Back on Arch Linux!
I had been using Artix and Void Linux for the past few months as a way to distance myself from systemd. I enjoyed it for the most part, but there are some things I can’t live without. After almost an year away from Arch, I am now back, and happier than ever!
On my first day away from Arch, I installed Artix with the runit init system. The startup speed was incredible, faster than what I was used to. I was happy to have the AUR by my side, and I never really felt “away” from Arch for the first few days.
After installing a few programs that I regularly use, I noticed that some of them weren’t working. Upon research, I found out that there are versions of popular packages with their systemd components removed. They’re specific to the init system you have installed. This left a bitter taste in my mouth, because I had to use modified versions of applications. These were different from what the author(s) of the package wrote. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but it slowly took its toll on me.
It took me a few months, but I felt unsatisfied with Artix. I did not like how much work I had to do to make it feel like Arch. It did not feel purpose-built for using a different init system. Rather, it felt like Arch modified to fulfil a specific need, the need for a different init system. If I was using runit, I wanted to go all-in. I wanted to use an operating system that puts runit first.
That’s when I stumbled across Void Linux. I heard lots about it in the past, mostly about how it’s stable and rock-steady reliable. And also how it’s updates are nearly impossible to break. I thought it would be perfect for me. However, after the first hour of using Void, I noticed something. I needed the AUR! I found it tedious to install obscure programs that I love to tinker and test with. I had to either:
- Compile most of the applications I want from scratch
- Install a custom repository, trusting a random GitHub user to update it on time
After a week of using Void, I had enough. I certainly understand that it has it’s userbase, people who just want a reliable system that’s lightweight, boots fast, and just works. Unfortunately, I do not fall into that demographic. Arch allows me to update fast and mess around with random scripts and applications, which is what I adore doing in my free time. Void was too boring for me.
All in all, I feel at home using Arch. I do not think I’ll switch my distro for a looooong time! It just works and it fits my needs perfectly.