to its sluggishness and insistence on doing things the "Debian way," Devuan has been a revelation. Its XFCE version impresses with its minimal demand on resources, exceptional stability, and remarkable speed. Devuan stands out as a model of what Debian could be, combining ease of use, efficiency, and extensive capabilities. It's a testament to the developers' expertise in system crafting, striking a perfect balance between functionality and simplicity.
For software management, I rely exclusively on official repositories, supplementing them with flatpak or appimage for additional needs. This approach ensures absolute stability and control. Based on my extensive experience with various distros, Devuan has easily earned a spot in my top three, alongside Slackware and Void. It's a finely tuned, user-friendly system that I highly recommend for anyone seeking a robust Linux experience. I extend my sincere appreciation to the Devuan developers for their exceptional work.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 8
Date: 2023-11-21
Votes: 0
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Have been using Linux since Slackware 2.3 on a 486 in 1994. Later, RedHat 4.2, Ubuntu, Gentoo, Debian.
Debian used to be the no.1 distro for ease of use (not installation for beginners). systemd changed all that. Devuan takes over, and lets us run a decent init system that doesn't want to take over the entire OS.
If Substance D eventually becomes an obligatory part of Linux, then I leave. FreeBSD is already ALMOST able to replace Linux as a desktop-oriented OS, the only things missing are faster startup (for laptops, and don't claim that is because of no systemd), and suspend to disk.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-11-06
Votes: 115
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I am happily using Linux as my only operating system since 25 years now and during this time I have been trying multiple distributions as Suse, Debian, several Ubuntu variants, Linux Mint, Gentoo and Arch Linux, but over most of the time was best comfortable with Debian and its descendents. I certainly have installed 100+ machines.
However since the still incredible decision of Debian to ruin their decade-long rock-solid systems by adopting and pushing systemd as their only possible init system (as well as pulseaudio), which completely destroyed my fun in using linux by rendering my systems unreliable, undeterministic, complicated, unstable, energy-consuming and erratic, and virtually took the control of my computer into the hands of an arrogant faulty undeterministic software pest-weed, I had to find a distro without that monstrosity in its core.
I am so glad for its existence and that I found Devuan, which I have used now for over 5 years and did some 50+ installations since and I am honestly so happy and content with it as I have never been with any other distro before.
Devuan ist a rock-solid well-tested mature system, easy to administrate and simple to configure; occasional minor bugs are fixed immediately, it provides me a huge variety of up-to-date software packages and leaves me my full Linux freedom to configure, alter or compile and have my Linux system as I like it, and is with its simplicity and competent helpful community very sympathetical.
It is an absolutely reliable workhorse for professional and private use and to my perception each successive version is still better.
It gave me back my fun in using Linux, I currently have no reason to change my distro again, I actually don't see any negatives and hope, this distro will stay alive forever.
If any distro really merits a rating of 10, this is it, and I can only higly recomend it to everybody who needs a reliable, simply working and flexible distro which can easily be adjusted for anyones personal taste.
Many Thanks to its creators, staff and maintainers for their great amazing work!
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-11-03
Votes: 35
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long time since using debian (before buster) due to dated packages and sysd, so been using a roller with runit instead. But with the advent of bookworm and not liking being tied to essential regular updating to prevent breaking the system, I thought i'd give devuan (with runit) a spin as the daily driver and am totally floored by how good it is! Legendary Debian stability, apps are not bleeding/cutting edge but just a tad further back on solid ground (versions the same as i was using much less than a year ago, and they were more than good enough then), and a large team of clearly competent IT folks to back it up, and no wibbly wobbly overcoded sysd. Totally magnificent! The desktop .iso installer (not the desktop-live), is very polished. Highly recommended and a huge thanks to all involved - past, present and future. Debian, but even better.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-10-12
Votes: 83
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We had been using Scientific Linux 6.5.
RH 8 up is not usable with our cad packages. Our last RH version was SL 7,.5.
Our initial try at 5.0 failed due to a mother board issue on one box.
We started tp evaluat OS's a few years ago and almost considered going back to BSD 4.3 after RH was IBM d
We have up dated our computers from Devuan 4.0 to 5.0
There were no surprises.
The stability is the important thing.
So far we have been using DEVUAN for 3 yeas to run a small manufacturing business.
It has been a relief not to have to deal with systemd.
Thank You all
Larry Linder
MicroControls LLC
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-10-08
Votes: 42
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It is really an excellent distro, I have been using version 5 since it started as the testing version and it has always worked without problems.
Today it is still the best option for those of us who continue to use Devuan as the Debian that once was, stable and without rushing the release of versions with a lot of errors.
Today Devuan is pure stability, along with being much safer, I've been using it since version 2, and being stable or testing, it always goes great.
Thanks to the Devuan team for the great work they do daily.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 7
Date: 2023-10-07
Votes: 0
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Devuan is really excellent and my review will reflect that. There is, however some problems I have had with it. I would rate myself as being between advanced user and expert level when it comes to Debian based Linux and Ubuntu based linux (I have been using Linux since 1997), in general, but not particularly an expert on Devuan. The reason Devuan suits my needs is because it does not rely on systemd and there is no container software by default. It is a distribution that is lean, well thought out, and uncomplicated to install. Beginners can use it with ease, and more advanced users will enjoy the fact that it is not bloated with unnecessary software. In all respects it is a distro on a par with Xubuntu if you install xfce as your desktop. The problems I encountered are with the default Nvidia drivers. The neuvau drivers do not suit my particular card and sometimes cause a problem with the GFX750Ti (an old card, I know) sometimes the computer freezes during complex graphical operations, and I have not yet had the time or energy to switch to proprietary drivers, nor to troubleshoot the issue. I genuinely recommend Devuan to everyone and am not certain whether the issues I have are mine or Devuan's yet. I have given it a rating of 7/10 because it is a bit untidy in respect of the fact that Pulseaudio never appears to save its settings so everything is default the next time you boot. On the whole I am happy with Devuan but you will find it will push you to get into the configuration deeper than, lets say, ubuntu. Great distro a bit rough around the edges
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-09-25
Votes: 34
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I have been using Devuan (Cinnamon) for the past five months, and I must say it just ticks all the boxes for me; it's stable, it's fast, and it doesn't stay in my way. It loads superfast, faster than Debian. I think it's because systemd doesn't run along, but I don't know nor do I care that much.
Devuan is a great piece of software that really is growing on me. There are a few “buts” that new Linux users might take note. If you expect Devuan to be aesthetically pleasing first time you load it, you might be a little disappointed, because vanilla looks isn't sexy, and it might look a bit oldish. But Cinnamon (or MATE or XFCE) is fairly easy to customize through its Themes section, and you can make it look as modern as Linux Mint or Ubuntu or whatever. I am running a couple of Mints own Cinnamon themes and I really like how it looks.
Recently I installed Devuan via expert install, and I went for minimal Cinnamon installation. Now, after installing all the necessary packages (gvfs, fuse, ntfs-3g) plus the programs I use the most: Firefox, Brave (for work), Audacious, Filezilla, qbittorrent, Pdfarranger, Gimp, Timeshift, Simplescreenrecorder, Grsync, Gnome-disk-utility (Disks), Scribus, Celluloid, Libreoffice Writer, I have a lean, mean super Devuan machine with less than 1300 packages. With Mint I always had appx. 2200 packages, with Debian around 1900. Not that it matters much, but I like that.
Oh, and if you for some reason have a low resolution on your desktop, just hit sudo apt install firmware-amd-graphics, and after reboot you will have good resolution back. I really think Devuan should include this firmware, but it is not a big problem - if you know how to solve it. It took me some time to find this out. :)
It is a bit of a rough diamond, but if you invest some time and interest, Devuan will serve you faithfully.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-08-31
Votes: 60
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Here are some advantages of using Devuan instead of Debian:
Init System Choice: The most significant advantage of Devuan is its departure from systemd. Some users and system administrators have concerns about systemd's complexity, perceived centralization of control, and its impact on system performance and security. Devuan offers an alternative for those who prefer a different init system.
Stability: Devuan is built from Debian's stable branch, ensuring a high level of stability and reliability. It benefits from Debian's thorough testing process, making it suitable for servers, production environments, and users who prioritize stability over having the latest software.
Familiarity: Devuan maintains compatibility with Debian's package repositories. This means you can often use Debian packages without modification on Devuan, and many of the familiar tools and practices from Debian will carry over.
Community: Devuan has developed a community around its initiative, attracting users who share concerns about systemd. If you're looking for a community that aligns with your preferences in init systems, Devuan can provide that sense of belonging.
User Choice: Devuan promotes the idea of user choice and the ability to customize your system to your liking. By offering OpenRC and other non-systemd init options, Devuan gives users more flexibility in shaping their system's behavior and startup processes.
Minimalism: Some users appreciate Devuan's focus on simplicity and minimalism. By avoiding systemd, Devuan reduces the complexity of the system and adheres to the Unix philosophy of building tools that do one thing well.
Security and Performance: While opinions on this topic vary, some users believe that a system without systemd could potentially have fewer attack vectors and better performance due to reduced complexity and a smaller attack surface.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-08-27
Votes: 29
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Devuan GNU+Linux, affectionately dubbed "Daedalus," has taken the Linux community by storm with its remarkable stability and exceptional performance. As a testament to its maturation, Daedalus has reached the coveted status of stability, solidifying its position as a premier choice among Linux distributions.
One of the most striking features of Devuan Daedalus is its unwavering stability. Built upon a foundation that emphasizes reliability and predictability, this release brings a sense of assurance to users who depend on their systems day in and day out. Whether powering critical server infrastructures or serving as a dependable daily driver, Devuan Daedalus showcases its impressive stability in every facet of its operation. This steadfast performance ensures that users can focus on their tasks without the worry of unexpected disruptions.
A standout characteristic of Devuan Daedalus is its utilization of the OpenRC init system. OpenRC sets itself apart by offering a streamlined and efficient initialization process for the operating system. Its simplicity and robustness make it a highly regarded alternative to other init systems, allowing for quicker boot times and improved resource management. For those who prefer a more hands-on approach to managing their system's initialization, OpenRC in Devuan Daedalus is a breath of fresh air.
Beyond its stability and choice of init system, Devuan Daedalus presents a seamless and user-friendly experience. The distribution boasts a wide range of software packages and a user-centric approach to customization, enabling users to tailor their environments to suit their needs effortlessly. With an array of desktop environments and applications to choose from, users can mold their Devuan experience into one that aligns perfectly with their preferences and workflows.
The commitment to fostering a strong and supportive community is another feather in Devuan's cap. The community surrounding Devuan GNU+Linux is known for its inclusivity, where both newcomers and seasoned veterans can find assistance, share insights, and contribute to the distribution's evolution. This communal spirit enhances the overall experience of using Devuan Daedalus, creating an environment where knowledge-sharing and collaboration thrive.
In conclusion, Devuan Daedalus has proven itself as a stalwart and dependable Linux distribution, earning its place among the best in the field. Its stability, propelled by the OpenRC init system, sets a gold standard for reliability, ensuring uninterrupted performance for users across various scenarios. With an abundance of customization options and a vibrant community, Devuan Daedalus stands tall as an exemplar of what a stable and user-friendly Linux distribution should be. Whether you're an enthusiast, developer, or system administrator, Devuan Daedalus offers an exceptional and trustworthy platform that delivers on its promises.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 7
Date: 2023-08-23
Votes: 0
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Chimaera was great, but Devuan 5.x Daedalus as basically a patched-up Bookworm still lacks some finesse in its installer.
Would definitely say that if troubles arise during either initial Daedalus installation or afterwards, YOYO.
IMNSHO, the main Devuan user's forum isn't as interested in helping you with your more trivial, pithy hw/sw questions than they are with helping more advanced+sysadmin users with more edge-use cases. Put in a slightly different manner, if you have sufficient experince installing and running Devuan, then you can similarly figure out Debian. And of course if you can figure out Debian, then you can certianly figure out Ubuntu and Linux Mint.
