 Visitor Reviews |
Void
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Reader supplied reviews for Void
Average rating
9.3 from 190 review(s)
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-08-08
Votes: 23
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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: 5
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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: 2
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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: 2
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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: 2
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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: 9
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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: 4
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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: 5
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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: 7
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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: 15
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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: 17
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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: 17
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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: 16
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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: 32
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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
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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
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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
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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: 9
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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
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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.
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Version: 20171007
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-03-29
Votes: 11
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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: 13
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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: 1
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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: 14
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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
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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.
|
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
|
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.
|
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.
|
Version: 20230628
Rating: 8
Date: 2023-07-16
Votes: 7
|
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.
|
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
|
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
|
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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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-05-26
Votes: 1
|
if you have gotten at least a little used to the structure of linux systems and the use of the command line, try Void Linux. The fast boot and package management; low memory consumption; stability of the system even though it is continuously being released; and many other things make this distro amazing.
On one of my notebooks I decided to install a very basic gnome-shell, giving preference to flatpak applications, and this was perfect for me; on the other I installed a version with plasma kde, and with applications from the repository: this brought my old notebook back to life.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-05-20
Votes: 10
|
void is not for everyone, but it is for sure for me
no other distribution allows me to tinker arround with it while it stays as stable as void does
the rolling aspect frees me from the need to upgrade every half year
also the packages are fresh, just few days (sometimes hours) behind arch linux, so i usually don't have to deal with any containerized software because i already get the newest versions, but as i understand it, the packages are tested to run properly, that's where stable comes into play
the package manager is blazing fast, from my experience the only one faster is pacman when in multithreading mode and even then it's a close one. there's no software store out-of-the-box but there are some available in the repos in addition to several little helper tools to ease your workflow with package management
only downside for new to void users might be the installer which isn't your fancy calamares or ubiquity, but an ncurses interface, but well, you only need to install it once and void will run pretty much forever so that's that
also there's no branding or custom versions of desktop environments, for example xfce, plasma or gnome all come in vanilla versions, so customizing is up to you
the software available is pretty complete, some proprietary software is not in the repos, but available via the void-packages github repo full of templates to build it yourself if needed, these void-packages are way less cluttered than the AUR
the learning curve is quite steep, but worth it, not necessarily for linux beginners
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-05-01
Votes: 6
|
stable,modular,fast,systemd-free but not that user friendly but its great it can run on everything you can so much things on void linux the documentation is well done you can find anything you want or troubleshoot your problems the runit init system is so simple and easy to use you just have to practice it i tried so many linux distirbutions and couldnt be comfortable with them but when i tried void it was so great its like building a really tiny small machine with using the most simplest tools and putting things together to your liking.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-04-08
Votes: 1
|
It seems to me that without a doubt al guna is one of the most optimized GNU/Linux distributions I have tried, it is authentic, although its focus is on advanced users, those who know how to handle the distro correctly can get a lot out of it, great project, I hope they keep improving, that is the definition of Rolling Release stable, it is impressive the optimization of xbps packages, and the lightness when booting the system, and with Runit that complements to have a very stable, fluid and fast system!
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 8
Date: 2023-04-02
Votes: 1
|
After reading a lot of positive reviews, I have installed it with XFCE. The installation process was very straightforward and went really fast.
It's been over three months in use. No doubt, the OS is lightweight and stable, and works very well. With the rolling release, the kernels and libraries as well as some very popular packages are up to date. As a pretty long time (15+ years) Linux user and distro hopper, I feel that Void Linux is a great distro, probably as excellent as Arch Linux.
The only disappointment is that some packages (such as vokoscreen, retext etc.) are way too outdated, even about a couple of years behind. I know some people woud say you can get the newest versions installed via Flatpak. Of course, I can. But that's not the point and the ideal solution.
All in all, I really appreciate the great work done by the dev team. I love Void Linux and look forward to seeing it getting better and better.
