The Arch-Derivative Duel to Find Your Ideal Distro
This article is also available in french
In the bustling world of Linux distributions, picking a side can feel like an epic quest. Distrowatch, the famous popularity barometer, tracks the current trends: CachyOS now sits at the top of the rankings for 2025. But here is a spoiler alert: being "number one" in clicks doesn't mean it is the dream distribution you will stick with for the long haul.
The essential task for any Linux user is to anchor themselves in a culture—whether it be Debian, Fedora, Gentoo, or Arch Linux—and then find the derivative that best fits their needs. There are, of course, more complex distributions with specific advantages like NixOS (declarative and reproducible) or QubesOS (security via isolation). But for lovers of the Arch philosophy—simplicity, modernity, and "Do It Yourself"—the current duel is between two champions: EndeavourOS and CachyOS.
The Arch Philosophy: A Common Foundation
Before the fight, let’s recall the rules. Arch Linux defines simplicity as the absence of unnecessary additions. It is a system where the user is the master on board. EndeavourOS and CachyOS share this DNA but diverge radically in their methods.
CachyOS: The Obsession with Speed 🚀
CachyOS doesn't do things by halves. From the very first boot, the system breathes power. Animations are fluid, and apps launch instantly.
- Under the hood: The core reactor is an optimized kernel (often using the BORE scheduler) designed to prioritize desktop responsiveness even under heavy load.
- Black Magic: Packages are compiled with modern instructions (x86-64-v3, v4) and aggressive optimizations (LTO, PGO, BOLT).
- The Feeling: Everything is pre-configured, the theme is polished; it is a "turnkey" experience.
However... this extensive pre-configuration can be a trap. "Undoing" someone else's choices often takes longer than building your own. Furthermore, maintaining their own repositories (as CachyOS does for its optimized packages) introduces a layer of complexity that can sometimes cost you stability during a critical update.
EndeavourOS: The Quiet Force 🛡️
EndeavourOS takes the opposite approach. It is likely the closest experience to "vanilla" Arch, but without the pain of a manual installation.
- Philosophy: It gives you a solid foundation, and... that’s it. You build the rest.
- Stability: By staying very close to the official Arch repositories, it avoids nasty surprises. It is rock solid.
- Freedom: No heavy overlay. If EndeavourOS disappeared tomorrow, your system would continue its life as a classic Arch without issues.
💡 The R&D Minute: Why does Opsvox care?
You might wonder why, with our 25 years of Open Source expertise, we spend time testing "bleeding edge" distributions like CachyOS. It is simple: it is our crystal ball. 🔮
At Opsvox, we don’t just follow trends; we anticipate them. Testing these distributions in R&D allows us to validate technologies (new schedulers, optimized compilers, file systems) that won't reach production in "Enterprise" environments (like RHEL or Debian Stable) for another 6 to 12 months.
This active monitoring of the rolling release model forges our expertise in tomorrow's High Availability architectures. It allows us to distinguish between a "gadget" and a true disruptive innovation for our clients. That is the difference between undergoing technology and mastering it. 😉
The Field Verdict: Performance vs. Reality
Let’s be honest: in daily use, the speed difference is often imperceptible.
Yes, CachyOS will score a few more points on a synthetic benchmark. But for coding, browsing, or administering servers, a well-maintained EndeavourOS is just as snappy.
| Criteria | CachyOS 🏎️ | EndeavourOS 🏗️ |
|---|---|---|
| Target | Gamers, benchmark fanatics, recent hardware | Devs, Sysadmins, those wanting a "clean" system |
| Maintenance | Depends on CachyOS repos (and Arch) | Almost 100% Arch (more future-proof) |
| Stability | Slight risk of breakage due to optimizations | Very robust (Rock solid) |
Conclusion: Which Distro for Your Laptop?
If you are looking to squeeze every drop of performance out of your latest Ryzen CPU for gaming, CachyOS is a marvel of engineering.
But for a main work machine, where reliability is paramount and where you want to master every brick of your environment, EndeavourOS remains the choice of reason and peace of mind.
In both cases, you are joining the elite: those who understand that Linux is not just an OS, but an infinite playground. 🐧✨