A plus is that once you've somehow managed to successfully install it, then except for Devuan's systemd init "thing", you can use and manage it similarly as you would for Debian.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-08-22
Votes: 36
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Daedalus is finally released, I am happy to make the upgrade from my Chimaera systems. I like it, getting better every time. Super fast, stable, and full of customization opportunities. I recommend giving this distro a shot if you want to be free from the clutches of bad upstream decisions regarding init systems (it matters, Systemd wants to do "everything"; you just need the init to boot your system).
Support is great on their forums, IRC, and mailing lists. They are very friendly community regulars who have years/decades of experience with Linux systems, regardless if sysadmin or personal desktop. However, this distro (much like Debian) is not meant for complete newbies. It requires a bit of technical expertise (not too much; just use Linux Mint or another beginner-friendly distro for 1-3 years until you feel comfortable to use Debian/Devuan).
I think in the long run, Devuan puts the brakes on the curse of distrohopping. There's a reason why Debian is such a popular system base, it caters to intermediate and experienced users alike.
Devuan is great. Good work.
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-08-22
Votes: 15
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Devuan is my main OS for all purposes and it has been my main OS from version 1.0 !
So though there was no immediate need to install latest 5.0 as current 4.0 will be supported for long time, I still installed it on my laptop.
When I tried with netinstall with LXQT and runit combination, I had little trouble in wify connectivity, there was no problem while installing, it recognised my wifi perfectly and installed the OS successfully including grub having dual boot with MX. But post installation I was not able to resolve wifi issue, not sure what mistake I had made, so switched to default XFCE desktop & SysVinit and everything worked fine while installation and post installation.
Devuan takes little more time to install than many other Linux distros and 5.0 was no exception. It took about 15-20 mins for full install and then little customization / setup as per my needs and taste, within an hour I am setup for next 2-3 years. To forget OS and just focus on what I need to do using my laptop. Since it is super stable OS, less frequent OS update than bleading edge OS where you have to update almost every other days!
Devuan is suprer stable (I never had even a single stability or crash issue from version 1.0 till now!), simple, performant, minimal, intuitive and easy to use. Install and forget (just keep updating when updates are available for such stable release distro). I get everything I need and hence I am using it from last 6 years!
Obviousely all the usual good benefits like no sysD and unwanted softwares etc are advantage and reason why I use it as my main OS.
Thanks to Devuan team for yet another excellent release!
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Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 8
Date: 2023-08-16
Votes: 0
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Devuan 5 joins my set of VMs for testing. The setup being a little more Unixy and old-school, no the Calamares one. So you have to actually know something about partitioning, etc - which is a good thing. I have installed dozens of versions of dozens of distros - never once has it come up during install to set up the Compose Key. Devuan, I award you an Order of Linux medal!
For those unfamiliar with it, Compose allows you to avoid some (not all) of the ^U+code for sepecial characters. For example ^U+00A9 for copyright symbol ©. Compose alllows you to press a key (the Compose key) and then type 'O' and then 'c'. No holding down Shift or Alt, etc, (aside from Shift-o for 'O' naturally). The recommended key to assign is the right-side Alt key. This can be set up under the keyboard settings in almost all desktops that I've met. But Devuan put this right inside the install process - a very "pro' setting done and dusted!
The ISO I got set up Xfce4, which looks good so far. Thunar the file manager finally has F3 dual panel and ^T for tabs. The only niggle so far is no place to challenge the 1024x768 it defaulted to. I am eager to test other desktops with Devuan as quite a few are listed with the info here on DW - Nexxt, Cinnamon and KDE Plasma for a start.
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Version: 4.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-07-24
Votes: 28
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Devuan chimaera dual boots with Windows(tm) without problems on a Dell 15-3511 Inspiron Laptop.
To boot Windows: 1 Select Windows as first in boot order. 2 Select RAID in the Storage section. 3 Save and Exit BIOS.
To boot Devuan: 1 Select Devuan as first in boot order. 2 Select AHCI in the Storage section. 3 Save and Exit BIOS.
If you mess up the boot procedure, go back to the BIOS immediately (power off if necessary) and do it right (as shown above). Do not let the system attempt repairing or troubleshooting anything.
Note that everything from wireless to 120Hz 1080p works in Linux (No 120Hz in Windows) LINUX RULES.
Devuan works as well as any OS in the Debian lineage. The main shortcoming is the Debian repository of outdated packages requiring you to build some newer packages on your own, or installing Flatpak(tm). Another Debian shortcoming is you must configure your own nftables firewall (Why is there not a safe default firewall for newbies?).
Also, install the non-free video drivers.
Note that some Debian packages like VICE and MAME are stripped of non-free stuff which makes the packages easier to build from a tarball than to manually copy the non-free stuff from the tarball into your file system after you've installed the stripped Debian package.
The good thing about Linux is that things work the way you expect after they are configured.
I only boot into Windows for the distraction, and to upgrade the drivers. There are no worthwhile applications that Linux doesn't have.
Devuan is the One True operating system for laptops, desktops, servers, and computers, for the benefit of all.
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Version: testing
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-07-10
Votes: 29
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Thank you for another excellent review. I am using Version 5, which may be a release candidate. What might be interesting to other Linux users is that I have booted and used Devuan 5 on
my recently purchased Dell Inspiron 2910, with Windows 11 as its solely installed OS, secure boot enabled.This is a quad core running at 4.0 GHz, with 8 GB RAM. I have Devuan on an externally connected SATA hard drive that contains 15 Linux distributions as reported by "os-prober" and thus far it is the only Linux distro of the 15 that boots on this machine. Its grub is listed in the boot options as "Debian," exactly as I had previously named it. This is a splendid distro for an experienced user who wants to get things done.No fancy bells and whistles, just tools that work.
I am especially impressed with its file browser, which allows me to browse all of my owned directories, a feature not available on many Debian distros. I gave it a rating of 10 based on its reliability, ease of startup, and usefulness. After all, I am here to use my computer, not bang it with a hammer. Usually, I boot my Linux on a separate Dell, an Optiplex 9020, which I bought refurbished
within the last year. It is a tad slower at 3.x GHz, also 8 GB RAM. Usually that "Linux drive" is attached to the older (Optiplex) tower. I call it my Linux machine because the Windows 10 it came
with, having had its boot repaired a number of times, simply has booted Windows for its last time.
I have used "Boot Repair" and "Rescatux" from their respective flash drives to do the necessary boot repairs. It's hard to justify the need for Windows when so many Ubuntu and Debian-based
distributions can be used with ease. I would not recommend Devuan for a user new to Linux,
but it works for me.
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Version: 4.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-06-30
Votes: 54
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This review is based on my use of Devuan Beowulf and Chimaera.
I tend to see Devuan as "Debian Improved", essentially a course correction of Debian. I switched to Devuan during the days of Debian Stretch as I wanted a more traditional approach to Linux. Since I didn't have the time to look into other distros too deeply, I ended up choosing Devuan because it is still largely compatible with Debian, allowing for a painless switch.
Since Devuan tracks Debian, you'll get access to the tools you're familiar with. Much of the documentation written for Debian equally applies to Devuan. You also get access to the wealth of packages provided by Debian, with very little delay. If you're used to Debian, installing Devuan will be a breeze.
Of course, no distro is perfect, and the very fact that Devuan tracks Debian is both a strength and a potential weakness. You need to be aware that the project's primary focus is to be a Debian-compatible distro without systemd. Devuan still relies on Debian to a considerable degree, and some of the more unfortunate upstream decisions made by Debian may still find their way into Devuan. Devuan currently is not a standalone distro unlike, say, Slackware.
Nevertheless, I've learned a lot about Linux from using Devuan, and thanks to its flexibility you can pretty much make it your own, doing things the way you see fit, albeit within the Debian paradigm. I would recommend Devuan to anyone who is used to Debian-based distros and want a more oldschool Debian-style approach to Linux. Particularly great for intermediate to advanced Linux users.
One of the best distros available in current year. Give it a shot.
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Version: 4.0.0
Rating: 9
Date: 2023-06-16
Votes: 42
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As others have said Devuan is a great distro and easily solves the problem of SystemD in Debian-based systems.
Although Bookworm is now stable I am holding out until Daedalus is officially released (I've tested it on another PC and it's really good), going to miss using Chimaera after 2-3 happy years on it, though I could also stay a while longer....
Anyway things just work right outta the box, hardly ever in my years of running a Linux system have I had to "fix" anything of significance. Debian/Devuan always makes it super simple to do.
One thing I did not like about Debian's Bullseye (what Chimaera is based on), the switch from GTK2 to GTK3, themes looked very strange unless they had appropriate GTK3 CSS files.
Not only that but it made things feel heavier and slower, not much though. Again this is not Devuan's fault or Debian's; GTK2 has been deprecated upstream and that's the price you pay for wanting to stay more "recent" to keep enjoying FOSS.
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Version: testing
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-06-15
Votes: 118
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I am on Devuan 5 Daedalus, which is technically already stable (Debian 12 Bookworm is out now). It's a great systemd-free distro that uses sysvinit instead, or you can replace it with runit or openrc if you have a different preference. Just like actual Debian, it can be custom-tailored to your own needs, from beginner to expert.
Pros
- Upgrading to Daedalus from Chimaera (happened back in January) was seamless
- Excellent, helpful, and supportive community that will assist you with your issues
- Literally Debian without systemd (and it works without issues, including services like network-manager that depend on it)
- Works GREAT on older and newer hardware alike
- Rock-solid stability and RAM consumption is rather low or medium compared to other distros (depending on DE/WM and background processes, but I could get Xfce 4.18 at under 400 MB on a cold boot on an 8 GB system)
- Because it's based on Debian, almost any DEB package should work with Devuan (except the ones that pull systemd in; that's the main focus)
- This is my personal opinion, but the lack of interest in going along with the usrmerge (which Debian voted in favor of) is part of why I prefer using this distro over mainline Debian
- Even with packages like elogind, you can remove it and replace it with consolekit2, seatd, and/or dummy-logind (this ensures you can keep your logind-dependent packages while elogind isn't running anywhere on your system)
- Xfce, MATE, Cinnamon, KDE Plasma, LXDE, LXQt, and Openbox are all working great on Devuan
- Refracta tools consist of an installer (default for Devuan; much better than Calamares), USB ISO writer, and a snapshot creator
Cons
- Very small team of volunteers/maintainers, so sometimes a systemd-related bug might take a while to patch and then reupload (takes about 6 hours to appear on the merged repo)
- Sometimes, the round-robin repository (deb.devuan.org) doesn't work right or takes too long to fetch updates; not a problem if you use a dedicated mirror close to home
- Prefer to use the IRC channel over the forums for support (forums are too quiet)
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Version: 4.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-06-11
Votes: 17
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Devuan does take time to configure on a Lenovo Ideapad 3 laptop. But, once it gets going it works smoothly. I prefer point release distros, because there is less time spent doing updates. Upgrading to a new major version of Devuan is not too hard. If, runit is chosen for the init system; the operating system boots fast. Systemd is not needed. However, I have to build Whatsie from source, because the package which is a snap, has a systemd dependency. The GNOME desktop is not available due to it having systemd as a dependency.
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Version: 4.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-06-07
Votes: 6
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It works. It respects you as an adult. It does not take weird decisions on your benefit. What was expected to be Linux. That is Devuan.
I need to write lots of more chars, but in fact there is no more explication needed. You get what Debian used to be, you get tons of packages, and you do not get the "ubuntu feeling" that latests Debian gives you. But with all the benefits of Debian.
Actualiced packages without surprises, and nothing that systemd surprisinly breaks, or any package that breacks systemd and left systemd broken.
