Devuan GNU+Linux

Website

devuan.org

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#Linux #Operating Systems #Linux Distribution #Open Source

secureblue

Website

github.com

Listed in

#Linux #Operating Systems #Linux Distribution #Open Source

Devuan GNU+Linux features and specs

• Systemd-Free
  Devuan does not use systemd as its init system, which appeals to users who prefer alternative init systems like sysvinit due to systemd's complexity and perceived centralized control.
• Stability
  Devuan aims to provide a stable and consistent operating environment by forking from Debian without using systemd, suitable for users who value stability over the latest features.
• Compatibility
  Devuan maintains a high level of compatibility with Debian, allowing users to access a wide range of software packages available in the Debian repositories, minus those requiring systemd.
• Privacy and Control
  By avoiding systemd, some users feel they have greater control over their system's processes, enhancing privacy and reducing potential data collection.

Possible disadvantages of Devuan GNU+Linux

• Limited Software Support
  Some modern software packages that depend on systemd may not be available or function optimally on Devuan, potentially limiting choices for users requiring such software.
• Smaller Community
  As a relatively niche distribution compared to Debian, Devuan has a smaller community, which may result in less community support and fewer resources or tutorials.
• Delayed Updates
  Updates on Devuan may lag behind other distributions, as it takes time to ensure compatibility without systemd, which might affect users seeking the latest software features or security fixes.
• Complex Migration
  Users migrating from systemd-based systems may face complexities or a steeper learning curve as they adapt to different init systems used in Devuan.

secureblue features and specs

• Strong security hardening
  secureblue applies numerous hardening measures out of the box, such as hardened_malloc, sysctl kernel parameter hardening, restricted USB access, and other mitigations inspired by projects like GrapheneOS and the Kernel Self Protection Project, giving users a much more locked-down base system than typical desktop Linux distributions.
• Immutable, atomic base (Fedora Atomic/uBlue)
  Built on top of Fedora's ostree-based atomic desktop images, the system is immutable at the root filesystem level, making it resistant to persistent malware, easy to roll back after failed updates, and consistent across installs since the same OCI image is deployed everywhere.
• Transparent and reproducible builds
  The project publishes its build definitions, Containerfiles, and hardening rationale openly on GitHub, and uses GitHub Actions/Sigstore signing so users can audit exactly what changes are made to the base Fedora images and verify image provenance.
• Sensible defaults with sandboxing focus
  secureblue emphasizes Flatpak and Wayland-first application delivery, encourages sandboxed app usage, and ships with sane default configurations (like disabling root login, restricting kernel modules) that reduce the attack surface without requiring extensive manual configuration.
• Multiple variants for different needs
  The project offers several image variants (GNOME, KDE, various desktop environments, and different hardening presets) so users can pick an image that matches their hardware and workflow while still benefiting from the hardening work.

Possible disadvantages of secureblue

• Smaller community and ecosystem
  As a niche security-focused fork of uBlue/Fedora, secureblue has a much smaller user base and contributor pool than mainstream distributions, meaning less real-world testing, slower bug discovery, and fewer community resources or third-party tutorials.
• Compatibility and performance trade-offs
  Hardening measures like hardened_malloc and strict kernel lockdowns can introduce performance overhead or break compatibility with certain applications, games, or proprietary software that assume a more permissive environment.
• Steeper learning curve for immutable workflows
  Users accustomed to traditional package managers must adapt to ostree-based image layering, rebasing, and Flatpak/container-centric workflows, which can be confusing for newcomers and complicates ad-hoc software installation or debugging.
• Limited software availability outside containers/Flatpak
  Because the base image is immutable and hardened, installing traditional RPM packages or building software natively often requires layering on top of the image or running in toolbox containers, which can be less convenient than a standard mutable distro.
• Unaudited, relatively young project
  secureblue has not undergone the kind of extensive third-party security audits that major hardened OS projects (like GrapheneOS) have received, so despite good intentions, there may be undiscovered issues, and the hardening claims rely largely on the maintainers' own assessments.

Devuan GNU+Linux 3.0.0 overview | software freedom, your way

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