 Visitor Reviews |
Void
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Reader supplied reviews for Void
Average rating
9.2 from 223 review(s)
Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-06-11
Votes: 0
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Been running Void for about a year and a half now. Absolutely top distro. Not quite for beginners as you'll be missing a few apps in the repos, but it's been absolutely rock solid, fast and tweakable as desired.
I'm running Openbox and love how light and fast it is.
I was a habitual distro-hopper, with my other mainstay being Sparky (which I still sometimes use as it's great), but every time I consider trying out a new OS I can't bear facing something that doesn't work with my printer, or wine doesn't work, or there's random crashes, or it's bloated...
Void is solid, non-systemd (for those that care), fast and well documented and it stays out of my way.
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-06-03
Votes: 8
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void aims to be a highly configurable and stable rolling release. on that it's a 10/10
it's maybe not for everybody but for someone needing a stable base to tinker arround with to get to a unique personalized linux experience, it's perfekt.
i got void on 5 different systems now, including a 32bit-netbook, an old PC of 2012 and three laptops from oldest to newest, i use a git bare repo for my dotfiles that allows me to sync my dotfiles over all these different hardware and i couldn't think of another distro where that would work as flawless as in void.
i would even pay money for void if the maintainer would let me, and there are a lot other distros i would not.
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-06-02
Votes: 8
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For a small project that isn't community-funded (they don't accept donations, although they do seek contributors to the project code), they have a fairly good infrastructure and a medium-sized repository; considering they don't have a bug tracking system, it's extremely stable. All this is thanks to the fact that the base is simple, making it relatively easier for a small team to maintain. A clear example that sometimes less is more. For this reason, it's completely configurable, and the system rarely gets in the way.
It also has its downsides: internal disputes within the development team have resulted in certain key parts being practically abandoned. Its xbps-src compiler has bugs that haven't been fixed for many years, and in the last five years, it has barely received any improvements; in fact, it has lost some features.
The same goes for the package manager. It hasn't had many updates (most of its version changes are to force a recompile of the base during libc updates). (XBPS lacks a mechanism to force a recompile of packages when the compilation base changes.).
Runit is very simple which makes it fast and stable, but if more complex daemons are required, with multiple dependencies or startup phases, it is a pain in the ass to generate halfway functional runit services for it.
Althought that excellent distro.
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-06-02
Votes: 5
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Void linux
Clean fast and correct in one word super stable distribution.
When we talk about system stability and reliability,
I have been using the musl version for 3 years without any errors or problems,
nothing at all.Just regularly updating the system and that's it, no problems
The only thing I would like is for musl to be expanded with more supported applications,
for now it is a big limitation for musl. Basically you have everything you need, most of the applications are there, but...
All in all, a clean 10 from me.
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-05-30
Votes: 7
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Void is literally the definition of the suckless principle.
- Suckless init system
- Suckless package manager
- Independent
- Stable
- Rolling release
- Lightweight
- Blazing fast
- xbps-src
- Did I mention suckless?
I have tried all kinds of distro including distros that absolutely drains every bit of your soul like Gentoo, LFS (distro?), NixOS, and TinyCore. But Void stopped my uncontrollable urge to distrohop for good.
However, Void is not perfect as all things aren't. You will definitely run into a small issue every now and then. Fret not! All these issues can be resolved easily if you spend time reading documentations. Additionally, do not expect the setup process to go smoothly if you come from Arch because Void, IMO, is for advanced users. Therefore, if you are not good (yet) at troubleshooting, writing scripts, and reading docs or specs, you are in for a world of pain.
In conclusion, Void is a beast of its own league and probably is only reserved for a certain type of users.
This thing has run on my machine for 4 solid years and I just love it with all my heart.
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-05-29
Votes: 8
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Musl. This was my main and only motivation to pick up Void. I am after few years on Arch. Without it, I think it would be hard to know how and what to do to make Void up and running. What is minor problem as Void documentation, besides much less detailed to Arch, has almost complete basis for complete system. Of course you need to dig other sources to make all things up and running, but at least you have full point of start.
There are other distros with musl, I know, but Gentoo is too far for my will to spend on configuring and maintaining system, for Chimera is too early to go full for production, on test machine, sure, and others are even more obscure.
Void is right the one and only choice. And is good choice. Installation was quite easy, not much harder for me than Arch, with full root encryption I was forced to go manual way. There still left for me few major things to setup - AppArmor, Secure Boot, but most things works without much thinkering. Only thing that dont work for me and was working from start on Arch or Fedora is Qemu KVM with Secure Boot. Images made previously dont want to start. I will try to make new ones, maybe that can help.
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-05-16
Votes: 10
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Best of both worlds: rolling release, but super stable at the same time. It's like Arch but without the constant implosion. Also, no systemd either so that's a nice plus. It has its own package manager with decent variety and also not a spinoff of any other distro, which is pretty rare. Installation can be daunting, especially if you don't want to use the default (Xfce) DE, but it's not as bad as Arch was back in the day and the documentation is pretty decent. Final score: 10/10, cures distrohopping.
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-05-13
Votes: 9
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Void in one of the few enigmas in the World of Linux. standing out on it's own, not relying on Deb or Arch etc as a base, and it is simply genius for what has been achieved. A cutting edge (one step back from bleeding) rolling release that doesn't have a hissy fit if its not been updated for a month or so. As for the actual OS, you will need a least a solid base of knowledge, otherwise you'll probably end up with an OS that's not working as you'd like, fundamentally because the needed packages have not been installed and configured where necessary., and then you'll blame the OS rather than a lack of knowledge/good attitude. I have it on two thinkpads - one with glibc and cinnamon (ver. 6.4.2), the other with musl and lxqt (ver. 2.2). Both run like a dream, never once had an issue (thats 2+ years for cin., 1+ for lxqt) and they are a lot faster and more stable than the flagships for those 2 de's. Runit is very simple, fast, stable and secure too. Ultimately, fabulous with a bit of grunt work, one to aim for if you're new. Enjoy.
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 1
Date: 2025-05-10
Votes: 0
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This distro brings a mix of feelings, but the most striking one is the clash between expectations and frustration.
Void is definitely a niche system, but the few people you usually see talking about it tend to say positive things. After using it for a few weeks, though, I ended up seeing way more negative points than positive ones, and I just can’t wrap my head around the idea of spending more time fixing the system than actually using and enjoying it. Well, I guess there are people who feel good about that and find it rewarding, but that’s not the case for me.
Starting with the installation, it’s extremely manual, and even for advanced users, it’s really tedious. There’s no kind of helper here, like a script to automate certain steps, which you do have on Arch, for example. And if you choose the TUI installer, you’ll probably end up dissatisfied with one configuration or another that gets set automatically behind the scenes, and at some point, you’ll likely need to fix it yourself — which was what happened to me. So unless you make your own script to set things up the way you want, or at least get everything working properly, be prepared for some post-install headaches.
Another issue I had was with runit, which is Void’s init system. Sometimes when I booted up, I’d end up stuck in the tty, because for some reason, certain services apparently weren’t starting properly due to depending on others. And the truth is, runit doesn’t have proper dependency management. You could call that a trade-off, since on the other hand, it’s very minimal and simple, unlike systemd.
The package manager is cool, and it really reminds me of pacman, especially in the syntax, but for some reason, I often ran into trouble downloading or updating packages due to keyring issues. Pretty frustrating.
I don’t know if it’s something about how the packages are built or if it’s some kind of incompatibility with my hardware, but some programs were really choppy (I noticed this mostly with Firefox, which didn’t have issues in the flatpak version). Sometimes it would even show some stuttering, which led to visual artifacts on the screen, especially when trying to move or resize the window. I thought it could be something with the compositor, but switching to others or reconfiguring things didn’t help much, and I don’t think that was the real issue anyway, since I didn’t see any screen tearing or similar problems.
What they say about Void being “minimal” is definitely true, and you can really see that in the way packages and dependencies are handled. The build recipes seem to only include what’s strictly needed to run the program, but often don’t include dependencies that add features — which in some cases makes things feel broken. That, for me, is a downside, though not necessarily a problem. Still, I think having something like “optional dependencies” would really help in cases like that.
Finally, what pushed me away from Void the most, after all these problems, was the fact that many packages take ages to get updated. Sometimes they stay with known vulnerabilities that have already been fixed upstream. On top of that, I found their contribution system extremely bureaucratic and slow. Sometimes it takes months for a pull request to get any attention — if it’s not completely forgotten, especially when it’s something the maintainers don’t seem too interested in.
All in all, for now, Void is a solid no for me. I don’t think it’s worth struggling with a system that isn’t as polished as others and that gave me more headaches than practicality or productivity. I also didn’t notice any real difference in resource usage compared to other distros I tried. So yeah, overall it was a big letdown. But it is an interesting project, especially for supporting musl as an alternative libc, and I really do wish them well and hope they improve, especially in the areas I mentioned.
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 6
Date: 2025-04-24
Votes: 0
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I wouldn't recommend this distro to newbies, nor even to intermediate users. I personally found it harder to set up than Slackware or Arch.
Installing the base system from a rootfs tarball via an already running system was dead simple. I'm using the glibc version with no boot loader (I'm already using refind as boot manager).
I'm running multiple distros on this laptop; they each have a dedicated 200MB boot partition. Void is the only one that cannot host 2 kernels by default because its initramfs is huge (100MB). Debian and Arch use 23MB and 28MB resp. and that includes a 4MB plymouth theme. Manually removing unused firmwares (amd/nvidia) dropped the image to 84MB which is still way too big to start up a system.
Many packages are missing: you have lightdm but you miss lightdm-sick-greeter; you have cinnamon and xapps but you miss xviewer, etc. Compiling the missing software is a real pain because you have to handle all the dependencies yourself. There has been some pull request to add them (for example slick-greeter) but they received no attention, no comment, and got automatically closed with no reason given.
All in all, once set, the system is running perfectly fine (it has been for a month now). It requires some efforts in the beginning but it's then a very good alternative to the major distros.
Pros :
- It's an independant distro (not based on something else).
- No systemd
- Its packages are relatively up-to-date.
- Apart from firmwares, Void is very light with as little bloat as possible.
Cons:
- You're not getting any help from the OS when you want something done. For example, if you install a package that has a service (sshd, lightdm, dbus…), you are responsible for both configuring it and enabling it. This contrasts with distros like Debian or even Arch where the package manager does it for you.
- Setting up a working DE from scratch reminds me of all the dirty tinkering we used to do in the late 90s.
- The documentation is very succinct, lack a lot of crucial information, and is almost useless if you don't already have a very solid linux background.
- Setting up the sound system was quite difficult.
- Lack of software support.
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 9
Date: 2025-04-14
Votes: 10
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Void is a distro for advanced users. If you don't know what you are doing it will simply frustrate you. I switched from debian sid to void, im really enjoying it. My only issues were with setting up network manager, just remember to make sure dbus is running!!! I'm using the msul version. It is very minimal, fast and simple. It works well on my 15 year old thinkpad x201. Wifi works, battery works, screen dimming works, everything works. The reason i switched from debian was because it started doing sudden crashes, where it would force shut-down my laptop. I'm not sure why it did that and I've never had that on any other distros.
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-04-14
Votes: 11
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Void is a general purpose linux distro that is slightly different than others. It uses runit instead of systemd. It is s simple init implementation and may lack some features systemd has. But it's eay more leaner than systemd. It boots in under 10 seconds on my system.
It has a learning curve to it but i think it's worth the effort. XBPS is a magnificent package manager, really fast. Repositories are filled with good software. Overall i recommend void to all linux experts who likes diy distros like arch.
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-04-12
Votes: 13
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From my point of view, void is amaziing distro for power users. This distro is not for all, without gui installer is the clearest way for building personal desktop, without tonns of unnecessary software. Runit + XBPS = powerfull union. Unlike arch, void linux goes it's own way, without systemD. I don't understand people that want to see gui in each distro. I like independence of linux, where one distro is not as another. All good things in one distro may be used after in other. That's the good way i think.
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 1
Date: 2025-03-07
Votes: 0
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From my point of view, I feel like this distro has potential, but there are a lot of annoying aspects and complications that stop me from giving it a good rating. First, there's the fact that it doesn't have a graphical installer, which can be overlooked since many distros don't have one, but even the installation script they provide is super limited and doesn't seem to have gotten much attention over time. It led me to an error screen more than once. Another really frustrating thing is that not all the package names are in lowercase; some have uppercase letters, and it’s case-sensitive. So, even if you type the name correctly in lowercase, it’ll return an error saying the package wasn’t found. There are some "restricted" packages you can compile yourself from a recipe, but you have to clone the entire GitHub repo to do so, not just the recipe like in Arch’s AUR. To me, that's a huge waste of space. But the main issue I have is that I don’t feel the "amazing performance" that people claim. In fact, the system seems to get slower with each update. There was one time I had to roll back to a snapshot with an older kernel just to keep the system usable. People often focus too much on RAM usage and get fooled by it, but that doesn’t necessarily reflect the system’s actual performance. Lastly, I constantly have internet connection issues on Void. Sometimes when I boot up my computer, my network interface just isn’t found, like it’s not even there anymore. Dealing with this kind of issue all the time really kills the motivation to keep using it, which is why I had to replace it for now.
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-03-06
Votes: 7
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Idk know for how long I use Void. Maybe 6 years or so. I came from Devuan which is still a good distro but Void is faster and rolling, which is a favor for me. There is not much to say. Xbps and runit are working like a charm. A large update is like an explosion of package install / overwrites.
Not a critic or not a critic to Void alone is the missing ability to script the whole system. A simple version of Guix so to say. But this is not a real critic just an inspiration for a meta-package-manager.
Void is a fast and high quality distribution.
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-03-04
Votes: 8
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Void Linux is one of the fastest distros I've ever used!
Stable, did not crash once since 6 months.
I use KDE Plasma because I really dislike XFCE. There are custom images with KDE Plasma preinstalled.
packages with .deb or .rpm can't be installed, because Void Linux uses the xbps package manager.
It's very lightweight and fast, but only some of the software is available yet.
Hope this will change soon, because I'm missing some software. Xbps-src is availabe, where you can install additional software from.
In general, I really like this distro and will still use it as my 2nd OS to get noticed about updates
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-02-28
Votes: 10
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In short, Void Linux is what Arch should have been. It supports a gazillion different architectures, it's super lightweight and stable especially compared to being rolling-release. I had 3 out of 3 Arch based installations die on me during an update in different ways but only 0 out of ~20 Void installations in the past year or so. The package manager is lightweight and fast, even though there are nowhere nearly as much packages as there are with Debian/Ubuntu/Arch. The only negative is that it comes with XFCE by default, which might be good if you are using an ancient potato, but I recommend doing a base installation and deploying a DE like KDE Plasma by hand following the straightfoward configuration documents. All the way from Raspberry Pi 3B+ to Core Ultra 5 245K, I was able to run this distro on literally any machine without issues.
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-02-24
Votes: 6
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Im tried mostly any major and minor distribution over years and stayed with Debian on servers and Arch/Manjaro on Desktop for last years.
I fall on Void Linux when i want to try something without systemd (which started to be too big, and want to do everything). Im tried antix (Arch based) but have some issues during updates.
Void linux is unique distribution as it is not based on any other disro, which can be positive or negative for someone :)
For installation im used XFCE live image. Their TUI ncuser installer was pretty easy and final install process was incredible fast.
XFCE desktop started soon (6s vs 15s any systemd), there are not installed very much applications by default. So you can install your preferred one.
After 4 weeks of daily use im experiencing it as stable and fast (which i cannot say on most of main distros).
The runit init system is straightforward and easy to use and realy make system fast. It doesn't have services dependency resolving, but during my daily use as desktop i dont have any issues with it.
For package management they use XBPS package manager which syntax is similar to pacman from Arch. You can use some nice wrappers for it like vpm or fuzzypkg which make it pretty simple.
What i like is really impressive speed (which i dont see before) of installation/uninstallation and dependency resolving.
I dont have any speed problems with package repositories in EU, however i always use local repo mirror for my primary distro :)
The drawback i see (compared to vast Arch aur repos) is that there is not so may application in repositories like Debian or Arch have, but still enough for most of users. At the end, for missing one you can use AppImage or Flatpak packages, or compile it by yourself from source :)
Also documentation is not deep and detailed as for Arch, but its enough for basics.
Im pretty happy with using this distro and it looks like it will be my primary for daily use.
I highly recommend to try this distro for intermediate or advanced linux users.
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 1
Date: 2025-02-23
Votes: 0
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After hearing a lot of positive things about Void, I decided to try it out myself and see what all the fuss was about. Spoiler: my experience wasn’t as positive as I expected.
First off, the installation process is more tedious than I would’ve liked. It’s not exactly difficult, but you have to do almost everything manually, with no script to automate any part of the process. I initially tried installing it using the TUI installer they provide. After a few failed attempts, I seemingly got through it, but I wasn’t happy with the end result. That led me to go for the fully manual installation instead.
Another downside is that they have very few mirror options, and the ones available are painfully slow in my region. This made installing packages or updating the system a real headache. I even ran into failed updates due to timeouts while downloading. On the bright side, the package manager is simple to use and has a syntax somewhat similar to Pacman, which is nice if you’re already familiar with it. However, I found it noticeably slower when resolving dependencies and handling other tasks.
The init system is definitely a plus. It’s lightweight, fast, and easy to use, which I genuinely liked. But it does have some gaps. For example, it lacks a proper dependency manager. If a service that another service depends on crashes, neither will restart automatically. I ran into this issue myself, and it caused more trouble than I’d care to admit. Still, it’s a solid choice for minimal or lower-end systems.
Performance-wise, the system is just *ok*. However, I noticed a pretty obvious lag when launching certain graphical tools like OBS, LibreOffice, Kdenlive, and Firefox. I didn’t have this issue with other distros like Arch or Fedora. Overall, it wasn’t a pleasant experience on my machine. Maybe it would perform better on a microcomputer like a Raspberry Pi, but for my use case, it fell short.
Even though Void is a rolling release distro, I noticed that many packages take a long time to get updated. While some might see this as a good thing, offering more stability, I didn’t really notice any stability benefits compared to Arch, Gentoo, or even Alpine. In fact, they performed much better across the board on my computer.
What ultimately made me give up on Void was when the system crashed for some unknown reason. After rebooting, I was greeted with the dreaded GRUB rescue screen. I spent a few hours trying to recover it but eventually gave up. Considering all the other issues I’d encountered, I just didn’t think it was worth the trouble.