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Version: testing
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-06-01
Votes: 20
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I have been using Linux since some time in the 90's and previously used (not in any particular order & likely forgetting some) Suse, Caldera, Slackware, Sidux, PCLinuxOS, MX, Ubuntu, Mint, Debian, LFS, BLFS, Vector, CentOS, Fedora, Bodhi, Peppermint, Mepis, TwistedOS, Raspian, Tails amongst various others that I have tried briefly or used as they are on computers. Others in my family are using PopOS, MX, Xubuntu.
When Devuan were working on Jessie (1,0.0) I was mostly using Debian and I have long preferred apt to rpm. I maintain servers which I am gradually moving to devuan from debian and one ubuntu although I have used centos in the past. My concern has mostly been systemd. I have used runit before and use openrc on my devuan installs which at the time of making the choice seemed to have the edge to me but the choice is always there. What I like about Devuan is the freedom from systemd feature creep and the risks that come with that but also the mindset of the team that goes with that choice that the developer made which is a reassurance in future decision making. It has installed easily on a variety of hardware and I am using Chimaera (4.0.0.) for servers and Daedalus (Testing) for the more up to date hardware support for my laptop.
Although I am capable of doing a lot of the more technical under the hood stuff, when I am busy I like a quick setup, ease of use (whether terminal or GUI) and for stuff to just work well without hassle when i need to get on with things and I get that with Devuan. I find it very solid and reliable with a huge amount of software available but without bloat. It's compact efficient and fast. It's simple to just grab the stuff I like to use and install it and copy over my profiles where needed when changing hardware.
I use XFCE almost always but deep down I'm an enlightenment / Moksha fan really but i would spend a while making it how i wanted it whereas XFCE is close enough for me to work efficiently with few tweaks out of the box and most distros have an up to date version. I have used KDE a lot in my early years with the odd short term use of LXDE, Gnome, Cinnamon, Mate, Budgie, FVWM, Openbox, IceWM, LXQT.
Occasionally I have used wine but I almost always find there is a linux way of sorting stuff. I think the last time I had to resort to that was for a vehicle maintenance program quite a while back. I'm not a gamer and I do see from my son's gaming that sometimes there are some disadvantages to linux whether under wine or native. I can't recall when I last had a dual boot setup but I think it was probably soon after my wife got her Samsung NC20 netbook so probably 2009 and I hoped she would let me use it on the rare occasions I wanted do do something in windows. Before that I was at the stage of being many months between windows boots.
I think the most frustrating thing is document compatibility if printing something that has been done on a windows machine and the appropriate fonts are not installed and maybe even not legally available as they came with something else so at least one needs to find a metrically compatible substitute but this issue can potentially occur between windows systems to an extent. The other thing is I hope in future they pick release names that are easier to remember the spelling. I'm not bothered about the lack of wallpapers as all my desktops are always covered with open windows and they are easy to add what you like if you want anyway.
Over the years I have liked, enjoyed and disliked different distros but Devuan is the one I feel I can trust & rely on the most to do what I need and I feel at ease with.
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Version: 4.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-05-21
Votes: 17
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A "perfect distro" is very subjective.
Devuan has been the perfect distro for me.
I have been using linux way back when synaptic was the graphical package manager and before systemd was thought of.
While I do not desire to enter the systemd dabate all I can say is the more I use it the more I see the sense in do one thing and doing it well.
I chose Devaun for my main machine after a year and half with Qubes. Qubes is great but I wanted a more integrated system. Devaun was one of three distros I have used in the past and only replaced them after hardware failure. (the other two were mxlinux and mint).
After a year of so Devaun just keeps booting and doing what it needs to do. Not that I have stopped distro-hopping. I still try distros on spare drives and machines however while other distros have come and gone Devaun remains.
What may be perceived as cons does not bother me. There is not graphical package manager. However as Install through the command line anyway I do not miss it. App seems to boot faster and the system remains stable longer anyway.
Packages are not bleeding edge. This is an acceptable trade off for a system that remains stable day after day.
I can't remember if it has a welcome screen or not however once again everything that usually pops up in a welcome screen is part of the normal routine of installation anyway.
Devuan is a perfect distro if need something that boots everyday and works.
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Version: 4.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-04-21
Votes: 90
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I have been running Devuan on all our production servers since Debian decided to swich to systemd and I am very satisfied.
Devuan just works. Devuan is stable, Devuan is simple.
Easy step by step installation, that lets you create a minimal system to start with, then you can easily add programs you need. You can use precompiled packages but it works flawlessly with packages you compile yourself. For web stack I usually use supplied MariaDB with nginx and php compiled from source. It is extremely easy and fast to set up this way. There is no painful fiddling or trial and error.
You do not have to deal with the big black box called systemd, so everything is refreshingly simple a and easy to inspect or change.
The power of Devuan is the combination of the Debian with its easy package system while avoiding systemd complexity to keep the modularity and simplicity that Debian used to have.
Highly recommended.
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Version: 4.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-04-21
Votes: 32
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Devuan 4.0 Chimaera XFCE (installed from LiveCD)
Stable as a rock :)
Pros:
- very fast
- very easy to use
- rock solid
- small size
- very simple management
- debian based (meaning that you can easily install vscode, chrome, zoom, discord and other apps from their sites)
Cons:
- cause it has small size (literarily 1GB)
you need to install every additonal thing yourself
there is literarily only one theme, 8 boring wallpapers.
so you need to find a dark theme yourself
install localisation packages for FF & libreoffice
install a decent mail client
and you are good to go.
but its ok :)
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Version: 4.0.0
Rating: 9
Date: 2023-04-17
Votes: 5
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I'm using Devuan for a couple of years now and still love it.
I switched to Devuan when Manjaro (Arch Linux derivate) stopped supporting a non-systemd version, and some disappointing trials with Artix and other alternatives. My biggest requirements for a distro are that it is systemd-free and that it provides a modern enough Emacs version. After trying Devuan Live I was immediately sold. It is very stable, works great and doesn't need much maintenance.
Installing is pretty easy, post-install requires a little more effort.
Some default software is a little strange, buggy or childish and some very usefull software is missing, for example fdisk or gparted, and rcconf, but removing & installing is easy.
I use/used it on different (relative old) laptops and most of my hardware works out of the box, even the multi-media keys.
I encountered very few issues with Devuan and could solve all, some with always very friendly and adequate help on IRC chat, which doubled my love for Devuan.
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Version: 4.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-03-04
Votes: 39
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Switched from Debian Stretch to Devuan when it looked mature enough to me, and enjoyed a stable laptop since. Before that, I encountered systemd related issues, which made the decision along with my support of the UNIX philosophy to switch easier.
Currently running laptops and two data servers on "rolling" stable tag, previously laptops on unstable tag without issues for certain software packages.
Pro:
- Continuation of the original Debian philosophy and its stable environment including packages
- Optional minimalistic first install
Cons:
- Missing a couple of packages (related to the next point) that I installed through deb files from the Debian repository, not sure if they're also obsolete there
- None other that come to mind other than the common Linux bassed shortcomings from lack of support by manufactors
This is pretty much an "install and forget" distribution, although I do manual updates to avoid surprises with automated updates. The OS does not stand in the way in my daily use as one should expect.
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Version: testing
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-02-08
Votes: 54
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I switched to Devuan from another systemd-free distro: Artix. I really loved Artix, but switched because of the occasional stability issue (the system would break once every two months or so), and for ability to easily use .deb packages. So far, Devuan has been fantastic:
Pros:
+ Systemd free
+ Very stable (even in testing, though I'd like to use it longer to reach a proper conclusion)
+ .deb support
+ Easy package management generally
+ Clear install materials (some people complained about this, but I didn't find it challenging)
Cons:
- On install, the default disk configuration provided too little swap; had to customize
- One program I use stopped distributing .deb (ungoogled-chromium)--obviously me/package-specific
Overall, it's a great distro for daily use!
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Version: 4.0.0
Rating: 9
Date: 2023-02-04
Votes: 13
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We have been using version 4 since its release.
We use it run a smalll engineering company.
Alll of our cad packages run with out issue.
The only improvement that is necessary is the add user is so bad we add users manually and groups. These are the same for 20+ boxes.
To run Windows and even DOS to support some very old systems we use VMWare 17 and load other OS as needed.
With the 386 version and a 1TB SSD we have been able to revive a few older laptops. We have a very expensive Toshiba laptop.
It runs perfectly and is very fast compared to the MS sw that was on it.
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Version: 4.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-01-24
Votes: 31
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Running two instances currently, xfce on laptop and KDE plasma on my desktop PC.
Must say this is currently my favorite distro and is everything I ever wanted for - Debian without systemd.
If you are not an experienced user, installation can be a bit intimidating. Also, nVidia users might have problem after the initial installation - if after grub you get black screen, reboot and when back in grub, select Devuan and press 'e' on your keyboard, scroll down to linux line and add 'nomodeset' to the end and press 'F10' to boot. After that I suggest installing nVidia's driver from their website by following instructions on "If Not True Then False" website (search the internet for 'if not true then false nvidia debian')
Really love this distro
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Version: 4.0.0
Rating: 5
Date: 2023-01-10
Votes: 0
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The installation process is confusing and intimidating. Moreover, it is one of the most confusing installation process I've ever seen. I say this with over 15 years experience working with Linux and trying at least a dozen distros including Arch, Debian, Ubuntu and hybrids.I tried to install the distro on a machine where I have two SSDs. One SSD has Windows 11 and the other SSD was blank and was the target for Devuan. I could not figure out how to point the Devuan installer to the empty SSD that was the target. Recommend the development team revisit the installation process while keeping in mind a user might be a beginner or intermediate level user. It is my opinion the current installation process is definitely not for a beginner. It might be fine for someone who does not have any operating system installed on their computer but otherwise I recommend a non-advanced user to avoid.
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Version: 4.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-01-05
Votes: 57
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I have been using Devuan (Cinnamon) for the past five months, and I must say it just ticks all the boxes for me; it's stable, it's fast, and it doesn't stay in my way. It loads superfast, faster than Debian. I think it's because systemd doesn't run along, but I don't know nor do I care that much.
Devuan is a great piece of software that really is growing on me. There are a few “buts” that new Linux users might take note. If you expect Devuan to be aesthetically pleasing first time you load it, you might be a little disappointed, because vanilla looks isn't sexy, and it might look a bit oldish. But Cinnamon (or MATE or XFCE) is fairly easy to customize through its Themes section, and you can make it look as modern as Linux Mint or Ubuntu or whatever. I am running a couple of Mints own Cinnamon themes and I really like how it looks.
Recently I installed Devuan via expert install, and I went for minimal Cinnamon installation. Now, after installing all the necessary packages (gvfs, fuse, ntfs-3g) plus the programs I use the most: Firefox, Brave (for work), Audacious, Filezilla, qbittorrent, Pdfarranger, Gimp, Timeshift, Simplescreenrecorder, Grsync, Gnome-disk-utility (Disks), Scribus, Celluloid, Libreoffice Writer, I have a lean, mean super Devuan machine with less than 1300 packages. With Mint I always had appx. 2200 packages, with Debian around 1900. Not that it matters much, but I like that.
Oh, and if you for some reason have a low resolution on your desktop, just hit sudo apt install firmware-amd-graphics, and after reboot you will have good resolution back. I really think Devuan should include this firmware, but it is not a big problem - if you know how to solve it. It took me some time to find this out. :)
It is a bit of a rough diamond, but if you invest some time and interest, Devuan will serve you faithfully.
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Version: unstable
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-12-14
Votes: 33
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been using void and arch based distros for years now but i admit that devuan's unstable's more stable than all of them lol.
i currently use dwm on devuan with all the latest packages, runs very fast! Also the runit version is pretty minimal, i like it. i dual boot it with artix and no issues so far! i've always wanted to try out debian but without the systemd part xD, devuan is the way to go!!!!!!!!!
devuan provides init freedom, devuan + suckless tools is really awesome. the system doesnt break like arch does!
