| Artix Linux | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Developer | Core team,[1] Developer team,[2] Support staff[3] |
| Written in | C |
| OS family | Linux (Unix-like) |
| Working state | Current |
| Source model | Open-source |
| Latest release | 20250407 / October 21, 2025; 3 months ago (2025-10-21)[note 1] |
| Latest preview | Weekly ISO's |
| Repository | gitea |
| Package manager | pacman |
| Supported platforms | AMD64 andARM64[4] |
| Kernel type | Monolithic (Linux) |
| Userland | GNU |
| Default user interface | Unix shell,LXQt,LXDE,MATE,Cinnamon,Plasma,XFCE |
| Official website | artixlinux |
Artix Linux (or simplyArtix/ɑːrtɪks/) is arolling-releaseLinuxdistribution based onArch Linux that avoids usingsystemd, instead allowing users to choose betweenOpenRC,runit, s6, and dinit.[5][6]
Artix Linux has its own repositories, and it is not recommended by developers to use Arch packages due to differences such as naming conventions and contrasting init systems.
Arch AURs, a user created respository of Arch programs, are commonly used by Artix users and developers, although not officially supported. This greatly expands the available software for Artix.
Arch OpenRC[7] andManjaro OpenRC were started in 2012. In 2017,[8][9] these projects were merged and Artix Linux was created.
Artix initially offered two installation environments, a base command-line ISO image and the graphicalCalamares installer based onLXQt desktop,[10] with ani3 version following later.[11] Those early versions featured the OpenRC[12] init system. The latest installation media are also available in a variety ofdesktop environments likeLXDE,LXQt,XFCE,MATE,Cinnamon andKDE Plasma.[13] Additionally, two unofficial community editions featuringGTK (XFCE and MATE) andQt (KDE Plasma) desktops and a larger software base are offered, aiming at too-busy-to-customise or less experienced, novice users.[14] All current installation media come in OpenRC, runit, s6, and dinit versions, with the exception of the community ISOs that offer OpenRC only. In July of 2025 the distro released a community live distro based on XLibre, a fork of X Server X.org
Artix dropped support for the popular Gnome Desktop Management environment because of its dependency on SystemD in a fashion that can not be easily worked around[15]
An early review published onDistroWatch on 27 November 2017 found a few bugs, but overall"Artix is working with a good idea [...] It's minimal, it is rolling and it offers a little-used init system. All of these I think make the project worthwhile."[16] More critical, another review at the time from linux-community.de concluded"the results so far are not exactly motivating."[17] Much more favourable reviews were later featured in both sites.[18][19] A review fromSoftpedia gave Artix a 5 out of 5 stars rating, noting its "beautiful and pleasant graphical environments."[20] Distrowatch readers' reviews on Distrowatch are mostly very favourable, with an average rating of 9.3 out of 10.[21]