I’m not completely ruling out the possibility of giving Void another shot in the future. It still seems like an interesting project. Maybe some of the issues I faced will get ironed out. But for now, my first impressions were overwhelmingly negative.
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-02-22
Votes: 18
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Void is suckless.
I like the simplicity of a systemd free distribution, but that wasn't what made me stick with Void, although it was a plus. Void feels like the old debian that we grew up with.The practical advantages: It's fast, very stable rolling release I have ever seen, easy to install and maintain, XBPS package manager is fast and has almost everything you might ever need. Void never breaks, regardless how long the system was not updated. With growing community it could become a good alternative to arch.
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 9
Date: 2025-02-18
Votes: 6
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I've been trying various distros for years on a variety of test beds - I not a Linux novice but I do enjoy a certain level of completeness and operation. Much as I use Mint on my main machine as I'm lazy like that, I've come to the conclusion that from all the other mixes and versions of Linux this ticks the most boxes for that alternative choice.
You can choose to have a command line only version or the full fat one with XFCE. It supports a wide range of platforms. For playing with it is great. I have used it for desktop on x86. They obviously like to dig deep into the system and do some things under the hood that others don't, but you don't have to care. Just pick the x86_64 XFCE glibc live image, there's still a 32 bit version too.
It feels lean, but the stuff that is there works and feels integrated unlike most lean distros that just seem to cut useful stuff out and patch a load of random stuff together. There is this nice feeling that it is Linux, a bit of text shoots up on boot and you are expected to use the terminal to manage packages and updates. But that is as far as I usually need to go - learn the xbps thing and bung the flatpak stuff in as well and it will install and do most stuff.
The installer is very basic, just enough but it doesn't hold your hand so the partitioning is manual with some hints. Start at 1 and work your way through.
It has run on everything so far and can run on a very crap system, I tried from a single core netbook with 1GB. It is also running very up to date rolling release kernel and patches so works on the latest kit too. I've been trying it for a couple of years on secondary machines and take it more seriously each time.
Performance has always been good, nothing is slow - only more compromised minimal Linuxes seem to perform any better and there's not much in it.
Obviously it's an independent Linux - not based on anything popular so you get less options for support. Otherwise as one of these outliers it's a great one to give a go.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-02-08
Votes: 18
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The 2024 Void Linux ISO had a grub erorr and the problem was left unresolved for a long time. So I have been using the 2023 version of the ISO for a long time.I have not used the 2025 ISO yet.
I installed and played with Void Linux dozens of times over the years for experimentation.
Pros:
・Freedom of Choice
Can choose glibc or musl
elogind without sway (Seatd) possible
・Systemd Free
・Stable
・Lightweight
・Popular packages are new.
・Easy to understand documentation
Full disk encryption is very easy
・Runit and xbps are very easy to use
Cons:
・Confusion in the past
・Few developers
・Not popular
・Forum is on Reddit
・Some old packages
zulucrypt-gui not updated for years
・Repository is a little slow
There are only 4 Tier 1 mirrors
The advantages greatly outweigh the disadvantages.
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-02-07
Votes: 19
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After some distrohopping and trying other Linux distros that are all nice, you will find VoidLinux fast, stable as static Linux distros and almost bleeding edge as Arch. Nowadays apps are easy to install and use (flatpak, appimage, distrobox, wine,xbps-src, xdeb...). Installation takes less than 5 min. VoidLinux gives you a minimal iso and lets you the choice of the apps you really need. it's not only for developpers and it can be a used as a daily driver desktop os. For linux users, with some experience, fixing some issues is not a very hard task. In all cases, it's better than other non Linux OS. Congratulations for VoidLinux developers and thank you for your nice work!
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 1
Date: 2025-02-06
Votes: 0
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This distro is definitely a mix of feelings. First off, the Live ISO only supports installation using the dd utility or via loopback through GRUB, which makes it a pain to install from a non-Unix system like Windows. After that, I feel like the performance of several apps on Void is lower compared to other distros I've used, probably because of all the patches they apply to support the various architectures they offer, as well as the alternative libc implementation, musl. I really notice this with Firefox, which takes ages to render on the screen and is a bit slow with the interface, even though my PC is fairly decent (Intel Core i7-12700KF, NVIDIA RTX 2060 6GB, 16GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD). The memory usage is definitely low in most cases, but honestly, that's not much consolation when the performance feels degraded. Plus, even though Void is a rolling release distro, many packages are seriously outdated, like GNOME and some firmware, which comes to mind because it's my go-to desktop environment. I understand that they have a small team maintaining things, but in this case, I think the best option would be to reduce the number of different systems they try to support and focus more on stability and security, while keeping the packages updated. The community also didn’t seem too friendly toward newcomers with questions they deem "inappropriate" for people trying out the distro, and the documentation is pretty short. So, if you run into a problem, you'll likely have a huge headache solving it. All in all, it’s an interesting project, but definitely with its fair share of issues.
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 8
Date: 2025-02-05
Votes: 9
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I chose this Distro as an in between solution of FreeBSD and Linux, with a focus on not using systemD. I have been using it for 4 years now as a daily driver on an old Potato PC and must admit that this is a very well rounded rolling release.
What people have already said is that it is blazing fast, even on older devices, and the xbps package manager is very versatile. Runit is easy to configure and manage. As a desktop solution this is a good distribution.
It can be run on a server and most packages for server management are available. The downside is that it needs a lot of tinkering even on a desktop level. This is no Distro for the faint hearted. You need to know your stuff and you need to be able to resolve issues on your own.
The "Forum" is in reddit. Whilst most of the Linux community is helpful and friendly, reddit is more honest. This can at times reflect in your face as unfriendly. The moderation is especially toxic if they don't have a suitable answer for you or you are to stupid for the distribution in their eyes. There is a lot of condescension going on.
This isn't helpful, especially for users who are new to Linux and moreover managing a more complex distribution like Void.
While the documentation has progressively become better over the years, it is still a hurdle in setting up the system. I believe they have an xfce live image now, but you would probably be better off if you know how to partition your device and do a complete installation over the CLI.
All in all I am not unhappy about this Distribution, it has been a faithful companion over the years. However, because of work I now have to get more familiar with SystemD (yuk), I will be moving back to Debian for the time being. Maybe at some later point I will come back to the Void.
An interesting factoid is that Void Linux adapted SystemD long before Debian had even considered it. But they were also very keen on getting rid of it and finding an alternative init system.
Pros:
Lightweight
Fast (even on older devices)
Rolling Release
No systemD
Up to date
Cons:
Professional orientated, not beginner friendly
Toxic community, if not addressed in a professional manner
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-02-04
Votes: 11
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I love this distribution as it has many advantages.
It's too bad that this distribution is not enough popular!
First, Void Linux has all the most popular packages in his compiled repository.
Second I feel free to build my own system i want to.
Yesn Void Linux is much like Arch Linux as it allows the user to take control of his OS.
But contrary to Arch Linux :
- Updates are faster
- Updates doesnt increase much the system size
- Updates doesnt make the system break or doesn t cause package conflicts : Void Linux is stable
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 1
Date: 2025-02-04
Votes: 0
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Won't boot from live usb... kernel panic. Lost track of it's own file system and probably can't handle the Nvidia card.
Yes, I have experience. I'm 62 and have used everything from DRDOS to Irix, Solaris, BSD, and more flavors of Linux than I care to mention (which all boot fine on this same hardware). Void is at least named correctly, because it is void.
It's 2025. If a 'live' distro can't even boot cleanly via live usb, then the devs should probably seek another hobby.
Bottom line: I'm refuse to waste any extra time on a distro which hasn't been vetted for basic functionality.
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Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-02-02
Votes: 10
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Running this distro feels incredibly smooth and hassle-free. Whether it's a dual boot setup with Windows or a standalone install, everything just works without unnecessary complications. No weird issues, no bloated stuff, just a clean, efficient system that does what you need.
What’s really impressive is how well it supports so many different types of hardware. Old machines, modern setups, even some more unusual architectures, it stays stable and fast no matter where you run it.
A great option for those looking to break away from the usual mainstream distros.
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-02-01
Votes: 11
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Void Linux is a hidden gem in the world of Linux distributions, and it’s definitely worth a try if you’re looking for something lightweight, fast, and simple. One of its standout features is its init system, called runit, which is incredibly straightforward and efficient. Unlike systemd, which is used by most major distros and can feel overly complex and slow, runit keeps things minimal and easy to understand. This makes Void a great choice for those who prefer a "less is more" approach to their system’s core processes. Another highlight is its package manager, xbps. If you’ve ever used pacman from Arch, you’ll feel right at home with xbps. It’s fast, reliable, and has a similar command structure, making it a joy to use for installing and managing packages. The repositories might not be as vast as some other distros, but they’re well-curated and cover most needs, which is great for users who value quality over sheer quantity. Void is also independent, meaning it’s not based on another distribution like Ubuntu or Fedora. This gives it a unique identity and allows it to focus on stability and performance without being tied to another project’s decisions. Plus, it supports both glibc and musl, offering flexibility for different use cases. The only potential downside is that Void might require a bit more hands-on setup compared to more beginner-friendly distros. But if you’re willing to explore, you’ll find a clean, fast, and highly customizable system that stands out from the crowd. Give it a shot, you might just fall in love with its simplicity!
Last but not least, the distro name is also pretty cool. xD
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-01-28
Votes: 11
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I start use Linux from kernel 1.1 (1994), for passion and for work every day of my life.
I test all the major distributions (and derivative ): Slackware, RedHat, Gentoo, Ubuntu, Debian,..
When systemd comes my initial enthusiasm for this new peace of software who everyone talk about like a "NEW ERA" for init system ...... rapidly disappear like "tears in rain" !!!
Even if I continue to work with "systemd" every day this piece of sottware is an overhead for the entire system.
In 2018 I start to search for some distribution without systemd bloat I found Void Linux.
Apart from systemd that was the main reasons I choose Void, I start to appreciate many other things who contribute to definitively assert: this is the best (for now :D) distribution I ever see.
1. runit is simple and robust.
2. Package management xbps is great, light speed on install (extremely light workflow), Debian apt take 10x time for install same package.
3. Rolling release at today from more than 6 years for 10 different systems: on Intel (last entry is a i9-13900HX ) and ARM platforms without problems (just a little one easy to fix 4 or 5 years ago).
Last but not Least:
- if you want, you can contribute adding new or maintaining existing packages to the distribution on github void-linux (very easy to do).
- using the kernel form other distribution (Orange,Armbian,Lineage) I successfully install VoidLinux (root-install) on a lot of OrangePi 3LTs(H6) and OrangePI Zero2(H616).
This distro is amazing. Void: the Linux!!!
Personally my rating to Void is: 100 ;)
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-12-30
Votes: 10
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Void is the distro I keep coming back to. Even though I've gotten more familiar with systemd out of necessity, I still prefer a simple init system and runit is the best I've used by far. As for packaging, Void's xbps combines source and binary packaging options in a way that just makes sense, similar to how the BSDs handle ports and packaging. It's fast, so very fast on all of my systems, even the low end Ryzen 3 and N100 based systems in my collection. I've successfully installed and used it on a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W, all the way up to a current generation AMD 8xxx series system, with the only tweak needed for the latter is switching to the 6.10 (now 6.12) kernel.
Give Void a try, yes it has a basic text/ncurses based installer, and things that are handled "automagically" by other distros have to be done manually (enabling/starting services after package installation), but these are advantages in my mind. You have more control over the system, and you learn more about how Linux and other Unix-like OSes work deep down inside without being overwhelmed.
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-11-23
Votes: 66
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Void Linux is very interesting distribution. It stands out with it's unique init system, package manager (xbps) and minimalistic setup. Void is my choice today. I like it's speed and stability and also oppotunity to make my working environment as i wish. I was build it with my favorite window manager Hyprland and i got the system of my dream. Runit is powefull and simply to use. XBPS is very fast and rich of futures (binary build). Void repository is not aur, but you can find here most of popular applications. Anyway you can use build function or use appimage (flatpak, snap). Today Void is not in the top list of linux distributions, but in future can be here (must be)
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-10-24
Votes: 57
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I'm using void with labwc which is like openbox but supports wayland. My system is blazing fast with a low memory footprint. Most of the apps I use are available as flatpaks but fortunately for me, they are also available from the official repos! A void system has like the sweet spot when it comes to achieving balance between up-to-date software and stability. I do like immutable distros but I came back to Void anyway so if it wasn't for void, I'd be using silverblue. The documentation is sufficient and runit is simple to use. I would highly recommend Void Linux to any Linux lovers. Void Linux is after all the top ranked distro by project on this website and since I've been using it, it's no surprise why Void is the KING.
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-08-08
Votes: 58
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Void Linux is a distribution that stands out for its focus on efficiency, flexibility, and simplicity, and it has gained a solid reputation among advanced Linux users. Designed from the ground up, Void Linux is not based on any other distribution, allowing it to offer a unique and highly optimized environment for its users.
One of the main advantages of Void Linux is its rolling release model. This approach ensures that users always have access to the latest versions of software packages without needing to perform full and disruptive version upgrades. This means you can enjoy the latest features and security improvements continuously and without interruption. For those who want to stay at the forefront of technology, this update model is ideal.
The XBPS (X Binary Package System) package manager is another strong point of Void Linux. XBPS is known for its speed and efficiency, offering atomic transactions that ensure system integrity during installations and updates. This means that even if something goes wrong during the update process, your system will not be left in an inconsistent state. Additionally, XBPS is highly flexible, allowing users to easily install and manage packages.
Void Linux uses runit as its init system, resulting in extremely fast boot times and efficient use of system resources. Unlike other distributions that use more complex and heavy init systems, runit is lightweight and easy to configure, offering users greater control over system services. This simplicity is particularly attractive for those looking for an operating system that does exactly what you need without unnecessary complications.
One of the most notable features of Void Linux is its support for multiple architectures, including x86, x86_64, ARM, and ARM64. This makes it a versatile option for a variety of devices, from servers to embedded devices. This versatility allows users to use Void Linux in different contexts and platforms, maximizing performance in each one.
Moreover, the Void Linux community, although smaller compared to other popular distributions, is very active and dedicated. Void Linux developers and users are committed to quality and efficiency, which is reflected in the ongoing support and development of the system. The available documentation is clear and sufficient, making it easy for new users to learn and adapt to the distribution quickly.
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-08-07
Votes: 26
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Void Linux is a Linux distribution that stands out for its focus on efficiency, speed, and flexibility. Designed for advanced users, it offers a minimalist operating system that allows for a high degree of customization and control. One of its most attractive features is the rolling release model, which enables users to always have access to the latest software versions and updates without the need for complete version upgrades. This ensures a smooth and uninterrupted user experience.
Void Linux uses runit as its init system, resulting in fast boot times and efficient use of system resources. Runit is simple and easy to manage, making it ideal for those who seek simplicity without sacrificing functionality. Additionally, the XBPS package manager is fast and lightweight, offering atomic transactions that guarantee safe and reliable installations and updates.
Another of Void Linux's strengths is its independence. It is not based on any other distribution, allowing it to develop a unique architecture optimized for performance and flexibility. This independence also means that Void Linux is not subject to the design constraints of other distributions derived from Debian or Red Hat.
Void Linux is versatile and compatible with multiple architectures, including x86, x86_64, ARM, and ARM64, making it an excellent choice for a variety of devices, from servers to embedded devices. Although its community is smaller, it is passionate and dedicated, ensuring continuous support and development.
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-08-06
Votes: 7
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VoidLinux is a great distribution, I value the package manager and its atomicity. Some packages are not available, but the nonfree repository can satisfy the needs of the system. Likewise, its robustness is essential for those who enjoy truly free software like Void, although its repositories are not so extensive, the use of certain packages can be balanced by performing respective compilations. It is a great distribution and I am using it as a development base for each of the programming tasks I do.
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-08-05
Votes: 8
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I tried a lot of distros in the past, but only Void felt like home. Not even debian or arch.
I love how runit works and it's lightness, My machine boots in under 10 seconds and it poweroff in 3.
I've been using it for some months now, and after A LOT of distrohop I have no plans to switch. Also the repos are becoming larger every day, whit more and more pkgs.
For now I'm using the glibc version of Void, but I'm considering to give the musl version a try
OS: Void Linux x86_64
Kernel: 6.6.43_1
Packages: 639 (xbps-query)
DE: Cinnamon 5.8.4
Shell: bash 5.2.21
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-08-03
Votes: 6
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This distro has really revitalized my love for computers. Most of my early learning in the late 80s came from fighting with DOS to get games running, exploring BBSs and shareware, etc. I had tried Linux (Ubuntu) years ago trying to escape Windows and MacOS and found the experience depressing. Rediscovering Linux via Void has been so refreshing - the speed, the control, the stability, and a *productive* learning challenge as I build my system with only the things I want.
Just some of my favorite things (mostly the obvious):
1. XBPS is an amazing package manager
2. The documentation / wiki is the best I've seen
3. Runit is FAST
I don't know, it is just clean as hell, and actually feels good (at least to me) to use. As long as you want to learn things and tinker, have a DIY spirit, Void is for you. It is not for people who want to just click and go, but that's fine.
For speed, go with a base install and the all suckless.org build.
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-07-19
Votes: 12
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I can only recommend Void to anyone looking for a suckless distribution.
It comes with an installer on its installation medium, which means that no manual installation is necessary, but they also have tarballs that you can install instead.
Void uses runit as its init system, which is really simple to use.
I've been using it for gaming, programming and VFX - It manages all of these tasks perfectly.
The only drawback you get by not using systemd is that some programs rely on it and you'll have to put in some work to make them run.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 9
Date: 2024-07-14
Votes: 12
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I've been using Void for a few years now: never had any problems with this distro.
Although the software versions are very recent (it is still a rolling release after all) its stability and system control amaze me.
I never switch on my PC with the fear that it won't turn on, (something that happened to me with Arch once).
I still backup my files though, out of habit.
The only flaw, if you want to call it that, is the lack of some packages in the official repos: you do however have the possibility to compile them from source, use the Flatpak/Appimages alternatives, or use the void-packages alternative with xbps-src.
If you ever run into a problem and you feel lost: do not fear! There are multiple channels where you can talk to other void users. The handbook guide is updated and well explained, I was able to find most of the answers to my questions on there.
The learning curve for me was not as steep as I imagined.