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Version: unstable
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-12-08
Votes: 36
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I've been using Linux since 1997, I switched to Debian in 2002 and have been using Devuan since the forking due to systemd.
I am currently using a recent installation that was initially based on a fresh Daedalus Preview net install and then switched to the Ceres repositories.
Like my previous installations, I have found that unstable is pretty stable if you give the package list and removals a look over for anything unusual before committing to a dist-upgrade. I think this reflects well on both the Devs of Devuan and the parent Debian.
Devuan Stable is very usable by almost anyone with a cursory understanding of Linux, the rolling nature of Ceres is a little more demanding.
I think the big attraction for me is the fact that most of Debian's extensive repo offerings are available in Devuan, but without the curse of systemd. This allows me to tailor my computer my way and by using Ceres everything is quite current.
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Version: unstable
Rating: 9
Date: 2022-10-21
Votes: 19
|
Fantastic system-d free linux os! I'm migrating over from Manjaro because I grew disgusted with their support of systemd and its rejection of the linux philosophy of have each component do one thing and one thing only. K.I.S.S.
Issues: I had a problem with vlc not displaying videos properly, so I removed it and installed the flatpak version from flathub.org. No more VLC issues.
Other than that, I've got nothing but positive things to say. One of the things I liked about Arch based systems was the rolling release. I'm using Devuan's Ceres rolling release and I am loving it!
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Version: 4.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-10-20
Votes: 37
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Have been running version 4 and it is rock solid.
We shut it down every 6 mo to clean filters.
Our cad packages install and run with out lib issues.
added a 3 D printer to system - no issues.
added a CNC mill software than needs windows - installed VMWare workstation.
After a year of hard use and no failures I would recommend it to anyone.
A pleasant supprize is that we had an old Toshiba laptop that was headed to trash.
Installed a 1 T byte SSD and loaded the 386 version on it and everything works. Performance is good.
The only problem is adding users. This needs to be fixed. Copy scheme used in SL linux 6.5 and you would have
a perfect system.
Thank You All.
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Version: unstable
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-10-14
Votes: 14
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My laptop is old but boot time is about 10 seconds according to dmesg.
neofetch output:
OS: Devuan GNU/Linux 5 (daedalus/ceres) x86_64
Host: Satellite C650
Kernel: 5.10.140
Uptime: 20 secs
Packages: 811 (dpkg)
Shell: bash 5.2.0
Resolution: 1366x768
WM: dwm
Theme: Blackbird [GTK2/3]
Icons: Tango [GTK2]
Terminal: st
CPU: Pentium T4500 (2) @ 2.300GHz
GPU: Intel Mobile 4 Series Chipset
Memory: 128MiB / 5812MiB
I've used netinstall iso and installed with chroot from old debian system. And then maked tuning and compiled DWM which starts from .xinitrc. After tuning all work properly: backlight and sound keys. And wi-fi works without network-manager, but only with wpa_supplicant.conf and /etc/network/interfaces. And i've compiled own kernel which increased performance because of smaller size (less lines of code) i think.
And i have no HDD, it's broken. I'm from country which started Ukraine war and i have no enough money for new HDD. But i have usb-stick 8Gb, which i use for this Devuan
When i've compiled kernel 5.19.* something was wrong and my usb-stick (sandisk) becomes read-only (impossible to fix -- the answer from sandisk). And i've just extracted previous archive of full system (compressed size about 1.5Gb) on the next working usb-stick, and then run grub-install to this mounted usb-stick. And all works again without reinstall.
PS: im using openvpn client for my security reasons. And my ip shows that i am in Korea
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Version: unstable
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-10-02
Votes: 18
|
After Microsoft started to implement ads into file explorer I decided I needed to cut my losses with them and switch to open-source software.
I initially wanted an Arch based distro, but after having those be too unstable for me I determined a Debian based was the best course in terms of usability and stability (I say that as I'm on the testing/unstable branch lol).
After determining Debian was the best course I heard about SystemD and it's Corporate overlords that control it and I decided I didn't want to be beholden to the Microsoft of the Linux world, so naturally Devuan popped up, and after trying Chimaera the Stable branch I realized the Wayland support it gave was sub par, I also wanted a newer kernel than 5.10 due to the AMDGPU driver having better support somewhere around 5.12-5.13.
Now I'm running "Daedalus/Ceres" from the NetInstaller and it's been exactly what I wanted.
My system specs are as follow:
Motherboard: ASUS TUF Gaming X570 Plus Wi-Fi
CPU: Ryzen 9 5950X
Cooler: Corsair H150i Elite Capellix (360mm AIO)
RAM: 128GiB G.Skill DDR4-3600MHZ CL16
Storage: 500GiB Samsung 980 Pro (1GiB EFI, 499GiB Root)
Storage: 1TiB Samsung 980 Pro (1TiB Home)
Storage: 128GiB Kingston A400 (SWAP)
Storage: 1TiB Samsung 860 Evo (250GiB Timeshift Backups, 750GiB Virtual Machines)
Storage: x2 4TiB Samsung 870 Evo (Games)
GPU: MSI Gaming X Trio - AMD/ATI Radeon RX 6900XT
PSU: Corsair RM1000X 80+ Gold
Case: Corsair 4000D Mid-Tower
My Steam games work perfectly through proton (besides the ones that refuse to give support), the AMDGPU driver from the non-free repo works flawlessly and allows for Ray Tracing on games that support it, eliminates screen tearing and allows for variable refresh rate on high-end gaming monitors. Multi-monitor support is fast and stable even without Wayland and my games get upwards of 120FPS.
Everything I want to do works with hardly any issues. The only two I've come across over the last 2 months of daily driving this is system logs were filling up my root drive with upwards of 300GiB, but after re-configuring logrotate it's fixed the issue and my root storage has yet to go above 20GiB with all that I do. The other issue (that has since been fixed) was the keyring expiration which was fixed with an updated package from the main repo. Other than that this OS has had no issues and runs flawlessly.
This is exactly what I wanted for an OS that I plan to use for the next 7 years when I plan to upgrade.
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Version: 4.0.0
Rating: 1
Date: 2022-09-04
Votes: 0
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I wanted to install devuan on my server and desktop. The mirrors didn't work at all no matter how many times I tried. Turns out they have problems with some expired signature key.
I didn't even try the distro and I was already pissed. Guess it's too much effort for the devs to maintain a systemd free version of debian.
Maintaining a distro takes a lot of man power. Just take a look at how many developers debian has to maintain all of its package pool.
I honestly think it's best to stick to either debian, fedora, arch or suse at this point.
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Version: 4.0.0
Rating: 1
Date: 2022-09-03
Votes: 0
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Devuan has become simply unusable these days, unless of course you compile all the packages you use yourself (which I doubt), since you cannot download most packages because of signing key errors. If you try to install, or update the system, you will get spammed with several such warnings. Apparently they let the signing key for the package repository expire, which is quite amateurish for such a renowned distro in the niche of distributions without systemd. So if you have plans to try this, now is definitely not the time.
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Version: 4.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-08-10
Votes: 27
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I use Devuan on my High-end liquid cooled desktop using custom loop.
i use it for video gaming and video editing.
It runs everything flawlessly and I am completely satisfied.
CPU: Ryzen 2600x
GPU: AMD Vega 56
Installer: Minimal Net Install
Desktop: Xfce
init: SysVInit + OpenRC
I hope we soon have a OS similar to QubesOS but based on Devuan. As I use QubesOS on my laptop for security reasons. I don't have a choice other than sticking with systemd on my laptop. Devuan QubesOS should also be available.
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Version: unstable
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-08-04
Votes: 12
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I switched to linux around 2 or 3 years ago from Winblows. My friend first recommended Mint since its "noob friendly." Not too long after that, he linked me to a video called "MGTOW of linux: Curing the Cancer." This was a video about how SoystainD was nothing but spyware and really no different than winblows. He said he was using Devuan (specifically a fork, Refracta) and it didnt have that soystainD garbage infecting his PC. Thats when I switched.
Being that I started on refracta 10 (which is Devuan Beowulf) and that I needed Japanese input, the fresh install of Devuan was a chore to get Japanese input to work right (I was using a Japanese site to guide me through the process). That was a PITA, but once I got it all set up, there wasnt a single issue afterwards.
*****the japanese language install is MUCH better in Chimaera, much smoother process and less issues than I had.
My friend then recommended I switch to unstable as its basically just as stable as stable is, but you get updates sooner. I bought in and I have been using it ever since.
I currently have two DEs installed, XFCE (base install with devuan) and Trinity. I switch between the two and i really like both of them, although I'm still not used to a lot of the things that KDE does differently than gnome, but thats why I kept XFCE installed, just so i can take my time getting used to Trinity then I can make a full move over to it in the future.
I kept SysVInit as my init system as people complain that its "old" or whatever, but if it works, it works. I havent had a single problem with it so I plan to stick with it.
I also have Devuan installed on my Thinkpad X200S with a core 2 duo. Runs amazingly well.
I am so happy my friend told me about Devuan. I never had a need to distrohop thanks to this reliable distro.
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Version: 4.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-08-02
Votes: 14
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I installed it on my retired daily driver, seamless hw support for a 11 year old system, am2+ x64 amd ECS am780-gm. I used another system to create media. The installer was very clear and easy, I always choose custom or other "install" versus the default approach, a very nice installer. Quick and easy to set up. It's not a mainstream please everyone, but so very close. It'll need just a couple minor tweaks if you're used to a vanilla ubuntu, to get you comfortable, but it is (very) comfortable. I really enjoy the xfce desktop. I just had to tweak repos setting to get maintenance updates configured around my missing usb installer image, and proceeded to package installs and some user security settings for myself, simple to do.
Reason for trying: 1. check out non systemd , 2. ubuntu unable to use my firefox profile when installing a newer maint release with a migrated /home so I used this to get by, and recover via a cloned /home. Thanks very much :).
It is little effort only for a transition and if you're familiar with any other distro, you should have no qualms with testing this one out. Currently dual booting it with a sandbox for testing backup sw which is also debian based. For me the transition to non-systemd was a curiosity for some time. This has been painless thus far. Previously this system was a ubuntu/xcfe based dual boot with Win and remains fixed disk based. I have no benchmarks but it feels snappier. Could be that previously I was using low latency kernels that would behave differently on task focus. It looks to be a keeper for me and I will certainly look deeper into adopting for my daily driver laptop. I've since subscribed to mailing lists to help stay apprised of security and maintenance needs. Two Thumbs up !!
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Version: 3.1.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-08-01
Votes: 8
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Moved to Devuan when Debian forced change to System-D for most of my servers and all of my workstations (some servers I moved to FreeBSD). I have been very happy with it since the move. It boots fast, and is stable on the servers and most Debian work well so long as you can translate from System-D specific instructions to Sys-V. The few times I have needed to use System-D based Debian for clients, I have had issues, and it appears to boot slower (not an issue on a server which takes 7 minutes to go through a hardware check).
I stuck with Sys-V on my servers since I know it fairly well, but Devuan also allows you to run several other init systems, some of which are better for specific applications. I have found the mailing list (dng@lists.dyne.org) to be very responsive the few times I've needed it.
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Version: 4.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-07-25
Votes: 6
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(I am from Russia and therefore there may be some errors in the text) I using Devuan GNU/Linux on my laptop and computer sometimes. Now, i use Devuan with KDE Plasma 5.24 from testing repositories of Daedalus (next release based on Debian Bookworm). The distribution is well done, but I should to point out a few two that need to be fixed:
1. Why does a free distribution with the slogan "Software freedom, your way" have non-free packages by default and include non-free repositories?
2. If you install Devuan for example with Xfce from the installer, and not manually from the console, then it is impossible to completely remove the default browser. When you uninstall Firefox, Epiphany is installed, when you uninstall Epiphany, Firefox is installed.
But this is just my opinion and every system has errors and bugs. Devuan is suitable for both a weak laptop and a regular PC or server.