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Version: 20191109
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-03-28
Votes: 0
|
void linux is a pretty badass little distro which I have found refreshingly stable and having pretty wide compatibility... it was one of the first nix distros that I was successfully able to install and bring up and running on a Raspberry PI board, which was pretty outstanding a feat in my mind, because none of my usual "go-to" distros like manjaro or slackware proved to be "embedded-system ready" enough that the ordinary old burn-and-boot from ISO routine was sufficient to bringing those systems up and running ... but void linux's RPI iso's really were that simple all I had to do was burn the ISO to a pen disk and stick that f--ker in there and BAAMM the installer successfully copied the whole image straight to the mini SD-card, and after removing the pen and rebooting; alas, the newly installed system went up without a hitch... so cudos to the makers/maintainers of this distro, because it really is a damn good one..,
--Nathan A. Wallace
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-02-25
Votes: 6
|
void is a breath of fresh air and my immediate favorite after a lot of distro hopping--I knew I had a winner once I had tried it.
The void-installer was simple to use and I appreciated how it did not make choices for me such as partitioning scheme--it does require you to create /boot/efi and set the types correctly, but the text is helpful so it was straightforward. I've installed both the xfce and non-graphical images and both are great and work without a hitch.
It eveb ran just fine on a cheap corei3 4-port appliance I bought off of amazon as a replacement for a pc running pfsense--it boots up in about 5 sec. On my dev box running a gen1 ryzen cpu, it boots up lightning fast in a couple of 1-2 seconds.
xbps package system is really fast and easy to use. Also, I really like the simplicity of runit for running daemons and I do not miss systemd at all.
The docs are informative without spelling out everything and the community seems friendly and helpful afaict. I'm installing it on all my devices I love it so much.
I've tried running both the musl and glibc flavors and the musl one felt even lighter weigh but was still rock solid. I didn't have any musl-related issues with the packages I used.
It seems really well thought out and has a BSD feel. I haven't had any complaints yet and the rolling releases are stable.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-02-19
Votes: 2
|
I've been running Void Linux on servers, desktops and laptops now for two years and have absolutely no reason to turn elsewhere. I'd originally come from a commercial Unix past, then FreeBSD, then Debian when I needed the capabilities of virtualization on Linux, then Arch for a short while. I landed on Void because it, like Arch, is a rolling release, but with a focus on stability.
Void is well thought out, stable, rolling distribution.
The community is friendly, knowledgeable and helpful.
Void's package manager is quick and won't leave you with an unstable system.
I simply couldn't ask for more.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-02-03
Votes: 9
|
the only distro that makes you want to scream of joy because it's THAT good:
-Rolling release while being super robust
-nice package selection in the repositories (qtile and pfetch and alacritty are there)
-runit is simple to use
-good wiki
-unofficial daily builds available
-installs on SD card
-if an app is missing from the official repository, you can always install flatpaks
-light on ressources
-my favorite game runs smoothly without stuttering
-Wish I've discovered this hidden gem sooner because it puts an end to distro hopping
I use Void btw!
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 9
Date: 2023-01-23
Votes: 2
|
Kind of an incredible distro. I've been using it for about 3 or 4 months now. Installing it took me a bit to understand. The installer is straightforward enough but I had no previous experience partitioning drives, so I basically copied someone else's recommended settings from a youtube tutorial. I broke the system, but then read some more and finally figured it out. In the end, ironically, it only takes about 5 minutes to compile and install the system. I used xbps to pull down most of my list of software apps, and I was able to use my Ubuntu i3 dotfiles pretty close to 1-for-1 for all my software. I haven't needed to mess around much with runit yet but the few times I did it was straightforward and I found examples from other folks online of what I needed to do.
For package management I installed vpm to use (a wrapper around xbps that simplifies it), which makes it work pretty much the same as apt or even slightly simpler now (since updating also upgrades). I love that the packages are newer than the options on my previous Ubuntu-based system, and that even though they're more up to date, I don't fear them breaking. Just to be safe I back up my files and programs at least weekly, but I don't anticipate any major breakages in case one day the rolling release messes me up, but so far everyone on the (mostly) friendly void subreddit have seem to say that updates breaking things rarely or almost never happen.
