Garuda Linux is an Arch-based distribution focused on performance.
Garuda Linux is an Arch-based distribution focused on performance.
Hi everyone. I've been working with Arch for a while and have switched between different Linux distros recently. Most of them are similar except for Manjaro, which now has a lot of unnecessary software. Garuda Linux stands out as the most optimized and efficient I've found so far. It includes performance improvements like ZRAM/ZSwap and a Performance CPU Governor by default, and it even recognized all my drivers and hardware automatically. The installer is user-friendly, and it handles gaming well compared to other distros. If you're into Linux—especially Arch—I strongly suggest giving it a try. Just let me know your thoughts if you give it a shot. I’m not affiliated with it, but I really enjoy using it.
I understand your preference for the distribution, but this goes against core Arch principles. Imposing unusual defaults and prioritizing a small performance boost for gaming purposes feels questionable. I should mention that they made very limited modifications compared to other forks like Manjaro.
Principles Sminciples. Just because of Arch has some unofficial made up principles, doesn't mean other distros shouldn't deviate a little bit and try and implement new things. I've tried just about every Arch based distro there is/was over the years and 99% of them didn't offer anything different. They didn't stand out. To stand out you need to try something different and implement something new. Nothing sketchy about that or the distro.
These options appear to be officially documented on the main page and wiki. It seems they're quite standard. I suppose it's understandable if they seem generic. I'm happy to see something similar. It doesn't seem like any of these provide significant changes. They just picked available items from the official repositories, even including the Zen kernel with a simple install command. From what I understand, even Manjaro users added new features on top of Arch. This appears to be a ready-made Arch Linux distribution with default settings tailored for users. If you're looking for something truly unique, consider alternatives like Oasis, Qubes OS, or NixOS. OpenWRT is intriguing for systems without a memory management unit. Plan9 introduced innovative networking and resource-sharing ideas, while Inferno pushes boundaries further. There are many other noteworthy features beyond just different default choices.
Haha just because they're listed on the official page and wiki doesn't mean they need to be adhered to by every tom, dick and harry. Principles and rules were made to be broken. Yes but more a lot of new users these defaults are 1. less time consuming 2. attractive to new users and especially new users to Arch and 3. it ensures that these defaults/configs work properly with the OS and no user configuration errors occurring. No thanks, the whole point of this post was to recommend something I'm ALREADY happy with. You have failed to see the point of this distro. It's not to divide Arch users, it's to provide a user-friendly interface for NEW Arch users and for previous Arch users who are sick of configuring a distro from scratch. You have wayyyy overthought this and brought it wayyy off topic. And for the traditionalist Arch users who constantly bring up the Arch principles, that's just a cop out. With your theory, 99% of other Arch based distros other than Vanilla Arch itself have broken those principles because they provide some sort of "different" configuration by default. Don't think 99% of users actually give a damn about those principles. If they did Manjaro wouldn't of become so popular.
This approach seems quite simplistic. It's clear the Arch community generally prefers members who understand the setup better, as they won't miss out on essential features. Posts from Manjaro on the Arch forum are quickly removed, highlighting how these distros operate independently using Arch repositories. The core philosophy of Arch emphasizes minimal defaults and letting users customize their experience. Those who choose these distros typically aren't new to Arch, as they lack insight into the underlying configuration. Users who repeatedly reinstall after minor changes often struggle with responsibility and efficiency. It's essentially a shift in accountability—users shouldn't solely depend on maintainers to resolve issues, as this has led to recurring problems. Manjaro serves as a good illustration of how mistakes can affect many, underscoring the importance of personal ownership over software. Ultimately, while others may not care, true Arch users value transparency and control.
Yes, the Zen kernel is designed specifically for the Zen architecture.
It's a kernel with various custom defaults, like adjustments to the CPU scheduler. It works well for multitasking but slows down performance when running a single program. You can find more details there. It's also unusual to pick the Zen kernel for gaming, as it actually reduces speed in that case.