So, Devuan rocks!
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Latest Reviews
Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: testing
Rating: 10
Date: 2026-05-08
Votes: 14
|
Devuan 7 continues the project’s tradition of delivering a clean, stable, and transparent Linux environment without the complexity and overhead of systemd. After running it extensively on modern hardware and a ThinkPad workstation, the experience is consistently impressive. Boot times are fast, memory usage is lean, and the system remains responsive even under heavy multitasking.
What stands out most is Devuan’s architectural clarity. With SysVinit, OpenRC, or runit available as first‑class init systems, service management is predictable and easy to audit. Tools like Lynis integrate naturally, and the absence of systemd’s monolithic stack results in a noticeably smaller attack surface. Logs are readable, services behave consistently, and nothing runs unless you choose it.
Performance is excellent. Devuan 7 uses significantly less RAM than systemd‑based distros, and CPU load remains low even with KDE Plasma on Wayland. Firefox, PipeWire, and modern desktop components run smoothly without any of the overhead or background churn typical of systemd environments.
Despite being a testing release, Devuan 7 is remarkably stable. Package management with APT 3 is fast and reliable, hardware support is solid, and the system feels lighter and more responsive than Debian or Ubuntu on the same machine.
Devuan 7 may not be aimed at beginners — and that’s because it prioritizes transparency and user control over automation. It is a distribution for users who value control, transparency, and technical integrity. If you want a modern Linux system that respects UNIX principles and avoids unnecessary complexity, Devuan 7 is one of the best choices available today.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 6.1.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2026-04-02
Votes: 48
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recently installed Devuan on my aging Lenovo V310, and the results are impressive. Despite its age, the laptop runs incredibly smooth and feels faster than ever. The system is rock-solid and hasn't encountered a single issue since the installation. If you're looking for a stable, systemd-free distribution that can revitalize older machines, Devuan is easily the best choice. Highly recommended for its reliability and performance.
I’ve been testing several distributions on my aging Lenovo V310, and Devuan is the clear winner. I previously tried installing Ubuntu, but the experience was disappointing; the system felt heavy, sluggish, and struggled with basic multitasking.
Switching to Devuan changed everything. It is incredibly lightweight and runs flawlessly on this older hardware. The stability is top-notch, and the entire system feels much more responsive without the overhead of systemd. If you have an older laptop that feels 'slow' on mainstream distros, I highly recommend giving Devuan a try. It’s rock-solid, fast, and very reliable.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: unstable
Rating: 9
Date: 2026-03-27
Votes: 15
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What can I say, this is Debian without systemd, so if you like Debian then you'll like Devuan, Devuan gives you the option of sysvinit, openrc, and runit, I briefly tried all three, and I found openrc was the easiest, simple commands to add or remove a service, and without the complexity of systemd units, want to run a command on boot? just put it in rc.local, just like the old days, no writing a systemd service that wants multi-user.target, or graphical.target, or whatever, I chose the net install iso, my wifi card was supported out of the box, I chose the no desktop, minimal install, then once installed I rebooted and installed labwc, and all the other components I required, I switched to the unstable branch and installed the liquorix kernel, now I have an arch like experience, but on debian, and without having to deal with .pacnew files and so on
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 6.1.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2026-01-03
Votes: 69
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Asus B75M-A mobo, Intel 3220 cpu, 1Tb Seagate HDD, Intel integrated graphics, 16Gb memory. Downloaded this latest point release and did a clean install. The install is hands down a lot faster, and smoother, than Debian 13 Trixie proper. I like this new point release, it's quick, clean and has just about as much as I need or want from my OS. I choose to remove any firefox or thunderbird offerings if there are any after installation and go with derivatives Betterbird and Waterfox as I prefer them to the main line based upon. I went with the Xfce desktop and like the graphics. Had a problem with how to pin my Internet offerings onto the panel and a quick question to the wonderful world of the web I was directed to activate a little plug-in to the panel which helped me and to show which program was open when I minimized it from the desktop screen.
I like that it's based on Debian for support purposes and don't find this non-systemd offering lacking in anything to me. Desktop is crisp, software is snappy when open and running and I am able to install a couple of odds & ends through CLI, or synaptic that gets me to be where I want to be. I believe Devuan 6.1 to be well supported, alive & very active and am not concerned about if it will be here next year or the next.
Very good job indeed to the Devuan team! Thanks!
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 6.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-12-18
Votes: 43
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Upgraded from Daedalus to Excalibur via the instructions a few weeks ago. So far so good!!
Been using Devuan & before systemd, Debian. Before Devuan was a choice it was Slackware/Salix; until it was feeling really stale. Fortunately Devuan had it's bearing by then and have been there for quite a bit.
It's not like I don't try some others in VM's; (mxlinux, Mint, Slackware-Salix, ??) but just haven't found anything yet to really want me to make a change the network. If there was it could possibly be Slackware/Salix but don't know if something happened to Patrick V what the result would be.
Getting tired & old; late nights dinking with puters til odd hours is over.
Devuan - good & stable; XFCE - light & good enough to get the job done. Personally don't need a bunch of eye candy.
Been using computers when you either got a green or amber screen. No mouse needed. Miss it sometimes.
I still use a computer to get some work done. I'm done now.
PS - I couldn't believe it when "xsane" recognized and worked with my old Canon scanner. No drivers in Windoze worked since XP I think. Canon-ugh! another story.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 6.0.0
Rating: 7
Date: 2025-12-03
Votes: 0
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I would not recommend Devuan for beginners in Linux as the text-based installer is not as user-friendly as the ones for easier distros like Linux Mint, MX or Tuxedo. Also, it seems more buggy and less well configured than Debian stable on which it is based.
For example, when I installed Devuan 6 with KDE Plasma desktop, the SDDM login screen had white text on a white background, making it impossible to see the various icons and menus on the login screen such as the option to choose between Wayland and X11 sessions. This is due to a badly configured SDDM theme files and requires reinstalling and re-applying the Debian breeze SDDM theme to fix it. Next, entering local hard disk partitions in /etc/fstab does not result in the OS auto mounting them at boot time. You have to manually create the mount point directories before it will mount to them. Maybe this ability to automount fstab partitions is something that systemd does in other distros and so is missing from Devuan since it does not have systemd, but MX Linux sysvinit flavours also auto mount partitions found in fstab.
Thus, first impressions are that it is not as well tested and configured as upstream Debian and has more bugs.
The one advantage that Devuan has over Debian is that, perhaps because it does not have systemd, it saves you 700-800 MB of RAM overhead. Yes, Devuan KDE uses 700-800 MB less RAM at idle than Debian KDE on my hardware. Devuan KDE uses even less RAM than Mint XFCE. This could be an important consideration for those with older computers with less RAM, or those who want the OS to be as light on system resources as possible in order to maximise gaming or app performance (in which case try Devuan with XFCE rather than KDE for even lighter system resource usage).
However, if stability and well-configuredness are important, Debian stable or Linux Mint are a better choice.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 6.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-11-23
Votes: 39
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Devuan 6 Excalibur is a pleasant surprise for anyone who, like me, prefers a stable system without the hassle of systemd. The installation is straightforward, and it feels light and fast, even on older machines. I appreciate the focus on keeping a clean, customizable environment, with XFCE doing its job without unnecessary extras. It’s not perfect, but solid and reliable—ideal for those wanting a simple yet functional Linux.This version emphasizes stability and control, which you can feel in everyday use, with improvements in audio quality and package management thanks to PipeWire and APT 3. Perfect for users who like everything under their control without unnecessary compromises.
Devuan 6 Excalibur is a refreshing choice for users wanting a stable, systemd-free Linux. Installation is easy, and it feels lightweight even on older machines. XFCE is clean and customizable, with other desktops available like KDE and Cinnamon. The Linux 6.12 kernel adds real-time support and better hardware compatibility. One standout is the new merged-/usr filesystem and tmpfs for /tmp, giving a noticeable boost to speed and system consistency. APT 3.0’s smarter package handling makes updates smoother. It’s not perfect, but solid, efficient, and ideal for those craving control without the extra complexity. PipeWire improves audio quality with low latency, rounding out a well-thought-out system for everyday.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 6.0.0
Rating: 9
Date: 2025-11-12
Votes: 0
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I'm writing this review from an old Acer netbook that was meant to become e-waste after a couple of years. But it is still alive, thanks to devuan.
In order to install it, I tried the netinstaller, but it didn't work (pretty sure that the issue is that I didn't write it directly on the USB but I used ventoy instead. Works just fine using a VM). Then I used the xfce live image and everything went smoothly. Not perfect but it works.
Devuan doesn't rely on systemd, which is great in such an underpowered machine: the boot time is decent (way faster than Fedora Lxqt which I installed before; I also obviously replaced the spinning hard drive with an SSD) and the RAM usage is quite good.
On the other hand, xfce is a good desktop, a good compromise between performance and functionality; I'm amazed on how responsive the system is in general when doing some basic stuff. You can also browse the internet, but obviously the Intel Atom CPU will start to struggle on modern websites.
I have to admit that I had devuan 5 previously installed and upgrading to 6 didn't go well (got stuck in a login loop), hence I had to do a fresh install. I also have to admit that I didn't do a backup before the update, which is not ideal, but yeah, whatever.
Also, I know that there may be better options like antiX, but for now I'm just happy like this.
In conclusion what can I say: it is a distro that you should definitely try, it is basically Debian without systemd. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the average systemd hater, but in this case I'm glad there isn't.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 6.0.0
Rating: 5
Date: 2025-11-08
Votes: 0
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As a server OS this distro is a gem, rock solid stable ever since I have been using it since version 3 Beowulf and without systemd infestation. I'm very happy in that regard.
The issues arise using it as a desktop. As a passionate KDE user I wanted to upgrade my Devuan clients to plasma 6 (fresh install). I was dismayed to see the sddm white background login issue where the text isn't readable is still present just like in the previous version. Changing the background fixed this. That alone wouldn't have been so bad. However, this time there was no sound! The volume control says "Connection to the sound service lost" and I can't find a solution. It occurs on wayland and x-session. It was expecially infuriating since I only noticed it when wanting to play a youtube video after I already migrated all my data and configurations back onto the machine.
I know the primary focus of this distro is removing systemd from Debian, but come on. First impressions matter a lot. You can't tell me nobody noticed this when testing the installation options. Just as a test I installed Debian Trixie and no sound issue were present. If the KDE option is this broken then they shouldn't offer it at all. I'm now considering Artix (another systemd-free alternative) for my clients (although I'm a bit afraid that bleeding edge package may break things.). This is sad because otherwise this distro has the potential to easily be a 9 or even 10 out of 10. Hope making you aware of this was helpful.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: testing
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-11-04
Votes: 26
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I've been using Devuan with the runit init system for a few weeks now, and I must say, the experience has been nothing short of exceptional. It is genuinely great. Coming from a long-term relationship with Debian, a distribution I relied on and respected for years, I was prepared for a period of adjustment, perhaps even a slight step back in convenience. The reality has been the complete opposite. The system is remarkably fast, and in basic desktop use, I've observed it to be even a little bit faster and more responsive than Debian. For its sheer performance, clean philosophy, and unwavering stability, it absolutely deserves a 10/10.
The performance difference, while not earth-shattering, is perceptible. On Debian, the boot process felt like a modern car with a complex electronic dashboard: lots of services initializing in a specific, inter-dependent order, which, while fast, had a certain "orchestrated" feel to it. With Devuan and runit, the boot is more like a light, precision-engineered sports car turning over. It's immediate, direct, and feels almost analog in its simplicity. The same applies to service management. Using sv commands to check the status of, start, or stop a service is instantaneous. There's no parsing through layers of journal logs with journalctl for a simple status check; the feedback is immediate and unambiguous. This responsiveness translates to the desktop environment as well. Application startup feels snappier, and the system as a whole feels lighter on its feet, even if the actual resource usage difference in a idle state is minimal. It's a feeling of direct control, of reduced latency between my command and the system's action.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-10-30
Votes: 14
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Thanks for this review. Devuan is allowing me to do what I need on my Dell Optiplex9020 Desktop. It is a quad-core and my external drives with 14 other Linux distributions. I have used Devuan 6, code-name Excalibur, currently in testing, and I find it also to my liking.
