CacheOS vs AdverOS: Which Spinoff Makes Arch Linux Easier to Use?

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ZDNET Highlights

• CacheOS and EndeavorOS are both Arch-based Linux distros.
• Both make it very easy to use Arch Linux, but one is faster than the other.
• You can download and install both for free.

If you’re either a fan of Arch Linux or curious about the frequently criticized distribution for being overly challenging, you may know that many distros have been spun off from the original with the intention of making it more accessible to more people.

One of the most popular spinoffs is Manjaro. For the longest time, Manjaro was considered the best option for people who wanted to try Arch, but didn’t have the ability to use an Archinstall script.

Over the past few years, more spinoffs have emerged to challenge Manjaro as the leader of user-friendly Arch.

Two of those spinoffs are CacheOS and EndeavorOS.

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Both of these distributions share the goal of making Arch Linux easier to use, and they both succeed. Also, these two distributions are quite different.

Let me see if I can help you decide which one is right for you.

CatchyOS

Let’s start with CacheOS, since it’s the newer of the two.

While CacheOS wants to make Arch Linux easier for all types of users, another focus of its is speed. Let me tell you…it succeeds. CatchyOS is fast as lightning; Faster than most operating systems you’ve tried.

If you want to get even more speed, you can opt to use the XFS file system (which is selected during OS installation). Although using a journaling file system for a desktop OS is certainly a different option than most distributions, it works for CacheOS. Remember, XFS has been around for decades, so it has the maturity to deliver on both desktops and servers.

Speed ​​isn’t the only benefit of using XFS. With this journaling file system, if you experience a power outage (or accidental shutdown), you don’t have to worry that your operating system or files/folders will be damaged.

By default, CachiOS uses the Btrfs file system.

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If a zippy file system is not enough to provide the speed you need, there is also the option of a desktop environment. During OS installation, you can choose from KDE Plasma, GNOME, XFCE, i3, Wayfire, LXQt, Openbox, Cinnamon, COSMIC, UKUI, LXDE, Mate, Badgie, Qtile, Hyprland, Sway, and Niri. You can get even more speed by choosing a desktop environment like Xfce, LXDE, or Mate. I tested the KDE Plasma edition and found that it performed better than other distributions using the same desktop.

Also, there is the CacheOS kernel (Linux-CacheOS), which uses the BORE scheduler (Burst-Oriented Response Enhancer) for better performance.

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Other features found in CacheOS include:

• The package is compiled with the -O3 and x86-64-v3/v4 instruction sets as well as link time optimization (LTO) and profile-guided optimization (PGO) for even greater performance.
• Provides a user-friendly GUI installer based on Calamares
• A customized welcome application to simplify updates, package management, and system changes
• Features built-in Btrfs and Snapper support for simplified system rollback
• Comes with pre-compiled Nvidia and ZFS modules to prevent breakage during updates
• optimized for gaming
• CacheOS Package Installer is a very fast GUI App Store
• Rolling releases, meaning everything is always up to date

Is CacheOS Right for You?

If you want a very simplified Arch Linux installation that is also incredibly fast and offers plenty of desktop environments to choose from, then CacheOS is what you want. Also, if you want Arch Linux that includes a GUI app installer, CacheOS is a good choice.

EndeavorOS

EndeavorOS is another Arch-based distribution that enhances the aesthetics of the desktop. Although it defaults to a gorgeous KDE Plasma desktop, you can choose between KDE Plasma, GNOME, XFCE, Cinnamon, MATE, Budgie, LXQt, and LXDE during installation.

Speaking of installation, if your computer uses an NVIDIA GPU, you’ll be thrilled to know that, during installation, EndeavorOS automatically detects the GPU and installs the appropriate NVIDIA driver. This alone makes EndeavorOS worth using as getting the right NVIDIA drivers can be a hassle.

Although EndeavorOS is not as fast as CachiOS, it is not a letdown. When I tested KDE Plasma Edition, I was pleased with the speed of the desktop.

Also: Rhino Linux vs EndeavorOS: Which Rolling Release Distro Should You Choose?

Speed ​​isn’t the only advantage CatchiOS has over EndeavorOS. While CachiOS includes a GUI app store, EndeavorOS does not. The good news is that you can install Octopi GUI with the command:

wow -s octopi

If I had to make one suggestion to the developers, it would be to include Octopi by default.

EndeavorOS also features:

• User friendly GUI installer (Calamares)
• Bare-bones default installation for a clean base and no bloat
• Special tools for easy management, such as Welcome App, Yay, as well as tools for driver management
• Support for Arch User Repository (AUR)
• Welcoming and helpful community forums and subreddits
• FirewallD is enabled by default.
• Latest release highlights (for example, “Mercury/Ganymede”)
• New Linux kernel, updated Mesa drivers and better NVIDIA support
• Along with the full desktop environment, there is also support for installing window managers like Sway, QTile, BSPWM, Openbox, and Worm.

Is EndeavorOS right for you?

If you want a beautiful Arch-based Linux distribution that comes with very little preinstalled software (so you can only install what you want) and don’t want to mess with NVIDIA driver installation, EndeavorOS is what you want. Just remember to install the Octopi GUI right out of the gate to make app installation easier.

Which is Right for You?

It all depends on whether you are looking for speed or a clean base. If you want pure speed, choose CacheOS. If you want a distribution that installs without bloat, choose EndeavorOS.

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Seriously, any of these distributions is a great introduction to Arch Linux. However, if you’ve never touched Arch, I’d go with CacheOS, simply because you can ignore the command-line interface more easily.