Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Arch Linux VS Raspberry Pi OS

Compare Arch Linux VS Raspberry Pi OS and see what are their differences

Arch Linux logo Arch Linux

You've reached the website for Arch Linux, a lightweight and flexible Linux® distribution that tries to Keep It Simple. Currently we have official packages optimized for the x86-64 architecture.

Raspberry Pi OS logo Raspberry Pi OS

A step-by-step guide how to create a simple OS from scratch.
  • Arch Linux Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29
  • Raspberry Pi OS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-02

Arch Linux features and specs

  • Customizability
    Arch Linux is known for its high degree of customizability. Users can tailor the operating system to fit their specific needs by installing only the necessary components and applications.
  • Rolling Release Model
    Arch Linux follows a rolling release model, which means that users receive continuous updates without needing to upgrade to a new version. This ensures that the system is always up-to-date with the latest software and security patches.
  • Performance
    Due to its minimalistic design and absence of unnecessary software, Arch Linux can offer high performance and faster boot times compared to more bloated distributions.
  • Comprehensive Documentation
    The Arch Wiki is one of the most thorough and well-maintained resources in the Linux community, making it easier for users to find help and learn more about their system.
  • User Control
    Arch Linux provides users with complete control over their system. This is particularly beneficial for advanced users who want to fine-tune every aspect of their operating environment.

Possible disadvantages of Arch Linux

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Arch Linux requires a higher level of technical knowledge to install and maintain compared to other distributions like Ubuntu or Fedora. This can be a barrier for beginners.
  • Lack of Official Support
    While the Arch community is active and supportive, there is no formal customer support. Users must rely on community forums, IRC channels, and the Arch Wiki for help.
  • Potential Stability Issues
    The rolling release model, while keeping the system current, can sometimes introduce instability or compatibility issues with new updates. This may require more frequent troubleshooting.
  • Manual Setup
    The installation process for Arch Linux is highly manual and time-consuming, requiring users to configure their system from scratch. This can be daunting for those used to automated installers.
  • Limited Pre-Packaged Software
    Unlike some other distributions that come pre-packaged with a variety of software and tools, Arch Linux starts with a base system. Users will need to manually install each application they need, which can be time-consuming.

Raspberry Pi OS features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Raspberry Pi OS is streamlined for Raspberry Pi hardware, ensuring efficient use of resources and better performance than more complex operating systems.
  • Educational Value
    It is designed to teach users, especially beginners, about how operating systems work by providing a minimal base for building and experimenting.
  • Community Support
    There is a strong community around Raspberry Pi and its projects, making it easier to find tutorials, forums, and resources.
  • Customization
    Users have the flexibility to customize the OS according to their needs, focusing only on the components relevant to their projects.

Possible disadvantages of Raspberry Pi OS

  • Limited Features
    Being minimal and educational, the OS might lack some advanced features found in more complete operating systems.
  • Not User-Friendly
    It might not be suitable for users looking for an out-of-the-box solution, as it requires technical knowledge and manual setup.
  • Hardware Limitations
    The performance is restricted by the Raspberry Pi hardware, which might not suit high-intensity applications.
  • Niche Use Case
    The OS is specifically tailored for Raspberry Pi and is not suitable for use on other types of hardware without significant modification.

Arch Linux videos

Top Five Reasons To Run Arch Linux

More videos:

  • Review - Ubuntu Vs Arch Linux | Which is the Best Linux Distro?
  • Review - Arch Linux - Simple, Fast, & Custom Distro Overview + Gameplay
  • Review - Arch Linux Is A Great Distro But You Shouldn't Use It
  • Review - Fedora vs Arch Linux - Battle of the Best!
  • Review - Fedora vs Debian and Arch Linux

Raspberry Pi OS videos

Tour of Raspberry pi OS

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Arch Linux and Raspberry Pi OS)
Linux
97 97%
3% 3
Operating Systems
97 97%
3% 3
Linux Distribution
97 97%
3% 3
Laptops
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Arch Linux and Raspberry Pi OS