- OS: Void Linux x86_64
- Kernel: 6.6.39_1
- Packages: 981 (xbps-query)
- Shell: bash 5.2.21
- DE: Xfce 4.18
- WM: i3
- Both CPU & GPU from Intel
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-07-12
Votes: 5
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I use it on Raspberry and it's the best distro I've ever seen on Raspberry by far. I'm a Devuan user on my main computer but I had so much fun setting it up that I'm actually considering switching to it everywhere. Runit is amazingly elegant. The system comes with no bloat at all (not even syslogd functionality) and for fun and because I wanted to do some unorthodox setup, I went the way of implementing my own logger for runit services. It was also the first time I ever run a rolling distro. I had no stability issues with it. I did see some bugs here and there that existed since installation and at least two of them were fixed within a month by upgrading packages. XBps' interface is worse than apt's in my opinion but it seems to be coming with more functionality that I needed out of the box so I'm fine with either system. I still need to learn more about it. It's great to see a distro made from scratch that accomplishes so much! Now my next experiment will be to run the Musl version and see how that one goes!
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-07-10
Votes: 7
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I installed Void linux about a month ago, and it was a great choice. I started using linux this year in February, when a friend suggested me to use mint. After that I tried endeavourOS and Arch, and I didn't liked systemD, it was slow and it felt old. Arch was not fro me, and I wanted something light for daily use that dosn't break. I distrohopped a lot, I used debian, Opensuse, ubuntu and many more. I found void, and I didn't knew what it was, so I tried it in a virtual machine. At first I had trouble whit partitions, then I heard that void has a poor repository and many other things. After this long distrohop Void linux was my last choice for a distro and I kept arch. After months, in June I decided it was time to change and gave another shot to void. This time I had better knowledge on linux, and I had 0 trouble whit partitions and the desktop. After using kde for a long time on endeavour and arch I decided to go for cinnamon, which I personally love the simplicity of it. Xpbs is so good, I think it's better than pacman. The site is straight to the point whit a really good interface and I downloaded the iso in 1 minute. After I installed and tweaked cinnamon as I liked, I was really shocked to see that the boot and the shutdown were really fast, and the webcam and the brightness worked after a clean install, because they didn't worked on Mint. I'm on void glibc for a month and everything worked fine, nothing broken after an update, got all the stuff I need. I never tought of using void as my daily driver, and here I am. Void was the perfect distro for me, I had a minimal cinnamon install, whit just the basic stuff, a browser, a file manager and a terminal, and I installed later other applications I needed. If I never risked trying something new I would not be here, so my advice is to give a shot to this distro. Maybe it isn't right for you, but at least you know something new, Void is simple, if you use it for work or as a daily driver, don't use a window manager and then rice it, put a desktop like kde or gnome and it will never break. I think it can improve a lot, whit more packages on the non-free repos, because let's be onest, not everyone wants to use only free open source software, but overall it's a 10/10 for a great experience as a daily driver.
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-07-09
Votes: 6
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Void Linux may not be bleeding edge, but it's still leading edge as a rolling release distribution. Void stays stable without sacrificing recent updates and new software releases. It's that "just right" distro you've been looking for all this time.
Void also provides an essential foundation for building your system on top of it. No extraneous bloat, apps, branding, or unnecessary libraries. The runit init system boots incredibly fast, and the xbps package manager is easy to learn and use. While documentation is a bit sparse, it will get the job done having just what you need to get up and running.
While I wouldn't recommended Void as a beginner distro, it does allow for a hands-on, undiluted, roll-your-own type Linux learning experience. Once you stare into the Void, it will start staring back at you! I highly recommend it for intermediate to advanced Linux users, those that are self-learners, welcome some challenges, prefer a more stable rolling release cycle, and want an overall lightweight and fun Linux operating system.
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 7
Date: 2024-07-06
Votes: 8
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Void Linux really is just a BSD for people who don't have hardware compatible with actual BSD operating systems. The mindset behind it is really refreshing in the Linux world and actively cared-for features such as the musl library images and the xbps-src work incredibly well. Everything Void offers is right on its main page, and for those who are doubting the systemd-wayland takeover of Linux, Void is a welcomed addition to the gallery (even though you can use wayland on Void, but you get the idea).
Beware, however, that on these newer images of Void I and other individuals have encountered slow boots as a result of some kind of conflict between the new kernel and the nouveau driver which fails to check certain workers or such, I cannot say much about it. All I know is that it's pretty rough. If you have an Nvidia GPU, you're better off either installing the proprietary drivers (which are only available for glib images) or disabling the nouveau driver and ending it at that if you have integrated graphics.
Otherwise, the distro really just works, and I know that's a meme phrase, but it is how I feel about it. Void implements a lot of interesting components and presents itself as a worthwhile Arch alternative, instead of simply being a fork of Arch using runit. What Void lacks in comparison to Arch is some decent documentation, which both Arch Linux and FreeBSD are very renowned for. Now, it is fair to say that the usefulness of documentation depends on person and context, but there is a reason the Void community will never tell you to RTFM - they probably don't even know if void has a dedicated wiki for that topic. The official guides for Void simply aren't good enough and often need to be paired with third-party entries, Arch Linux wiki pages or YT video guides.
All n' all, Void is valuable because it expands the DIY market Arch and Gentoo were filling, with a different init system, different package manager, and overall different goals. Even if we consider these distros Simple Stupid, we must remember that not everyone will go through the effort of changing their init system from the default - these systems are not completely DIY after all. That's why having choice is important, and Void Linux is my choice.
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 9
Date: 2024-07-05
Votes: 3
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Noob here. I'm migrating to Linux after using MacOS for 18 years because as of 2022 Mac no longer supports my 2012 Mac Mini, which I consider to be a marvelous piece of hardware. So earlier this year I bought a couple used laptops and started learning about Linux. I decided the distros for me were OpenSuse, LMDE, and Void. I've tried them all over the past few months.
My favorite of the three so far is Void. Void was the most difficult of the three to get set up, but now that I've mostly set it up, it feels more sophisticated and precise than the other two, like a German Olympia typewriter compared to a Smith-Corona. To get there I had to overcome a few problems that were more difficult to solve that they should have been, but in every case through solving them I learned a lot about how this machine works. Let me list them.
1) Installation. I had to learn how and why to create partitions and a custom bootpath for my machine.
2) Redshift. I had to learn how to create a custom configuration file to get it to work properly and now it works great.
3) Unzipping files. Does not work out of the box. I could not get the terminal to unzip files either. My solution was to install every package in the xbps repository that said it unzipped files and now Xarchiver works. I think Xarchiver needs some other package installed in order to work, because it didn't initially.
4) Bluetooth. Void requires you to set up bluetooth manually, even if you install the XFCE image like I did. My solution was to install all the packages as above and eventually it worked. But I still can't get audio to play from a connected speaker.
I think Void would really benefit from more detailed and noob-friendly documentation. As it is, the documentation assumes you already know a lot about Linux. I think the right way to approach Void without Linux experience is to install it and read The Linux Command Line by William Shotts so you have a comprehensive beginner's guide as you tinker around in the system.
Even so, in my limited experience, Void updates seamlessly, never crashes, and is super fast. I have grown to like the XFCE desktop environment a lot, more than MacOS in fact, even tough it's not nearly as graphically sleek as that. So far, I think Void is like driving a manual automobile: it's more difficult to learn, but eventually you are rewarded with higher performance and more control over your machine.
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-06-17
Votes: 9
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After 30 years running every kind of *nix, you kind of get an idea of how you want a system to work. "Knowable" is probably top of my list, because if you don't know what it's doing, you're not going to be able to fix it.
I've run Void on my server for some time, but went distro (s)hopping ahead of an effort to replace the last of my Windows systems. After trying almost all of them I settled on Gnome on Void (glibc), and my laptop seemingly runs forever.
The minimalist nature of Void, plus the simplicity of the runit init system go about as far toward that ideal as you can get in Linux.
My hat off to the team!
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 8
Date: 2024-06-05
Votes: 16
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Although I came in adept with the shell and with plenty of prior Linux experience, switching to Void as my first daily driver was a bit daunting (although something I wanted to try for a while). I opted for no DE w/ glibc, as I wanted Plasma and it wasn't offered pre-packaged. The install was understandable and fairly simple, and getting the rudiments for daily driving wasn't a hassle. Things didn't always work OOB, but they rarely required much fiddling when they didn't. Overall, getting started was a 9/10 experience. Xbps is probably the best package manager I've ever used, can fully recommend on that front. In addition, the Void wiki gives both quick up instructions and full debugging help.
However, a couple flaws (for me) began to show themself over long term use. First, although Void is stable rolling release and can run well pretty much forever without updating, you will at some point need to update. Again, 9 times out of 10 this is fine and Void cranks on, but the 1 time it does things go south quick, as you are then stuck with a version conflict or dependency conflict on a system that is by design slow to push updates to it's official repo. For example, when I eventually had to update from Plasma from 5 to 6, things broke in a way beyond what I would consider normal from a "stable" release OS. It got better over time, but never completely, and my system is still missing a couple minor details from before the update.
For this reason, Void gets an 8/10. OS itself is lightning fast. When it works (which is a vast majority of the time), it's easily a 10. However, each update loses it 0.05 unless you're careful, and eventually, you run into dependency hell, which makes it much harder to revert it to a state where it "just works" without reverting back multiple months.
Tips:
- BACK UP YOUR CONFIG BEFORE UPDATING (and do not hesitate to revert)
- The mentality of Void aligns for me with that of a cranky old man, so act like one and don't try to get the newest and greatest bleeding edge anything. If it works, keep it that way. If anyone tries to flex their higher version numbers, wait 2 days, then point and laugh while they try to navigate fixing some stupid DE/WM dependency for 4 hours.
- Don't be scared of not having systemd. Runit has worked without issue since day 1 for me, and is dead simple to use.
- If you use Python, be ready to learn pipx. Takes some time, but pays off in the end.
Good OS, surprisingly so for a first daily driver. 8/10. Would probably be even better for server use, as I'm pretty sure in that case you could actually run forever.
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-05-11
Votes: 18
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My favorite part of Linux: Minimalism. Who does it better than Arch? Void. Package manager is great and very fast, a luxury among distros. I was initially worried about how many packages would be available, a criticism that I have heard about Void, but that appears to have changed. Pretty much everything I need is in the repos. Omitting systemd has taught me more about how Linux works.
Some things like Discord are considered restricted packages, which you need to clone the xbps repository for. Kinda annoying, but it's whatever.
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-05-11
Votes: 19
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Void es una excelente distribución que está subvalorada completamente. Es un proyecto independiente que es tan maduro como otras distribuciones más conocidas. No obstante, hay que tener en cuenta que no es una distribución para principiantes y que se deben configurar e instalar muchas cosas a mano.
Pros:
- Posee una muy buena selección de paquetes. Todo lo que necesito está en void.
- Ofrecen la mejor solución para instalar la última versión de TeXlive y administrar e instalar todos los paquetes con tlmgr.
- Es realmente rápida.
- runit es fácil de manejar y los servicios se pueden activar y desactivar de modo muy sencillo.
- Las actualizaciones no son tan frecuentes para que el sistema operativo sea muy estable.
- Su gestor de paquetes es muy lógico y resuelve perfectamente las dependencias. Nunca he tenido un solo fallo en las actualizaciones.
Cons:
- La conexión a wifi demora más que otras distribuciones.
Pienso que una razón de su infravaloración es la lista que ofrece distrowatch de los paquetes que hay en void no es real. Hace pensar que en void no hay paquetes y que están muy desactualizados.
Creo que basta con añadir una columna en distrowach (tal y como sucede en muchas otras distribuciones que son rolling release) que muestre las últimas actualizaciones y no solo el contenido de una iso que puede tener meses de antiguedad y que solo sirve para instalar el sistema operativo pero no es un reflejo de todos los paquetes que ofrece la distribución.
La recomiendo 10/10
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Void is an excellent distribution that is completely underrated. It is an independent project that is as mature as other more well-known distributions. However, it should be noted that it is not a distribution for beginners and many things must be configured and installed by hand.
Pros:
- It has a very good selection of packages. Everything I need is in void.
- They offer the best solution to install the latest version of TeXlive and manage and install all packages with tlmgr.
- It is really fast.
- runit is easy to handle and services can be activated and deactivated very easily.
- The updates are not so frequent so the operating system is very stable.
- Its package manager is very logical and solves dependencies perfectly. I have never had a single failure in updates.
Cons:
- The wifi connection takes longer than other distributions.
I think one reason for its undervaluation is that the distrowatch list of packages in void is not real. It makes you think that there are no packages in void and that they are very outdated.
I think it is enough to add a column in distrowach (as happens in many other distributions that are rolling release) that shows the latest updates and not just the contents of an iso that can be months old and only serves to install the operating system but is not a reflection of all the packages offered by the distribution.
I recommend it 10/10
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-05-06
Votes: 17
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This review is for the glibc version of Void Linux using XFCE (x86-64).
VoidLinux may put an end to my distro-hopping for a while. It's an independent linux distro & it shows. It's unique systemd-free linux distro, which also has a version which utilises musl & its own package manager, XBPS.
It is lightweight & fast. Repositories not the biggest, but I use Appimage (sparingly) to plug the gaps.
For me, Void Linux ticks almost all the boxes, my distro-hopping habit is on hold!
Pros:
No systemd
Fast boot-up
Fast shutdown
XBPs is fast
Documentation is good
Granular choice of regional repository server(s) during installation
Runit init
Rolling-releease, yet stable (so far)
An independent linux distro
Neutral:
text-based installer: I have no problem with this, but it could deter newbies
Cons:
Slight hiccup with keyboard setup, but easily fixed with XFCE settings
Package repository is not the largest
As others have said, Void Linux is probably not a good choice for those new to linux
Familiarity with disk partitioning, cfdisk, fdisk advantageous during install
I would rate this 9.5/10, but that's not possible, so let's round it up to 10/10! Thank you Void Linux team
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-04-25
Votes: 33
|
Void is undoubtedly one of the unique distros in the Linux world. I have Void openbox installed from 5 or so years ago still going strong and updates and upgrades without error. I needed a DE for a new machine, and use Linux for my office, I turned to Void and Xfce. Quick easy install as always on a SSD.
Pros: Fastest boot of any machine I have running any other including those boasting minimalism. Runit for an init system is complementary of a well-designed and configured distribution.
It is unique to its own pkg system, I simply feel at home with Void, salute and hats off to the developers and those who strive to make it one of the best distros Linux has to offer.
Cons: None, won't complain about something this revolutionary!
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-04-19
Votes: 6
|
void as always is the fastest linux distro, it provides vanilla xfce, has low memory footprint, and has the fastest package manager in the world (linux, bsd, windows, mac, other OSes).
But it is not for beginner users.
If a beginner want to try void, the xfce liveCD doesn't have bluetooth installed, so no bluetooth headphones or other devices....
AND adding bluetooth to installed distro is very hard, cause documentation sucks,
it has general info on how to install bluez, and that you should add your user to bluetooth group, and to enable 2 services,
sure if you google you will find how to enable those services with runit and how to add a user to group,
BUT it would be easier to add those commands into the docs themself
also there is lack of documentation on how to install blueman...
Other than that must have out of box scenario, void xfce has everything what users needs.
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-04-15
Votes: 22
|
Perfect!
I was looking for such a distro for a while!
This was my last attempt to stick with GNU/Linux before moving to FreeBSD (coming from Arch).
VoidLinux is:
completely systemd debloated (runit),
a rolling release,
coming with a large collection of packages in depos,
not a fork of a previous distro,
is fitted with a powerful management tool (xpbs),
very lightweight,
very easy to install,
easy to manage (no layers and layers of obfuscations),
many more!
Thank you!
Keep up the wonderful job!
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-04-12
Votes: 14
|
This distro is not ultra bleeding edge but promises you stability on top of being rolling-release: it's like the perfect sweet spot in my humble opinion. It is also the top non-systemd Linux distro on distrowatch. At the time of writing this review, Plasma 6 is not released yet but it will come shortly: they are waiting for it to be more polished I guess. I highly recommend this distro for all the people out there who want something solid that doesn't require manual interventions when updating. I've tried countless distros in the best but Void stopped my distro-hopping. I wish the best to the dev team behind Void Linux!!!
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-04-12
Votes: 10
|
Honestly I wish it came with Plasma 6 option as well. XFCE is a little dated, though I understand the point of void. To make it light weight.
Otherwise an amazing distro, 10/10, if you're capable to figure things by yourself, which I found a little hard. Documentation is lacking.
XBPS package manager is literally the best you can have in linux. Fast, robust. Not the biggest repo, but its definitely sufficient. Build from source is super easy as well!
My favorite distro by far, but I just have a skill issue.
Highly recommended, especially for Arch fans.
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-04-04
Votes: 14
|
I finally found a Linux that met my expectations and wishes. I have been using Void as my daily and almost only operating system for almost 4 years now. Even games on Steam and Epic Games run flawlessly.
Runit as an init system is not only simple but also fast. I love having full control over the system. I no longer had that feeling with Systemd.
The rolling release concept is beyond any doubt for me. I don't want to worry about operating system versions that I have to explicitly install.
Void requires a little more attention when installing, which should be a one-time process. Thanks to very good documentation and countless video tutorials on the Internet, anyone should be able to do it.
The maintenance of the packages is extraordinary. I never had the feeling that I was using any outdated or old software. The amount of packages is also impressive. If a package is not in the repository or the dependencies of the packages become too much for me, I use Appimages.
The package manager XBPS is a special gem in the operating system. It is highly flexible, simple and fast. I particularly like xbps-src. It's so easy to create installable packages for an operating system.
I haven't had any problems with the operating system so far and I still love it.
|
Version: 20171007
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-03-29
Votes: 11
|
I have used Void over the last 7 years on 6 different machines. 3 Acer, and 1 Lenovo laptops, 1 Acer Veriton being used as a home server, and an Ayn Loki Mini Pro (yes, I use Void for gaming as well).
In all that time, across all those macines (4 of which are still being used) I have only had a single instance of down time due to a Mate Marco update that lasted all of 3 hours.
I've thrown Appimages, Flatpacks, Docker/Podman, 32 & 64 bit mish mash at it, and it just keeps going.
For me, this has been the most stable distro I have ever used. Period.
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 9
Date: 2024-03-24
Votes: 5
|
I recently acquired a 19 year old 32 bit Thinkpad T23 1.5 GB RAM. Void in live mode seamlessly, detecting and connecting to wifi and the internet via Firefox. It was stable, freeze less, and quick through the duration of my testing.
Void give you just enough to get you started.
If I understand it correctly, this appears to be a install it once, frequently updated stable rolling release. A bit of an anomaly in the Linux world. As stated at the Void website:
"Void focuses on stability, rather than on being bleeding-edge. Install once, update routinely and safely."
