If you really want to run Arch Linux but can’t face or fathom the Arch Linux installation, what can you do? That’s where EndeavourOS comes in. It’s Arch-based distro but it isn’t Arch Linux.
EndeavourOS is a rolling release Linux distro, continuation of Antergos. The one which the developers stopped working on in May 2019, due to lack of time on the part of the volunteer developers. EndeavourOS uses the well-known Calamares installer and might be classified as a beginner friendly desktop variant of Arch Linux.
And now, only two weeks after the release of its latest stable release EndeavourOS Atlantis, all fans have reason to rejoice, because EndeavourOS Atlantis Neo brings some small but important improvements.
EndeavourOS Atlantis Neo Highlights
Let’s start with the most important improvement in our opinion. It’s related to Pacman package manager. In case of a bad or slow internet or mirror connection, now Pacman will not cease operations, resulting in a failed install.
Instead it will try up to six times whilst fetching packages. For sure, this will reduce ending up with a failed install quite significantly.
On the desktop side, there’s some improvements too. If you use the Budgie desktop, until now the user not being able to access the power menu after hibernation and suspend. Now that’s fixed. Moreover, Calamares installer now allows installs on systems with less than 2 GB of RAM.
Under the hood, encrypted installations with Btrfs now works choosing SWAP partition and hibernation. In addition, power-profiles-daemon in EndeavourOS Atlantis has replaced TLP for a better hardware compatibility, resulting in lean and minimal power savings by default. For GNOME and Plasma users, the power-profile-daemon will be integrated in the settings menu of the desktop environment.
Last but not least, we can’t fail to mention that the EndeavourOS devs have prepared a Christmas present for us in the form of 3 recently introduces desktop environments.
EndeavourOS Atlantis Neo is our first interim release in our new release model and because we’re in the holiday season, we have added a little Christmas surprise for you.
The EndeavourOS team
LXDE has been added as an option to the desktop environments option menu and will be installed with a basic vanilla setup. Openbox has been added too to EndeavourOS community editions with a basic and slightly themed setup. And finally, Qtile tiling window manager has been added also to give you a kickstart with the window manager.
Download
If you want a fresh EndeavourOS install, you can get your copy from the project’s download page and create a bootable USB flash drive.
If you are already running EndeavourOS, there is no need to reinstall. Just open the “UpdateInTerminal” app from the menu. You would get all the latest packages and updates.
I find it hard to believe that this “new” distro has moved up to the #2 spot on Distrowatch in just a few short years! I tried to install it on my Lenovo Thinkpad L430 with the following results:
First Try – Got stuck at 39%
Second Try – Error message – Could not format the selected partition
There have been other reviewers who have stated that this distro has serious problems. One reviewer stated he tried to install it 4 separate times, each of which ended in a disaster. If you must have an Arch based distro and don’t want all the work of Arch then try one of the others such as Manjaro, Artix or Arco. Endeavor is definitely the pits when it won’t even install on a very Linux compatible Thinkpad!
Pros: None
Cons: See above
Yes, there was an issue with the online installer especially when you select a different desktop environment other than the default xfce. But the new update seems to have fixed the issue or atleast they’ve tried to fix the issue. Manjaro is good and stable but Endeavour is good too and not to mention beautiful. Give it a try one more time. You won’t regret it.
Installed without problems on my linux-unfriendly HP Elitebook. Maybe issues are very hardware dependent
I was able to get it installed with gnome on a 2013 imac, and using kde on a Yoga 720. No problems in either instance. I’ve had problems with Manjaro in the past as well as others with their installers. It happens, and not exactly a reason to dis the entire OS if there’s a fix.
Incidentally, I currently have arcolinux, arch, manjaro, an endeavouros on different computers. Once installed they are all in my opinion virtually identical (being arch based, this is not very surprising).
Installed very cleanly in a virtual box running on an old Dell laptop. I’ve only had it for less than two months, but it’s already a favorite
Did it ever occur to these “experts” that this is a program for BEGINNERS AND MUCH OF THE TERMINOLOGY is not everyday knowledge . If you really want to help take it from a teacher and simplify your comments. I want nothing more than to get rid of Bill Gates & Microsoft but I need more help with your abbreviations than you are giving. Thanks.