Arch Linux Reviews

Top 9 Fastest Linux Distros in 2024
One of the defining features of Arch Linux is its package management system, ‘Pacman’, which is designed to be fast, and reliable as it uses a simple command-line interface and a binary package format. Moreover, it makes the OS easy to install and manage software on the system.
Source: linuxsimply.com
Finding the Best Linux Distro for Your Organization
Arch Linux is a lightweight and highly customizable Linux distro that emphasizes simplicity, minimalism, and a "do-it-yourself" approach. It is designed for experienced users who want to build a tailored and efficient operating system environment according to their specific needs. Arch Linux rolling-release model provides continuous updates to the latest software packages...
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Fans of Linux consider Arch Linux the “pure” distribution. The minimalistic operating system forgoes any graphical tools. As such Arch Linux is slim and customizable, but this could scare away newcomers. Simplicity is part of the basic idea of Arch Linux, but here it refers to the distribution’s features. Arch Linux is managed with Pacman and is a suitable base for most...
Source: www.ionos.com
6 Best Free Alternatives to Windows for Advanced Users
Arch Linux users enjoy the latest updates on other Linux distributions before most users. All you need to do is use Pacman, Arch Linux’s package manager.
Source: techcult.com
Best Top 20 Ubuntu Linux Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
Artix Linux is a rolling-release distribution based on Arch Linux, which uses OpenRC, runit, s6, suite66, or dinit as init rather than systemd. It is possible to utilize packages from the Arch Linux repositories or any other derivative distribution, even those that expressly depend on systemd, on Artix Linux, as it is a pacman-based distribution. AUR (Arch User Repository)...

Raspberry Pi OS Reviews

Best Linux distros of 2021 for beginners, mainstream and advanced users
There are several distros for the Raspberry Pi, however the best starting point has to be the Raspberry Pi OS, which is the official distro of the Raspberry Pi and for good reason.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Arch Linux seems to be a lot more popular than Raspberry Pi OS. While we know about 258 links to Arch Linux, we've tracked only 2 mentions of Raspberry Pi OS. 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.

Arch Linux mentions (258)

  • Writing an AnythingLLM Custom Agent Skill to Trigger Make.com Webhooks
    If you don't already have it, download the AnythingLLM desktop application for your platform here. In my examples I'll be using my Macbook Pro to run AnythingLLM and connecting to llama-server running on an Arch Linux server with the Meta Llama 3.1 Instruct model (70B). However, you can do all of this just by linking AnythingLLM to the OpenAI API with an API Key. I will not go into the details of the initial setup... - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • The Home Server Journey - 1: Motivation and Approach
    If you've ever tried using a non-mainstream Linux distro, you probably know the pain of looking for a package, not finding it even in a third-party repository, trying to compile it from source and failing miserably over and over (Been there. Done that). Manjaro, as an Arch-based OS, at least has the very welcome access to the AUR, a community repository for compilation scripts that automate the process for us mere... - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • Penguin, Chicken or Duck? (Eros, OC, Microsoft Bing AI Generated)
    Arch is a popular Linux distribution(basically an os). Him saying that he uses arch is basically a joke that arch Linux users will always mention that they use the distro. (Also a penguin is also the Linux mascot). Source: over 1 year ago
  • Arch Linux bugtracker migration to Gitlab completed
    Arch sends distribution news every week or so, usually in one or two paragraphs. https://archlinux.org/ I've followed the gitlab migration and every package and distribution change that warranted community notification for more than a decade. It's such an empowering feeling to have tracked all the changes to the distribution over a decade. The Arch maintainer culture has managed to provide consistent high quality... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Moving from Mint to Arch
    When searching for something just add Arch Linux to the and follow official archlinux.org and use duckduckgo.com for better results. You will get amazed how good arch wiki explained everything and how aur has very large apps. Source: over 1 year ago
View more

Raspberry Pi OS mentions (2)

  • I want to learn about kernel development
    Last but not the least, learning by doing is fun so you can check out - raspberry-pi-os (writing an os from scratch) - https://github.com/s-matyukevich/raspberry-pi-os. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Show HN: CheesecakeOS for Raspberry Pi Volume 0: Booting, Processes, and VM
    CheesecakeOS for Raspberry Pi Volume 0: Booting, Processes, and Virtual Memory is the first in what I hope is a series of github markdown tutorials or volumes on bare-metal from-scratch operating system development. I have dreamed of contributing to the Linux Kernel, but have yet to find the courage to jump in and do so. I started by attempting to read Understanding the Linux Kernel by Daniel Bovet and... - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Arch Linux and Raspberry Pi OS, you can also consider the following products

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

Raspberry Pi - The Raspberry Pi is a tiny and affordable computer that you can use to learn programming through fun, practical projects. Join the global Raspberry Pi community.

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

Linux Kodachi - Kodachi is a Debian-based distro which can be run from a DVD or USB thumb drive.

Fedora - Fedora creates an innovative, free, and open source platform for hardware, clouds, and containers that enables software developers and community members to build tailored solutions for their users.

Nitrux OS - Nitrux is an operating system based on Linux.