Void Linux
Independent rolling-release Linux distribution using the runit init system and XBPS package manager
HN commenters like Void as a fast, stable daily driver1234 that skips systemd and stays simpler than most big distros.567 Complaints are scattered rather than common: one commenter hit more app problems from musl,8 and others ran into hardware trouble, such as buggy suspend on an old MacBook Air and a vendor scanner driver that stopped working.910
Why people recommend it
Daily driver · 3
Commenters use it as their everyday system, one for eight years.
“It's my daily driver for the last 8 years.”
“if you want a stable chimera linux as a daily driver, go to voidlinux.org.”
Show 1 more
“All the other daily stuff works great on MX/Void”
Stability · 2
Described as ridiculously stable for a rolling-release distro.
“Void is fast and ridiculously stable, even more so given it's a rolling release distro”
“if you want a stable chimera linux as a daily driver, go to voidlinux.org.”
No systemd · 3
Valued as a distro that runs without systemd.
“I switched to it recently and now my media PC boots faster than my TV takes to turn on.”
“All the other daily stuff works great on MX/Void”
Show 1 more
“I prefer things like alpine/void”
Speed · 2
Fast in use, with one media PC booting faster than a TV turns on.
“I switched to it recently and now my media PC boots faster than my TV takes to turn on.”
“Void is fast and ridiculously stable, even more so given it's a rolling release distro”
Simplicity · 2
Seen as refreshingly simpler than most big distros.
“It's my daily driver for the last 8 years.”
“I prefer things like alpine/void”
Package range · 1
One commenter was impressed by the breadth of the package repository.
“Void is fast and ridiculously stable, even more so given it's a rolling release distro”
Caveats and dissent
musl issues · 1
One former user recalls more app problems because of musl.
“I do remember having more problems there because of musl”
Laptop hardware · 1
Resume from suspend was buggy on an old MacBook Air.
“otherwise, I really dig it”
Vendor drivers · 1
Vendor packages target a few distros, and a scanner shim eventually stopped working.
“I had a V33, and I use Void.”
Missing packages · 1
A linked article's author found programs missing from the repository, though a commenter disputed it.
“Void is fast and ridiculously stable, even more so given it's a rolling release distro”
Often compared with
Who recommends it in their own words
Threads where it came up
- Ask HN: Anyone still do work on Intel Macs? 1 mention
- Google will expand age checks on Android worldwide till the end of the year 1 mention
- FreeBSD 16 Retires the Last of Its GPL Code from Its Base System 1 mention
- Replacing Systemd with OpenRC in Debian 1 mention
- Using the Epson Perfection V39 II Scanner on Ubuntu 1 mention
- Alpine Linux 3.24.0 Released 1 mention
Data: void-linux.json. Quotes are verbatim; the verdict and theme labels are written by a model from these comments, and every clause links to its sources.
All comments 10
“otherwise, I really dig it”
“I switched to it recently and now my media PC boots faster than my TV takes to turn on.”
“It's my daily driver for the last 8 years.”
“I do remember having more problems there because of musl”
“I had a V33, and I use Void.”
“except desktop (I use Void btw)”
“if you want a stable chimera linux as a daily driver, go to voidlinux.org.”
“All the other daily stuff works great on MX/Void”
“Void is fast and ridiculously stable, even more so given it's a rolling release distro”
“I prefer things like alpine/void”