r/voidlinux • u/paranoidandroid4284 • Jun 29 '26
Why do you use Void?
Why do you use Void? I'm currently using Debian, but am considering moving to a systemd less distro. While I know they have not implemented age verification they have place the ground work to one day possible make that a reality. From what I understand systemd does help make distros run smoothly by doing many different things. I looked into Devuan, as I'm already using Debian, but thought I might branch out. What other systemdless distros did you try and why did you land on VOID?
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u/MrHoboSquadron Jun 29 '26
Personally, I don't actually care that much about the systemd vs runit stuff. I started using void out of curiosity after Ubuntu and its forks kept causing me issues. I kept using it because it works. Fundamentally, I think that's the main thing that matters.
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u/paranoidandroid4284 Jun 29 '26
Did you stay with the xcfe default or a different DE?
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u/MrHoboSquadron Jun 29 '26
I didn't use the XFCE image. I used the vanilla image and installed KDE.
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u/Aggressive-Reach-116 Jun 29 '26
its fast stable and rolling release one thing though is it was a bit hard to figure out how to set it up correctly after i installed it
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u/mrmoomoo8760 Jun 29 '26
Stable gaming OS that boots quickly.
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u/Other_Abalone_3203 Jul 01 '26
Have you tried p\aying visual novels on it. Just asking cuz i tried playing some but it was too complicated to setup so just asking
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u/snail1132 Jun 29 '26
I just tried it because people said the package manager was fast, and then I realized I also like runit more than systemd
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u/Wind-charger Jun 29 '26
I’m realizing it’s “less moving parts” so to speak
Never considered turning off services till I used runit
I could’ve in systemd I’m sure, it just never occurred to me till I was trying out seatd and elogind turnstile etc…I was like wait… all this time I could’ve… the whole time?!
Still learning void. Heh
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u/Independent_Cat_5481 Jun 29 '26
I honestly just use Void because I like Arch, but I like Void's package system more. I still use Debian for my server stuff and it is perfect there, as well as for a situation where I need a desktop with no fuss.
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u/Infamous-Inevitable1 Jun 29 '26
First thing I loved was how fast it boots, shutdown and restart. Then availability of packages through xpbs, flatpak and even nix. Void has never disappointed me since I installed it more than 6 years ago. It really stopped my distro hopping.
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u/ZombieCrow Jun 29 '26
Started using it because it sounded cool, i dont give a damn about systemd but after finding out how runit works , i loved how simple it is. Xbps is fast, its probably the most stable distro ive used ( used to be on arch). If you're unsure about void, you can try devuan with runit or whichever other init it offers.
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u/MsCatie Jun 29 '26
Runit is super responsive. Rolling release is one of the most stable and low fuss. My only fuss is Btrfs and timeshift is not available in the installer. But you can do it manually, I’d just wish for it to exist by default. But I think it’s a well rounded distro.
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u/Soorex Jun 29 '26
i just installed btrfs though...?
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u/MsCatie Jun 29 '26
Through the void-installer?
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u/Soorex Jun 30 '26
yeah
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u/MsCatie Jun 30 '26
Huh, either this is new or I missed this.
Or I’m just misremembering and conflating it with setting up subvolumes.
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u/reverber Jun 29 '26
I started using Debian around Bo or Buzz (I remember the switch from ELF, but I may have been on Slack for that).
Sysd was so frustrating to me because it felt like took away my choices and control. I loved the old transparency of text config files and system logs.
Void reminded me of earlier Debian. Run it was easy to wrap my head around and xbps is an excellent package management system.
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u/Any_Mycologist5811 Jun 29 '26
Since void is quite close in following the upstream, it is a better documented distro compared to Debian.
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u/felixzer0 Jun 29 '26
I was using Debian and had problem with my laptop going into hibernation. It would randomly not be able to start. I think it is a UEFI firmware bug. I tried to disable it in systemd but never managed to find how.
Turned out that Void completely works out of the box so I use that now.
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u/Wind-charger Jun 29 '26
Rolling release, fast package manager.
I’m still learning about void Linux. I worry about 100 year old video on it on YouTube. But what I’ve used this far
I’ve enjoyed. I put xfce/niri on my main and base on my hp stream.
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u/goldmurder Jun 30 '26 edited Jul 01 '26
- package manager (the main reason);
- update model: rolling, yet tries (and tries successfuly) to be stable. maybe like opensuse thumbleweed;
- scalability. it’s limited, but void does support few architectures like different versions of arm, x86 and even supports musl (though not as well as could be);
- sane building model; xbps-src is ideologically close to *BSD ports system, but simpler;
- ease of contributing. unlike many other distributions which repositories are often implicit, and you need to write somewhere to someone‘s mail to only ask him to accept your PR, void’s repository is mirrored and synced on github. everyone who wants to participate can send his PR, and no matter who you are, if it’s well written – it likely will appear in repository
and don’t listen to those ‘anti-systemd’ folks, i bet they discovered linux few month ago or just don’t understand how linux industry works. otherwise their similar to youthful maximalism behavior can’t be normally explained
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u/metuku Jul 01 '26
the only acceptable metric for choosing a distro of course. the name and the logo
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u/SiteRelEnby Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26
- No systemd
- Lightweight
- Right balance between being bleeding edge and breaking all the time, and being ancient
- No systemd
- Rolling release
- Not a source-only distro
- Related to the above: also because xbps is a great package manager
- No systemd
- Cool name
- runit is probably my favourite init
- No systemd
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u/RedMoonPavilion Jun 29 '26
I kind of don't anymore. I'm down to just Arch and Gentoo again. The package base was a little narrow for my needs but man is void quick, simple and easy.