To me the above is huge. With most Linux distros every few years you end up starting over with a clean install with all the deficiencies that entails. Apparently that is not true with Void which is a big plus. Many of us just want to, as Ron Popeil would say, "set it and forget it" letting the rolling release do its thing.
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-03-23
Votes: 2
|
Void Linux is an open-source Linux distribution that has earned the respect and attention of many users and developers due to its unique focus on simplicity and efficiency. With its independent package manager xbps and its runit init system, Void Linux stands out from the crowd by providing a minimal and modular setup.
The fact that Void Linux doesn't include systemd and relies on glibc libraries makes it a lightweight and efficient option suitable for both old and modern systems. The community behind Void Linux is small but highly active, ensuring constant support and evolution of the system.
Additionally, Void Linux's installation system is easy to use and allows for customization according to your needs. It also offers a wide variety of desktops and environments to cater to different tastes and preferences.
In conclusion, Void Linux is a versatile and efficient distribution that provides a no-nonsense Linux experience and strikes a perfect balance between minimalism and functionality. Its community-driven approach, along with its wide customization, makes Void Linux an excellent choice for both seasoned and beginner users alike.
10 points!
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 9
Date: 2024-03-23
Votes: 2
|
I've used Void (x86_64, glibc, with swaywm) for about a month now, and here are my thoughts:
I have used nothing that beats this distribution in terms of installation. The tool provided was very well laid out and had every option that I could have wanted without being hard to use. Additionally, it is very fast and is light on resources thanks to using runit, among other things.
There is a bit of a learning curve and some software isn't as available thanks to the lack of systemd, however the benefits outweigh the drawbacks here.
Coming from Arch, I was afraid that the loss of the AUR would be tough to bear, however most of what I want I can get via xbps-src and whatever I can't get I can just install from source, which I haven't had to do all that much.
Overall, a very good distro. I can tell why people have gained interest recently.
9/10
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-03-20
Votes: 2
|
VOID, probably the very best Linux distro that can be easily installed. I have my own Debian Linux derivative, however have a collection of distros I enjoy configuring, and VOID is right in front.
VOID installs easily, the init is runit, and works flawlessly. The (x86_64, glibc, XFCE) is my choice. The silky smooth mouse action is quite noticeable. The distro has many secrets to have exhibit some of the very best computing capabilities. Running many different base systems, Debian, Devuan, Arch, openSuse, and Gentoo. VOID is an Independent image and not classifying it with a major linux base. I find it works similar to Debian or Arch, but neither.
I'm using this install of VOID for multimedia, listening primarily of music, no mixing but just using a few choice music applications. I'm quite happy and not a guru or savant, regular user like most. Give it a spin, you will like and enjoy the experience.
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Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-03-17
Votes: 3
|
Just tried the live image (x86_64, glibc, XFCE). It could boot very fast and surprisingly detect and configure automatically my wifi.
Tried to install using void-installer and while I think the installer is not for new comer in Linux world, it worked very well for old veteran like me. Everything runs smooth. Launchpad should be configured manually (Settings in XFCE makes it very easy to do this).
My system now runs very well and smooth. xbls also works well. Booting needs more or less 40 seconds (usual harddrive, no SSD, RAM 8GB) until XFCE desktop ready (include login, of course).
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-03-05
Votes: 8
|
Amazing system!
Been using debian (and shortly ubuntu) for years, and switching to void was refreshing.
Easily switched to LXQT gui and it's been a smooth ride ever since.
Fresh software - no need to wait years for updates to come, like on debian.
Everything feels smooth and fast, the system indeed is lightweight.
The choice of packages is huge, so most of the time it is enough to just install via xbps.
For those few cases, where no alternative was found in xbps, I helped myself with flatpak and few appimages (dislike those, but that's not void fault).
Been using it as my daily system for long time now, bit office stuff (minimal calc n writer usage), web browsing, design (blender and freecad), and gaming.
One big plus is lack of systemd and all of it's dependencies. The runit thingy takes a bit of getting used to, but is actually pretty simple.
I rate it 5/7
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-02-24
Votes: 17
|
Very fast linux, and very fast xbps pkg manager. Runit. Much console using (good for deep learning linux, not for mouse-users)
Using 686 and x64 versions with different machines daily.
From atom n270/n450 (some troubles with acpi, but not critical) to celeron n4120 (also core2duo, core i3).
About 10 different notebooks with Void (but all - intel, have no amd's)
Some difference between 686 and x64 (some pack's in repo's and it's installation).
Previous version has broken login manager for xfce4, and non-correct default xfce4 user.
Like this system, use it 1+ year.
Previously, i was dos to win7 user (don't like win8 and newer).
Sometimes used debian, centos, freebsd (but not hard-used).
That's my FIRST serious using linux (home and work with console and desktop), but it's no problem.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 8
Date: 2024-02-13
Votes: 18
|
I, like so many others, started with Ubuntu, and liked it. However for reasons that are not relevant here, I became dissatisfied when Ubuntu 16.04 came out. So I started looking for a replacement. I tried so many! Some for only a few hours, and some for several months. These included the likes of Debian, Mint, MX, Slackware, Fedora, Arch, Artix, OpenSuse, Slax, Q4OS, Porteus, Salix, Sparky, Plasma, Manjaro, several of the Puppies... I even tried out a few of the BSDs, All had their strengths, and if you go to their review pages on Distrowatch you will find their fans heaping praise on them.
But each one had that "one little thing" (or sometimes, one glaring thing) that annoyed me. The mainstream distros all came with Systemd, and I soon realised that although it was easy to administer and use, Systemd came with far more features than I would ever need or use. So it's features were largely wasted on me, and I lost interest.
I tried all the major desktop environments (Gnome, KDE, LXQT, LXDE, XFCE, Mate, Budgie, Enlightenment, Deepin, Cinnamon) as well as a few Windows Managers (Openbox, i3, DWM, BSPWM, Xmonad). I decided that what worked best for me was XFCE4.
So I tried Slackware for a while, but eventually got bogged-down with a piece of software that I really wanted to use that I just couldn't install: I realised that I had spent far too much time on something that should've been a relatively simple exercise. I think the problem was that I didn't install KDE (which I dislike almost as much as I dislike Gnome) and so was missing some crucial dependency that the system assumed would be there. So I gave up on Slackware after living with it for about 6 months.
About a year ago, I decided to give Void another try, and installed it on a secondary laptop I've got. It starts out pretty vanilla, which suited me fine as by now I know exactly how I want it themed and configured, and what software I prefer to use. I tried out xbps-src (Void's version of the AUR) for a while, and then realised that I really didn't need it: unlike Arch, the Void repos have everything I require, so the user repositories weren't necssary.
So Void gave me the "plain vanilla" desktop environment that I wanted, didn't come with Systemd, and had a repository with most of the software I needed. What It didn't have (for example Conky Manager, because I like the large MUI digital clock) I found on Github. It also has Flatpak support, but I haven't found a reason to install that.
Void is easy to use, and comes with XFCE4 which I prefer. I comes with up-to-date versions of the software that I require, and strikes the unlikely balance of stability with a rolling-release.
My thanks and congratulations to the Developers for managing to get so much right!
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-02-09
Votes: 13
|
Excellent distro.
- Lightweight, simple, and straight to the point package manager. It does what it should do, nothing more, nothing less.
- Provides enough up-to-date packages to ensure system stability, while still keeping you safe.
- It has several tools at its disposal to make it easier to package applications that aren't in the official repositories.
- Good documentation, clarifies all the points you need to know to get to deal well with Void.
- Great distro for those who want to learn more about Linux while using it.
I highly recommend it.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-01-19
Votes: 21
|
I've tried them all, well, most of them, and keep returning to Void Linux, one of the few independent Linux distributions.
What brings me back? Void is a rolling release that aims for stability - really, only openSUSE Tumbleweed is a peer there.
Void has amazing tooling; once you get to know the system, discover tools like the `xtools` package, `xbps-src` from the void-packages system, and more.
Another gem is ZFSBootMenu - Void Linux is a first-class citizen there; check it out - easy ZFS as root with or without encryption.
What you get is a solid, general purpose, Linux system you can turn into anything you wish. It's understandable, well-documented in the concise Void Handbook, and reliable.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 6
Date: 2024-01-09
Votes: 2
|
Pro
It starts quite quickly, the feeling of speed remains during work. Plus the "gratification" of getting rid of the "class enemy" systemd.
Cons
Like all distributions without systemd, it has big problems with lightdm = one of the few desktop managers that can also launch a virtual keyboard at login. This is the most annoying, even if at first lightdm works, as many applications are installed, the probability of lightdm not working increases.
The second big problem is represented by Pulseaudio which does not keep the configuration after booting, including with Paprefs.
The third problem is no printer drivers, especially for Lexmark.
In conclusion, it doesn't beat Debian and it's not for me.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 8
Date: 2023-11-25
Votes: 12
|
Void Linux is a general-purpose, unique, independent and lightweight Linux distribution. Void Linux is not influenced by poor upstream decisions, unlike other forks out there (looking at you, creepy Ubuntu), and often do not chase the mainstream side of things because of this. It also offers 'musl' as an alternative libc to 'glibc'.
'runit' init system is great. It is simple, intuitive and does not get into your way like the behemoth 'systemd' (although some 'systemd' components except for the init have to be used). It is also easy to configure, and the default init scripts made by the Void Linux contributors generally work out-of-the-box.
'xbps' is also surprisingly fast and has a consistent set of features. It is definitely cleaner than Debian's 'apt', and the default repositories provide good download speed. Packages are compiled with several hardening options and level 2 optimization enabled by default. 'xbps-src', a part of 'xbps', allows for building packages from source and possibly, optimise them for the user's specific CPU architecture.
Void Linux is truly both a "stable" and "rolling release" distribution. In theory, a full system update of a few years old Void Linux system is easy and should not break the system. Void also maintains necessary patches for packages in its repository, and the continuous build system will update any package as soon as the 'void-packages' GitHub repository is updated.
...the 'void-packages' GitHub repository? Yes, and updates to packages require manually changing the version on the template file, and often rewriting of the patches. Unfortunately, many packages are orphaned because there are not enough maintainers or they are not generally useful. For example, as of the time of writing this review, LLVM version 17.0.5 had already been released, yet the latest version on the Void repository is 15.0.7. Another example is GCC. Version 13.2.0 had already been released for 3 months, but Void repository only has GCC 12.2.0. A more practical example is the Chromium browser, which has been 2 release behind (currently 119).
Does this affect normal users? Generally speaking, probably not. You can download Chromium or LLVM on the project's official websites, anyways, or switch to Firefox. Yet, it is the package manager's job to manage dependencies and update the whole system easily, and having to use external programs renders the package manager less useful than if you use the packages provided by the Void Linux repository. After all, this is voluntary work, so if you use Void and want Void to thrive, expect to contribute back to the project.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-11-20
Votes: 32
|
Void Linux is a unique and independent Linux distribution that offers a fast, stable, and customizable system. It is not based on any other operating system, but rather developed from scratch with a 2-clause BSD license. Here are some of the pros of Void Linux that make it stand out from the crowd:
RUNIT: Void Linux uses runit as the init system and service supervisor, which is a simple and effective approach to initialize the system and manage services. runit is lightweight, reliable, and easy to configure.
XBPS: Void Linux has its own package manager, called X Binary Package System (or xbps), which is written from scratch with a 2-clause BSD license. xbps allows you to quickly install, update, and remove software from multiple local and remote repositories. It also supports package states, virtual packages, configuration files, scriptlets, integrity checks, and more.
XBPS-SRC: Void Linux also has its own package builder, called xbps-src, which allows you to build software from sources in containers using Linux namespaces. You can build packages natively or cross compile for different architectures and C libraries. You can also contribute to the Void Linux project by adding and updating packages and extending the documentation.
C library diversity: Void Linux supports both the musl and GNU libc implementations, and provides separate software repositories and installation media for each one. This gives you the option to choose the C library that suits your needs and preferences. musl is a lightweight, fast, and standards-compliant alternative to glibc, while glibc is the most widely used and compatible C library in Linux.
LibreSSL: Void Linux is one of the few Linux distributions that use LibreSSL instead of OpenSSL as the default SSL/TLS library. LibreSSL is a fork of OpenSSL that aims to provide a more secure, clean, and modern codebase. LibreSSL is developed by the OpenBSD project, which is known for its focus on security and quality.
Rolling release: Void Linux is a rolling release distribution, which means that you can always get the latest software updates without having to reinstall the system or upgrade to a new version. Void Linux has a continuous build system that builds new software packages as soon as the changes are pushed to the void-packages repository. Void Linux also focuses on stability, rather than being bleeding-edge, and patches incompatible software when necessary.
Void Linux is a great choice for users who want a fast, stable, and flexible system that does not follow the mainstream trends. It is also a good option for users who want to learn more about Linux and how it works, as Void Linux gives you more control and customization over your system. Void Linux is a distribution that challenges the conventional wisdom and offers a fresh and innovative experience.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-11-05
Votes: 26
|
I never thought I could use "stable" and "rolling release" in the same sentence but I was wrong.. It's been two years of running Void Linux without a single issue. It's fast and responsive. Even though xbps doesn't support parallel downloads like pacman, it's still blazing fast and get the job done. Runit is well thought, it's simple and does it's one thing flawlessly well as a good piece of software is supposed to do.
I don't see myself running other distro on my main machine, Void is just excellent!
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-10-29
Votes: 11
|
I have just recently entered the Void and couldn't be happier. As others have mentioned, this is not a beginners distro, but that's OK, there are plenty of other distros to choose from if that's what you need. What you get with Void is something completely different from the mainstream, but not difficult. It forces you to apply all of your Linux experience and knowledge to get this system tweaked to your vision of perfection. I cheated & installed the XFCE version which gives you a solid base to build from. I ended up with is fast, rock solid stable, systemd free and rolling release system with sensible and reliable updates that doesn't bombard you with a ton of updates. The XBPS package manager is so incredibly fast that I sometimes wonder if it worked at all. If you decide to give Void a try, just be prepared to do some research and experimenting to get everything just as you want it. Between the Void Linux Handbook, Reddit forum and some online videos the information is there if you look for it. All in all, it is very satisfying once your system is set up how you want it. If you need a quick install distro that has everything ready out of the box... look elsewhere, but if your a hobbyist and enjoy getting your hands dirty, Void can't be beat!
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 5
Date: 2023-10-23
Votes: 1
|
Void linux seems pretty good on paper until you find out that the installer doesn't support full disk encryption and you have to follow a guide to do manual partitioning and luks encrypting yourself, in the end you're left with a base install. The hand holding ends here as you have to figure out which services to manually add to runit to make xfce run like dbus which there is no simple guide for. I suppose that could be a good thing for people learning how to use the init system but it does require time and effort.
The devs have stated multiple times they will not be adding full disk encryption support to the installer which is a no go for me, I ended up switching to Artix which has a superior installer with no headache. If I needed musl support I would probably just use Alpine, it does the same stuff with better documentation and probably has a smaller base install.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 9
Date: 2023-10-18
Votes: 8
|
For some time I have wanted to give Void a go. For some reason my little collection of obsolete laptops with low end hardware have seemed to reject my attempts by either not booting the live stick or having no clue on how to use my likewise obscure wifi cards. I see this type of initial problems as a sign from the universe to not to go on. Now it just occurred to me that there is a laptop in my collection on which I haven't tried it yet - a Lenovo 120s with a Celeron N4200, 8GB of DDR4 and a 256GB SATA m.2 SSD. It booted, so the first obstacle was passed. The Broadcom wifi card - and everything else - worked so I went on. The live session seemed to be fast, very fast.
After a while I decided to try installing. The character-based experience was a blast from the past, but having done many similar-ish installs years ago, I got thru it first time. No problems there for me, but some beginner might find it a little bit overwhelming and alien way to install. The install process was fast, and the first boot after installing was, well, you guessed. Fast. Not much there, just a nicely set-up xfce desktop. Again, I used to use it a long time ago so no problems there either after some tripping and fumbling along the memory lane.
Well, that's it. I installed some stuff, including tlp for some laptop power consciousness, some drivers (which actually were mostly there already) and some stuff I forget going by some instructions resulting from some online searching and applying creatively the results. After some confusion from my side the package manager seems to handle everything without too much fuss, and it's fast. Oh, I also activated some services and that's where I got lost. systemd has severely spoiled my thinking but hey, getting another point of view was one of my main motivators to install Void in the first place. So I quickly did some online studying and found handling services actually pretty easy. And yeah, fast.
I'm not sure if I already stressed enough that Void is fast, very fast. But it is. No need to try tuning the boot time shorter, it's already fast enough. Everything else seems also to take place right now, not a bit later or otherwise sluggishly. Nine points out of ten, because of my previous problems with the live stick and potential unfriendliness to n00b people trying to start their Linux experience on Void. Can't blame Void for all of it, it's the same with the most distros and the wifi. At one point I promised to myself that if I ever find a distro where those lame Broadcom cards work out of the box, I'd keep to that distro forever. Haven't found one, it's easier to stay away from Broadcom.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 5
Date: 2023-10-09
Votes: 2
|
I find it utterly perplexing why certain Linux distributions exhibit such a propensity for exclusive entry barriers, thus alienating prospective newcomers. It is high time that a distribution as accomplished as Void matured to include a user-friendly graphical installer, or, even better, a seamlessly integrated script that not only automates partitioning but also affords users the luxury of selecting and installing their preferred desktop environment during the installation process. This restrictive stance, pervasive among certain distros, sadly dissuades me from embracing their otherwise exceptional offerings. My fondness for Void remains intact, yet the prospect of needing to undertake a reinstallation for any reason looms as a daunting and time-consuming endeavor.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 5
Date: 2023-10-08
Votes: 2
|
Good
-It does not load any uneeded applications
-small install size less than 1 gig for XFCE
-rolling distrubtion so updates to new versions of the O.S. can be completed without reinstalling.
Bad
-You must read the documentation to get going with this distro as many commands are unique and there are no Graphical applications to assist.
-No application or update manager in graphical form is included. This would assist in alowing a user to get started in ensuring the system is up to date and avaialable applicaons can be viewed. I can understand installing very few applications but I dont's understand the installaing of applications like Ristreetto image viewer installed when nothing other thn the Desktop environment apps.
-There should be basic GUI applications to give used a tour of the system since it is a independent distribution.
-a display of the version of void should be made easily avaialble to indentiy the proper system.
