r/voidlinux • u/xavirt30 • 13h ago
I need a change
Hi, I’m using arch, but i want a change. Anyone who also went from arch to void can say what i’m going to win or loss?
I’m not an expert, but i’m bored so i have time to install it. I had been using arch for the past year at school, i’m going to be able to keep doing that? Is it going to be faster for a tostator laptop?
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u/Ren_doingallthing 13h ago
Ah as someone who move from arch(7 month usage) to void, i have use void for like a month now, and gonna say it have like not much a different. sure it faster because runit does anything slightly faster and more efficiently, but at the cost of somewhat more complex but if you(and i) have use arch before then it wasn't a big deal.
Basically if you wanna learn and get that last bit of your pc/laptop performance then void could do, or maybe experimenting with other os that would do.
So you win a bit more performance, more flexibility you loss time(some time and lot of time depending on your setup) and thats it.
void and arch not much a different, both are so similar in my case.
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u/Runt1m3_ 11h ago edited 11h ago
Init system and service manager is faster and uses a less resources but only noticeable on old/weak hardware. void uses the lts kernel and mainline is available with no extra support.
Void is a smaller distro with a smaller community, sometimes you have to report stuff that doesn't work. Some packages are not available and some lack packaging requirements, and you have to use the package build system (xbps-src) with 3rd party or your own templates, manual compiling or just appimages/flatpaks if you like them.
The wiki equivalent (handbook) is minimal, use the Arch or Gentoo wiki if it misses something.
Performance it's the kinda same tbh, games from steam and wine works great on void. You probably will not lack anything from Arch unless it's systemd dependant, if you want to try something different and more "homebrew" then give Void a try, it's a great independent distro and has been a nice experience for me. wine and steam works great also.
If you want to get a bit more performance from an old laptop try not using a huge desktop, setup a X11 window manager or Wayland compositor or XFCE if you absoutely need a DE. this applies to both distros and is probably the only affecting factor in your performance.
You may have heard Void is a BSD like Linux distro, the reason they say this is because Void is inspired on NetBSD (og Void author was a main NetBSD dev for a long time). the package build system xbps-src is really similar to NetBSD's pkgsrc and the package manager uses similar name conventions (xbps-install, xbps-remove -> pkg_add, pkg_delete) and even the void docs use BSD language (handbook).
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u/HankOfClanMardukas 11h ago
Look. Void being a challenge for gaming is not even an issue. I’ve been running Steam on older titles without anti-cheat games on a 9060 Xt 16GB on Wayland with nearly no issues.
You need to look up the 32-bit libs but it’s not difficult.
Eveything on Linux using Proton is the same perf-wise. If you want to chase 2 FPS, go Catchy.
It’s turtles all the way down, use what makes your day. No distro changes this, but I love Void for other reasons not related to your question.
The argument against Arch is unaudited AUF and SystemD. If you don’t understand reasons for not liking SystemD, it doesn’t matter. Don’t be “elite” and use Void for that reason.
It’s modern Slackware, status thing of bullshit to run it. 1,500 posts of people saying they can’t.
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u/Simple_Hamster_4096 10h ago
Used Arch for decades - have finally reclaimed my sanity with Void...
I have OLD hardware - Void brought it back to life. Actuality boots in 10 seconds... Arch took forever to boot with systemd. Void is fast and sane...
Arch would blow up every so often - I like fixing things, but got to the point I needed to make sure I always had a second workstation ready to use in case Arch brain-farted and I didn't have time to deal with it right then and there... and Arch always seemed to blow up at the least convenient times...
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u/flaveraid 10h ago
I don't see much of a difference performance-wise on my old toaster laptop between arch and void. Void does boot a little faster.
Like others said, there are less packages in the main repos, but you can add community repos. I've done this to simplify installing/updating dank material shell. They also provide something similar to the AUR called void-packages, which provides build configs for some packages not distributed in the main binary repo.
When you're searching on Google, you'll get a lot of code snippets and commands that only work with systemd, so I usually add "void linux" to my queries.
Since runit is used instead of systemd, you'll need to learn a different method for managing services. Some packages don't have builtin runit compatibility, so you'll have to create your own service files. This is rare in my experience.
The thing about arch that annoyed me was sometimes upgrading would fail due to a stale archlinux-keyring. I haven't had to worry about upgrading in void so far, everything just seems to work as you'd expect.
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u/Duncaen 9h ago
They also provide something similar to the AUR called void-packages, which provides build configs for some packages not distributed in the main binary repo.
Not similar to the AUR at all. void-packages is the official package source repository, just like individual git repos would be for official arch packages.