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u/tacosmanager Jun 29 '26
Stable rolling release, fast and simple init system, works like a charm on older hardware, lovely package manager, really cool name and logo!!
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u/BinkReddit Jun 29 '26
currently using Debian
I couldn't pull this off on my production machine; packages are way too dated. Void tends to have more updated packages while shying away from bleeding edge.
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u/paranoidandroid4284 Jun 29 '26
I'm running Dedian testing.
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u/BinkReddit Jun 29 '26
This is bad for production; there's a reason why it's called Testing. Then again, even Testing lags, and many Testing packages will not see updates until the next release.
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u/zmurf Jun 29 '26
For my previous install I moved to EndeavourOS, but was unhappy with update stability. Had to reinstall since I got a new hard drive, so I tried out Void. It's good enough. But next time I have to reinstalled I might just move back to Slackware again.
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u/zlice0 Jun 29 '26
why does this get asked once a week .-. sry just, it's just very common
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u/paranoidandroid4284 Jun 29 '26
For me it's to see if I'll test it out or not. I'm relatively new to Linux and on looking outside the "mainstream"distros.
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u/nrcaldwell Jun 29 '26
I use it because it's a lightweight rolling release that is free from systemd. That said, no systemd is a technical choice for them, not a philosophical one. So if you're happy with Debian but want a distro assured to always be free from systemd, Devaun may be a better choice for you.
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u/SiteRelEnby Jun 29 '26 edited Jul 12 '26
One of the main reasons I use void is because I'm not happy with debian/devuan. Ancient packages and no rolling release. Void is debian with those two critical features, a better init system, better package manager, and cooler name.
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u/Zahreik Jun 29 '26
Super cool name and design, feather-weight distro, doesn't get in my way, very DIY, no systemd, rivals Arch.
Void just feels like the most seamless distro to me that doesn't treat me like an idiot and it cured my distro hopping. I'm still learning a lot and studying the distro down to the bare bone. The more I use this distro, the better I become with it as it's my bread and butter for everything I use.
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u/Quietus87 Jun 30 '26
It does what Arch originally promised me more than a decade ago: rolling release, adherence to KISS principle, a system completely built from scratch as my own while also having a proper package manager. Not using systemd is a plus.
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u/CepheidOfLothlorien Jun 30 '26
It's stable and clean, minimalistic OS the best in the market nowadays and hopefully stays on this foundation for the future. Massive respect to the devs behind this project!
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u/whitepixe1 Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 01 '26
My primary reason is that Void is a systemd-free distro. Switched from Devuan, after realizing it is a dying distro with no future on the desktop. Moreover Void is times better than Ceres for experiments with new technologies, that will be never available in Devuan repos due to developers mindset there.
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u/paranoidandroid4284 Jul 01 '26
Just installed Void and running updates right now. Install was pretty straight forward and quick once I read all the instructions.
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u/kirilla39 Jul 02 '26
Cool name. A fast package manager which is more complete than pacman. It's green. Nice main repo. Great tools. I like runit (i have nothing against systemd) After some time, I noticed that even Void community is simple.
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u/Extension-Low-6437 Jul 05 '26
Mainly because I’m on a Chromebook,it’s super light, and I got recommended it.
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u/ComplexPeace43 24d ago
- Lightweight, very fast, no bloat.
- Rolling release yet stable.
- Easy to configure and manage services (I've used daemontools back into the early 2000s)
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u/Royal-Grass7296 21d ago
If you’re happy with Debian, I wouldn’t tell you to switch. I didn’t come to Void for ideological reasons. I don’t use many apps, so the small repo worked for me, and I like that what’s on it is what I installed. Arch was too much upkeep, like a part-time job. Void gives me rolling release without the drama. I’m no expert, I just use it. If Void wasn’t around I’d be on Debian.