Once getting a nice setup going on Void I haven't been continually tweaking and refining the way I used to do on i3/Ubuntu or other systems. I'm just straightforwardly happy with my system. I'm running this on an Alienware desktop a couple years old. It flies so fast. Have been able to get games to work fine for me. I don't feel like I'm missing anything. And it's a pleasure to write code and do development work and graphic design and game design on this system.
I'm feeling really thankful I've stumbled across Void and I pushed through the slight complications of getting it installed properly.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-01-07
Votes: 33
|
Void is a great distro for experienced Linux admins/devs, offering even more flexibility than Arch. The core is very minimalist and may not be immediately functional, as it is not built for a "distro-hopper" but for someone who understands and is interested in the functional aspects, such as: musl libc option, ARM option (e.g. raspberry pi), ability to cross-compile pacakges with xbps-src, optional systemd (and almost everything else). I have installed void on both a fairly powerful tower (ryzen 7, rx 580) and a fairly crappy laptop (dual-core celeron N3050, 2G ram) and have been daily driving it on the tower for nearly two years. In that time I experienced one instance where I froze during the boot sequence, due to a kernel regression (this can happen with any rolling release distro). I was able to boot using the live ISO from a USB drive, mount my hard drive manually, and roll back the kernel. Within an hour or two, Void linux IRC chat had helped me identify the problem and I used a workaround until the next kernel release.
I do NOT recommend Void for new users, certainly not the musl option. I myself started with Ubuntu (at work), then Mint, then Manjaro, then Arch and now Void (still on glibc). This progression from "it just works" distros down to Void makes for a more reasonable learning experience. And now that I'm here, I'm not going back. I still use Arch linux on one of my machines only because I haven't been bothered to switch over yet. But the setup is mostly the same: sway WM with autotiling, qutebrowser for web, alacritty (terminal) for almost everything else. No login manager or DM. Like another review said, void is best administered from the command line. I have briefly tried BSD as well which felt similar, but less modern and functional in my opinion. For example, on Void, I was able to run steam games using Proton.
Here's an overview of the pros/cons:
Pros:
- very light core, even systemd is optional
- very flexible, offering ARM and musl versions and a package creation suite with cross-compilation capability
- active IRC chat for support
- large repositories considering the size of the community and age, partly because of the nice xbps-* suite
- one of the best package modern management suites (xbps-* tools) that is fully functional like pacman unlike the rather academic guix or nix experiments (which are interesting in their own right)
- offline manual with decent basic documentation (accessible even in roff format from the vt console)
- rolling release (I consider this a pro, not everyone likes this e.g. for servers)
- good hardware support, basically like Arch
Cons:
- takes time to set up, not a plug-n-play distro (it's Linux after all)
- small community means updates to niche packages can be slow
- repository mirrors can be slow and need to be monitored, the Australian mirror stopped pulling upstream updates and I didn't realise for a while (someone should port Arch's reflector...)
- lacking polish in some areas, of the top of my head e.g. the recommended log reader svlogtail is underdocumented, ISO images can be old and use dash shell (not user friendly) and the manual is a bit too spartan (there is always the Arch wiki for most things)
I haven't tried musl nor ARM yet but I'm waiting for a raspberry pi pico (and some free time) to see what I can do with it. I have seen multiple blogs from people who have installed it on rPi though, so it should work.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-12-09
Votes: 15
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Void Linux is extremely minimalist. Its installer is the fastest, easiest and simplest I've ever seen. The user needs to search for the necessary and correct packages to install the applications. The result is a very fast, customized, lean distro.
Excellent for old machines. The xbps package manager is incredibly fast and easy, the best Linux package manager.
