Arch Linux vs OpenBSD

Overview

Arch Linux

Stacks562

Followers555

Votes108

OpenBSD

Stacks46

Followers55

Votes0

Arch Linux vs OpenBSD: What are the differences?

Introduction

Arch Linux and OpenBSD are both popular operating systems with distinct differences. Understanding these differences can help users choose the right operating system for their specific needs. In this comparison, we will explore the key differences between Arch Linux and OpenBSD.

Philosophy and Target Audience: Arch Linux follows a minimalistic and do-it-yourself (DIY) philosophy, aiming to provide a lightweight and customizable operating system. It targets more experienced users who are willing to put effort into system configuration and prefer a rolling-release model. In contrast, OpenBSD focuses on security, correctness, code simplicity, and ease of use for all users, including beginners.
Installation Process: Arch Linux provides a relatively complex installation process, requiring users to manually set up the system, partition disks, and install packages from the command line. This approach allows for greater customization but might intimidate less experienced users. On the other hand, OpenBSD offers a straightforward installation process with a user-friendly installer, prioritizing ease of use and simplicity.
Package Management: Arch Linux utilizes the Pacman package manager, which provides an extensive and up-to-date repository of software packages. It also supports the Arch User Repository (AUR), allowing users to access community-maintained packages. OpenBSD uses the pkg_add package management tool, which is simpler and focuses on providing a smaller set of essential packages in their official repositories. While OpenBSD lacks the breadth of package availability compared to Arch Linux, it emphasizes stability and security in its package selection.
System Updates: Arch Linux employs a rolling-release model, which means the system is continuously updated with the latest software versions. This approach offers the advantage of having access to cutting-edge features and updates. OpenBSD follows a release model, where major system updates are released every six months, providing a more stable and predictable environment with a focus on security and correctness rather than bleeding-edge software versions.
Security Emphasis: OpenBSD places a strong emphasis on security and correctness. The development team actively reviews and audits the source code to identify and fix security vulnerabilities. Additionally, OpenBSD includes secure default configurations and provides tools like OpenSSH with strong encryption. While Arch Linux also focuses on security, its rolling-release model may introduce slightly higher risks due to continuous updates to the latest software versions.
Hardware Support: Arch Linux has excellent hardware support and provides a wide range of drivers for various hardware components. This allows users to install and run Arch Linux on a broader array of devices. OpenBSD, while also widely supported, has a more conservative approach to hardware support. It prioritizes stability and security, which might result in slightly limited hardware compatibility compared to Arch Linux.

In Summary, Arch Linux follows a minimalistic and customizable philosophy, targeting more experienced users who prefer a rolling-release model, while OpenBSD focuses on security, simplicity, and ease of use for all users. Arch Linux requires a manual installation process and offers a robust package manager, while OpenBSD provides a user-friendly installer and a more concise set of packages. Arch Linux follows a rolling-release model for system updates, emphasizing access to the latest software versions, while OpenBSD adopts a release model for a stable and secure environment. Both prioritize security, but OpenBSD places special emphasis on security and correctness. Arch Linux provides broader hardware support, whereas OpenBSD prioritizes stability and might have slightly limited compatibility.

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Advice on Arch Linux, OpenBSD

Simon

Developer Advocate at k6 / Load Impact

Mar 7, 2020

Decided

At the moment of the decision, my desktop was the primary place I did work. Due to this, I can't have it blow up on me while I work. While Arch is interesting and powerful, Ubuntu offers (at least for me) a lot more stability and lets me focus on other things than maintaining my own OS installation.

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Detailed Comparison

Arch Linux	OpenBSD
A lightweight and flexible Linux distribution that tries to Keep It Simple.	It is a free and secure UNIX-like operating system that emphasizes portability, standardization, correctness, proactive security & integrated cryptography.
-	API and build changes;Kernel randomization;Memory protection;Cryptography and randomization;X11
Statistics
Stacks 562	Stacks 46
Followers 555	Followers 55
Votes 108	Votes 0
Pros & Cons
Pros 17 Large Community 15 Package Manager 13 Customizable 12 Rolling Release 11 Bleeding Edge Cons 4 Systemd only 3 Only X86_64 architecture is offically supported 1 Unstable 1 System maintenance 1 No Guided Installation	No community feedback yet
Integrations
No integrations available	HTML5 C++

What are some alternatives to Arch Linux, OpenBSD?

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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Manjaro

It is an accessible, friendly, open-source Linux distribution and community. Based on Arch Linux, it provides all the benefits of cutting-edge software combined with a focus on getting started quickly, automated tools to require less manual intervention, and help readily available when needed.

Related Comparisons

Arch Linux vs OpenBSD: What are the differences?

Introduction

Philosophy and Target Audience: Arch Linux follows a minimalistic and do-it-yourself (DIY) philosophy, aiming to provide a lightweight and customizable operating system. It targets more experienced users who are willing to put effort into system configuration and prefer a rolling-release model. In contrast, OpenBSD focuses on security, correctness, code simplicity, and ease of use for all users, including beginners.
Installation Process: Arch Linux provides a relatively complex installation process, requiring users to manually set up the system, partition disks, and install packages from the command line. This approach allows for greater customization but might intimidate less experienced users. On the other hand, OpenBSD offers a straightforward installation process with a user-friendly installer, prioritizing ease of use and simplicity.
Package Management: Arch Linux utilizes the Pacman package manager, which provides an extensive and up-to-date repository of software packages. It also supports the Arch User Repository (AUR), allowing users to access community-maintained packages. OpenBSD uses the pkg_add package management tool, which is simpler and focuses on providing a smaller set of essential packages in their official repositories. While OpenBSD lacks the breadth of package availability compared to Arch Linux, it emphasizes stability and security in its package selection.
System Updates: Arch Linux employs a rolling-release model, which means the system is continuously updated with the latest software versions. This approach offers the advantage of having access to cutting-edge features and updates. OpenBSD follows a release model, where major system updates are released every six months, providing a more stable and predictable environment with a focus on security and correctness rather than bleeding-edge software versions.
Security Emphasis: OpenBSD places a strong emphasis on security and correctness. The development team actively reviews and audits the source code to identify and fix security vulnerabilities. Additionally, OpenBSD includes secure default configurations and provides tools like OpenSSH with strong encryption. While Arch Linux also focuses on security, its rolling-release model may introduce slightly higher risks due to continuous updates to the latest software versions.
Hardware Support: Arch Linux has excellent hardware support and provides a wide range of drivers for various hardware components. This allows users to install and run Arch Linux on a broader array of devices. OpenBSD, while also widely supported, has a more conservative approach to hardware support. It prioritizes stability and security, which might result in slightly limited hardware compatibility compared to Arch Linux.

Arch Linux vs OpenBSD

Overview