PantherX compared to other distributions

Table of Content

General

PantherX is a GNU Guix downstream distribution, with the aim to provide a more complete, lightweight and user friendly computing environment.

What sparked PantherX was one user’s frustration with the direction of Apple’s MacOS and the endless number of failed attempts to permanently switch to any of the “popular” Linux distributions. While far from perfect (yet), PantherX has finally sealed the deal, and is improving on a daily basis. It just feels right and literally never breaks - much of this is thanks to Guix and LXQt.

GNU Guix

  • contains no non-free software but PantherX makes them available, where superior (or necessary)
  • supports GNU Hurd and Linux Libre as Kernel, PantherX additionally supports non-free Kernel
  • relies on GNU Shepherd as init system, so does PantherX

Read more about the differences between Linux and Linux-libre on stackexchange.com

Debian

  • relies on systemd as init, PantherX uses GNU Shepherd
  • has a fixed release model with stable versions often shipping very old packages
  • has a huge community that supports virtually all desktop environments without specific focus
  • uses apt package manager

Fedora

  • relies on systemd as init, PantherX uses GNU Shepherd
  • releases a new version every 6 months, PantherX uses a rolling release cycle
  • supports various desktop environments including Gnome, KDE and LXQt. PantherX supports only LXQt.

Slackware

  • Slackware uses BSD-style init scripts, PantherX uses GNU Shepherd
  • stable snapshots are available but many users rely on the -current branch which makes this effectively rolling
  • package manager doesn’t handle dependencies

NixOS

  • GNU Guix and PantherX where in large parts inspired by NixOS
  • Nix uses various languages, and a special DSL for packaging, PantherX uses Guile for everything
  • supports various desktop environments

Beginner-friendly

Ubuntu

  • is based on Debian with GNOME as default desktop environment. PantherX defaults to a more lightweight LXQt.
  • Ubuntu relies on systemd as init, PantherX uses GNU Shepherd
  • has a fixed release model

Linux Mint

  • is based on Ubuntu with Cinnamon as it’s default desktop
  • Linux Mint relies on systemd as init, PantherX uses GNU Shepherd
  • has a fixed release model

openSUSE

  • openSUSE relies on systemd as init, PantherX uses GNU Shepherd
  • uses KDE as default desktop environment but supports others as well
  • is available as a stable and rolling release

Manjaro

  • is based on Arch with Xfce as it’s default desktop but supports others as well
  • both Manjaro and PantherX rely on a rolling release cycle
  • Manjaro relies on systemd as init, PantherX uses GNU Shepherd

See also

If you want to read a more in-depth comparison of GNU Guix with other distributions: Guix: A most advanced operating system

PantherX & (unofficial) GNU Guix Wiki.

Last update: 2024-04-21 10:28:03 +0000 | Apache-2.0

Inspired by the excellent Arch Linux Wiki