Devuan GNU+Linux 6.0.0 Excalibur has been officially released as an alternative to mainstream Linux distributions that rely on systemd, built upon Debian GNU/Linux 13 (Trixie). This version boasts several significant improvements, including a Long-Term Support (LTS) kernel version 6.12 with real-time PREEMPT_RT features for high-performance computing and a revamped package management system with APT 3.0 and Solver3. Devuan 6.0 also introduces a mandatory merged-/usr layout for all installations, which enhances performance by storing temporary files in RAM instead of on disk. The new release drops support for the i386 architecture in its installer ISO, but i386 packages are still available in the repositories for users who may need them.
Devuan 6.0.0 Excalibur released
Devuan GNU+Linux 6.0 Excalibur has been officially released as a distinct alternative to mainstream Linux distributions that rely on systemd. This version is built upon Debian GNU/Linux 13 (Trixie) and remains committed to its core ethos of providing complete freedom from the default init systems, which Devuan's developers have championed since the project was first established in 2014.
The new release boasts several significant improvements. It includes a Long-Term Support (LTS) kernel version 6.12, which has real-time PREEMPT_RT features that greatly improve performance for applications that need to respond. This optimized kernel is designed to cater to users who require high-performance computing.
For the desktop environment, Devuan 6.0 defaults to Xfce 4.20 on its live desktop image and also allows users the flexibility to choose from alternative desktop environments such as KDE Plasma, Cinnamon, MATE, LXQt, and LXDE. This option allows users to select the most suitable interface for their needs.
Devuan 6.0 has revamped its package management system with a major update to APT. This new version includes a better dependency resolver called Solver3 that uses a smart method to manage complicated package installations and has a simpler interface with color-coded messages. The enhanced package manager streamlines the installation process and offers improved error reporting.
Furthermore, Devuan 6.0 introduces a mandatory merged-/usr layout for all installations. Users upgrading from Devuan 5.0.0 Daedalus will need to install the usrmerge package to facilitate this transition, while new installations will automatically use tmpfs for the /tmp directory. This change enhances performance by storing temporary files in RAM instead of on disk, thus improving read and write processes.
Additionally, Devuan 6.0 aligns with current trends in the Linux community by dropping support for the i386 architecture in its installer ISO. However, i386 packages are still available in the repositories for users who may need them. This change shows a big move towards only supporting 64-bit systems, which are becoming more common in today's computing.
Overall, Devuan GNU+Linux 6.0 Excalibur gives users a strong choice compared to popular Linux distributions by completely avoiding systemd and adding many new features to its package management system, kernel, and desktop environment.
For more information and download links, visit the official Devuan website.