Void Linux is a great alternative to Arch Linux, it has its qualities without systemd. Runit is cleaner. I am very satisfied with the end result.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-11-29
Votes: 24
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After years of distro hopping, I settled on Fedora for a few years. After more and more obscure tools that powered my workflow weren't available on Fedora, I jumped ship and went back to hopping. A friend recommended Void, and it's been working great for me the past 3 years now. It's very stable, while still providing fairly up-to-date packages. Support for less common architectures, and a very welcoming community that makes contributing easy were the other things that drew me in, because as a user on a Pinebook Pro, I didn't want to locally compile each updated package. So, the solution was to contribute the slow compiling rust packages I needed to the official repository, and my PBP would receive binary packages from there. Worked out great for me.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-11-23
Votes: 25
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Void is a very simple, minimalistic and bloat-free. Linux distro. I have installed it on my laptop without any problems so far. It reminds me of Arch with which they share the same "kiss" philosophy but without systemd. It boots very fast, faster than Arch i'd say, its repositories include a large number of software and it has xbps which is a nice package manager and easy to use. I have installed my printer sofrtware and also nvidia optimuss for my secondary graphics with prime without any issues. I use xfce desktop but changed the default lxdl display manager with lightdm which for me has better interface.
I have no cons to report yet.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 1
Date: 2022-11-22
Votes: 0
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I foolishly tried this distro because of YouTube recommendations. Big mistake! Couldn't get thunar or pcmanfm to recognise external hdd or usb until I found a suggestion about using udevil. Vim keeps throwing error messages. Basically, this distro is just a dreadful waste of my time, unlike every other de or tiling window manager that I have installed on Arch. As an example of Void time wasting, I always install gvfs with thunar. The preferences page then kept telling me that 'perhaps gvfs isn't available'. It took me hours to work out how to get the startup to recognise the SDDM display manager. The documentation makes no mention of needing to add a symbolic link for dbus. I am quite a seasooned Linux user and I won't give Void Linux another second of my time.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-11-08
Votes: 22
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My Background
I am new to Linux; after 20 years of using windows, I needed to breath life back into an aging laptop. I started looking into Linux systems, as they were rumored to be light on resources. I started with Linux Mint, then moved to Fedora. After a few months, I felt comfortable enough in the command line to want to try and configure a system without a point and click installation.
Enter Linux Void!
After reading through the documentation, I decided to dual boot Void. It took me a few tries to successfully install and here we are. It forced me to learn how to partition and then mount the partition, as well as Swap and EFI. I'm sure this will get a few chuckles but what I'm getting at, is this is a great experience. When things don't work, the documentation is available and the answer is buried inside it somewhere. As it does not seem to be a 'mainstream' Operating System, a web search usually does not yield the answers to a problem I'm facing. This forces me to understand what the problem is, instead of to solve it with a simple copy and paste from the web. Had I attempted becoming proficient at using this distribution without other introductory experiences (LM, Fedora) I would have most likely gone back to windows out of frustration.
This leads to my review. Without a strong computer background, I would recommend this not be an introduction to Linux. I found everything well organized, simple, and clean. I have not discovered any errors or discrepancies from the documentation during my use. BUT, not everything is available and integrated like with other systems. It takes some tinkering to get things going. My usual web browser is not available from the xbps package manager. So that means I'm building it (or resorting to flatpak). I also have been discovering bash scripts out of necessity. I cannot stress enough, this has been and continues to be a learning experience. So if you are not proficient with Linux be prepared to learn or this might not be an enjoyable experience.
Thank you to the development team for the excellent work!
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-10-27
Votes: 23
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Easy to work with, without excessive layers of abstraction. The Runit init system is excellent both for package installed daemons and for daemons you code up yourself. Lots of packages, all the usual suspects, although a few esoteric packages are missing. Due to the rolling release model, packages tend to be more modern than most other distros. Unlike some rolling releases, Void seldom chokes on updates, and when it does, you can usually wait a few hours until the packages are rebuilt. However, updates become harder if you wait more than a month between updates. I do updates every couple days. Void packages a full compliment of window managers and desktop environments so you can have the exact workflow you want. Support via the #voidlinux IRC channel is quick and helpful.