-The web documentation is OK but is not easily searchable for items. this documentation should be included directly in the Void operating system since a user would be spending a good deal of time examing commands.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 9
Date: 2023-10-06
Votes: 4
|
Void in many ways is a great and unique distribution. It comes with a choice of two C libraries, the very commonly used GNU C library and the musl C library and it uses runit for the init system and process supervision instead of the more commonly used systemd in the modern major distributions or the former king of that space, old sysv.
Other reviews of Void highlight the benefits of this system: very fast, a simple design, and an emphasis on respecting the decisions of the upstream software providers which makes Void easy to configure according to a user's preferences. Void also has policies and technical competence that results in a rare combination of a rolling release with a high level of stability.
I have to admit I was skeptical. I didn't think I could install the Gnome desktop environment on a musl C Void Linux system that uses runit instead of systemd without compromising some features that I would get with a distribution that uses systemd and the GNU C library. But everything just worked. Void certainly benefits from the work of other projects. For example, Void benefits from Alpine Linux which also uses the musl C library, and from the elogind project that provides compatibility for desktop environments such as Gnome on non-systemd systems such as Void. The Void developers are very good at leveraging what is available upstream to build a great distribution.
The only reason this distribution does not receive a 10 in this review is that I was inconvenienced by the fact that it was necessary to rebuild one of the software packages provided by the void-packages repository to be able to effectively port the systemd service that the upstream project provides to Void's implementation of runit. The documentation from Void was good enough to help me find the problem, but because the only fix for the problem that Void documentation indicated required me to recompile the package, I must knock off one point and give Void a 9 out of 10 rating. I would have been able to give Void a rating of 10 out of 10 if the package that I needed to recompile had been compatible with Void's runit system out of the box. Having mentioned this problem, I can still say the Void developers definitely value stability over having a large number of packages in its repository.
Pros: Stability in a rolling release, excellent technical quality, and it is an original distribution not forked from another major distribution.
Cons: Strict policy requirements for inclusion of packages limits the number of packages in the official repository, and the runit system and the musl C version of Void can pose compatibility challenges for third party or proprietary software if one wants to run such software on Void that is incompatible with non-systemd systems or systems that use musl C instead of GNU C.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 7
Date: 2023-10-04
Votes: 3
|
Void has become my main distro. It is fast... I mean really fast! It boots up so much faster than Debian or Arch! Perhaps this is because it doesn't use systemd? System resource usage is minimal under XFCE.
I did have a few issues, which I managed to sort out: One was that I struggled to get hibernation to work correctly. The other was that I wanted to use the LTS kernel only. Checking Reddit often led to incorrect and/or conflicting instructions. However, this is a problem with the Reddit users, rather than with Void. But Void's documentation could be better... something like Askfedora, Askubuntu, or the magnificent Arch Wiki would be nice. But (as I mentioned) I did get my issues sorted out, although it took me longer that I think it should have.
I found the packages I need: Mixxx DJ software, Vivaldi Browser, Seafile Client, Dolphin File Manager, Clipgrab, etc... were in the repos, although I needed to clone and compile Seadrive-fuse and Conky Manager from GitHub.
Sometimes I struggle with the updates being slow, as there isn't a local mirror (I'm in South Africa) but this seems to have improved over the last few months, and is rarely unacceptable.
To summarise: It took a while to setup the way I want it, but now it's stable and fast! I see no reason to use anything else.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-09-17
Votes: 19
|
Void is an absolutely minimal yet pragmatic distribution that is rock solid and completely seamless in usage.
As a former arch user it is the stability (if you can say that about a rolling release distro) that wins me over, because I know I won't have to dedicate any more of my time to maintain it, than I am personally willing to.
It is the perfect "blank-canvas" to make your own linux environment on top of, especially the no-DE install which is as light as it gets.
Personally, one thing I'd like to see is most major versions of python available in the main repo as packages, as many libraries just aren't forward compatible with latest python and you de'facto need to use pyenv or whatever python version manager to use them.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-09-11
Votes: 25
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Void gets an unusual 10 from me because it is a perfect "small" distribution. It is also a rare isolate, with no dependency on any other distribution.
I installed the xfce desktop version on a 8th-generation i5 desktop. The installer is text-based and linear - a series of questions one after the other, of which the only slightly tricky one is about disk partitioning. You do need to know a bit about this, but there are good guides online which, if you want, can simply be followed.
Reboot and you have a vanilla xfce desktop, literally - the only non-xfce application is Firefox, and there is no theming.
So quite a bit of work is required to get things as you like them.
Why bother with that? There are two main reasons other than the ISO being a now-tiny 966MB:
- Everything is lightning fast. Firefox opens in about 0.6 seconds, which is comparable to my (three generations newer) Windows laptop; Ubuntu, on the same machine, takes 3-4 seconds. Even the package manager is fast; xbps-install -Syu, the default command to query the repository and update any out-of-date packages, comes back in less than a second if there are no updates.
- You have complete control. As I noted, there are no extras - xfce is about as small as it could be to be capable of functioning - and everything above the minimum must be installed. I developed a scripted install which can do everything from a standing start.
As an aside, I was amused to note that my VPN (Mullvad), which on the well-known distributions is encouraged to be used from a clumsy GUI, works far better when set up directly in OpenVPN using two commands.
Void is a contradiction at first sight - a conservative rolling release distribution. There are only a few package updates a day, sometimes none, most are infrastructural, and it is clear that everything is carefully considered. It is not the type of rolling release where huge swathes of packages live or die.
The repository has 14,000 packages, which is a fraction of better-known distributions. However, I was finding everything I needed including, crucially, flatpak and restic (excellent command line backup and restore), and the flatpaks I installed were of obscure applications which would probably have required flatpaks even on Debian.
I have given a lot of praise; demerits depend on your point of view. Those not familiar with Linux might have some trouble with the installer, the need to install and configure everything, and the emphasis on the command line - there is a graphical installer (octopi, the Arch/Manjaro installer, altered to work with xbps), but it is weak - but a bit of learning is a good thing and the astounding performance makes it all worthwhile.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-09-08
Votes: 15
|
Void Linux is an excellent distribution that stands out for its speed and lightness. Its focus on simplicity and performance makes it an attractive option for users looking for an agile and efficient system.
However, one aspect that could be improved is the documentation. Although the Void Linux community is active and supportive, more complete and organized documentation would be a great help to users, especially those just starting out.
Another point to consider is the installer, which could benefit from the ability to create Btrfs subvolumes more easily. This would make it easier to manage the file system and make backups.
Regarding the availability of mirror servers (mirrors) in South America, it is an area in which Void Linux could improve. Having Tier 1 mirrors in this region would help speed up downloads and provide a smoother experience for South American users.
Additionally, it would be great to see popular apps like Brave Browser in the Void Linux repositories, which would make installing additional software even more convenient.
Despite these small points of improvement, Void Linux has earned a place in my top three Linux distributions alongside Arch and EndeavourOS. Its speed and lightness are its strong points, and with some adjustments and expansions, it could become an even more attractive option for users around the world.
Translated by Google Translator.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-09-06
Votes: 6
|
I love Void, have used nothing else for about 5 years on various laptops, desktops and Raspberry π's. Before that it was generally Ubuntu, or Suse (since about 2003, I've been around a long time :-)
I love its simplicity, understandability, speed, stability and community. The Void Linux Reddit channel has helpful and knowledgeable members if you ever need anything.
Of all its many positives, I think for me the most important one is that Void Linux is something one can understand! It has not deviated from the Unix principles of small tools for specific jobs, unlike every systemd distro. If something goes wrong with Void, I can fix it, because there's no magic...
Also, it's a rolling release, but amazingly stable. I've left my main desktop powered off for about a year (I was travelling), and then updated it (sudo xbps-install -Syu). Nothing spectacular, it just worked.
All in all a big 10 out of 10, I'm not moving anywhere else anymore.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-08-29
Votes: 11
|
Sure, installing and running Void Linux is more difficult than the same for Zorin, but Void itself is much easier for the same than Arch Linux. Incredibly fast bootup and performance using runit and the XBPS pkg management suite.
The Void Wiki pages were also surprisingly easy to follow along with for someone like myself who tends to get lost in more extensive distro documentation such as the Arch Wiki.
Have been using Void in its glibc version with its pre-made Xfce desktop for ease-of-use.
Haven't had any need to install packages (e.g., from Flatpak) that aren't already directly installable thru XBPS.
Definitely ready to upvote Void's many 10-rated reviews here.
Excellent job, Void devs!
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-08-28
Votes: 9
|
I love what Void is doing. The docs are perfect - no wiki with opinionated or out-of-date or opinionated-and-out-of-date articles, just stuff specific to Void and it's use. You want a ZFS root filesystem and ZFSBootMenu? Not a problem - just follow the linked guide from the docs.
XBPS is quick and does everything you'd expect and if there is some esoteric package missing from the repo, use xbps-src to build it and then get it added (with you being the maintainer)
My only complaint is the lack of a forum. Yes, there is reddit, but it's not quite as good as being able to search a particular subforum for specifics. But then again, forums have their own headaches so it's not like this is something that keeps me awake at night.
Finally, it's nice that I can run Void on ARM/x86/x86_64 with GLIBC/MUSL depending on my needs. The maintainers are doing an amazing job.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-08-13
Votes: 15
|
this is the most boring distro i have tried so far – in a good way. i am not hi-tech person. i just wanted something reliable i don't had to bother with upgrading and troubleshooting every so often. the issue i had with video while setting it up were easily fixed via the documentation. since it's not arch, debian or ubuntu, there was a software not officially available by a service i needed, but there was unofficial flatpak so it was fine. the lack of gui interface for updates and install was mildly confusing but i solved it with a text file on the desktop with the relevant commands to copy-paste. glad i could leave windows behind. i can't believe i am saying this about a linux os, but it's LESS high maintenance.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-08-12
Votes: 11
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It is a rolling release but stable, best of both worlds. In 6+ months of use I have not once broken my system with an update. xbps package manager is the best package manager, extremely fast (timed at second fastest in a popular youtube video comparing them) and has a lot of packages. It uses runit, arguabely the best init system. You can easily get .deb and .rpk packages to work by making your own .xbps package or if you don't want to you can use something like flatpak or distrobox or nix-package-manager which work flawlessly on void. It also has the option of musl instead of glibc. It is so minimal it installs in about 20 seconds on my laptop. It is also extremely easy to install with the install script but you can install it manually using chroot. The review below mine complains that it is too hard to install but I figured it out in a few minutes after never doing manual partitioning in my life before and got it right the first time.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 8
Date: 2023-08-09
Votes: 6
|
Void is a super interesting it is fast and most importantly stable, however the install process wasn't that great for me, only been using Linux for a few months and I came to Void from Debian, which has a nice graphical installer as an option that helps you set up the partitioning part as a new user by using a "guided partitioning", this is not the case in Void, there you have to do it yourself, or they recommended it.
Anyway I had to stop the installer *sigh* and boot back into Debian and open a browser to read the partitioning notes in their "handbook", but I'm still not sure if I did it the right way in setting up the partitioning, can't even retrace in my mind what I did, plus I'm bad at math, either way everything seems to work as it should. I went with their Xfce edition, and it is just stock Xfce, boring, but I know how to make Xfce look better, just wish they could've given it their own kind of theme, in the Void spirit.
If Void had an installer similar to Debian's or like the Calamares installer then I'd give Void a 10 in rating.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-08-08
Votes: 1
|
Stable rolling release, community driven, super fast boot, awesome xtools, fast package manager.
Nvidia drivers easy to install and work.
So far using it for all my development work, as well as gaming by installing Steam, which
works fully. The repositories aren't the richest thing around but they contain everything I needed so far
for my work as a C developer as well as a casual gamer. If anything ain't there, you can either install it
through flatpak if available, or even consider adding the package to the repos by opening a PR.
Void cured my distro hopping.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-07-24
Votes: 20
|
Using Void Linux for almost two years now, it has firmly established itself as my go-to Linux distribution for various reasons. Its simplicity, minimalism, stability, ease of use, beauty of design, up-to-date packages, and versatility make it an exceptional choice for both newcomers as well as the more experienced Linux users like myself (I am a Linux user since the late 1990s -- Red Hat Linux 4.2 was the first Linux distro I used, soon followed by Slackware). I have found myself relying on Void Linux across different machines for my production work in creative design, particularly for video productions.
One of the primary reasons I am drawn to Void Linux is its simplicity. The distribution is designed to be straightforward and uncluttered, providing a clean and efficient user experience. This simplicity extends to the installation process, making it quick and painless to set up on various machines. Whether it's a powerful desktop workstation or a lightweight laptop, Void Linux seamlessly adapts to different hardware configurations without any fuss.
Its minimalist approach is another aspect that resonates with me. Void Linux offers a bare-bones installation, allowing users to customize and tailor their environment to their specific needs. I appreciate the freedom it provides in building a system that suits my preferences and workflows without unnecessary bloat.
One of the standout features of Void Linux is its stability. Even with its rolling release model, I have experienced consistent performance and reliability throughout my usage. Frequent package updates keep the system fresh, and the Void Linux team ensures that updates are well-tested before release, contributing to its rock-solid stability.
Moreover, the ease of use makes Void Linux an ideal choice for users of all levels. The user-friendly package manager, XBPS, offers a simple and intuitive interface for installing, updating, and managing packages effortlessly. I've found myself spending less time tinkering with the system and more time focusing on my creative projects.
Beyond functionality, Void Linux boasts a visually pleasing design that enhances the overall user experience. The choice of desktop environments and window managers complements the clean and elegant aesthetics of the system. Its beauty adds to the enjoyment of working on my projects, making it an environment where creativity can flourish.
In my work as a filmmaker, Void Linux has consistently met and surpassed my expectations. Its performance, combined with the availability of a wide range of multimedia software and drivers, makes it a capable platform for handling video editing (I use Blender), audio (Audacity), and other creative tasks.
In conclusion, Void Linux has become my go-to Linux distribution for its simplicity, minimalism, stability, ease of use, beauty of design, up-to-date packages, and compatibility with my creative design work. Its versatility and reliability across various machines make it an ideal choice for users looking for a productive and visually appealing Linux experience. As I continue to rely on Void Linux for my production work, I look forward to its continued development and growth in the Linux community.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 9
Date: 2023-07-22
Votes: 5
|
not just another "based on" linux os. Stands on its own, no sysd but runit instead. Packages are more limited than if you were using arch or forked arch (artix) for a sysd free install. However, works fine, a bit of cli config., so not really suitable to someone totally fresh to linux, but if you already have a reasonable amount of knowledge, fancy something different and non-sysd, then this works very well. Got it with lxqt, lightdm, lightlocker, touchpad gestures and all good. You can package your own apps too, if something you use is essential but absent from void repo.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 8
Date: 2023-07-16
Votes: 7
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Tried this on my aged AMD Am3 4 core Phenom CPU based motherboard and Nvidia graphics card. I am presently running Devuan as my daily driver for about 4 years after jumping ship from Solus. My observations are that VOID takes ages, 70 seconds to start and 60 seconds to shut down, unlike Solus that starts in about 18 seconds and 2 seconds to shut down. Devuan takes about 20 seconds to start and 4 seconds to shut down. Once started they all behave virtually the same except that Devuan takes the least memory of about 345mb with Solus taking 1.4gb. Void takes about 580mb. I did not find anything amiss with Void, but it ain't what I expected it to be after reading all the hype about it in the XFCE environment. The only benefit I found out about it was that it has the latest Firefox browser and uses Runnit as the initializer, just like Devuan does. I left Solus mainly due to the fact that it uses SystemD to initialize, which is tantamount to going against the spirit of Linux.
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-07-16
Votes: 2
|
- minimal init system and package manager
- rolling release and stable*
- up to date
- highly customizable
and the devs make the most based decisions (they were first to adopt libressl once (although dropped bc most programs rely on openssl), they dropped systemd without being cringe about it, first-class musl support and the mininal and high performing package manager and init system both have been built from scratch)
i gotta add its one of the few distros to still support 32bit systems
kudos to them void devs, theyve absolutely killed my distro hopping
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 9
Date: 2023-07-12
Votes: 0
|
stable rolling release, supports multiple cpu architectures and an optional alternative libc (musl). uses xbps, a fast and simple package manager, supports flatpak and nix in their repos (you can use flatpak to install glib-compatible programs in musl if necessary for example, although a good amount of packages are natively supported) and uses runit, minimal init system, instead of systemd, which wont let you down in most use cases at all. popular desktop enviroments like gnome, kde plasma and xfce are supported and xbps-src can be seen as an alternative to getting software not found in the repos (similar to aur)
only disadvantage i can think of is the installer itself is a bit incomplete compared to most for example, it'll get the work done but manual work is required to set up full disk encryption (or any way of disk encryption), which is already supported in most other distro installers, automatic partitioning or automatic btrfs installation with subvolumes. but it does get the work done and i notice it does get more features with each update
great distro overall, definitely worth a try
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Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-07-11
Votes: 16
|
Void is just the #1 distro by project ranking with over a hundred vote so what can we expect? Astonishing stability for a rolling release distro, speed, low memory footprint, fully customizable. Runit is simple to use and very solid. I personally use Void with Gnome 44.2 at the time of writing this review: a killer combo. The Documentation contains all you need to know really. Those updated images are released at a perfect timing when voidbuilds unofficial images don't ship with void-installer for a undetermined period of time. I'm not afraid of systemd distros but Void kills distro-hopping: it's that good! There's even a funny reddit post entitled "Void is boring" because of how rock solid it is and once you're done installing what you want and customizing it, you simply "sudo xbps-install -Su" to stay up-to-date. Try it in a VM if you're skeptical and if you like your experience, go ahead and install it on bare metal. I had the best downloading speeds with the Global mirror. You've been warned: once you go void, you never go back!
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-06-12
Votes: 9
|
Wow, what a great distro.
It is incredibly stable & fast.
I have been running Void for about a year, and I have never had any crashes, nor major & minor bugs.
The installation process is straightforward, the only work you have to do is installing the partitions manually.
XBPS is a solid package manager, very fast, never had any issues with it.
Void Linux is pretty minimal, allowing users to build their systems from the ground up.
My only complaint is that the user base is quite small, leading to some packages & apps just not having the same amount of TLC that they would get on other big name distros.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-06-08
Votes: 18
|
Void Linux is an independent Linux distribution that is renowned for its speed, versatility, and simplicity. Here are some of the pros and cons of Void Linux:
Pros:
Fast and lightweight compared to many other distributions.
It comes with runit as the default service manager, which is lightweight and efficient.
Void Linux has a rolling release model, meaning that the user always has access to the latest software updates.
It uses the XBPS package manager, which is simple and easy to use.
Void Linux prioritizes simplicity and stability over fancy features.
