Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Anarchy Linux VS ReactOS

Compare Anarchy Linux VS ReactOS and see what are their differences

Anarchy Linux logo Anarchy Linux

A distro that helps setting up a Archlinux system.

ReactOS logo ReactOS

ReactOS is a free, modern operating system in alpha stage, based on the design of Windows XP/2003.
  • Anarchy Linux Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-17
  • ReactOS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-21

Anarchy Linux features and specs

  • Customization
    Anarchy Linux allows users to customize every aspect of their system, offering a personalized experience that tailors the installation and configuration to their specific needs.
  • Arch Base
    Being based on Arch Linux, Anarchy Linux benefits from the performance, simplicity, and up-to-date software repositories that Arch provides.
  • Installer
    The Anarchy Installer simplifies the process of installing Arch Linux, which can be challenging for new users, making it more accessible to a broader audience.
  • Community Support
    Users have access to the extensive Arch Linux community for support and resources, allowing them to troubleshoot issues and share knowledge.

Possible disadvantages of Anarchy Linux

  • Complexity for Beginners
    Despite the installer, Anarchy Linux can still be complex for users who are not familiar with Linux, especially those not accustomed to command-line interfaces.
  • Limited Official Support
    Compared to more mainstream distributions, Anarchy Linux may have less official support resources available, which can be a drawback for users needing extensive help.
  • Potential Instability
    Being a rolling release distribution, Anarchy Linux can occasionally encounter stability issues due to constantly receiving the latest software updates.
  • Manual Configuration
    The level of customization requires manual configuration which can be time-consuming and requires a deeper understanding of the system.

ReactOS features and specs

  • Open Source
    ReactOS is an open-source operating system, which means its source code is freely available for anyone to view, modify, and distribute. This allows developers and contributors to participate in its development and enhancement.
  • Windows Compatibility
    ReactOS aims to be binary-compatible with Windows, especially Windows Server 2003, meaning it can run many Windows applications and drivers without modification. This could be beneficial for users who rely on legacy Windows software.
  • Lightweight
    ReactOS is designed to be lightweight, requiring fewer system resources compared to modern Windows operating systems. This makes it suitable for older hardware that may not support contemporary operating systems efficiently.
  • Freedom from Licensing Costs
    Being free and open source, ReactOS eliminates the cost associated with purchasing Windows licenses, providing an alternative for users who wish to avoid these costs.

Possible disadvantages of ReactOS

  • Incomplete Development
    ReactOS is still in the alpha stage of development, which means it is not yet stable or feature-complete. This can lead to various issues such as system crashes, incomplete features, and compatibility problems.
  • Limited Application Support
    Despite its goal of Windows compatibility, ReactOS does not support all Windows applications and drivers, particularly newer ones that require features not yet implemented in ReactOS.
  • Lack of Commercial Support
    Unlike Windows, which has extensive commercial support from Microsoft and third-party service providers, ReactOS lacks official commercial support, which may be a concern for enterprise environments.
  • Security Concerns
    As ReactOS is still under development, it may not have implemented all necessary security features and updates that a more mature operating system might have, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities.

Analysis of ReactOS

Overall verdict

  • ReactOS is a promising project with potential, but it is still in the alpha stage of development. This means it may not be stable enough for everyday use and might lack support for some hardware and software. While it offers an interesting alternative to Windows, users seeking stability and complete compatibility may find it falls short.

Why this product is good

  • ReactOS is an open-source operating system intended to be binary-compatible with applications and device drivers made for Microsoft Windows. The project aims to provide users with a free alternative to Windows, which can run Windows applications natively without the need for emulation or virtualization.

Recommended for

  • Technology enthusiasts who enjoy testing and contributing to open-source projects.
  • Developers interested in operating system design and contributing to an open-source effort.
  • Users looking to experiment with a Windows-compatible OS alternative for non-critical tasks.

Anarchy Linux videos

Look @ Anarchy Linux 1.0.5 - Pure Arch Goodness

More videos:

  • Review - Review Anarchy Linux XFCE
  • Review - Anarchy Linux..It Archy Nice....

