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EndeavourOS and Garuda Linux are both Arch-based distributions, but they take different approaches to serving users. EndeavourOS focuses on providing a minimal, flexible Arch experience with an easy installation process, while Garuda Linux leans towards a more eye-catching, feature-rich, and performance-focused experience out of the box. Here’s a breakdown of the differences and key features to help you decide which distro suits you best.
1. Philosophy and Approach
EndeavourOS: A Minimal, Flexible Arch Experience
- EndeavourOS provides a minimal Arch Linux experience, designed for users who want to get close to vanilla Arch but with a simpler installation process.
- It offers a bare-bones system that users can customize after installation, making it a great choice for users who prefer flexibility and control over their setup.
- EndeavourOS sticks as closely as possible to pure Arch while offering a more accessible entry point for users, especially beginners, with a guided installer and a supportive community.
Garuda Linux: Performance and Aesthetics Out of the Box
- Garuda Linux is an Arch-based distro that focuses on both performance optimizations and an attractive user interface.
- Out of the box, Garuda offers a polished, feature-rich experience, with pre-configured settings, beautiful desktop environments (like KDE Plasma and Xfce), and performance enhancements for smoother operation.
- Unlike EndeavourOS, which offers a minimal installation, Garuda comes with a pre-optimized, ready-to-use system with eye-catching themes, and tools to help users get the most out of their hardware.
2. Installation Experience: Easy vs Feature-Rich
EndeavourOS: Simple and Minimal Installation
- EndeavourOS uses the Calamares installer, offering a simple, easy-to-follow graphical installation process. After installation, users are presented with a minimal system that they can customize to their liking.
- The installation process is fast and straightforward, with a choice of several desktop environments, but it’s up to the user to add software and adjust settings as needed.
- EndeavourOS offers flexibility, making it a great choice for those who want a lean system to build on.
Garuda Linux: Beautiful and Feature-Filled
- Garuda Linux also uses the Calamares installer, but unlike EndeavourOS, it offers a much more feature-packed installation right out of the gate.
- Users are greeted with a ready-to-use system that includes not only a desktop environment but also performance tweaks, pre-installed software, and beautiful themes.
- Garuda’s installation gives you a polished experience without needing additional setup, so if you prefer a distro that works “out-of-the-box” with minimal tweaking, Garuda is a great choice.
3. System Customization: Freedom vs Pre-Optimized
EndeavourOS: Total Customization
- EndeavourOS gives users a bare-bones Arch system to build upon, allowing for complete freedom in customizing the desktop environment, installed packages, and system settings.
- It’s perfect for users who prefer to start with a clean slate and build the system to fit their exact needs, similar to the Arch Linux philosophy.
- Although EndeavourOS comes with some useful tools and a helpful community, the focus is on giving you complete control over your system.
Garuda Linux: Pre-Optimized with Performance in Mind
- Garuda Linux provides a feature-rich system with performance tweaks and optimizations pre-configured out of the box.
- The system comes with various performance-enhancing tools like Btrfs compression, zen kernel, and fstrim.timer, making Garuda faster right after installation.
- While customization is still possible, Garuda’s goal is to offer a polished system that’s optimized for users who want a high-performance, visually appealing experience with minimal setup.
4. Performance: Tweaked vs Vanilla
EndeavourOS: Standard Arch Performance
- EndeavourOS offers performance similar to vanilla Arch Linux. After installation, it’s up to the user to optimize their system, install performance tools, and configure settings for maximum efficiency.
- Since EndeavourOS is minimal by default, it’s a good choice for users who want to tailor their system’s performance to their specific needs without unnecessary pre-installed tweaks or optimizations.
- It’s also worth mentioning that since EndeavourOS is close to Arch’s base, it benefits from the rolling release model, always staying up-to-date with the latest packages.
Garuda Linux: Performance-Optimized Out of the Box
- Garuda Linux is designed with performance optimizations in mind, including tweaks to the kernel, filesystem, and resource usage.
- Out of the box, Garuda uses the Zen kernel (designed for better performance), Btrfs filesystem (with compression), and other optimizations to make the system faster and more responsive.
- It’s perfect for users who want a high-performance Arch system with minimal setup and hassle.
5. Desktop Environments: Minimal vs Flashy
EndeavourOS: Flexible and Minimal
- EndeavourOS gives you the freedom to choose from a wide range of desktop environments such as Xfce, KDE Plasma, GNOME, and others. However, the default setup is minimal, so users need to install and configure the desktop environment after installation.
- The system is flexible, allowing users to choose exactly what they want, without unnecessary pre-installed software or visual flair.
Garuda Linux: Beautiful and Feature-Rich
- Garuda Linux shines when it comes to its pre-configured, visually stunning desktop environments, with KDE Plasma being a popular choice. It also comes with eye-catching themes, wallpapers, and visual effects right out of the box.
- The focus on aesthetics and features makes it a great choice for users who want a beautiful system that’s ready to go with minimal effort.
6. Community and Support
EndeavourOS: Strong Arch Community
- EndeavourOS has a friendly, active community that is focused on helping users with Arch-related issues and getting the most out of their system.
- The EndeavourOS forums and official Discord are great places to find support, while Arch’s vast documentation and resources are always available.
- The community is welcoming to both beginners and advanced users, and there’s a strong emphasis on Arch Linux’s DIY culture.
Garuda Linux: Growing and Engaged
- Garuda Linux has a smaller but growing community, with a strong focus on providing support for users who want a performance-tuned system with a sleek UI.
- The community is helpful and supportive, and Garuda provides plenty of resources through its forums and Discord channel.
- Garuda also has a clear focus on making the system more accessible, with a particular emphasis on making sure that performance tweaks work seamlessly.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Choose EndeavourOS if:
- You want a minimal, Arch-like experience with complete control over your system.
- You prefer to build your system from the ground up and customize every aspect.
- You’re comfortable with manual setups and prefer a system that aligns closely with vanilla Arch.
- Choose Garuda Linux if:
- You want a performance-optimized system with pre-configured, beautiful desktop environments right out of the box.
- You prefer a more feature-rich and polished experience with minimal setup.
- You’re looking for a distro that’s optimized for speed and ease of use, without having to worry about performance tweaks.
Final Thoughts
Both EndeavourOS and Garuda Linux are excellent choices for Arch-based Linux enthusiasts, but they serve different purposes. EndeavourOS is ideal for users who want a minimal Arch experience that they can customize from the ground up. Garuda Linux, on the other hand, is a great choice for those who want a fast, feature-rich system that works well right out of the box with little configuration required.
Your choice depends on whether you value complete control and customization (EndeavourOS) or prefer an optimized, beautiful system that’s ready to use (Garuda).