Cons:
Void Linux has a small user base, which can lead to a lack of community support and documentation compared to more popular distros.
The installation process can be complicated and may require some technical expertise to complete.
Some proprietary software may not work due to conflicts with Void Linux's open-source philosophy.
While it's not difficult to use, it may take some time for users who are new to Linux to get comfortable with its minimalistic design.
Overall, Void Linux is a great option for experienced Linux users looking for a simple and lightweight distribution with a rolling release model. While it may not be the best choice for beginners or users who need access to proprietary software, its speed, simplicity, and efficiency make it an attractive option for those who value those qualities.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-06-07
Votes: 16
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What I appreciate most about Void is its exceptional clarity, allowing me to understand every aspect of my operating system.
Void is the most user-friendly Linux distribution I have ever used. It simplifies everything remarkably, adhering closely to the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) principle. Moreover, it boasts impressive speed and stability, while also evoking a BSD-like experience.
The package manager is incredibly straightforward to configure and operates at lightning speed. I have never encountered any issues with upgrades, as they have always been stable and reliable. Though the number of available packages is impressive for a niche distribution, I personally prefer running Nix in parallel for greater control and access to additional packages.
Working with runit (the init process) is a pleasure, as I can comprehensively understand each step of the boot process and customize it according to my requirements.
I had reservations about Arch due to systemd, Gentoo due to lengthy compilation times and portage, and Artix due to its inconsistent package manager. However, I love Void for its utilization of runit, xbps (the package manager), and its overall stability.
Every one of my machines runs on Void, and I am currently in the process of testing it on my server, where it has performed flawlessly so far.
The positives of Void are:
Runit (I highly recommend trying it; it is truly remarkable)
xbps and its impressive mirror speed
Strong documentation
However, there are a few downsides:
While the documentation is excellent, it could be more comprehensive, similar to the Arch Wiki or the Gentoo Wiki.
It would be beneficial to have an option in xbps to test a package, either through a subshell like Nix or with the ability to remove a package using xbps-remove -o.
The installation process is not as enjoyable as Gentoo or Arch, as it provides more guidance (although this does not result in a bloated system).
I have tried numerous distributions, including Ubuntu, Debian, Arch, Gentoo, Artix, and OpenBSD. In my opinion, Void comes closest to OpenBSD in terms of consistency and simplicity while still delivering the performance expected from a modern desktop system.
Once you enter the Void, you will find that Void becomes your final Linux distribution.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-06-04
Votes: 2
|
Void Linux is exceptional!
I use Void Linux since 2016-2017. It is fast, stable, most stable distro I have ever used after trying many of them, like Slackware, Mandrake, RedHat, Debian, Ubuntu, Arch. I am not saying that other distros are bad! Void Linux can work out of the box. If not ,you may need to configure a few things. Thus you learn and tell to Void Linux doing what you want! Once you configure you will enjoy of the simplicity of Void Linux. I use for studying and streaming movies, listening music etc... No bullshit bloatware or braking changes. No systemd! Runit is amazing, fast, configurable. Xbps package manager is great! I don't need to install 3rd party packages. Because Void Linux has what you need. If it doesn't the sure you can install.
My setup is fully encrypted installation with LUKS, LVMM Glibc
for graphics reverse prime sometimes optimus
for security apparmor, nftables with encrypted dns over tor
desktop dwm, bspwm
login/display manager emptty
terminal alacritty
This must be Void slogan :)
I highly recommend Void Linux. It is like addiction, you cannot go back and use some other distro after using Void Linux for many years!
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 9
Date: 2023-05-28
Votes: 5
|
I'm new to linux, and so far I'm very happy with Void. It took me a few tries to install it correctly, as I kept messing stuff up, but at the end, it feels very rewarding when everything is up and running as it should, and I learned a lot from the process. It feels light, using 1GB of ram with KDE, and very fast. Runit is great and simple. The package manager as well. I'm dual booting with Windows but have no need to go back. Some of the software isn't the latest, but for most of the things that I need and use regularly, they are. I highly recommend this distribution, and am looking forward to becoming a better linux user through it.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-05-27
Votes: 6
|
Void Linux is fantastic!
It's simplicity, stability, performance and no-nonsense approach is exceptional!
It boots so fast it's borderline hard to believe! (and this is on old T420s with a cheap ass used SSD)
I literally hit power on, took a sip of my tea and the dam thing was at the login screen! Holy fast!
The package manager is very good and easy to use.
Updating is super easy as well.
The OS is very resource efficient. Sitting at about 250MB with XFCE4 desktop loaded.
In essence, everything you need and nothing you don't need.
I wish more distributions would follow this as an example.
I literally am blown away with how amazing this distro is. It's a breath of fresh air and a welcome change from all of the over complicated (for nothing) distributions out there.
Please give it a try you absolutely will not be disappointed.
A big thank you to the developers of Void for making such a beautiful thing!
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Latest Reviews
Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-06-11
Votes: 0
|
Been running Void for about a year and a half now. Absolutely top distro. Not quite for beginners as you'll be missing a few apps in the repos, but it's been absolutely rock solid, fast and tweakable as desired.
I'm running Openbox and love how light and fast it is.
I was a habitual distro-hopper, with my other mainstay being Sparky (which I still sometimes use as it's great), but every time I consider trying out a new OS I can't bear facing something that doesn't work with my printer, or wine doesn't work, or there's random crashes, or it's bloated...
Void is solid, non-systemd (for those that care), fast and well documented and it stays out of my way.
|
Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-06-03
Votes: 8
|
void aims to be a highly configurable and stable rolling release. on that it's a 10/10
it's maybe not for everybody but for someone needing a stable base to tinker arround with to get to a unique personalized linux experience, it's perfekt.
i got void on 5 different systems now, including a 32bit-netbook, an old PC of 2012 and three laptops from oldest to newest, i use a git bare repo for my dotfiles that allows me to sync my dotfiles over all these different hardware and i couldn't think of another distro where that would work as flawless as in void.
i would even pay money for void if the maintainer would let me, and there are a lot other distros i would not.
|
Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-06-02
Votes: 5
|
Void linux
Clean fast and correct in one word super stable distribution.
When we talk about system stability and reliability,
I have been using the musl version for 3 years without any errors or problems,
nothing at all.Just regularly updating the system and that's it, no problems
The only thing I would like is for musl to be expanded with more supported applications,
for now it is a big limitation for musl. Basically you have everything you need, most of the applications are there, but...
All in all, a clean 10 from me.
|
Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-06-02
Votes: 8
|
For a small project that isn't community-funded (they don't accept donations, although they do seek contributors to the project code), they have a fairly good infrastructure and a medium-sized repository; considering they don't have a bug tracking system, it's extremely stable. All this is thanks to the fact that the base is simple, making it relatively easier for a small team to maintain. A clear example that sometimes less is more. For this reason, it's completely configurable, and the system rarely gets in the way.
It also has its downsides: internal disputes within the development team have resulted in certain key parts being practically abandoned. Its xbps-src compiler has bugs that haven't been fixed for many years, and in the last five years, it has barely received any improvements; in fact, it has lost some features.
The same goes for the package manager. It hasn't had many updates (most of its version changes are to force a recompile of the base during libc updates). (XBPS lacks a mechanism to force a recompile of packages when the compilation base changes.).
Runit is very simple which makes it fast and stable, but if more complex daemons are required, with multiple dependencies or startup phases, it is a pain in the ass to generate halfway functional runit services for it.
Althought that excellent distro.
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Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-05-30
Votes: 7
|
Void is literally the definition of the suckless principle.
- Suckless init system
- Suckless package manager
- Independent
- Stable
- Rolling release
- Lightweight
- Blazing fast
- xbps-src
- Did I mention suckless?
I have tried all kinds of distro including distros that absolutely drains every bit of your soul like Gentoo, LFS (distro?), NixOS, and TinyCore. But Void stopped my uncontrollable urge to distrohop for good.
However, Void is not perfect as all things aren't. You will definitely run into a small issue every now and then. Fret not! All these issues can be resolved easily if you spend time reading documentations. Additionally, do not expect the setup process to go smoothly if you come from Arch because Void, IMO, is for advanced users. Therefore, if you are not good (yet) at troubleshooting, writing scripts, and reading docs or specs, you are in for a world of pain.
In conclusion, Void is a beast of its own league and probably is only reserved for a certain type of users.
This thing has run on my machine for 4 solid years and I just love it with all my heart.
|
Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-05-29
Votes: 8
|
Musl. This was my main and only motivation to pick up Void. I am after few years on Arch. Without it, I think it would be hard to know how and what to do to make Void up and running. What is minor problem as Void documentation, besides much less detailed to Arch, has almost complete basis for complete system. Of course you need to dig other sources to make all things up and running, but at least you have full point of start.
There are other distros with musl, I know, but Gentoo is too far for my will to spend on configuring and maintaining system, for Chimera is too early to go full for production, on test machine, sure, and others are even more obscure.
Void is right the one and only choice. And is good choice. Installation was quite easy, not much harder for me than Arch, with full root encryption I was forced to go manual way. There still left for me few major things to setup - AppArmor, Secure Boot, but most things works without much thinkering. Only thing that dont work for me and was working from start on Arch or Fedora is Qemu KVM with Secure Boot. Images made previously dont want to start. I will try to make new ones, maybe that can help.
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Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-05-16
Votes: 10
|
Best of both worlds: rolling release, but super stable at the same time. It's like Arch but without the constant implosion. Also, no systemd either so that's a nice plus. It has its own package manager with decent variety and also not a spinoff of any other distro, which is pretty rare. Installation can be daunting, especially if you don't want to use the default (Xfce) DE, but it's not as bad as Arch was back in the day and the documentation is pretty decent. Final score: 10/10, cures distrohopping.
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Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-05-13
Votes: 9
|
Void in one of the few enigmas in the World of Linux. standing out on it's own, not relying on Deb or Arch etc as a base, and it is simply genius for what has been achieved. A cutting edge (one step back from bleeding) rolling release that doesn't have a hissy fit if its not been updated for a month or so. As for the actual OS, you will need a least a solid base of knowledge, otherwise you'll probably end up with an OS that's not working as you'd like, fundamentally because the needed packages have not been installed and configured where necessary., and then you'll blame the OS rather than a lack of knowledge/good attitude. I have it on two thinkpads - one with glibc and cinnamon (ver. 6.4.2), the other with musl and lxqt (ver. 2.2). Both run like a dream, never once had an issue (thats 2+ years for cin., 1+ for lxqt) and they are a lot faster and more stable than the flagships for those 2 de's. Runit is very simple, fast, stable and secure too. Ultimately, fabulous with a bit of grunt work, one to aim for if you're new. Enjoy.
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Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 1
Date: 2025-05-10
Votes: 0
|
This distro brings a mix of feelings, but the most striking one is the clash between expectations and frustration.
Void is definitely a niche system, but the few people you usually see talking about it tend to say positive things. After using it for a few weeks, though, I ended up seeing way more negative points than positive ones, and I just can’t wrap my head around the idea of spending more time fixing the system than actually using and enjoying it. Well, I guess there are people who feel good about that and find it rewarding, but that’s not the case for me.
Starting with the installation, it’s extremely manual, and even for advanced users, it’s really tedious. There’s no kind of helper here, like a script to automate certain steps, which you do have on Arch, for example. And if you choose the TUI installer, you’ll probably end up dissatisfied with one configuration or another that gets set automatically behind the scenes, and at some point, you’ll likely need to fix it yourself — which was what happened to me. So unless you make your own script to set things up the way you want, or at least get everything working properly, be prepared for some post-install headaches.
Another issue I had was with runit, which is Void’s init system. Sometimes when I booted up, I’d end up stuck in the tty, because for some reason, certain services apparently weren’t starting properly due to depending on others. And the truth is, runit doesn’t have proper dependency management. You could call that a trade-off, since on the other hand, it’s very minimal and simple, unlike systemd.
The package manager is cool, and it really reminds me of pacman, especially in the syntax, but for some reason, I often ran into trouble downloading or updating packages due to keyring issues. Pretty frustrating.
I don’t know if it’s something about how the packages are built or if it’s some kind of incompatibility with my hardware, but some programs were really choppy (I noticed this mostly with Firefox, which didn’t have issues in the flatpak version). Sometimes it would even show some stuttering, which led to visual artifacts on the screen, especially when trying to move or resize the window. I thought it could be something with the compositor, but switching to others or reconfiguring things didn’t help much, and I don’t think that was the real issue anyway, since I didn’t see any screen tearing or similar problems.
What they say about Void being “minimal” is definitely true, and you can really see that in the way packages and dependencies are handled. The build recipes seem to only include what’s strictly needed to run the program, but often don’t include dependencies that add features — which in some cases makes things feel broken. That, for me, is a downside, though not necessarily a problem. Still, I think having something like “optional dependencies” would really help in cases like that.
Finally, what pushed me away from Void the most, after all these problems, was the fact that many packages take ages to get updated. Sometimes they stay with known vulnerabilities that have already been fixed upstream. On top of that, I found their contribution system extremely bureaucratic and slow. Sometimes it takes months for a pull request to get any attention — if it’s not completely forgotten, especially when it’s something the maintainers don’t seem too interested in.
All in all, for now, Void is a solid no for me. I don’t think it’s worth struggling with a system that isn’t as polished as others and that gave me more headaches than practicality or productivity. I also didn’t notice any real difference in resource usage compared to other distros I tried. So yeah, overall it was a big letdown. But it is an interesting project, especially for supporting musl as an alternative libc, and I really do wish them well and hope they improve, especially in the areas I mentioned.
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Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 6
Date: 2025-04-24
Votes: 0
|
I wouldn't recommend this distro to newbies, nor even to intermediate users. I personally found it harder to set up than Slackware or Arch.
Installing the base system from a rootfs tarball via an already running system was dead simple. I'm using the glibc version with no boot loader (I'm already using refind as boot manager).
I'm running multiple distros on this laptop; they each have a dedicated 200MB boot partition. Void is the only one that cannot host 2 kernels by default because its initramfs is huge (100MB). Debian and Arch use 23MB and 28MB resp. and that includes a 4MB plymouth theme. Manually removing unused firmwares (amd/nvidia) dropped the image to 84MB which is still way too big to start up a system.
Many packages are missing: you have lightdm but you miss lightdm-sick-greeter; you have cinnamon and xapps but you miss xviewer, etc. Compiling the missing software is a real pain because you have to handle all the dependencies yourself. There has been some pull request to add them (for example slick-greeter) but they received no attention, no comment, and got automatically closed with no reason given.
All in all, once set, the system is running perfectly fine (it has been for a month now). It requires some efforts in the beginning but it's then a very good alternative to the major distros.
Pros :
- It's an independant distro (not based on something else).
- No systemd
- Its packages are relatively up-to-date.
- Apart from firmwares, Void is very light with as little bloat as possible.
Cons:
- You're not getting any help from the OS when you want something done. For example, if you install a package that has a service (sshd, lightdm, dbus…), you are responsible for both configuring it and enabling it. This contrasts with distros like Debian or even Arch where the package manager does it for you.
- Setting up a working DE from scratch reminds me of all the dirty tinkering we used to do in the late 90s.
- The documentation is very succinct, lack a lot of crucial information, and is almost useless if you don't already have a very solid linux background.
- Setting up the sound system was quite difficult.
- Lack of software support.
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Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-04-14
Votes: 11
|
Void is a general purpose linux distro that is slightly different than others. It uses runit instead of systemd. It is s simple init implementation and may lack some features systemd has. But it's eay more leaner than systemd. It boots in under 10 seconds on my system.
It has a learning curve to it but i think it's worth the effort. XBPS is a magnificent package manager, really fast. Repositories are filled with good software. Overall i recommend void to all linux experts who likes diy distros like arch.
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Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 9
Date: 2025-04-14
Votes: 10
|
Void is a distro for advanced users. If you don't know what you are doing it will simply frustrate you. I switched from debian sid to void, im really enjoying it. My only issues were with setting up network manager, just remember to make sure dbus is running!!! I'm using the msul version. It is very minimal, fast and simple. It works well on my 15 year old thinkpad x201. Wifi works, battery works, screen dimming works, everything works. The reason i switched from debian was because it started doing sudden crashes, where it would force shut-down my laptop. I'm not sure why it did that and I've never had that on any other distros.
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Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-04-12
Votes: 13
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From my point of view, void is amaziing distro for power users. This distro is not for all, without gui installer is the clearest way for building personal desktop, without tonns of unnecessary software. Runit + XBPS = powerfull union. Unlike arch, void linux goes it's own way, without systemD. I don't understand people that want to see gui in each distro. I like independence of linux, where one distro is not as another. All good things in one distro may be used after in other. That's the good way i think.
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Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 1
Date: 2025-03-07
Votes: 0
|
From my point of view, I feel like this distro has potential, but there are a lot of annoying aspects and complications that stop me from giving it a good rating. First, there's the fact that it doesn't have a graphical installer, which can be overlooked since many distros don't have one, but even the installation script they provide is super limited and doesn't seem to have gotten much attention over time. It led me to an error screen more than once. Another really frustrating thing is that not all the package names are in lowercase; some have uppercase letters, and it’s case-sensitive. So, even if you type the name correctly in lowercase, it’ll return an error saying the package wasn’t found. There are some "restricted" packages you can compile yourself from a recipe, but you have to clone the entire GitHub repo to do so, not just the recipe like in Arch’s AUR. To me, that's a huge waste of space. But the main issue I have is that I don’t feel the "amazing performance" that people claim. In fact, the system seems to get slower with each update. There was one time I had to roll back to a snapshot with an older kernel just to keep the system usable. People often focus too much on RAM usage and get fooled by it, but that doesn’t necessarily reflect the system’s actual performance. Lastly, I constantly have internet connection issues on Void. Sometimes when I boot up my computer, my network interface just isn’t found, like it’s not even there anymore. Dealing with this kind of issue all the time really kills the motivation to keep using it, which is why I had to replace it for now.
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Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-03-06
Votes: 7
|
Idk know for how long I use Void. Maybe 6 years or so. I came from Devuan which is still a good distro but Void is faster and rolling, which is a favor for me. There is not much to say. Xbps and runit are working like a charm. A large update is like an explosion of package install / overwrites.
Not a critic or not a critic to Void alone is the missing ability to script the whole system. A simple version of Guix so to say. But this is not a real critic just an inspiration for a meta-package-manager.
Void is a fast and high quality distribution.
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Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-03-04
Votes: 8
|
Void Linux is one of the fastest distros I've ever used!
Stable, did not crash once since 6 months.