I am also tinkkrering with the Devuan 5-based Vuudo 5.03 It has an XFCE and a Mate desktop iso at Sourceforge.net. I plan
to have Devuan largely fill the void left with the end of security support for Windows 10, with the end of life for Windows 11 to follow within a year. Of course I have only been am occasional Windows user for about 14 years. Plenty of exciting releases of Linux have come ut over that time.I use my computers mainly for internet, email, and fiction as well as-nonfiction reading. Often the fiction has excerpts of stories based on real events, and that's what interests me.It's a shame that schooling since the middle of the 20th century
hs been light on history and social studies, but reading can help fill some of that void even if I just retain bits of information for future use.Meanwhile, I can't say that Devuan is an OS newbies should jump into, it is an improvement over some of the Linux available.
It is especially strong in software management and file management. I use Caja with the Mate desktop and generally lean on
PCmanfm in XFCE or whenever I need user-friendly, reliable file browsing.Sadly, I am not into programming and don't have the skillset to help in development. I really appreciate the folks who do put heavy work into Linux development and bug fixing. I use a number of Debian derivatives, mostly stable, and I have recently added Debian Forky (14) to my collection.Here's to the users who just have fun with this. Linux is busy work but not strenuous activity.I would be interested in a Devuan store or hardware with Devuan pre-installed.
Hopefully that time will be down the road, when economics justify computer purchases.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: testing
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-10-07
Votes: 34
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Review: Devuan 6 (Testing)
Devuan 6 (testing) offers excellent stability and performance. The system runs smoothly with the dependable SysVinit init system, giving users full control over service management. Security hardening through Lynis integrates well with nftables and kernel lockdown features, providing a robust defense layer. Squid proxy operates efficiently, and KDE Plasma on Wayland delivers a responsive and modern desktop experience. Devuan 6 is a strong choice for users seeking a secure, systemd-free Linux environment with clarity and precision.
Pros
Exceptional stability — ideal for both desktop and server environments
Transparent init system — SysVinit offers simplicity and reliability
Effective hardening — Lynis, nftables, and kernel lockdown work seamlessly together
Wayland support — KDE Plasma performs impressively with smooth graphics and input handling
Minimalist architecture — no unnecessary background services or socket activation
Full control — ideal for users who value manual oversight and customization
Cons
Some configuration may be manual — especially for advanced setups or custom hardware
Testing branch — generally rock stable, but occasional package transitions can occur
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 1
Date: 2025-10-06
Votes: 0
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I tried Devuan with SysVinit and I've never experienced these issues: Round 1, I installed Devuan with LXQt which would not even boot into the DE.
Then round 2: Installed it with LXDE instead which worked and booted up, but then I went to do a "sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y" and it started lagging like nothing I've seen lagging before and all it said was "failed to fetch" the repos, it was almost like the terminal was having a stroke.
I have installed countless of other distros and never had any of these things happening before, howerver it could be that I maybe missed something, but then again I did it twice and installed it like I would with Debian.
One more thing, the machine when I booted the ISO sounded like a car doing a "jump-start", not a joke.
I'm gonna give it another shot when Devuan Excalibur version 6.0 is out.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-10-02
Votes: 7
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I have been using Devuan 5 Daedalus with XFCE x64 on all my desktops with intel mobo's, a panasonic touhgbook & a HP laptop and it's been working beautifully, No problems at all, for me it works better and more efficient in some aspects than debian and MX Linux, I give it 10 out of 10, the only drawback is that it doesn't have the tools of MX Linux, like the snapshot tool, yeah you can use "refracta-snapshot" tool but it is a little more complicated to use than the MX Linux one, however I like the init freedom of choice between SysVinit, Runit and OpenRC and that is free of systemd, cheers!
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-08-14
Votes: 34
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Devuan is a Debian-based Linux distribution that stands out by eschewing systemd in favor of traditional init systems like SysVinit or OpenRC. This makes it a solid choice for users who value simplicity, stability, and control over their system processes.
Pros:
Lightweight and efficient
Ideal for older hardware or minimal setups
Offers greater transparency in init handling
Strong community support for systemd-free computing
Cons:
Smaller user base than mainstream distros
Some packages may require manual tweaks
Verdict: Devuan is perfect for Linux users who prefer a lean, systemd-free environment without sacrificing the reliability of Debian. While its visual presentation depends on your desktop choice, Devuan delivers a solid and impressive experience beneath the surface. Almost perfect: 20/20.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 6
Date: 2025-08-06
Votes: 0
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Meh. Installed a few days ago on a drive with 3 other distros.
Xfce sucks the air out of lightness, so loaded up JWM, which I'm using on another distro WITH systemd. After some trimming of things that aren't needed, it came up using ~312 MB. Not bad until considering the other distro I use JWM on boots up to ~330 MB, but WITH conky, tint2,nm-tray/applet, thermald, iwd, parcellite, and and automatic update notifier daemon.
Can't seem to trim the Xfce stuff down much.
Not sure what's so bad with systemd if the system is well crafted.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-07-28
Votes: 31
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I've used Devuan for several years, and for me is best choice at the moment.
Systemd-free environment grounded in reliability, transparency, and user choice.
Unlike many mainstream distributions, it puts control back into the hands of the user by separating itself from systemd’s complexity and integration.
It supports multiple init systems: full-featured SysVinit, OpenRC, and Runit.
This means Devuan offers greater flexibility than Debian, on which it's based, combining advantages that provide even greater freedom.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-07-13
Votes: 26
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I’d been looking for a more predictable, lightweight alternative to Debian with its systemd quirks, and switching to Devuan made a real difference. The installation went off without a hitch: the familiar installer let me choose between SysVinit, OpenRC or runit, with none of the extra “init magic.” From the first boot, memory usage dropped, and services start quickly with no hidden dependencies.
Full compatibility with Debian’s repositories was a pleasant surprise—every package I needed installed with the same commands, old configs required no tweaking, and applications ran out of the box. The confusion of multiple daemon-like processes disappeared: the boot sequence is straightforward, and manual service restarts and monitoring work flawlessly.
The Devuan community turned out to be far more responsive than I’d expected. In chat and on the forums you can get help refining OpenRC scripts or finding the best MySQL tuning parameters. The documentation is well organized and filled with real-world examples, so even nuanced tasks like setting up secure permissions for daemons are covered step by step.
All in all, Devuan gives you everything you love about Debian—familiar environment, the same packages, the same tools—without unnecessary dependencies and with total control over your init system. I haven’t once regretted leaving systemd behind or thought about going back to Debian.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-07-09
Votes: 21
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Devuan: A Linux Distribution for Technical Integrity and User Autonomy
Devuan offers a systemd-free environment grounded in reliability, transparency, and user choice. Unlike many mainstream distributions, it puts control back into the hands of the user by separating itself from systemd’s complexity and integration.
Fact-based rebuttals to common misconceptions:
• Devuan supports multiple init systems: fully functional SysVinit, OpenRC, and runit — not half-hearted stubs, but usable options.
• Running a tool like lynis clearly shows that SysVinit is the default and active init system — not systemd or any systemd-related layer.
• Presence of systemd-tied files or libraries in Devuan does not mean systemd is running — these are inert compatibility layers that fulfill upstream requirements, not executable components.
• KDE Plasma with Wayland works beautifully in either Stable or Testing — including PipeWire, Bluetooth, and other modern features often falsely assumed to require systemd.
• Devuan's Live ISO is stable and functional for standard use cases, and advanced setups (like ZFS-on-root) are possible using standard Debian-compatible methods.
• Community support is active and knowledgeable, and documentation relevant to init systems and configuration is accessible on Devuan's forums and project pages.
Bottom line:
Devuan it’s focused. It trades flash for clarity, vendor lock-in for modularity, and complexity for composability. Whether you’re building a lean server or a sophisticated desktop environment, Devuan empowers you to do it without compromise or dependency chains you never asked for.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: testing
Rating: 4
Date: 2025-07-08
Votes: 0
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I've used Devuan for several years now, but more I use it more Devuan brings continuous disappointment to me.
Pros:
- It is extremely stable for the the ever shrinking range of Debian programs and servers it provides while filtering systemd dependencies;
- Lack of systemd makes it more snappy compared to Debian in performance and less resources.
Cons:
- Devuan only blacklists and blocks in repo insolvable systemd-bound packages, and this list grows each day. This is it;
- No attempts for workarounds for problems as other systemd-free distros at least try to provide for gnome, kde, wayland composers, pipewire, bluetooth, etc, etc. ...;
- No attempts to include other init systems as S6, Dinit that are more appropriate to fight and mitigate the incompatibilities that systemd generates for the systemd-free world. Devuan devs attitude is passive - Debian does not provide them, we don't care. We only filter!
- Even their implementations of runit, OpenRC are not fully implemented. Just use SysV and this is it;
- Devuan does not have its own Wiki to differentiate from Debian Wiki for specific Init cases;
- The Live image is an unbelievable joke as installation. Even more - one cannot use it in cases such as install zfs-on-root manually! It is far more easy one to use a Debian Live image and then convert Debian to Devuan.
Overall:
Devuan is a fading glory distro in the X11 world and has a dubious future in the Wayland world that comes with piling systemd problems for other Init systems, that developers of this distro don't bother and don't care to address.
For Desktop use cases Devuan moves steadily to a lost cause.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 8
Date: 2025-07-07
Votes: 0
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Overall Devuan is an excellent distro once you get it setup.
Kernel wise it is a heavily intel leaning distro on 5.x as I have both amd and intel based systems.
Pros:
Stable
Fast
Minimal bugs
Excellent support on forums as debian on top of Devuan forums work a treat.
More honest and true to linux and original ethos.
Does not follow the crowd which creates an insulating layer for security.
Package range is huge and they are hosted on their own servers.
Cons:
Being intel leaning, amd tends to be left by the wayside. Eg. amd graphics firmware is not included by default requiring manual install.
Intel wifi drivers not loaded by default in the installer requiring search. It finds them but why does it have to say it needs the firmware and have to search for it in the first place.
CDrom set as top default in sources which indicates that the Devuan team lean a bit too heavy on Debian output instead of real world usage. They could make simple changes to better the experience.
Uses debian installer which is unforgiving so not good for new users.
The cons are very easily worked out if you are an experienced linux user but I would not recommend for new users. Once setup, this distro is an excellent stable distro and I have encountered no issues with it at all. All software works just fine on it.
I am an xfce user but tested gnome on it which did not work correctly which is understandable as gnome is heavily dependent on systemd and this distro does not use it.
I love the ethos of this distro and see why they are doing it which is why the cons are a non issue for me.
If a new user does get it installed as the wifi driver issue might create a barrier, the install continues but no wifi is available at all after rebooting if the user continues without searching for drivers.
Additionally, if they do get past this stage, they wont be able to update because the cd rom is the primary source and terminal is required to fix this.
So for experienced users, this distro is a must try. I think you have to be of a specific mindset to understand the ethos but if you do, this distro is a critical tool. I am lucky that I do understand and love this distro for what it represents.
Id the devuan team ironed out the above cons, I would give it a 10. I do not believe they are irrational observations but they are my two cents.
I am extremely greatful for this distro and the teams efforts and wish I heard of this distro sooner.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-07-05
Votes: 6
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Devuan Linux: A Refreshing SystemD-Free Experience
Devuan stands out as a clean, efficient, and rock-solid Linux distribution — especially for users who prefer simplicity, transparency, and control over their systems. By intentionally steering clear of `systemd`, it restores the classic UNIX-style init freedom that many developers and power users crave.