Void isn't for the raw newbie. Installation isn't dead-bang obvious, and Void isn't as hardware-forgiving as Ubuntu or Mint. Void is an outstanding distro for those who graduate the newbie stage and take off the training wheels.
My perception of Void Linux is it's a distribution for people who want to boss their computer rather than having their computer boss them.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-10-27
Votes: 24
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Challenging, but rewarding.
Install only those applications you need, the desktop you want. Services are enabled by the user manually and run via runit, not systemd. You'll find no odd, unknown, or other software that is not needed running on your machine. Unless you put it there.
The documentation is short and to the point. Everything that you need to know in order to install, configure, and add a desktop with applications is explained on the void website.
After going into distro hopping mode for a few weeks I came back to void, mainly because everything that I need works without fluff or drama. KDE/Plasma, Steam, printing, scanning, sound, Falkon browser and kdeconnect all up and running fine.
If new to Linux you will learn a lot during setup. Read through the documentation and understand it before you begin. If you are old to Linux you will appreciate the control and speed that void provides.
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-10-26
Votes: 26
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After many years with most famous Linux distros, Void feels like a fresh and new world, so fast and bloat free !
It makes linux experience delightful with fast, extremely responsive. simple OS.
Runit init system should be default in all Linux OS for its speed and simplicity!
Gives control to users to decide what they want from their OS and does not come in between user and thier jobs.
Such a quality Linux OS should be in top 20 list.
Thanks to the developers of this excellent OS!
Try it once to see the difference!
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Version: 20221001
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-10-24
Votes: 26
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Minimal and lightweight. I like that it feels similar to BSD in many ways. The XBPS package manager seems fine and dandy so far. I much prefer the runit init system over systemd. Fast and simple. No black boxes.
My initial intention was to configure Openbox or dwm, but I am still groovin' on Xfce for the time being. It feels very fast and responsive on my not-so-stellar hardware.
I really can't think of anything bad to say about Void. True, it does require additional effort to get a fully working system, so it is not for everyone. But the reward for your extra effort is a fast, minimal system that works just the way you want it to.
If you have a bit of Linux experience under your belt, give Void a try!
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-09-10
Votes: 21
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A small, minimalist distribution with good repositories, a lightning fast package manager, comes with the packages it needs to function while remaining smaller than arch, doesn't need internet to install, and honestly seems to "just work". I found this to be a far better way of doing minimalist linux than arch, and the runit system is easy enough to use. I would most definitely recommend this distro for anyone looking for something lightweight and extremely functional. As an added bonus it also if fast to get up and running, as much as the arch style chroot install gives you control, having to do everything manually when all you need is a basic installation is a waste of time, the chroot style install is still there for those that want it, but the option to use an installer is very nice.
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Version:
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-09-06
Votes: 17
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Straight to the point, lightweight, stable and cohesive system. Running this on an ancient 2005 laptop with only 2GB of RAM, Intel 1.6Ghz processor, and no SSD. Installation is a cake-walk with just 5GB of installation with all software I need (6GB if I add wine and some windows) and everything runs fine without bottlenecks/freezes, but of-course I don't do activities that are resource intensive. Documentation - to the point and mostly adequate.
I used it for about six months when version 20210218 ISOs were released and I was very satisfied with the CINNAMON desktop. Briefly was away to windows and missed void too much. Finally returned to void couple of weeks ago. Disappointed to see that they now publish only XFCE ISO. I would request to publish the CINNAMON ISO instead. Their CINNAMON desktop is exceptionally well-cooked and is anytime better than XFCE!
Nonetheless, I installed the 20210218 CINNAMON ISO and XBPS upgraded it to latest, with just one hiccup - that of the 'certificate invalid' error which seem to be a more general issue at one point and that is not because of upgrading from an age old installation ISO.
