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# Arch Based Distributions (Active)

From ArchWiki

See Inactive distributions for distributions which are no longer maintained.

## Specialty Distributions

### alphaOS

alphaOS is a simple and minimalistic Linux‎ operating system built using Linux Live Kit set of scripts developed by Tomas M. It is based on Arch Linux and uses pacman as the default package manager. This Linux distribution features highly configurable and lightweight Openbox window manager. Modular by design, alphaOS makes it easy to add desired functionality.

- Homepage: http://alphaos.tuxfamily.org
- Forums: http://alphaos.tuxfamily.org/forum
- Wiki: http://alphaos.tuxfamily.org/wiki
- Screenshots: forum thread
- Softpedia Entry: http://linux.softpedia.com

### Antergos

Antergos is an elegant and very customizable system for desktop. It started life under the name of Cinnarch, combining the Cinnamon desktop with the Arch Linux distribution, but the project has moved on from its original goals and now offers a choice of several desktops, including GNOME 3 (default), Cinnamon, Razor-qt and Xfce.

- Homepage: http://www.antergos.com/
- Screenshots: http://antergos.com/gallery/screenshots-2/
- About: http://antergos.com/about/
- Forums: http://forum.antergos.com/
- DistroWatch Entry: http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=antergos

### ArchBang

ArchBang LIVE CD = Arch Linux w/ Openbox (the name is inspired by CrunchBang Linux, which is Debian Linux w/ Openbox)

- Homepage: http://www.archbang.org/
- Forums: http://bbs.archbang.org/
- Screenshot: http://archbang.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2011-10-01-192203_1024x768_scrot.png
- Wiki: http://wiki.archbang.org/
- DistroWatch Entry: http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=archbang

### ArchEX

ArchEX, based on Arch Linux, is one of the Linux Live DVDs created by C.A. Exton, the desktop environment of which is LXDE. The latest release is ArchEX 2013 (130207) 64bit/32bit dual DVD.

- Homepage: http://archex.exton.net/
- Forums:
- Screenshot: http://archex.exton.net/archex-2013/archex-2013-desktop.jpg
- Wiki:
- DistroWatch Entry:

### Arch Hurd

Arch Hurd is a port of Arch Linux to the GNU/Hurd platform

- Homepage: http://www.archhurd.org/
- Forums: http://bbs.archhurd.org/ [dead link 2013-05-20]
- Wiki: http://wiki.archhurd.org
- Mailing Lists: http://lists.archhurd.org/

Most discussions happens in #archhurd on irc.freenode.net.

### Arch Linux ARM

Arch Linux ARM is the new unified effort from PlugApps & ArchMobile.

- Homepage: http://archlinuxarm.org/
- Forums: http://archlinuxarm.org/forum/
- Documentation: http://archlinuxarm.org/support
- Screenshots:
- DistroWatch Entry:

### archboot

Archboot is designed for installation or rescue operations. It provides both the i686 and x86_64 architectures on one CD. It uses hwdetect and a different install script from the official Arch Linux install images. It runs in RAM using iniramfs, without any special filesystems like squashfs, thus it is limited to the RAM which is installed in your system.

- Homepage: https://projects.archlinux.org/?p=archboot.git;a=summary
- Forums: https://bbs.archlinux.org/
- Documentation: ftp://ftp.archlinux.org/iso/archboot/Readme.txt
- Screenshots:
- DistroWatch Entry:

### archlive

Archlive is a Simple-Chinese live system based on Arch GNU/Linux. It is distinct from the Arch Live! distribution, adding Chinese language software and packages, but it is based upon Arch Live!

- Homepage: http://code.google.com/p/archlive/
- Documentation: http://code.google.com/p/archlive/w/list
- Screenshots:
- DistroWatch Entry:

### Bluestar Linux

Bluestar Linux is targeted at the desktop and is mainly focused on providing a user-friendly KDE environment with a full suite of graphical tools and applications. Out-of-the-box, both editions provide multilingual support that spans the globe. The Bluestar Full Edition provides a complete development environment and an augmented multimedia, networking, graphics and office tool-set. Both editions also have correlated versions supporting the Intel GMA3600 (GMA500) GPU at a 1024x600 native resolution by default, and other resolutions via configuration. Although still under development, Bluestar Linux easily supports everyday use, and changes and updates are documented on a regular basis. Fixes are always incorporated into subsequent releases which occur at least twice a month.