ReactOS videos

ReactOS Demo

More videos:

  • Review - ReactOS 0.4.12 Review - Window Snapping, New Fonts, New Looks!
  • Review - ReactOS Is An Open Source Windows-Inspired Operating System

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Anarchy Linux and ReactOS)
Linux
37 37%
63% 63
Operating Systems
44 44%
56% 56
Linux Distribution
41 41%
59% 59
OS & Utilities
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, ReactOS should be more popular than Anarchy Linux. It has been mentiond 78 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Anarchy Linux mentions (21)

  • Manjaro Is Losing Ground Very Fast as A Linux Gaming Distro
    What these kind of articles never properly communicate is that unlike Manjaro, EndeavourOS directly uses the Arch repos, so for all intents and purposes is Arch. It's just an Arch installer, similar to Anarchy and to what Antergos used to be. Source: over 3 years ago
  • what's the real best option for my old netbook?
    Anything below LXqt is going to suck really bad. I'd throw a minimal installation of some snapless Ubuntu or Debian based distro if I really wanted to use it for anything. MX Linux is a great option for something reliable, stable and lightweight. If you just wanna meme or experiment, go with arch using anarchy installer. Source: over 3 years ago
  • archfi
    Use Anarchy installer. https://anarchyinstaller.gitlab.io/ it is easy gui followed steps install, but imho way better is to try to install it manually using arch wiki, since if any problems occurs, you will at least know, where to look at. Source: about 4 years ago
  • [OC] Desktop OS Market Share 2003 - 2022
    Archinstall would like to have a word with you. Anarchy Installer also exists. Both work wonders and give a working system out of the box. Just don't have extremely new hardware, or you'll be troubleshooting any distro. There's also AUR tools to give you a minimal browser to point to the wiki iirc. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Golden Drake Linux: Arch for gamers and game developers!
    Great question, and that's a thought that has crossed my mind now and then (though it would have to include options to modify configuration files, theming, etc., not merely install packages). The simple answer is that (a) I remember how much I benefited from Anarchy during my transition to Arch, so I see some value in this type of installer, and (b) I just really wanted to create my own custom installer. :) It's... Source: over 4 years ago
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ReactOS mentions (78)

  • Microsoft Needs Windows Lite
    There is already a "Windows Lite", and it's called ReactOS [0]. Except, the last thing we need is for Microsoft to own / embrace-extend-exterminate this. It's best that it's kept as an independent project, enabling developers to target the Windows API if they feel like it, while ensuring that they only target the Wine-compatible parts of it, which then enables their software to also run seamlessly on other... - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Microsoft's "Fix" for Windows 11: Flowers After the Beating
    Kinda off-topic, but I wonder if a hypothetical OS that reimplements the Windows APIs (like ReactOS[0], but with perfect modern hardware support) would be better for end users than a Linux distro with a modern DE. In the past, this hypothetical OS would be a revolution. But I feel that, in recent years, this gap is not as big anymore and Linux supports way more apps than in the past. Such an OS might even not be... - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Not the Future
    On topic of less user-hostile OS , I wonder how this guys are doing: https://reactos.org/ https://elementary.io/. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Using GNU toolchain for Windows kernel-mode drivers
    Compiling into object code is easy but linkig is tricky. For reference of possilbe options, I used an example from ReactOS project. ReactOS is the only working (sort of) full reverse-engineered NT operating system kernel. It is a cool project. ReactOS Github repo has a collection of build options for kernel-mode drivers that can be carved out of CMake files. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • YouTube is taking down videos on performing nonstandard Windows 11 installs
    Would this help you? https://reactos.org/ This is an open source reimplementation of winxp. I think they can even run drivers made for windows now. - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Anarchy Linux and ReactOS, you can also consider the following products

Garuda Linux - Garuda Linux is an appealing Arch Linux based Distro with BTRFS (modern filesystem), Linux-zen kernel, auto snapshots, gaming edition and a lot more bleeding edge features..

Linux Mint - Linux Mint is one of the most popular desktop Linux distributions and used by millions of people.

Manjaro - Manjaro Linux is a linux distribution which is based on arch linux. It uses the PACMAN package manager.

Ubuntu - Ubuntu is a Debian Linux-based open source operating system for desktop computers.

Salient OS - Download Salient OS for free.

Debian - Debian is a free distribution of the GNU/Linux operating system.