I would like void to add MotionBox or some application that can play videos not just from youtube, but from general web.
Cheers to the Void team and the community around it.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-08-28
Votes: 10
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Very good distro if you are looking for something simple and fast, that at the same time, can make you learn more about Linux. Void's documentation is very easy to understand and straight to the point, so it doesn't get too tiring to read.
Here you don't have systemd, but runit, which is much less resource-hungry and extremely simple to use, as well as to script your own services. On the other hand, it does not have a service manager, nor can it handle their dependencies by itself, so it is something to keep in mind.
Void's xbps package manager is also quite solid and fast and although it doesn't quite catch up to pacman in this sense, it is much more cohesive with the commands, although they are a bit lengthy and can be a bit awkward at first, but nothing that an alias can't handle if you want to. Void also offers a recipe repository for packages that are not in the "official" ones, similar to AUR, which can be used to package them. Although some packages are not on pair with upstream, here the stability will be greater than in a bleeding edge distro, which I particularly prefer.
Another point I like is that it is independent, and has its "own" style, with some of its own tools written from scratch. I am very satisfied with Void as a whole, long life to it.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-08-27
Votes: 10
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Straight to the point, lightweight, stable and cohesive system. Running this on an ancient 2009 laptop with only 2GB of RAM, Intel Atom 1.86Ghz processor, and a 160GB HDD, no SSD. Surprisingly everything I need runs fine and without bottlenecks/freezes, but obviously I don't do any activity that consumes too much of it. I used to use Debian before, but I wanted something that I could "dynamically" update without having to eventually reinstall to a newer version and stuff like that. So I heard about the Void and got interested. I've been using it constantly for about two months now and I'm very satisfied.
Cheers to the Void team and all the community around it.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 1
Date: 2022-08-25
Votes: 1
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Very strange distro in many ways to be considered a continuous release. The provided ISO images are almost a year old, several packages haven't been updated in a long time, some of extreme importance, like both libc implementations (glibc, for example, still uses a version from two years ago!). Many people keep asking if the Void "died" for some of these reasons, and despite the answer being "no", it constantly seems to be in a terminal state. I've been on Void for a few months, and it's complicated, even some PRs you open sometimes seem to be simply ignored for the time they take to be accepted or denied (when there is any response), as it will depend solely on the interest of some core team member. Apparently there aren't any devs who work full time on Void, so even update PRs sometimes take a while to get accepted. The system itself is ok, when it doesn't have certain bugs on certain hardware, as was my case with touchpad (maybe something with the kernel), and bluetooth. It's a bit overrated for the current situation, which seems to be degrading over time.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-08-21
Votes: 9
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The best experience I've had in the last few weeks of distrohopping trying to find something that fits my tastes, or at least most of them.
Void is quite fast and stable; frequent updates; supports more than one implementation of the libc libraries; supports multiple architectures; has tools to build from templates, such as slackbuilds; does not use systemd and opts for a simpler and more cohesive init system with what it proposes; it has a pretty sick name. :)
It's only my second week on the Void, so so far I have nothing but praise for the team and the community that keeps it alive. My computer, which is practically a calculator for today, has been running like a ferrari since installing Void. Maybe it's a little scary right away, but the documentation is quite enlightening about most of the doubts you might have. Strongly recommend trying it!
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-08-01
Votes: 14
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A distro for the enthusiast who desires to learn more about Linux.
Very minimal and diy-oriented, with some nice documentation.
The repositories aren't massive like debian or arch, but they'll have everything you truly need.
(Never forget that you can install flatpaks, download appimages, and clone programs with git.)
The "runit" init system is fairly fast and lightweight, with my system running at ~200mb of ram on idle. (w/ graphical session and daemons)
Enabling/disabling services is not as simple at first compared to systemd, but a quick look at the documentation or a tutorial video will help with that.
Don't forget to check "/usr/share/doc/" for further documentation, specifically with installing steam.