I use KDE Plasma because I really dislike XFCE. There are custom images with KDE Plasma preinstalled.
packages with .deb or .rpm can't be installed, because Void Linux uses the xbps package manager.
It's very lightweight and fast, but only some of the software is available yet.
Hope this will change soon, because I'm missing some software. Xbps-src is availabe, where you can install additional software from.
In general, I really like this distro and will still use it as my 2nd OS to get noticed about updates
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Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-02-28
Votes: 10
|
In short, Void Linux is what Arch should have been. It supports a gazillion different architectures, it's super lightweight and stable especially compared to being rolling-release. I had 3 out of 3 Arch based installations die on me during an update in different ways but only 0 out of ~20 Void installations in the past year or so. The package manager is lightweight and fast, even though there are nowhere nearly as much packages as there are with Debian/Ubuntu/Arch. The only negative is that it comes with XFCE by default, which might be good if you are using an ancient potato, but I recommend doing a base installation and deploying a DE like KDE Plasma by hand following the straightfoward configuration documents. All the way from Raspberry Pi 3B+ to Core Ultra 5 245K, I was able to run this distro on literally any machine without issues.
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Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-02-24
Votes: 6
|
Im tried mostly any major and minor distribution over years and stayed with Debian on servers and Arch/Manjaro on Desktop for last years.
I fall on Void Linux when i want to try something without systemd (which started to be too big, and want to do everything). Im tried antix (Arch based) but have some issues during updates.
Void linux is unique distribution as it is not based on any other disro, which can be positive or negative for someone :)
For installation im used XFCE live image. Their TUI ncuser installer was pretty easy and final install process was incredible fast.
XFCE desktop started soon (6s vs 15s any systemd), there are not installed very much applications by default. So you can install your preferred one.
After 4 weeks of daily use im experiencing it as stable and fast (which i cannot say on most of main distros).
The runit init system is straightforward and easy to use and realy make system fast. It doesn't have services dependency resolving, but during my daily use as desktop i dont have any issues with it.
For package management they use XBPS package manager which syntax is similar to pacman from Arch. You can use some nice wrappers for it like vpm or fuzzypkg which make it pretty simple.
What i like is really impressive speed (which i dont see before) of installation/uninstallation and dependency resolving.
I dont have any speed problems with package repositories in EU, however i always use local repo mirror for my primary distro :)
The drawback i see (compared to vast Arch aur repos) is that there is not so may application in repositories like Debian or Arch have, but still enough for most of users. At the end, for missing one you can use AppImage or Flatpak packages, or compile it by yourself from source :)
Also documentation is not deep and detailed as for Arch, but its enough for basics.
Im pretty happy with using this distro and it looks like it will be my primary for daily use.
I highly recommend to try this distro for intermediate or advanced linux users.
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Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 1
Date: 2025-02-23
Votes: 0
|
After hearing a lot of positive things about Void, I decided to try it out myself and see what all the fuss was about. Spoiler: my experience wasn’t as positive as I expected.
First off, the installation process is more tedious than I would’ve liked. It’s not exactly difficult, but you have to do almost everything manually, with no script to automate any part of the process. I initially tried installing it using the TUI installer they provide. After a few failed attempts, I seemingly got through it, but I wasn’t happy with the end result. That led me to go for the fully manual installation instead.
Another downside is that they have very few mirror options, and the ones available are painfully slow in my region. This made installing packages or updating the system a real headache. I even ran into failed updates due to timeouts while downloading. On the bright side, the package manager is simple to use and has a syntax somewhat similar to Pacman, which is nice if you’re already familiar with it. However, I found it noticeably slower when resolving dependencies and handling other tasks.
The init system is definitely a plus. It’s lightweight, fast, and easy to use, which I genuinely liked. But it does have some gaps. For example, it lacks a proper dependency manager. If a service that another service depends on crashes, neither will restart automatically. I ran into this issue myself, and it caused more trouble than I’d care to admit. Still, it’s a solid choice for minimal or lower-end systems.
Performance-wise, the system is just *ok*. However, I noticed a pretty obvious lag when launching certain graphical tools like OBS, LibreOffice, Kdenlive, and Firefox. I didn’t have this issue with other distros like Arch or Fedora. Overall, it wasn’t a pleasant experience on my machine. Maybe it would perform better on a microcomputer like a Raspberry Pi, but for my use case, it fell short.
Even though Void is a rolling release distro, I noticed that many packages take a long time to get updated. While some might see this as a good thing, offering more stability, I didn’t really notice any stability benefits compared to Arch, Gentoo, or even Alpine. In fact, they performed much better across the board on my computer.
What ultimately made me give up on Void was when the system crashed for some unknown reason. After rebooting, I was greeted with the dreaded GRUB rescue screen. I spent a few hours trying to recover it but eventually gave up. Considering all the other issues I’d encountered, I just didn’t think it was worth the trouble.
I’m not completely ruling out the possibility of giving Void another shot in the future. It still seems like an interesting project. Maybe some of the issues I faced will get ironed out. But for now, my first impressions were overwhelmingly negative.
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Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-02-22
Votes: 18
|
Void is suckless.
I like the simplicity of a systemd free distribution, but that wasn't what made me stick with Void, although it was a plus. Void feels like the old debian that we grew up with.The practical advantages: It's fast, very stable rolling release I have ever seen, easy to install and maintain, XBPS package manager is fast and has almost everything you might ever need. Void never breaks, regardless how long the system was not updated. With growing community it could become a good alternative to arch.
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Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 9
Date: 2025-02-18
Votes: 6
|
I've been trying various distros for years on a variety of test beds - I not a Linux novice but I do enjoy a certain level of completeness and operation. Much as I use Mint on my main machine as I'm lazy like that, I've come to the conclusion that from all the other mixes and versions of Linux this ticks the most boxes for that alternative choice.
You can choose to have a command line only version or the full fat one with XFCE. It supports a wide range of platforms. For playing with it is great. I have used it for desktop on x86. They obviously like to dig deep into the system and do some things under the hood that others don't, but you don't have to care. Just pick the x86_64 XFCE glibc live image, there's still a 32 bit version too.
It feels lean, but the stuff that is there works and feels integrated unlike most lean distros that just seem to cut useful stuff out and patch a load of random stuff together. There is this nice feeling that it is Linux, a bit of text shoots up on boot and you are expected to use the terminal to manage packages and updates. But that is as far as I usually need to go - learn the xbps thing and bung the flatpak stuff in as well and it will install and do most stuff.
The installer is very basic, just enough but it doesn't hold your hand so the partitioning is manual with some hints. Start at 1 and work your way through.
It has run on everything so far and can run on a very crap system, I tried from a single core netbook with 1GB. It is also running very up to date rolling release kernel and patches so works on the latest kit too. I've been trying it for a couple of years on secondary machines and take it more seriously each time.
Performance has always been good, nothing is slow - only more compromised minimal Linuxes seem to perform any better and there's not much in it.
Obviously it's an independent Linux - not based on anything popular so you get less options for support. Otherwise as one of these outliers it's a great one to give a go.
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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-02-08
Votes: 18
|
The 2024 Void Linux ISO had a grub erorr and the problem was left unresolved for a long time. So I have been using the 2023 version of the ISO for a long time.I have not used the 2025 ISO yet.
I installed and played with Void Linux dozens of times over the years for experimentation.
Pros:
・Freedom of Choice
Can choose glibc or musl
elogind without sway (Seatd) possible
・Systemd Free
・Stable
・Lightweight
・Popular packages are new.
・Easy to understand documentation
Full disk encryption is very easy
・Runit and xbps are very easy to use
Cons:
・Confusion in the past
・Few developers
・Not popular
・Forum is on Reddit
・Some old packages
zulucrypt-gui not updated for years
・Repository is a little slow
There are only 4 Tier 1 mirrors
The advantages greatly outweigh the disadvantages.
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Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-02-07
Votes: 19
|
After some distrohopping and trying other Linux distros that are all nice, you will find VoidLinux fast, stable as static Linux distros and almost bleeding edge as Arch. Nowadays apps are easy to install and use (flatpak, appimage, distrobox, wine,xbps-src, xdeb...). Installation takes less than 5 min. VoidLinux gives you a minimal iso and lets you the choice of the apps you really need. it's not only for developpers and it can be a used as a daily driver desktop os. For linux users, with some experience, fixing some issues is not a very hard task. In all cases, it's better than other non Linux OS. Congratulations for VoidLinux developers and thank you for your nice work!
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Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 1
Date: 2025-02-06
Votes: 0
|
This distro is definitely a mix of feelings. First off, the Live ISO only supports installation using the dd utility or via loopback through GRUB, which makes it a pain to install from a non-Unix system like Windows. After that, I feel like the performance of several apps on Void is lower compared to other distros I've used, probably because of all the patches they apply to support the various architectures they offer, as well as the alternative libc implementation, musl. I really notice this with Firefox, which takes ages to render on the screen and is a bit slow with the interface, even though my PC is fairly decent (Intel Core i7-12700KF, NVIDIA RTX 2060 6GB, 16GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD). The memory usage is definitely low in most cases, but honestly, that's not much consolation when the performance feels degraded. Plus, even though Void is a rolling release distro, many packages are seriously outdated, like GNOME and some firmware, which comes to mind because it's my go-to desktop environment. I understand that they have a small team maintaining things, but in this case, I think the best option would be to reduce the number of different systems they try to support and focus more on stability and security, while keeping the packages updated. The community also didn’t seem too friendly toward newcomers with questions they deem "inappropriate" for people trying out the distro, and the documentation is pretty short. So, if you run into a problem, you'll likely have a huge headache solving it. All in all, it’s an interesting project, but definitely with its fair share of issues.
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Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 8
Date: 2025-02-05
Votes: 9
|
I chose this Distro as an in between solution of FreeBSD and Linux, with a focus on not using systemD. I have been using it for 4 years now as a daily driver on an old Potato PC and must admit that this is a very well rounded rolling release.
What people have already said is that it is blazing fast, even on older devices, and the xbps package manager is very versatile. Runit is easy to configure and manage. As a desktop solution this is a good distribution.
It can be run on a server and most packages for server management are available. The downside is that it needs a lot of tinkering even on a desktop level. This is no Distro for the faint hearted. You need to know your stuff and you need to be able to resolve issues on your own.
The "Forum" is in reddit. Whilst most of the Linux community is helpful and friendly, reddit is more honest. This can at times reflect in your face as unfriendly. The moderation is especially toxic if they don't have a suitable answer for you or you are to stupid for the distribution in their eyes. There is a lot of condescension going on.
This isn't helpful, especially for users who are new to Linux and moreover managing a more complex distribution like Void.
While the documentation has progressively become better over the years, it is still a hurdle in setting up the system. I believe they have an xfce live image now, but you would probably be better off if you know how to partition your device and do a complete installation over the CLI.
All in all I am not unhappy about this Distribution, it has been a faithful companion over the years. However, because of work I now have to get more familiar with SystemD (yuk), I will be moving back to Debian for the time being. Maybe at some later point I will come back to the Void.
An interesting factoid is that Void Linux adapted SystemD long before Debian had even considered it. But they were also very keen on getting rid of it and finding an alternative init system.
Pros:
Lightweight
Fast (even on older devices)
Rolling Release
No systemD
Up to date
Cons:
Professional orientated, not beginner friendly
Toxic community, if not addressed in a professional manner
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Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 1
Date: 2025-02-04
Votes: 0
|
Won't boot from live usb... kernel panic. Lost track of it's own file system and probably can't handle the Nvidia card.
Yes, I have experience. I'm 62 and have used everything from DRDOS to Irix, Solaris, BSD, and more flavors of Linux than I care to mention (which all boot fine on this same hardware). Void is at least named correctly, because it is void.
It's 2025. If a 'live' distro can't even boot cleanly via live usb, then the devs should probably seek another hobby.
Bottom line: I'm refuse to waste any extra time on a distro which hasn't been vetted for basic functionality.
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Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-02-04
Votes: 11
|
I love this distribution as it has many advantages.
It's too bad that this distribution is not enough popular!
First, Void Linux has all the most popular packages in his compiled repository.
Second I feel free to build my own system i want to.
Yesn Void Linux is much like Arch Linux as it allows the user to take control of his OS.
But contrary to Arch Linux :
- Updates are faster
- Updates doesnt increase much the system size
- Updates doesnt make the system break or doesn t cause package conflicts : Void Linux is stable
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Project: Void
Version: 20250202
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-02-02
Votes: 10
|
Running this distro feels incredibly smooth and hassle-free. Whether it's a dual boot setup with Windows or a standalone install, everything just works without unnecessary complications. No weird issues, no bloated stuff, just a clean, efficient system that does what you need.
What’s really impressive is how well it supports so many different types of hardware. Old machines, modern setups, even some more unusual architectures, it stays stable and fast no matter where you run it.
A great option for those looking to break away from the usual mainstream distros.
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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-02-01
Votes: 11
|
Void Linux is a hidden gem in the world of Linux distributions, and it’s definitely worth a try if you’re looking for something lightweight, fast, and simple. One of its standout features is its init system, called runit, which is incredibly straightforward and efficient. Unlike systemd, which is used by most major distros and can feel overly complex and slow, runit keeps things minimal and easy to understand. This makes Void a great choice for those who prefer a "less is more" approach to their system’s core processes. Another highlight is its package manager, xbps. If you’ve ever used pacman from Arch, you’ll feel right at home with xbps. It’s fast, reliable, and has a similar command structure, making it a joy to use for installing and managing packages. The repositories might not be as vast as some other distros, but they’re well-curated and cover most needs, which is great for users who value quality over sheer quantity. Void is also independent, meaning it’s not based on another distribution like Ubuntu or Fedora. This gives it a unique identity and allows it to focus on stability and performance without being tied to another project’s decisions. Plus, it supports both glibc and musl, offering flexibility for different use cases. The only potential downside is that Void might require a bit more hands-on setup compared to more beginner-friendly distros. But if you’re willing to explore, you’ll find a clean, fast, and highly customizable system that stands out from the crowd. Give it a shot, you might just fall in love with its simplicity!
Last but not least, the distro name is also pretty cool. xD
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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2025-01-28
Votes: 11
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I start use Linux from kernel 1.1 (1994), for passion and for work every day of my life.
I test all the major distributions (and derivative ): Slackware, RedHat, Gentoo, Ubuntu, Debian,..
When systemd comes my initial enthusiasm for this new peace of software who everyone talk about like a "NEW ERA" for init system ...... rapidly disappear like "tears in rain" !!!
Even if I continue to work with "systemd" every day this piece of sottware is an overhead for the entire system.
In 2018 I start to search for some distribution without systemd bloat I found Void Linux.
Apart from systemd that was the main reasons I choose Void, I start to appreciate many other things who contribute to definitively assert: this is the best (for now :D) distribution I ever see.
1. runit is simple and robust.
2. Package management xbps is great, light speed on install (extremely light workflow), Debian apt take 10x time for install same package.
3. Rolling release at today from more than 6 years for 10 different systems: on Intel (last entry is a i9-13900HX ) and ARM platforms without problems (just a little one easy to fix 4 or 5 years ago).
Last but not Least:
- if you want, you can contribute adding new or maintaining existing packages to the distribution on github void-linux (very easy to do).
- using the kernel form other distribution (Orange,Armbian,Lineage) I successfully install VoidLinux (root-install) on a lot of OrangePi 3LTs(H6) and OrangePI Zero2(H616).
This distro is amazing. Void: the Linux!!!
Personally my rating to Void is: 100 ;)
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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-12-30
Votes: 10
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Void is the distro I keep coming back to. Even though I've gotten more familiar with systemd out of necessity, I still prefer a simple init system and runit is the best I've used by far. As for packaging, Void's xbps combines source and binary packaging options in a way that just makes sense, similar to how the BSDs handle ports and packaging. It's fast, so very fast on all of my systems, even the low end Ryzen 3 and N100 based systems in my collection. I've successfully installed and used it on a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W, all the way up to a current generation AMD 8xxx series system, with the only tweak needed for the latter is switching to the 6.10 (now 6.12) kernel.
Give Void a try, yes it has a basic text/ncurses based installer, and things that are handled "automagically" by other distros have to be done manually (enabling/starting services after package installation), but these are advantages in my mind. You have more control over the system, and you learn more about how Linux and other Unix-like OSes work deep down inside without being overwhelmed.
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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-11-23
Votes: 66
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Void Linux is very interesting distribution. It stands out with it's unique init system, package manager (xbps) and minimalistic setup. Void is my choice today. I like it's speed and stability and also oppotunity to make my working environment as i wish. I was build it with my favorite window manager Hyprland and i got the system of my dream. Runit is powefull and simply to use. XBPS is very fast and rich of futures (binary build). Void repository is not aur, but you can find here most of popular applications. Anyway you can use build function or use appimage (flatpak, snap). Today Void is not in the top list of linux distributions, but in future can be here (must be)
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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-10-24
Votes: 57
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I'm using void with labwc which is like openbox but supports wayland. My system is blazing fast with a low memory footprint. Most of the apps I use are available as flatpaks but fortunately for me, they are also available from the official repos! A void system has like the sweet spot when it comes to achieving balance between up-to-date software and stability. I do like immutable distros but I came back to Void anyway so if it wasn't for void, I'd be using silverblue. The documentation is sufficient and runit is simple to use. I would highly recommend Void Linux to any Linux lovers. Void Linux is after all the top ranked distro by project on this website and since I've been using it, it's no surprise why Void is the KING.
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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-08-08
Votes: 58
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Void Linux is a distribution that stands out for its focus on efficiency, flexibility, and simplicity, and it has gained a solid reputation among advanced Linux users. Designed from the ground up, Void Linux is not based on any other distribution, allowing it to offer a unique and highly optimized environment for its users.
One of the main advantages of Void Linux is its rolling release model. This approach ensures that users always have access to the latest versions of software packages without needing to perform full and disruptive version upgrades. This means you can enjoy the latest features and security improvements continuously and without interruption. For those who want to stay at the forefront of technology, this update model is ideal.
The XBPS (X Binary Package System) package manager is another strong point of Void Linux. XBPS is known for its speed and efficiency, offering atomic transactions that ensure system integrity during installations and updates. This means that even if something goes wrong during the update process, your system will not be left in an inconsistent state. Additionally, XBPS is highly flexible, allowing users to easily install and manage packages.
Void Linux uses runit as its init system, resulting in extremely fast boot times and efficient use of system resources. Unlike other distributions that use more complex and heavy init systems, runit is lightweight and easy to configure, offering users greater control over system services. This simplicity is particularly attractive for those looking for an operating system that does exactly what you need without unnecessary complications.
