# Arch based distributions (active)

See Inactive distributions for distributions which are no longer maintained.

## Specialty Distributions

### alphaOS

alphaOS is a simple and minimalistic Linux distribution for the x86-64 architecture, 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 operating system 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 the desktop, and even as a server with the 'base' install.

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: KDE, GNOME 3 (default), MATE, Cinnamon, Openbox and Xfce.

Antergos can be installed by booting the Live ISO image and using our graphical installer, Cnchi.

- Homepage: http://www.antergos.com/
- Forums: http://forum.antergos.com/
- Screenshots: http://www.linuxscreenshots.org/?distro=antergos
- Download and Try: http://antergos.com/try-it/
- About: http://antergos.com/about/
- DistroWatch Entry: http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=antergos

### ArchAssault

ArchAssault, everything you love about Arch Linux but with the security professional and hackers in mind. Currently supporting i686, x86_64, armv6h, armv7h. You can use the installer ISO or just add the repo to your existing Arch Linux install. It is simple to add and remove the repo as you need and get back to a clean Vanilla Arch install. There is an ever growing list of tools and follow the Arch standards.

The ARM line is to help you build the security devices of your dreams with many Open Source devices on the market. The project also supports some of the Open Source AutoPilot hardware out there. This will allow you to add a payload brain to your drones with ease and add capabilities.

- Homepage: https://archassault.org
- ISOs: https://sourceforge.net/projects/archassault/files/iso/
- Wiki: http://wiki.archassault.org
- Bug Tracker: https://bugs.archassault.org
- GitHub: https://github.com/ArchAssault-Project
- IRC: irc://irc.freenode.net/#ArchAssault

### 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

### ArchBSD

ArchBSD began in July 2010 in which an attempt to bring the much popular pacman to FreeBSD, too ease the pain of upgrading and maintaining a system with ports, or from outdated packages. Following The Arch Way philosophy, Arch BSD is lightweight, flexible, simple and aims to be very UNIX-like.

- Homepage: http://www.archbsd.net/
- Forums: https://bbs.archbsd.net/
- Wiki: https://wiki.archbsd.net/
- Bug Tracker: https://bugs.archbsd.net/

### 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 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:

### BBQLinux

BBQLinux is a user-friendly Linux distribution made for Android developers and everyone who prefers a ready-to-use system. It has everything on board to build AOSP or AOSP-based Distributions like OmniROM or CyanogenMod. The default desktop environment is "MATE". It is using vanilla Arch repos, the AUR and a BBQLinux specific repo. BBQLinux can be installed by booting the Live DVD and using our graphical Installer called "BBQLinux Installer".

- Homepage: http://www.bbqlinux.org
- Screenshots: http://bbqlinux.org/screenshots
- Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/106642342159578225975
- DistroWatch Entry: -
- IRC: #bbqlinux on freenode

### BlackArch Linux

BlackArch Linux is a distribution for pentesters and security researchers. It sports over 600 tools and a live ISO with multiple window managers. The BlackArch package repository is compatible with normal/existing/your Arch installations.

- Homepage http://blackarch.org/index.html
- Github https://github.com/BlackArch/blackarch
- Twitter https://twitter.com/blackarchlinux
- IRC irc://irc.freenode.net/blackarch

### 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/
- Sourceforge: http://sourceforge.net/projects/bluestarlinux/
- 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 [dead link 2014-03-17]
- Forums: http://forum.freesco.pl
- Documentation: http://cdn.freesco.pl [dead link 2014-03-17]
- Screenshots: http://cdn.freesco.pl [dead link 2014-03-17]

### 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://chakraos.org/
- Forums: http://chakraos.org/forum/
- Documentation: http://chakraos.org/wiki/
- Screenshots: http://chakraos.org/ [dead link 2014-03-17]
- DistroWatch Entry: http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=chakra

### 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://easy.open.and.free.fr/didjix/
- Forums:
- Documentation: http://easy.open.and.free.fr/didjix/install.html
- Screenshots: http://easy.open.and.free.fr/didjix/screenshots.html
- DistroWatch Entry:

### 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

### Manjaro Linux

Manjaro Linux is a user friendly distribution based on the Xfce, KDE, and Openbox environments. The LXDE, Cinnamon, GNOME, i3, MATE and e17 environments 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.

- 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:
- Screenshots:
- DistroWatch Entry:

### 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

## 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

### 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

### KaOS

"The idea behind KaOS is to create a tightly integrated rolling and transparent distribution for the modern desktop, build from scratch with a very specific focus. Focus on one DE (KDE), one toolkit (Qt), one architecture (x86_64) plus a focus on evaluating and selecting the most suitable tools and applications. All work is geared toward packaging, not developing new tools or applications."

  Source: KaOS A lean KDE distribution

- Homepage: http://kaosx.us/
- Forums: http://kaosx.us/phpBB3/
- Documentation: http://kaosx.us/faq/
- DistroWatch Entry: none yet

## 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

Category:

- About Arch