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  1. Stackups
  2. Application & Data
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  4. Operating Systems
  5. NixOS vs Void Linux

NixOS vs Void Linux

OverviewComparisonAlternatives

Overview

NixOS
NixOS
Stacks112
Followers96
Votes12
Void Linux
Void Linux
Stacks24
Followers29
Votes12

NixOS vs Void Linux: What are the differences?

## Introduction
Key differences between NixOS and Void Linux are outlined below.

1. **Package Management**: NixOS uses the Nix package manager, which manages packages as isolated, immutable, and reproducible units. In contrast, Void Linux uses the XBPS package manager, focusing on simplicity, efficiency, and ease of use with a traditional package management approach.
2. **Init System**: NixOS uses systemd as its default init system, providing features like service management, event logging, and device management. Conversely, Void Linux offers runit as its init system, known for its simplicity, speed, and reliability in managing system services.
3. **Rolling Release vs. Fixed Release**: NixOS follows a rolling release model, continually updating packages and system components to their latest versions. On the other hand, Void Linux follows a fixed release model, providing periodic stable releases with curated package updates.
4. **Configuration Management**: NixOS utilizes a declarative configuration model, allowing users to specify the desired system state in a configuration file. In contrast, Void Linux relies on manual system configuration through configuration files, scripts, and command-line tools.
5. **Community Support**: NixOS has a smaller but dedicated community focused on functional programming, declarative systems, and reproducibility. Meanwhile, Void Linux boasts a more active and diverse community with a broader range of user interests and contributions.
6. **Desktop Environment Integration**: NixOS offers desktop environments through declarative configurations, ensuring consistent setups and reproducibility. Void Linux provides desktop environment choices through traditional package installations, offering more flexibility for customization and experimentation.

In Summary, the key differences between NixOS and Void Linux involve their package management approach, init systems, release models, configuration management, community support, and desktop environment integration.

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Detailed Comparison

NixOS
NixOS
Void Linux
Void Linux

It is a Linux distribution with a unique approach to package and configuration management. Built on top of the Nix package manager, it is completely declarative, makes upgrading systems reliable, and has many other advantages.

It is a general purpose operating system, based on the monolithic Linux® kernel. Its package system allows you to quickly install, update and remove software; software is provided in binary packages or can be built directly from sources with the help of the XBPS source packages collection.

DevOps-friendly; atomic upgrades and rollbacks
Independent distribution, developed entirely by volunteers; Install once, update daily. Your system will always be up-to-date; runit as the init system and service supervisor; First distribution to switch to LibreSSL by default, replacing OpenSSL
Statistics
Stacks
112
Stacks
24
Followers
96
Followers
29
Votes
12
Votes
12
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 3
    Atomic upgrades
  • 2
    Reproducible environment
  • 2
    Declarative system configuration
  • 2
    Rollback for any changes
  • 2
    Multi-user package management
Pros
  • 4
    Lightweight
  • 3
    Musl supporting
  • 2
    No systemd
  • 2
    Stable
  • 1
    Wayland friendly
Integrations
Apache Tomcat
Apache Tomcat
PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL
No integrations available

What are some alternatives to NixOS, Void Linux?

Ubuntu

Ubuntu

Ubuntu is an ancient African word meaning ‘humanity to others’. It also means ‘I am what I am because of who we all are’. The Ubuntu operating system brings the spirit of Ubuntu to the world of computers.

Debian

Debian

Debian systems currently use the Linux kernel or the FreeBSD kernel. Linux is a piece of software started by Linus Torvalds and supported by thousands of programmers worldwide. FreeBSD is an operating system including a kernel and other software.

Arch Linux

Arch Linux

A lightweight and flexible Linux distribution that tries to Keep It Simple.

Fedora

Fedora

Fedora is a Linux-based operating system that provides users with access to the latest free and open source software, in a stable, secure and easy to manage form. Fedora is the largest of many free software creations of the Fedora Project. Because of its predominance, the word "Fedora" is often used interchangeably to mean both the Fedora Project and the Fedora operating system.

Linux Mint

Linux Mint

The purpose of Linux Mint is to produce a modern, elegant and comfortable operating system which is both powerful and easy to use.

CentOS

CentOS

The CentOS Project is a community-driven free software effort focused on delivering a robust open source ecosystem. For users, we offer a consistent manageable platform that suits a wide variety of deployments. For open source communities, we offer a solid, predictable base to build upon, along with extensive resources to build, test, release, and maintain their code.

Linux

Linux

A clone of the operating system Unix, written from scratch by Linus Torvalds with assistance from a loosely-knit team of hackers across the Net. It aims towards POSIX and Single UNIX Specification compliance.

CoreOS

CoreOS

It is designed for security, consistency, and reliability. Instead of installing packages via yum or apt, it uses Linux containers to manage your services at a higher level of abstraction. A single service's code and all dependencies are packaged within a container that can be run on one or many machines.

Gentoo Linux

Gentoo Linux

It is a free operating system based on either Linux or FreeBSD that can be automatically optimized and customized for just about any application or need.

Alpine Linux

Alpine Linux

Alpine Linux is a security-oriented, lightweight Linux distribution based on musl libc and busybox.

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