Final thoughts: Void was the first distro I tried after using Mint for a month, and at the time I wasn't experienced enough to properly use it. After a few months of watching linuxtubers and using Fedora, I had learned enough to be comfortable with "The Terminal(tm)", man pages, and general troubleshooting. I was merely an enthusiast who desired to learn more about linux, so Void just werked.
10/10
ps: set bash aliases for the xbps commands and nevah gib up.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-07-25
Votes: 14
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I like it. Not much else to say. I think it does everything it needs to do correctly and doesn't get in the way of the user as much as many other distributions. This is freedom at its peak.
What's so good about it?
It's fast
Blazing fast because it's based on a modern kernel and uses a modern toolchain. It's also a lot smaller than the other distributions so there isn't much software that gets in the way.
Unlike trillions of other existing distros, Void is not a modification of an existing distribution which makes it immune to upstream issues. Void's package manager and build system have been written from scratch and they are well worth the switch. They're wa better compared to package managers like apt, pacman or even emerge.
Void uses stable rolling release, which means it focuses on stability, rather than on being bleeding-edge. Install once, update routinely and safely every time.
XBPS (while it can be hard at first) allows you to quickly install/update/remove software in your system and features detection of incompatible shared libraries and dependencies while updating or removing packages (among others). Refer to the Handbook for an overview.
Additionally, Void has a system called xbps-src, inspired by NetBSD's pkgsrc, that can build natively or cross compile for the target machine, and supports multiple C libraries (glibc and musl currently) letting the user use the more secure and fast C library alternative.
Overall, if you have not tried Void, do it. Enter the void and see order in the chaos.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 10
Date: 2022-07-23
Votes: 9
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void is for powerusers. solid stable, fast pkg manager, simple init management using runit, user-friendly void-packages on github, supoprts multiple archs, suports muscl.......etc.
Unlike trillions of other existing distros, Void is not a modification of an existing distribution. Void's package manager and build system have been written from scratch.
void is fastest linux distro on earth.
runit is a simple and effective approach to initialize the system with reliable service supervision. Refer to the Void Handbook for an introduction.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 9
Date: 2022-07-21
Votes: 5
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Nice "distro"but i have some "problems":
-The installer does not save the keyboard layout and time zone clock option, nor does it tell you anything about the file system except when you go to the installation section.
-The default servers are excessively slow, with no option to easily change them.
-Compiling e.g. firefox froze my computer, on other systems like Linux Mint there were no problems.
-No option to install ZFS in the installer
Apart from these "problems" it is a distro that I recommend, the "feeling" of stability and speed are remarkable.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 9
Date: 2022-07-18
Votes: 5
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It looks like Arch Linux but package installs are even faster than Arch. Hard to break, stable. You have the possibility to convert any deb package you need into a void package. Turning on and off the computer is quite fast, especially on old computers, this is evident.
There is a small shortcoming, which is that it is not very famous and therefore you may not be able to easily handle a problem you may experience. But these problems are also minimal.
In my opinion, despite everything, it is an operating system that deserves the first place in the Linux World.
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 7
Date: 2022-07-18
Votes: 0
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If you're somebody who wants to move along away from Windows you're NOT GOING TO LIKE THIS DISTRO. On the main site I couldn't find an ISO for desktop style other than XFCE. (Now I wish for *this one* I had the look of Salix.) Personally I prefer MATE because I need to save my sanity. This distro doesn't even come with the screenshooter which is just sad, had to acquire that package right after "screenFetch".