- Homepage: http://bluestarlinux.org/
- Forums: http://bluestarlinux.org/index.php?action=forum
- Documentation: http://bluestarlinux.org/index.php?action=articles
- Screenshots: http://bluestarlinux.org/index.php?action=gallery
- DistroWatch Entry: TBA

### Bridge Linux

Bridge Linux is an Arch-based distro providing a workable OS out-of-the-box, while still using vanilla Arch repos and the AUR. Possible desktop environments at this time are LXDE, Openbox, GNOME, Cinnamon, Xfce, and KDE.

- Homepage: http://millertechnologies.net
- Forums: http://millertechnologies.net/forum
- Screenshots: https://sourceforge.net/projects/bridgelinux/

### CDN Linux

CDN Linux is a system based on Arch GNU/Linux. CDN is designed to servers and routers. It is developed by Polish Freesco Group.

- Homepage: http://cdn.freesco.pl
- Forums: http://forum.freesco.pl
- Documentation: http://cdn.freesco.pl
- Screenshots: http://cdn.freesco.pl
- DistroWatch Entry:

### Chakra

"Our goal with Chakra is to provide an operating system for desktops that is easy to use, but still has all the functionality, clarity, power and speediness of a KISS operating system. In the long term, we want to build an operating system based on Arch Linux that meets most requirements desktop users have today, like easy installation of software, graphical system administration, configuring power management on mobile devices, or sharing an internet connection."

  Source: The Chakra Project - About

Chakra is a distribution heavily geared towards KDE4. The fresh install is GTK-free. All GTK apps are installed in a sandbox-like environment known as bundles. The project seeks for ease of use, using several home-grown graphical utilites for installing and maintanence. Warning: it is still under heavy development, nevertheless it is already suitable for everyday use. Expect some changes in the base system in the near future, like switching from Pacman to Akabei.

- Homepage: http://chakra-project.org/
- Forums: http://chakra-project.org/bbs/
- Documentation: http://chakra-project.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page
- Screenshots: http://chakra-project.org/
- DistroWatch Entry: http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=chakra

### CTKArch (formerly CTKArchLive)

A lightweight Arch-based liveCD using c²DE (openbox) that includes English and French locales.

- Homepage: http://ctkarch.org/
- Forums: http://ctkarch.org/forum/
- Documentation: http://ctkarch.org/documentation/
- Screenshots: http://ctkarch.org/download/
- DistroWatch Entry: http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=ctkarch

### DidJiX

DidJiX is the free and open source digital DJ software Mixxx (http://www.mixxx.org/) powered by the simple and lightweight distribution Linux ArchLinux (https://www.archlinux.org/) on a usb live system! DidJiX is build with the Archiso project (Archiso)

- Homepage: http://didjix.blogspot.com/
- Forums:
- Documentation: http://didjix.blogspot.com/ or https://bitbucket.org/patatetom/didjix/wiki
- Screenshots: http://didjix.blogspot.com/
- DistroWatch Entry:

### Kahel OS

"Kahel OS is the first and remains to be the only Filipino Linux Distro with the rolling release model on Arch Linux + GNOME. In the community, it is the first to release (non-beta) such Linux OS on Arch Linux + GNOME."

  Source: Kahel OS

- Homepage: http://www.kahelos.org/
- Forums: https://www.facebook.com/pages/KahelOS-Community/185694278170677
- Documentation: https://www.facebook.com/pages/KahelOS-Community/185694278170677
- Screenshots: https://plus.google.com/photos/112769275752877962261/albums/5684026096095832209
- DistroWatch Entry: http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=kahelos

### LinHES

LinHES (Linux Home Entertainment System) is a distro based heavily on Arch and centered around MythTV, with the expressed goal of being a HES-appliance. Utilizing open source software and off the shelf hardware, you'll be able to assemble a box that can serve as a PVR, Jukebox, Image Viewer, and Game Station. Users can go from a blank hard drive to fully functional MythTV system in literally 15-20 min. For more information, please see the LinHES wikipage.

- Homepage: http://www.linhes.org/
- Forums: http://forum.linhes.org/
- Documentation: http://www.linhes.org/
- Screenshots:
- DistroWatch Entry: http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=linhes

### live.linuX-gamers.net

The linuX-gamers Live DVD is a bootable medium with a collection of popular 3D games. It contains both the NVIDIA and ATI proprietary Linux drivers and includes the following games: BzFLag, Enemy Territory, Glest, Nexuiz, Sauerbraten, Torcs, Tremulous, True Combat: Elite, Warsow and World of Padman. Although the live DVD is based on Arch Linux, it does not offer any desktop Linux functionality except gaming.