Seamless KDE Plasma + Wayland Integration
Devuan pairs beautifully with KDE Plasma, offering a crisp and responsive desktop experience:
Wayland support is smooth and stable — rendering modern graphics with noticeably low input latency and excellent fractional scaling
- Plasma runs fast and fluidly, without the overhead you might see in bloated distros
- KDE’s modularity is right at home in Devuan’s minimalist ecosystem, while remaining remarkably feature-rich!
Whether you're customizing widgets or using heavy graphical tools, the desktop remains remarkably snappy.
Outstanding Hardware Compatibility
Despite being systemd-free, Devuan doesn't compromise on device support:
ThinkPads (like the T-line) work flawlessly — fan control with `zcfan` is rock-solid and keeps the system cool without fuss
- Graphics, sound [installed pipewire], networking, and input devices all integrate easily, thanks to Devuan’s Debian-based drivers
- Power management behaves exactly as expected — no surprises, no tweaking marathons
Init Freedom: SysVinit or Runit [openRC]
One of Devuan's core strengths is its support for alternative init systems:
- SysVinit provides traditional, battle-tested init scripts with predictable boot behavior
- Runit offers a sleek and fast alternative with parallel startup and simple service supervision
You get to choose your init philosophy — with no coercion or abstraction layers.
Performance & Efficiency
With no `systemd` overhead:
- Power usage drops noticeably
- CPU heat stays impressively low, even under load
- The system runs lean — memory footprint is minimal, and startup times are lightning-fast
This isn’t just minimalism for its own sake — it’s precision engineering where every daemon and process does exactly what it should.
Devuan Feels Right
It’s the kind of operating system that behaves exactly how a great OS should: secure, efficient, and respectful of user choice.
There’s no hidden agenda, no intrusive services, no background mysteries. Everything is under your control — just the way Linux was meant to be.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: testing
Rating: 1
Date: 2025-07-04
Votes: 0
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One of of the attractive things about linux is its ability to be installed on most devices including slim books and this is where this version falls down.
If you use the net install, the intel wifi drivers are not there and the install wont proceed because there is no lan cards in thin books.
What makes this even more irritating is the fact that the intel firmware is present on the 5.11 release. This shows a lack of consistency across distro versions which i do not like because 5.11 works well enough.
If you do have a lan and complete the install, it does not have the wifi drivers installed.
The live version is worse because it comes with the refracta installer which does not work. You open it and it produces an error saying that it is missing a file.
If you make a distro available to install, its probably a good idea to test if users can install it.
Its a shame because 5.11 is not bad at all but driver issues seem to plague devuan as I installed 5.11 on an amd laptop and the graphics drivers had to be manually installed.
I switched over to expirion based off excalibur and it worked flawlessly out of the box for my intel devices, the amd laptop required an acpi_backlight=vendor value in the grub boot parameters to be able to save brightness settings.
I so want to run devuan testing but its plagued with silly issues on basic install which should not exist.
If device firmware is present in 5.11, it should be there in 6.0. If expirion can do this, why cant devuan.
I like devuan very much but some things are just plain irritating like having the cdrom in the sources list at the top resulting in updates failing due to no cdrom present.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: unstable
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-05-31
Votes: 35
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Devuan Linux is one of the best linux distros. It's not perfect, but it just works! Most systemd-free distros have huge compromises that makes using them annoying and a waste of time. I'm using devuan unstable because having slightly newer packages suits my needs. Devuan, although I'm using unstable is actually very stable, much more stable than arch or even fedora.
My setup is Devuan unstable with i3wm on an old dual core thinkpad (x201). It is speedy, minimal and just works!
The installer is good too. If you choose the netinstaller it will be the same as the normal debian installer, only with an option to choose what init system you want. The options are; sysvinit, runit (the one I chose) or openrc. Sysvinit is the default and works well, but i chose runit because I love the simplicity and the speed.
Devuan is a great distro!
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-03-07
Votes: 100
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Both of the companies I work for are in the process of retooling Linux workstations and servers. The companies are leveraged heavily into Linux, but were decidedly biased toward RedHat and RedHat derived distributions. It wasn't until systemd arrived on the scene that anything else would have even been considered. And shortly after systemd locked up the first systems in testing, something other than Redhat and Debian distributions became a requirement.
Hence the selection of Devuan.
There was a considerable amount of culture shock moving from to Devuan as one would expect moving from Redhat to Debian. Everything from the package manager to how the network was configured changed. I can't say there were not numerous annoyances with how things used to look/feel/work when you were comfortable in another environment.
But looking backward, it was ... TOTALLY WORTH IT
We played with Devuan ASCII. Got serious with Beowulf. Used Chimaera in the first production systems. And now it's been mandated to upgrade all Linux servers and workstations with Devuan Daedalus even as the release of Excalibur is eagerly awaited.
Devuan just works.
I have nothing but good things to say about uptime, stability, boot speed, and hardware support. I did have a little trouble with the ISO installer on one laptop, but nothing I could not handle. All other equipment has been a breeze to install, harden, and provision services upon once I was comfortable with the "debian way" of doing things. The community is great and I love finding my questions already answered on the Galaxy forum.
No regrets. Highly recommended.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-03-01
Votes: 65
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Devuan Linux is a remarkable distribution that excels in stability, speed, and reliability. As a fork of Debian, it offers a system free from systemd, making it an ideal choice for users who prefer alternative init systems. The performance is impressive, with fast boot times and efficient resource management, ensuring a seamless experience.
One of Devuan's standout features is its ease of maintenance. The straightforward package management system allows users to keep their systems updated with minimal effort. Additionally, the supportive community provides ample resources and documentation, making it accessible for both newcomers and seasoned users.
Security is another strong point for Devuan. The security index is notably higher than in systemd-based systems, and users can achieve robust security with less effort, especially when utilizing tools like Lynis for auditing and hardening.
In summary, Devuan Linux is a solid choice for anyone seeking a dependable, secure, and user-friendly operating system. Whether for personal use or server environments, it delivers the stability and performance that users can rely on. Highly recommended!
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-02-28
Votes: 32
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The most stable OS on my hardware, this is actually what I need.
Maybe Debian could be good to, but I'm don't want Systemd+Linux instead GNU+Linux.
My setup is like: laptop with Intel CPU (with graphics) and N(o)vidia videocard.
~ N(o)vidia is work
It's sad to use nvidia in Linux, especially when developers push upload drivers like in Void/Artix/...(rolling)
But here it perfectly work and I very happy.
~ Stability
No random bugs after each N updates, just stable.
I don't know why but I'm get many bugs in Void, a little less in Artix.
~ No systemd
You know.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-12-07
Votes: 119
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Devuan works very well, it uses the classic init system 'sysvinit' and it is a good alternative to Debian which uses 'systemd' instead. If you don't want to use systemd, Devuan will work for you and it gives you the freedom to choose the init mode you prefer (SysV, OpenRC or runit). Compared to Debian, not much changes: if you know how to use Debian, then you know how to use Devuan. The installer is intuitive, easy to use and fast. There is a wide choice of desktop environments: Xfce, MATE, Cinnamon, KDE (it uses Wayland by default), etc.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 8
Date: 2024-11-26
Votes: 0
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There still are some aspects where you have to go "under the hood" when you have to manually disable some (few) systemd references, but it works very well and is a good alternative if you are familiar with debian. If you cannot or don't want to use systemd, Devuan may be well worth a 2nd look. It's a pity the graphical installation menus aren't yet ported. Devuan closes a gap left open when more and more distros switched exclusively to systemd. There's also no problem, of course, to switch to an alternative desktop environment like Mate.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-11-21
Votes: 29
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I am using devuan GNU/Linux 5 daedalus xfce for many months. I am very impressed with its performance since first day. its running very fast and smooth. its theme clearlooks -saphire is quiet impressive and I like it most.I have installed chromium browser that is running very fast on my computer. I am very happy with this linux distro . It should be the best linux distro in my opinion. overall performance is very good. Earlier I would use debian but this devuan is running fast on my old system without any errors.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-11-08
Votes: 21
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Coming from Gentoo with an old laptop. Yes there are binary packages in Gentoo now but not every single packages in the repos are available in that format and my slow laptop still struggles to compile some stuff. I do love openrc from Gentoo but since when I wanted to select it as init system in Devuan, it said that it relies on sysvinit, I've decided to just use sysvinit lol. I love the stability and I got the feeling future upgrades are going to be smooth. I've pretty much tried every distros out there you name it and my final destination is Devuan which I believe will not disappoint a linux enthusiasm such as myself. Good job to the devs behind dev1 you're doing a wonderful job keep up the good work don't you quit!
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-09-19
Votes: 83
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I use Devuan 5.0 KDE Plasma to get rid of ‘systemd’ and all its absurd and unnecessary complications. The recommended installation medium is the ‘netinstall CD’. The installation procedure is almost identical to that of Debian and it is very simple and intuitive. All the proprietary firmware your computer needs is installed automatically. KDE Plasma uses Wayland by default and everything works perfectly. You get all the software available for Debian: 59,000 packages. The default desktop environment is Xfce, but KDE Plasma works just fine. Available desktop environment are: Xfce, KDE Plasma, Cinnamon, LXQt, MATE. The operating system support is five years long. Install and forget. Devuan is recommended for those seeking stability, those who like freedom of init choice, Xfce users and KDE Plasma users.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-09-16
Votes: 51
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Today I installed devuan GNU/Linux 5 (daedalus) on my 32 bit computer, and I was amazed to see that my system is running very fast and smooth, xfce theme is also impressive. I installed chromium browser on it and its running very smooth and fast. earlier I was using debian linux but I also wanted to try devuan linux. it is my first devuan linux installation and its quiet impressive in performance and also nice looking themes. all other applications are also running very smooth and fast. overall perfomance is very good and impressive. I would certainly recommend this distro to everyone. I compliment all the developers for their hard work.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 6
Date: 2024-08-08
Votes: 0
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Distro is okay, the installer however is one of the worst applications I've ever used. If you're not careful you can easily wipe out sensitive data without an extra step of precaution. I was curious about triying Debian w/o SystemD, this distro is the often recommended. Didn't even make an impression, it felt like a school project instead of a real operating system. The default "themes" are all ugly and bright, supposedly "exclusive" to this distro (why? Just install adwaita themes at this point). XFCE is the only live environment available, so you'll have to do extra steps to get KDE, MATE, LXQT, or Cinnamon installed.
Overall I wouldn't recommend using this distro. I'm going back to LMDE after this review.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version:
Rating: 3
Date: 2024-08-07
Votes: 0
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I'm glad they offer a Raspberry PI 4 installer, so I could try it. But, it was really buggy and unusable. I tried to install exactly the same software as I had on a Debian-based installation, so as to have the closest comparison possible. While the boot-up process was a few seconds faster on Devuan, a lot of the software was slower. I wouldn't say that anything is really zippy on a Raspberry PI 4B, but Thorium was significantly slower on Devuan for some reason. I had a similar experience with Chromium and Mercury browsers. There was a rendering issue with Picom and the Chrome-based browsers. Part of it seemed to be Picom, another part just seemed to be an issue with the browsers, themselves. There would be rendering issues just trying to do a simple web search. Jellyfin was pretty non-functional for some reason. There wasn't a lot of support documentation on what the problems might be with a Devuan system, and with everything else working so poorly, I didn't really care to mess around with it. I'd definitely give Devuan another chance (and I have tried it before on other hardware), but in this state, it's unusable for me. I'd love to have the wonderful experience other reviewers had. I'll check back with Devuan in the future in the hope that the bugs are ironed out.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-07-31
Votes: 103
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I have replaced Neon (KDE Plasma) with latest Devuan. Install was not as plush as what I am used to, but it worked just fine. This was installed on one of my Desktop computers. I chose sysvinit plus full disk encyrption. After first boot I installed KDE desktop, Nvidia drivers and Steam. This Distro seems faster to boot, also I have no issues, so I plan to replace the other 4 desktops to Devuan later this year.