Had to decide between "glibc" or "musl" for 64-bit. Felt adventurous and thus picked the latter. Maybe it's just my computer. It's a 10-year-old laptop that was handed down, originally came with Windows8 and actually has last year's disgusting update instead, and also Manjaro and Solus. It has a *real* hard drive not internal SSD, but it's very slow. This OS is difficult to recommend because, after install and updating, it comes up with no sound and one has to install packages to fix it. Not sure if I obtained Pulse Audio successfully. If someone really wants a volume icon on the system tray, must install another package for that and must add it to the "session". Be forewarned: Wine is 64-bit only on "musl". Even worse it *refuses to run anything* that comes in a Windows installer. I managed to run the latest 64-bit OpenMPT but that's all, and it produced no sound. It forced me to dump "musl" in favor of "glibc". Went to install 32-bit Wine after the "standard" Wine but the "xbps" packaging system refused unless I downloaded *another package* to enable "multilib" repositories. No problems afterward. Ah well at least the "xbps" is better than the horrible GUI options on other distributions, and better than the command counterparts of the others mentioned. It would be even better if it were like the Fedora 35 GNOME terminal.
I want to like this but I have at least one other "independent" distribution which is a bit better, but not recommendable neither. I don't consider myself an intermediate Linux user but I'm no beginner neither.
One more thing: this OS has one of the latest Linux kernels (v5.18.9) at time of this writing, if it means anything.
by "mnrv-ovrf-year-c"
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Version: 20210930
Rating: 3
Date: 2022-07-17
Votes: 1
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Since Void hasn't had a new ISO release for nearly 10 months in order to test it out on my laptop (that needs kernel 5.15 or later) I had to download the unofficial Void live ISO which came with kernel 5.15, so I opted for the LXQt ISO, it booted up fine, suspend and resume worked fine, but my touchpad didn't work correctly, quite often clicks and movements didn't register, which made it very annoying to navigate, so I opened up the LXQt touchpad settings and it complained about only supporting libinput but synaptics was being used, so after a quick google search I discovered that you need to remove xf86-input-synaptics, which I did, then I logged out and logged back in again but it still didn't work correctly, and still complained about using synaptics even though it wasn't installed anymore.
So I gave up on it, too much hassle, but in my short time trying Void I noticed tab completion didn't work, which was pretty annoying because you had to type the commands out fully, and what made it even worse still was that it didn't seem to store any command line history either, so pressing the up or down arrow keys would do nothing but fill the terminal with some weird symbols, which meant a lot of repetitive typing, overall it just felt like it lacked polish, which is understandable for a small distro with few developers, so despite trying all the major distros and some more obscure ones I've yet to find one that can topple Tumbleweed.
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Latest Reviews
Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-08-08
Votes: 23
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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: 5
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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: 2
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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: 2
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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: 2
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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: 9
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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: 4
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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: 5
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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: 7
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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: 15
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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: 17
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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: 17
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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: 16
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-04-25
Votes: 32
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-04-19
Votes: 6
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-04-15
Votes: 22
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-04-12
Votes: 9
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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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Project: Void
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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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-04-04
Votes: 14
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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.
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Project: Void
Version: 20171007
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-03-29
Votes: 11
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 9
Date: 2024-03-24
Votes: 5
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 9
Date: 2024-03-23
Votes: 2
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-03-23
Votes: 2
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-03-20
Votes: 2
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20240314
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-03-17
Votes: 3
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-03-05
Votes: 8
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-02-24
Votes: 13
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 8
Date: 2024-02-13
Votes: 18
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-02-09
Votes: 13
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2024-01-19
Votes: 21
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 6
Date: 2024-01-09
Votes: 2
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 8
Date: 2023-11-25
Votes: 12
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-11-20
Votes: 32
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-11-05
Votes: 26
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-10-29
Votes: 11
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 5
Date: 2023-10-23
Votes: 1
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 9
Date: 2023-10-18
Votes: 8
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 5
Date: 2023-10-09
Votes: 1
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 5
Date: 2023-10-08
Votes: 2
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 9
Date: 2023-10-06
Votes: 4
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 7
Date: 2023-10-04
Votes: 3
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-09-17
Votes: 19
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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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Project: Void
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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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-09-08
Votes: 14
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-09-06
Votes: 6
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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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Project: Void
Version: 20230628
Rating: 10
Date: 2023-08-29
Votes: 11
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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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