One of the most notable features of Void Linux is its support for multiple architectures, including x86, x86_64, ARM, and ARM64. This makes it a versatile option for a variety of devices, from servers to embedded devices. This versatility allows users to use Void Linux in different contexts and platforms, maximizing performance in each one.
Moreover, the Void Linux community, although smaller compared to other popular distributions, is very active and dedicated. Void Linux developers and users are committed to quality and efficiency, which is reflected in the ongoing support and development of the system. The available documentation is clear and sufficient, making it easy for new users to learn and adapt to the distribution quickly.
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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-08-07
Votes: 26
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Void Linux is a Linux distribution that stands out for its focus on efficiency, speed, and flexibility. Designed for advanced users, it offers a minimalist operating system that allows for a high degree of customization and control. One of its most attractive features is the rolling release model, which enables users to always have access to the latest software versions and updates without the need for complete version upgrades. This ensures a smooth and uninterrupted user experience.
Void Linux uses runit as its init system, resulting in fast boot times and efficient use of system resources. Runit is simple and easy to manage, making it ideal for those who seek simplicity without sacrificing functionality. Additionally, the XBPS package manager is fast and lightweight, offering atomic transactions that guarantee safe and reliable installations and updates.
Another of Void Linux's strengths is its independence. It is not based on any other distribution, allowing it to develop a unique architecture optimized for performance and flexibility. This independence also means that Void Linux is not subject to the design constraints of other distributions derived from Debian or Red Hat.
Void Linux is versatile and compatible with multiple architectures, including x86, x86_64, ARM, and ARM64, making it an excellent choice for a variety of devices, from servers to embedded devices. Although its community is smaller, it is passionate and dedicated, ensuring continuous support and development.
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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-08-06
Votes: 7
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VoidLinux is a great distribution, I value the package manager and its atomicity. Some packages are not available, but the nonfree repository can satisfy the needs of the system. Likewise, its robustness is essential for those who enjoy truly free software like Void, although its repositories are not so extensive, the use of certain packages can be balanced by performing respective compilations. It is a great distribution and I am using it as a development base for each of the programming tasks I do.
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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-08-05
Votes: 8
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I tried a lot of distros in the past, but only Void felt like home. Not even debian or arch.
I love how runit works and it's lightness, My machine boots in under 10 seconds and it poweroff in 3.
I've been using it for some months now, and after A LOT of distrohop I have no plans to switch. Also the repos are becoming larger every day, whit more and more pkgs.
For now I'm using the glibc version of Void, but I'm considering to give the musl version a try
OS: Void Linux x86_64
Kernel: 6.6.43_1
Packages: 639 (xbps-query)
DE: Cinnamon 5.8.4
Shell: bash 5.2.21
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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-08-03
Votes: 6
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This distro has really revitalized my love for computers. Most of my early learning in the late 80s came from fighting with DOS to get games running, exploring BBSs and shareware, etc. I had tried Linux (Ubuntu) years ago trying to escape Windows and MacOS and found the experience depressing. Rediscovering Linux via Void has been so refreshing - the speed, the control, the stability, and a *productive* learning challenge as I build my system with only the things I want.
Just some of my favorite things (mostly the obvious):
1. XBPS is an amazing package manager
2. The documentation / wiki is the best I've seen
3. Runit is FAST
I don't know, it is just clean as hell, and actually feels good (at least to me) to use. As long as you want to learn things and tinker, have a DIY spirit, Void is for you. It is not for people who want to just click and go, but that's fine.
For speed, go with a base install and the all suckless.org build.
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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-07-19
Votes: 12
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I can only recommend Void to anyone looking for a suckless distribution.
It comes with an installer on its installation medium, which means that no manual installation is necessary, but they also have tarballs that you can install instead.
Void uses runit as its init system, which is really simple to use.
I've been using it for gaming, programming and VFX - It manages all of these tasks perfectly.
The only drawback you get by not using systemd is that some programs rely on it and you'll have to put in some work to make them run.
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Project: Void
Version: 20221001
Rating: 9
Date: 2024-07-14
Votes: 12
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I've been using Void for a few years now: never had any problems with this distro.
Although the software versions are very recent (it is still a rolling release after all) its stability and system control amaze me.
I never switch on my PC with the fear that it won't turn on, (something that happened to me with Arch once).
I still backup my files though, out of habit.
The only flaw, if you want to call it that, is the lack of some packages in the official repos: you do however have the possibility to compile them from source, use the Flatpak/Appimages alternatives, or use the void-packages alternative with xbps-src.
If you ever run into a problem and you feel lost: do not fear! There are multiple channels where you can talk to other void users. The handbook guide is updated and well explained, I was able to find most of the answers to my questions on there.
The learning curve for me was not as steep as I imagined.
- OS: Void Linux x86_64
- Kernel: 6.6.39_1
- Packages: 981 (xbps-query)
- Shell: bash 5.2.21
- DE: Xfce 4.18
- WM: i3
- Both CPU & GPU from Intel
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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-07-12
Votes: 5
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I use it on Raspberry and it's the best distro I've ever seen on Raspberry by far. I'm a Devuan user on my main computer but I had so much fun setting it up that I'm actually considering switching to it everywhere. Runit is amazingly elegant. The system comes with no bloat at all (not even syslogd functionality) and for fun and because I wanted to do some unorthodox setup, I went the way of implementing my own logger for runit services. It was also the first time I ever run a rolling distro. I had no stability issues with it. I did see some bugs here and there that existed since installation and at least two of them were fixed within a month by upgrading packages. XBps' interface is worse than apt's in my opinion but it seems to be coming with more functionality that I needed out of the box so I'm fine with either system. I still need to learn more about it. It's great to see a distro made from scratch that accomplishes so much! Now my next experiment will be to run the Musl version and see how that one goes!
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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-07-10
Votes: 7
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I installed Void linux about a month ago, and it was a great choice. I started using linux this year in February, when a friend suggested me to use mint. After that I tried endeavourOS and Arch, and I didn't liked systemD, it was slow and it felt old. Arch was not fro me, and I wanted something light for daily use that dosn't break. I distrohopped a lot, I used debian, Opensuse, ubuntu and many more. I found void, and I didn't knew what it was, so I tried it in a virtual machine. At first I had trouble whit partitions, then I heard that void has a poor repository and many other things. After this long distrohop Void linux was my last choice for a distro and I kept arch. After months, in June I decided it was time to change and gave another shot to void. This time I had better knowledge on linux, and I had 0 trouble whit partitions and the desktop. After using kde for a long time on endeavour and arch I decided to go for cinnamon, which I personally love the simplicity of it. Xpbs is so good, I think it's better than pacman. The site is straight to the point whit a really good interface and I downloaded the iso in 1 minute. After I installed and tweaked cinnamon as I liked, I was really shocked to see that the boot and the shutdown were really fast, and the webcam and the brightness worked after a clean install, because they didn't worked on Mint. I'm on void glibc for a month and everything worked fine, nothing broken after an update, got all the stuff I need. I never tought of using void as my daily driver, and here I am. Void was the perfect distro for me, I had a minimal cinnamon install, whit just the basic stuff, a browser, a file manager and a terminal, and I installed later other applications I needed. If I never risked trying something new I would not be here, so my advice is to give a shot to this distro. Maybe it isn't right for you, but at least you know something new, Void is simple, if you use it for work or as a daily driver, don't use a window manager and then rice it, put a desktop like kde or gnome and it will never break. I think it can improve a lot, whit more packages on the non-free repos, because let's be onest, not everyone wants to use only free open source software, but overall it's a 10/10 for a great experience as a daily driver.
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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-07-09
Votes: 6
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Void Linux may not be bleeding edge, but it's still leading edge as a rolling release distribution. Void stays stable without sacrificing recent updates and new software releases. It's that "just right" distro you've been looking for all this time.
Void also provides an essential foundation for building your system on top of it. No extraneous bloat, apps, branding, or unnecessary libraries. The runit init system boots incredibly fast, and the xbps package manager is easy to learn and use. While documentation is a bit sparse, it will get the job done having just what you need to get up and running.
While I wouldn't recommended Void as a beginner distro, it does allow for a hands-on, undiluted, roll-your-own type Linux learning experience. Once you stare into the Void, it will start staring back at you! I highly recommend it for intermediate to advanced Linux users, those that are self-learners, welcome some challenges, prefer a more stable rolling release cycle, and want an overall lightweight and fun Linux operating system.
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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 7
Date: 2024-07-06
Votes: 8
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Void Linux really is just a BSD for people who don't have hardware compatible with actual BSD operating systems. The mindset behind it is really refreshing in the Linux world and actively cared-for features such as the musl library images and the xbps-src work incredibly well. Everything Void offers is right on its main page, and for those who are doubting the systemd-wayland takeover of Linux, Void is a welcomed addition to the gallery (even though you can use wayland on Void, but you get the idea).
Beware, however, that on these newer images of Void I and other individuals have encountered slow boots as a result of some kind of conflict between the new kernel and the nouveau driver which fails to check certain workers or such, I cannot say much about it. All I know is that it's pretty rough. If you have an Nvidia GPU, you're better off either installing the proprietary drivers (which are only available for glib images) or disabling the nouveau driver and ending it at that if you have integrated graphics.
Otherwise, the distro really just works, and I know that's a meme phrase, but it is how I feel about it. Void implements a lot of interesting components and presents itself as a worthwhile Arch alternative, instead of simply being a fork of Arch using runit. What Void lacks in comparison to Arch is some decent documentation, which both Arch Linux and FreeBSD are very renowned for. Now, it is fair to say that the usefulness of documentation depends on person and context, but there is a reason the Void community will never tell you to RTFM - they probably don't even know if void has a dedicated wiki for that topic. The official guides for Void simply aren't good enough and often need to be paired with third-party entries, Arch Linux wiki pages or YT video guides.
All n' all, Void is valuable because it expands the DIY market Arch and Gentoo were filling, with a different init system, different package manager, and overall different goals. Even if we consider these distros Simple Stupid, we must remember that not everyone will go through the effort of changing their init system from the default - these systems are not completely DIY after all. That's why having choice is important, and Void Linux is my choice.
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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 9
Date: 2024-07-05
Votes: 3
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Noob here. I'm migrating to Linux after using MacOS for 18 years because as of 2022 Mac no longer supports my 2012 Mac Mini, which I consider to be a marvelous piece of hardware. So earlier this year I bought a couple used laptops and started learning about Linux. I decided the distros for me were OpenSuse, LMDE, and Void. I've tried them all over the past few months.
My favorite of the three so far is Void. Void was the most difficult of the three to get set up, but now that I've mostly set it up, it feels more sophisticated and precise than the other two, like a German Olympia typewriter compared to a Smith-Corona. To get there I had to overcome a few problems that were more difficult to solve that they should have been, but in every case through solving them I learned a lot about how this machine works. Let me list them.
1) Installation. I had to learn how and why to create partitions and a custom bootpath for my machine.
2) Redshift. I had to learn how to create a custom configuration file to get it to work properly and now it works great.
3) Unzipping files. Does not work out of the box. I could not get the terminal to unzip files either. My solution was to install every package in the xbps repository that said it unzipped files and now Xarchiver works. I think Xarchiver needs some other package installed in order to work, because it didn't initially.
4) Bluetooth. Void requires you to set up bluetooth manually, even if you install the XFCE image like I did. My solution was to install all the packages as above and eventually it worked. But I still can't get audio to play from a connected speaker.
I think Void would really benefit from more detailed and noob-friendly documentation. As it is, the documentation assumes you already know a lot about Linux. I think the right way to approach Void without Linux experience is to install it and read The Linux Command Line by William Shotts so you have a comprehensive beginner's guide as you tinker around in the system.
Even so, in my limited experience, Void updates seamlessly, never crashes, and is super fast. I have grown to like the XFCE desktop environment a lot, more than MacOS in fact, even tough it's not nearly as graphically sleek as that. So far, I think Void is like driving a manual automobile: it's more difficult to learn, but eventually you are rewarded with higher performance and more control over your machine.
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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-06-17
Votes: 9
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After 30 years running every kind of *nix, you kind of get an idea of how you want a system to work. "Knowable" is probably top of my list, because if you don't know what it's doing, you're not going to be able to fix it.
I've run Void on my server for some time, but went distro (s)hopping ahead of an effort to replace the last of my Windows systems. After trying almost all of them I settled on Gnome on Void (glibc), and my laptop seemingly runs forever.
The minimalist nature of Void, plus the simplicity of the runit init system go about as far toward that ideal as you can get in Linux.
My hat off to the team!
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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 8
Date: 2024-06-05
Votes: 16
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Although I came in adept with the shell and with plenty of prior Linux experience, switching to Void as my first daily driver was a bit daunting (although something I wanted to try for a while). I opted for no DE w/ glibc, as I wanted Plasma and it wasn't offered pre-packaged. The install was understandable and fairly simple, and getting the rudiments for daily driving wasn't a hassle. Things didn't always work OOB, but they rarely required much fiddling when they didn't. Overall, getting started was a 9/10 experience. Xbps is probably the best package manager I've ever used, can fully recommend on that front. In addition, the Void wiki gives both quick up instructions and full debugging help.
However, a couple flaws (for me) began to show themself over long term use. First, although Void is stable rolling release and can run well pretty much forever without updating, you will at some point need to update. Again, 9 times out of 10 this is fine and Void cranks on, but the 1 time it does things go south quick, as you are then stuck with a version conflict or dependency conflict on a system that is by design slow to push updates to it's official repo. For example, when I eventually had to update from Plasma from 5 to 6, things broke in a way beyond what I would consider normal from a "stable" release OS. It got better over time, but never completely, and my system is still missing a couple minor details from before the update.
For this reason, Void gets an 8/10. OS itself is lightning fast. When it works (which is a vast majority of the time), it's easily a 10. However, each update loses it 0.05 unless you're careful, and eventually, you run into dependency hell, which makes it much harder to revert it to a state where it "just works" without reverting back multiple months.
Tips:
- BACK UP YOUR CONFIG BEFORE UPDATING (and do not hesitate to revert)
- The mentality of Void aligns for me with that of a cranky old man, so act like one and don't try to get the newest and greatest bleeding edge anything. If it works, keep it that way. If anyone tries to flex their higher version numbers, wait 2 days, then point and laugh while they try to navigate fixing some stupid DE/WM dependency for 4 hours.
- Don't be scared of not having systemd. Runit has worked without issue since day 1 for me, and is dead simple to use.
- If you use Python, be ready to learn pipx. Takes some time, but pays off in the end.
Good OS, surprisingly so for a first daily driver. 8/10. Would probably be even better for server use, as I'm pretty sure in that case you could actually run forever.
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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-05-11
Votes: 19
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Void es una excelente distribución que está subvalorada completamente. Es un proyecto independiente que es tan maduro como otras distribuciones más conocidas. No obstante, hay que tener en cuenta que no es una distribución para principiantes y que se deben configurar e instalar muchas cosas a mano.
Pros:
- Posee una muy buena selección de paquetes. Todo lo que necesito está en void.
- Ofrecen la mejor solución para instalar la última versión de TeXlive y administrar e instalar todos los paquetes con tlmgr.
- Es realmente rápida.
- runit es fácil de manejar y los servicios se pueden activar y desactivar de modo muy sencillo.
- Las actualizaciones no son tan frecuentes para que el sistema operativo sea muy estable.
- Su gestor de paquetes es muy lógico y resuelve perfectamente las dependencias. Nunca he tenido un solo fallo en las actualizaciones.
Cons:
- La conexión a wifi demora más que otras distribuciones.
Pienso que una razón de su infravaloración es la lista que ofrece distrowatch de los paquetes que hay en void no es real. Hace pensar que en void no hay paquetes y que están muy desactualizados.
Creo que basta con añadir una columna en distrowach (tal y como sucede en muchas otras distribuciones que son rolling release) que muestre las últimas actualizaciones y no solo el contenido de una iso que puede tener meses de antiguedad y que solo sirve para instalar el sistema operativo pero no es un reflejo de todos los paquetes que ofrece la distribución.
La recomiendo 10/10
---------------------------------------
Void is an excellent distribution that is completely underrated. It is an independent project that is as mature as other more well-known distributions. However, it should be noted that it is not a distribution for beginners and many things must be configured and installed by hand.
Pros:
- It has a very good selection of packages. Everything I need is in void.
- They offer the best solution to install the latest version of TeXlive and manage and install all packages with tlmgr.
- It is really fast.
- runit is easy to handle and services can be activated and deactivated very easily.
- The updates are not so frequent so the operating system is very stable.
- Its package manager is very logical and solves dependencies perfectly. I have never had a single failure in updates.
Cons:
- The wifi connection takes longer than other distributions.
I think one reason for its undervaluation is that the distrowatch list of packages in void is not real. It makes you think that there are no packages in void and that they are very outdated.
I think it is enough to add a column in distrowach (as happens in many other distributions that are rolling release) that shows the latest updates and not just the contents of an iso that can be months old and only serves to install the operating system but is not a reflection of all the packages offered by the distribution.
I recommend it 10/10
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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-05-11
Votes: 18
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My favorite part of Linux: Minimalism. Who does it better than Arch? Void. Package manager is great and very fast, a luxury among distros. I was initially worried about how many packages would be available, a criticism that I have heard about Void, but that appears to have changed. Pretty much everything I need is in the repos. Omitting systemd has taught me more about how Linux works.
Some things like Discord are considered restricted packages, which you need to clone the xbps repository for. Kinda annoying, but it's whatever.
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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-05-06
Votes: 17
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This review is for the glibc version of Void Linux using XFCE (x86-64).
VoidLinux may put an end to my distro-hopping for a while. It's an independent linux distro & it shows. It's unique systemd-free linux distro, which also has a version which utilises musl & its own package manager, XBPS.
It is lightweight & fast. Repositories not the biggest, but I use Appimage (sparingly) to plug the gaps.
For me, Void Linux ticks almost all the boxes, my distro-hopping habit is on hold!
Pros:
No systemd
Fast boot-up
Fast shutdown
XBPs is fast
Documentation is good
Granular choice of regional repository server(s) during installation
Runit init
Rolling-releease, yet stable (so far)
An independent linux distro
Neutral:
text-based installer: I have no problem with this, but it could deter newbies
Cons:
Slight hiccup with keyboard setup, but easily fixed with XFCE settings
Package repository is not the largest
As others have said, Void Linux is probably not a good choice for those new to linux
Familiarity with disk partitioning, cfdisk, fdisk advantageous during install
I would rate this 9.5/10, but that's not possible, so let's round it up to 10/10! Thank you Void Linux team
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