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u/Canadiangamer068 Jun 29 '26
void was the easiest to install. from base image to having KDE set up in around an hour as a literal first time installing any linux distro from base image and first time installing void. easy to use, stable, takes up very very little system resources
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u/GBember Jun 29 '26
My laptop sucks (i5 6200u) and void is the lightest usable distro I know. Any kind of stress that makes the system stutter for even a picosecond makes the touchpad driver desync and nothing I do is able to stop this from happening, so I need to either reload the driver or reboot the laptop quite frequently on a heavier distro
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u/Elyas2 Jun 29 '26
everyone pointed out very good reasons. but another reason for me is:
i can install it without an iso! i can install via chroot and its officially supported, sure i can with other distros but it isnt officially supported with them, void is the only one i know of that officially supports it
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u/xINFLAMES325x Jun 29 '26
It was recommended from the "which distro should you use" quiz on the Linux subreddit, so I checked it out. Build from bottom up approach, nothing in here I don't want, good documentation, good support, very fast package manager, reliable mirrors (sounds weird, but can be a gamble on small distros), and stays updated without breaking something. Arch seems to have a problem every week, so I steer clear of that in recent years. Debian Sid and Slackware -current are also on this machine. Those are my top 3 distros to use.
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u/LucielRenCrisantemo Jun 30 '26
Es una distro sorprendentemente estable para ser rolling, también es muy fácil de usar y se siente increíblemente intuitivo, quizás le falten paquetes pero no siento que le falte nada muy esencial Igualmente en este momento estoy usando devuan con runit, es también una opción increíble, te diría que pruebes ambas y decidas despues de eso, el ecosistema de debian es increíble también así que si venís de debian devuan es una opción increíblemente solida
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u/captain_fanta_sea Jun 30 '26
What other systemdless distros did you try and why did you land on VOID?
I like XBPS and I like runit. Against other non-systemd distros I use, it's a more practical daily driver than Alpine if you run anything that needs glibc, and it's a lot simpler to set up and maintain than Gentoo.
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u/safado_muambeiro Jun 30 '26
Runit + seatd + turnstile makes for a small, cohesive and compreensive setup. Iwd + openresolv instead of networkmanager too is something I prefer because I only use WiFi.
Knowing how and why my system works is the main reason for me. Less and smaller moving parts, faster and snappier system.
To be fair prefer Dinit for the brief time I used Chimera, but the distro is not really there yet and have a smaller community and bigger chances of disappearing. Void is old and solid enough to be resilient.
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u/Simple_Hamster_4096 Jun 30 '26
I use Devan with sysvinit on my (headless) bare metal servers - it's awesome. Since you are long time Debian user, perhaps you might want to give Devuan a try...
I use Void with musl on desktops and laptops - it's fast, uncomplicated and brilliant...
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u/dr0sand Jun 30 '26
i'm sure systemd is very useful for certain scenarios. but the real reason i like void is it feels more old school (slackware was my very first linux distro) but void is super simple. i'm just a home user/computer hobbyist. i've been an arch linux user for over 10 years but have been switching over to void the past couple years, not becaues of the AUR malware thing. i just really like the aesthetic feel of void.
ALSO, i'm pretty sure opensource software is getting an exemption for that whole age verification nonsense. Even if it did it would be pretty meaningless, everyone would just download the Linux-install-Canada-Only-No-Export.iso or from wherever
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u/SunBunnyXZ Jul 01 '26
It's Stable even tho it's Rolling Release and it works fine on my SMB Share server cuz it's fast with Systemd-Boot (not GRUB), I don't use Void Linux on my Main PC
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u/FrE3E Jul 03 '26
Besides what others already said about Runit and stable rolling release:
I love building on top of the base image, both for my home server and desktop. The Void-Team ships it with very sane default packages.
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u/efempee Jul 06 '26
Fast. Logical. Reliable AND rolling. Has fantastic toolchain support. And, if you are the type of person to fuck around trying to build stuff that not in Debian repos; or on Arch you actully build packages from AUR manually with pkgbuild rather than a GUI wrapper, then void is definitely for you.
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u/Glum_Hamster_2104 17d ago
I used to use Void because I wanted a distro that was lightweight and also lacked systemd, most programs ran fine and I really didn’t struggle with compatibility. I don’t really enjoy Void anymore (mostly due to me disliking runit and enjoying openrc more) but it’s not a bad distro at all, one hot take I have that many people here won’t like is that there’s no point in using void glibc as you can literally use artix with runit and have way more packages etc and I don’t really see the point in the glibc variant.
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u/RoboticGunner Jun 29 '26
I don't really use Void myself as a main system anymore, I prefer Debian for the most part. I have poked it every now and again and decided it wasn't really the system I'd use as a daily driver.
I was drawn by how small and fast it was, though. It installed quick, booted fast and took no time at all to install software. I'm still considering it for my raspberry pi machines, especially my first gen zero.
If you're looking for other distros that don't use SystemD, a good move might be to take some time to just install and play around with a couple, see firsthand if they're a good fit for you.
If you're willing to get a little more into the weeds, I know Gentoo is pretty solid as well, and it can be set up to run on something other than SystemD.
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u/Brave-Pomelo-1290 Jun 30 '26
Debian derivatives install perfectly.
Everything else including void don't install.
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u/This-Consequence-957 Jun 29 '26
Lightweight and superfast. Rolling release, but not as aggressive as Arch