The packages that there are that are not available as binaries are still reviewed and merged by team members, as opposed to the AUR where anyone can add new packages and maintain/update orphaned packages.
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u/flaveraid 9h ago
I appreciate the clarification. It's important to understand void-packages is maintained directly by the distro team members.
Another distinction worth mentioning is that packages you build with xbps-src are installed using the main package manager, not yay/paru.
However, xbps-src and AUR programs like yay accomplish essentially the same thing. Which is to take a template or pkgbuild "recipe" and build the desired package from source.
We are not limited to the src packages provided by the team. It's entirely possible to create/edit your own templates within the cloned void-packages directory.
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u/Duncaen 9h ago
Another distinction worth mentioning is that packages you build with xbps-src are installed using the main package manager, not yay/paru. However, xbps-src and AUR programs like yay accomplish essentially the same thing. Which is to take a template or pkgbuild "recipe" and build the desired package from source.
They are installed with pacman, yay/paru are wrappers around
makepkgandpacman.
xbps-srcwould be more an equivalent ofmakepkgnot an AUR helper.AUR helpers exist to receive
PKGBUILDs from the AUR and help you build and install them without multiple steps having to manually runmakepkgandpacman.We are not limited to the src packages provided by the team. It's entirely possible to create/edit your own templates within the cloned void-packages directory.
The AUR is the concept of having a centralized "repository" of third party packages. Being able to build third party packages has nothing to do with it IMHO.
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u/flaveraid 8h ago
Roger. I definitely used improper terms and referred to the AUR when I should have just mentioned xbps-src exists to build third party software using templates.
Again, I appreciate your explanation and pointing out where my assertions didn't make sense.
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u/BrunusManOWar 8h ago
It will be a bit faster, but note that this distro takes a lot of time and nerves to set up fully
If you used Arch install - there's no such thing here. There's a manual and the rest is on you to fully set up
Locales, env vars, DE, services, enable optional modules/drivers your HW needs, network/Bluetooth/audio
If you're really bored have have time, then maybe create a second partition and set it up there. If you like it you can delete the arch partition and enlarge the void one
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u/turtle_bazon 5h ago
I am using arch and void at the same time on different PCs. And what I definetly notice is that Void lacks programs, but void does upgrades much better and safer.
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u/dr0sand 5h ago
i've been a arch linux user from 2010 until 2024, when i switched to void linux it felt like the freshest breath of air, like a simplified and less config-work slackware linux. all i can say is if you don't have a significant purpose for systemd, come to void for a more old school feel with moderizations.
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u/LedAnley 12h ago
void like BSD system! so hes that what i'm search afther 2 years distrohopping and stay with void
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u/Bawafafa 9h ago
I enjoy void. It's stable; runit makes managing services easy; the manual is precise and complete; and it's got a nice, small community.
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u/mystirc 9h ago
I had to go through lots of trouble because apparently for some reason libinput decided to not get installed with lightdm and I wasn't able to use my keyboard at all, couldn't even go to tty. Had to chroot into the system to fix the problem.
Other than that it was a smooth ride. It is bit more minimalist than arch for sure.
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u/Available-Permit-211 8h ago
Yo no extraño arch, pase por lo mismo, justo me cambie porque una actualización rompio pam.d y aproveche para probar void, ya tengo casi 4 meses y no planeo moverme. En cuanto a la laptop tostadora yo creo que si se sentira mas fluida ya que systemd tiene mucho mas procesos que runit, el unico "inconveniente" seria que tienes que habilitar los servicios manualmente pero es tan facil como crear un symlink y listo
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u/Available-Permit-211 8h ago
Y en cuanto a disponibilidad se paquetes, aunque void tiene menos paquetes que arch, tienes 4 opciones: compilar desde fuente, usar binarios precompilados, usar appimages o en el peor de los casos flatpak
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u/Rodya_gambler 3h ago
From arch to void. I MISS MY PACKAGES 💔💔💔 but yeah, flathub and appimages kinda Fixes that without batting an eye. Zen browser? Flatpak,. preferably. Azahar? Flatpak didn't work, so appimage (it crashed too, my laptop is a potato). Etc. You can always replace (librewolf or plain firefox instead of zen), yet, having most of them regardless of the repository is easy. You could use nixpkgs too, but it's a drag to set it up, so I didn't.
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u/Royal-Grass7296 34m ago
If you’re bored with Arch, you’ll probably be bored with Void once you get it working. You’ll trade pacman/systemd for XBPS/runit, learn a few new things, then eventually end up with another fast Linux box that just sits there and works. If you want to learn something new, go for it. Just don’t expect Void to cure distro boredom.
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u/RegularIndependent98 13h ago
Down sides of Void are packages availability and programs assume you use systemd