My next device is a Odroid m1s similar to a raspi4. I put a image of Debian Bookworm on it, then followed the instructions on Devuan's homepage to change it over. I ran into a few hickups that was not Devuans fault, but on Devuans IRC channel they are very helpful and told me what to do, several people inn fact. I hope this Distro is around for a long time. I recommend if your want to get away from systemd.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 8
Date: 2024-07-29
Votes: 0
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First of all, it works and is quite stable.
If you managed to cope with the specific interface of the installer. My score is 2 remote partitions /home on different computers.
The installer formats them without asking "are you sure?" Alas, spoiled by gparted, Yast and the like.
The speed of the OS itself is slightly higher than that of Linux with sistemd, this is noticeable only with weak processors, such as AMD E-300. With the CoreDuo Ee 8400 processor, similar to DE, there is no difference.
Attempts to implement the ancient idée fixe - minimalism in everything, right down to the cli, with a weak processor are doomed to failure. Modern browsers and sites literally "bring it to its knees"
If you are tired of computer games and want to deal with the computer itself, and not with application programs and Internet content - this is entertainment for you. :)
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 4.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-07-26
Votes: 19
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Hey thanks for approving my review. Got Devuan 4.0 when it was released in fall 2021, still rock solid today in summer 2024. It's simply the most stable experience I ever had on Linux. With backports, I can use 6.1 kernel, so no reason to jump to Devuan 5.0 anytime soon. I plan on staying until LTS support ends, because what I have works perfectly for me.
The availability of applications is the same as Debian, minus systemd of course. Traditional init works without an issue. Thanks to Devuan, it sometimes doesn't even seem like Debian adopted systemd after all. Which explains why I'm using XFCE, probably would have been problematic if I was using GNOME though. But I think it still would have been doable at the very least.
They say, "you can just take systemd out of Debian"... TRUE, but: Debian still has systemd-isms lurking by, like udev, whereas Devuan supplements with eudev. You can also use elogind if needed so your GNOME and KDE apps work. Still keeps the systemd roaches off your machine.
That's how Linux should be, fast, stable, reliable. Any distro that ends your distrohopping cycle is the right distro, and Devuan is that distro if you like Aptitude more than the other package managers.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-07-18
Votes: 21
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I have been using Devuan/runit with no de, but with fluxbox, bspwm, & awesome window managers for about two weeks, and I am loving it. Its on a Accer Aspire 15 with 1gb hd & 6gb or ram, probably about 6 yrs old. I am experiencing fast boot up time as well as shutdown. I don't particularly care about sytemd one way or the other until recently of what they are planning for future kernel updates, so I figure it was time for a change. I knew Mxlinux was bloat and antix uses tools that are too old for me, and since I wanted to stay with debian derivatives, that pretty much was Devuan. I am so glad I did. The only other distro that I considered was Void, but it is too hard to install and configure besides it is not debian. I have been a linux mint user for the past 3 years, and before that Arch. I really love the easy base install of Devuan, it it so much better than debian, I know it is basically the same, but my hardware likes Devuan so much better. As far as the three init systems, runit is much faster than open-rc. Open-rc seems to be buggy which slows bootup time, at least for me. As a linux user for the past seven years, my Devuan setup is my favorite. I don't see myself changing distros, but I may do away with fluxbox and Awesome wm. I have no complaints as Devuan works with my wifi card and graphics are great. Battery life seems to be sufficient. I can say about the forums or other support as I hadn't needed any help. I went with a base install as de have become boring for me, It would be great if you offered a bspwm as an option. I hope you know that Devuan is not just a beginner friendly distro, but intermediate to expert users love it as a base. I like to send the linux dabbler congrats for putting me on to Devuan. He has channel worth taking the time to watch if there is anyone looking for another linux youtubet. Before I forget, I have not experience any screen tearing at all. Congrats to the developers; you have done an excellent job.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 8
Date: 2024-07-08
Votes: 0
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A solid Debian based distribution which does not use SystemD. It simply exists for people who don't want that on their systems, nothing more, nothing less. That can be both a pro and a con, to me that's a pro. Devuan doesn't try to change anything beyond what the non-init defaults are for Debian, so if you install xfce on Devuan it's the same as the xfce on Debian. Everything is plain and vanilla, BORING. Just the way I like it. Installer could be more user friendly, but then even Debian's installer is mediocre. I actually recommend the smoothness of just loading a netinstall and following the TUI instructions. It can otherwise be difficult for newcomers to understand.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-07-02
Votes: 30
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Devuan is the dream came true. The perfectness of Debian with systemd filtered to oblivion, some systemd unseparatable packages too. Thanks to the great effort of the Devuan devs.
Compared to Debian Devuan is snappier, faster, less memory hungry, more reliable in my use for a desktop.
All desktop environments I have tried work as expected - Xfce, KDE, LXQt.
I was pleasantly surprised too that the reliability of Ceres matches that of Sid, which is astonishing how quick devs filter newer systemd dependencies.
I have tried to run the latest Debian with sysv too, but the effort is beyond my available spare time to fiddle with nasty systemd dependencies, moreover I feel Debian is on its one-way ticket with systemd despite the claims for multi-init. Thats why I truly appreciate the non-trivial effort of the Devuan devs to provide us a systemd cleansed distro.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 9
Date: 2024-06-26
Votes: 4
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Incredible distro, been using it since the first release back in 2016. They have really come a long way. Everything that made Debian 8 so great came into fruition rather fast. Second release was even better, tighter support for initscripts. I converted 6 of my friends over to Devuan, some being rather new to Linux (having used Mint or Ubuntu in the past). The others were already into Arch, ironically enough. That says a lot when you leave a rolling release distro for a stable distro. But Devuan makes it all happen in a way.
Their support community is nothing but friendly, especially fsmithred (who maintains the Devuan Installer). In my years of using Debian, I felt that their devs and maintainers put less and less focus on the users and more on themselves. Devuan figured out what actually WORKED for Debian, changed it for the better good of the UNIX world. When Bruce Perens himself, former Debian project leader 1996-1997 and who started "Debian Social Contract", gives his THUMBS UP to DEVUAN, that's one heck of an accomplishment.
Devuan certainly fits me and my friends' multiple use cases, from multimedia and close-to-modern gaming to software coding. antiX is also good, btw. We should be grateful there are non-systemd Debian derivatives for us computer enthusiasts, even intermediate and some beginner ones.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 4
Date: 2024-06-26
Votes: 0
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I wanted to try Debian without systemd, they told me to install Devuan, I tried it, and...
Disappointing. Bloated, resource-hungry, insecure by default. Their team clearly did not have the regular PC user's best interests in mind.
Runit and openrc are quarter-implemented on this distro, whereas Artix and Void and even antiX have accomplished more. They also force elogind (systemd's logind fork). So much for "init freedom."
I wanted to appreciate it, but it looks like Alpine Linux or the BSDs are the way.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-06-23
Votes: 10
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I started using Devuan some time after Debian removed the ability to choose the init system from my installation. I like the KISS concept, and SystemD seemed like an octopus trying to put its arms into everything, which caught my attention. It just seemed to aim to do too much. The only thing I have to complain about using Devuan is that the traditional resources found online to explain how to do certain configurations are almost all made with SystemD in mind. But it's worth the effort to have a clean system without SystemD's tentacles embedded. Kudos to the folks maintaining Devuan!
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-06-05
Votes: 12
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Daedalus is the best Devuan release thus far. Things like Seatd and better Runit support are what I truly needed to get away from the clutches of Systemd. Uses kernel 6.1, but you can get 6.7 (as of this writing) from the backports. Everything is just rock-solid stable for my needs. Xfce version 4.18 on this release, which is a lot better than 4.16 because no CSD and Thunar now supports new features like split view and undo/redo actions. Truly a great tool for workplaces, servers, social platforms, and even gaming rigs.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-05-21
Votes: 18
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I've been a linux user for a little over a decade. I've gone back and forth over the years, but Ubuntu(then Lubuntu, Xubuntu) was the gateway drug that allowed me to really transition to running mostly Linux at home. I eventually got a job as a Linux Sysadmin(woohoo!) and started using RHEL/CentOS(then Rocky) at work.
Once I got a small amount of chops I transitioned to Debian to get away from the superfluous and useless bloat of Ubuntu. Snaps are a solution looking for a problem IMO. SystemD is the start of the transition to Windows. After seeing the latter train-wreck grow worse and worse over time I started experimenting with alternatives: FreeBSD, Void, AntiX, and Devuan. I really like all of them, especially BSD for my servers at home, however I've transitioned just about everything I've got to Devuan.
Devuan works great as a server and as a workstation. Almost everything is available from the repos, but if it's not or it's outdated it's not hard to compile stuff. I've recently cleansed myself of Windows completely(finally got rid of it on my gaming box) and boy does that feel great. With just a little tinkering I can play a lot of Steam stuff from Devuan and run Discord et al. to communicate with the games fam. When I first made the jump I tried out Runnit for a bit, but SysV does everything I need and shaving an super duper extra fat boot up times isn't something I'm chasing.
If you want something that is minimal, fast, and stable give it a shot. This is modern Linux at it's finest.
Shout out to the folks making Void and FreeBSD too, it's nice to have options.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-03-31
Votes: 79
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I switched from Debian 12 to Devuan few days ago, with Cinnamon interface. Couldn't boot the latest version but installed the next one before which is based on Debian 11 and then upgraded to the latest one (daedalus) which is based on Debian 12. This system is great as far as I can tell. The security issues, according to lynis, come out considerably better compared to systemd. SysVinit is working great, booting much faster than I expected. A few seconds. Now the fan is never heard, it's nothing like that the computer uses much less power, both memory and processor. Everything works as it should, fast and well. It's great to be able to choose an init system during installation. I believe that Linux systems that use e.g. SysVinit should be more widespread. SysVinit is fast and stable as a rock.
One of the big drawbacks of using systemd, in my opinion, is the security holes it creates. It is very difficult to close those holes without affecting the functionality of the computer or something simply stops working.
Debian is a very good OS, but it improves considerably with this change, using SysVinit. I thank you very much and wish the developers of this wonderful system all the best!
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-03-25
Votes: 42
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It's stable. It's working fine at work and in my private life. You can also display and input Asian languages.
I was able to start Steam and play various games.
I was able to use video sites and SNS sites without any problems.
At work, I am able to use email, Skype, Zoom, Excel files, Word files, and print with a laser printer without any problems.
I added a SATA expansion card to my PC, and it recognized it without installing any drivers.
Ryzen and Radeon can be used.
I was able to play FPS games comfortably.
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-01-24
Votes: 90
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I used beowulf and chimaera and now daedalus and are lucky that it is there.
I use GNU/Linux for decades and I hold a LPIC-3 certification, therefore I know how the things are coming and going.
I prefer systemdr-free systems because of Keep it simple, and for example I use Devuan for Servers with sssd and PAM and Desktops - they do what expected with no opaque behaviour.
I use Alpine for my virtualization servers with lxc and qemu kvm, a further stage of systemdrfree, for example no udev, busybox, ...
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Project: Devuan GNU+Linux
Version: 5.0.0
Rating: 5
Date: 2024-01-23
Votes: 0
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Ever since I "upgraded" to 5.0, it's been a pain getting my networking apps and graphics drivers working. Spent half a day going back and forth with support forums, IRC, and everything in-between ! I think not enough care went into polishing up this release, it's sad because I really liked they didn't use systemd on a Debian install, now I am unironically looking for tips on how to use Debian 12 but without systemd (init), it's actually possible to use sysv-init again.. Devuan was useful years ago when Debian took this *option* from us, but atleast now it seems they learned from this, also is a small project with few people supporting it (which means better off just using Debian proper).
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