- Homepage: http://live.linux-gamers.net/
- Forums: http://github.com/svenstaro/lglive
- Documentation: http://github.com/svenstaro/lglive
- Screenshots: http://live.linux-gamers.net/images/shot2.png
- DistroWatch Entry: http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=linuxgamers

### Manjaro Linux

Manjaro Linux is a user friendly distribution based on the Xfce desktop environment.(Openbox is also officially supported, while LXDE, KDE, Cinnamon, GNOME, i3, MATE and e17 environment are supported by the Community.) It comes with a custom installer and additional scripts to install a preconfigured and out of the box working system which is fully compatible with Archlinux.

- Homepage: http://manjaro.org/
- Forums: http://forum.manjaro.org/
- Documentation: http://wiki.manjaro.org/
- DistroWatch Entry: http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=manjaro

### Mesk Linux

Mesk Linux is a project aiming at showcasing Arch to Arabic-speaking users . The project is also working on localizing Arch tools and documentation, providing a varitey of installable live mediums (usb, dvds ... ). The distro is using OpenRC.

- Homepage: http://www.mesklinux.org/
- Forums: http://www.forum.mesklinux.org/
- Documentation: http://www.wiki.mesklinux.org/
- Screenshots: http://www.wiki.mesklinux.org/doku.php?id=%D9%85%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%B1:%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%832#%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%B1
- DistroWatch Entry:

### Nosonja

Nosonja is Arch Linux based computer operating system that uses Xfce as the default DE. The goal of Nosonja is to get Arch close to all beginners who want Linux on their computers, but do not want to reinstall their os every 6 months.

- Homepage: https://plus.google.com/102479162698978916755/posts
- New Homepage: http://nosonja.org/

### Parabola GNU/Linux

Parabola GNU/Linux is a fully free (as in freedom) rolling release distribution. It is approved by the FSF and uses a Linux-libre kernel. The Parabola distro uses the Arch Repos and fully free replacements from the Libre Repo.

- Homepage: http://parabolagnulinux.org
- Wiki: http://wiki.parabolagnulinux.org
- IRC: #parabola in Freenode

## Meta Distributions

### archiso

archiso is a very simple set of bash scripts that allow for building live bootable CD/DVD/USB images based on Arch Linux. It uses a small uncomplicated code base and is actively developed. archiso is the tool used by Arch Linux to generate the official CD/USB images. It is a very generic tool, so it could potentially be used to generate anything from rescue systems, to install disks, to special interest live systems, and who knows what else. Simply put, if it involves Arch on a shiny coaster, it can do it.

- Homepage: https://projects.archlinux.org/?p=archiso.git;a=summary
- Forums https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=73878
- Documentation: wiki article on archlinux.org
- Screenshots:
- DistroWatch Entry:

## Arch Influenced Distros

### Alpine Linux

Alpine Linux is a run-from-RAM linux distribution. Its original target was small appliances like routers, VPN gateways, or embedded x86 devices. However, it supports hosting other Linux guest OSes under VServer control, making it an attractive hosting solution as well. Though Alpine Linux may not actually be based on Arch, its build system is undoubtably inspired by Arch. 2 3

- Homepage: http://alpinelinux.org
- Documentation: http://wiki.alpinelinux.org/w/index.php?title=Documentation

### Enlisy

Enlisy is an i686 optimized Linux distribution for Pentium 2 based processors and higher. It is also as simple as possible when it comes to the construction of its underlying core. Enlisy uses its own package manager Apport, which is is based on Libpysrc and Libpypac, which are inspired by Arch's package manager Pacman. Enlisy also uses InitNG for the init system.

- Homepage: http://enlisy.com/
- Forums:
- Documentation: http://enlisy.org/ewiki/Documentation
- Screenshots:
- DistroWatch Entry:

### Frugalware

"Frugalware Linux is a general-purpose Linux distribution designed for intermediate users who are familiar with command-line operations. It is based on Slackware, but uses a different package management system, Pacman."

  Source: Wikipedia

- Homepage: http://frugalware.org
- Forums: http://forums.frugalware.org
- Documentation: http://frugalware.org/docs
- Screenshots: http://frugalware.org/screenshots
- DistroWatch Entry: http://distrowatch.com/frugalware

## Recovery Distributions

### PoliArch

"PoliArch is an Italian distribution and live CD featuring a number of system rescue and data recovery tools. "

- Homepage: http://www.poliarch.org

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