Void Linux
Void Linux is an independently-developed rolling release distribution built around runit as its init system (not systemd) and XBPS, its own from-scratch binary package manager.
Download ISO Project website ↗Download Mirrors
Void Linux isn’t a fork or derivative of anything else, it’s built from scratch with its own tooling: XBPS (X Binary Package System) as its package manager, and runit instead of systemd as PID 1. For users who specifically want to avoid systemd, Void is one of a small handful of major distributions that never adopted it in the first place, rather than offering it as an optional swap.
A Note on the Installer Image
Void’s installer ISOs are updated infrequently, the current live image dates back to February 2025, considerably older than most distributions’ installer cadence. This isn’t a sign of an abandoned project: because Void is a genuine rolling release, running xbps-install -Su immediately after installing from an older ISO brings the system fully current regardless of how old the installation media itself is.
Package Management
XBPS is fast and its binary repository model is closer in spirit to Arch’s pacman than to source-based tools like Portage, while runit’s supervision-tree approach to service management is considerably simpler (and more transparent to inspect) than systemd’s unit files for users coming from a minimal-init background.
System Requirements
- CPU: 64-bit x86 processor
- RAM: 1 GB minimum for a base install
- Storage: 8 GB minimum
Verify Your Download
SHA256 checksums are published on the Void Linux download page.