Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Linux From Scratch VS MX Linux

Compare Linux From Scratch VS MX Linux and see what are their differences

Linux From Scratch logo Linux From Scratch

Linux From Scratch (LFS) is a project that provides you with the steps necessary to build your own...

MX Linux logo MX Linux

MX Linux is an operating system - a cooperative venture between the antiX and former MEPIS...
  • Linux From Scratch Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-02
  • MX Linux Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-26

Linux From Scratch features and specs

  • Educational Experience
    Linux From Scratch (LFS) provides an in-depth educational experience, allowing users to learn firsthand how a Linux system is built from the ground up. This deep understanding of Linux internals can be invaluable for system administrators and developers.
  • Customization
    LFS offers complete control over the software components and configurations, enabling users to build a system that meets their specific needs and preferences without unnecessary extraneous software.
  • Optimized Performance
    By compiling the system from scratch, users can optimize it for specific hardware, potentially achieving better performance than with pre-packaged distributions.
  • Minimal Footprint
    LFS allows users to create a minimal system with only essential packages, reducing the attack surface for security vulnerabilities and resource usage.

Possible disadvantages of Linux From Scratch

  • Time-Consuming
    Building a Linux system from scratch is a time-intensive process, requiring significant effort and attention to detail, which can be a barrier for users with limited time.
  • Complexity
    The process requires a good understanding of Linux and its subsystems, making it challenging for beginners or those unfamiliar with manual system setup and configuration.
  • Lack of Standard Support
    LFS does not have an official support community or professional support services like popular distributions, requiring users to rely on forums or their ingenuity.
  • Maintenance Overhead
    Keeping an LFS system up-to-date with new packages, patches, and security updates involves significant ongoing effort, as package management is manual.

MX Linux features and specs

  • User-Friendly
    MX Linux offers a highly intuitive and easy-to-use interface, making it a great choice for beginners who might be new to Linux.
  • Performance
    The distribution is lightweight and optimized to run smoothly even on older hardware, ensuring good performance.
  • Stability
    Built on the Debian Stable base, MX Linux is known for its robustness and reliability, providing fewer system crashes and bugs.
  • Customization
    MX Linux allows extensive customization, enabling users to tailor their systemโ€™s appearance and functionality to their liking.
  • MX Tools
    The distribution includes a unique set of tools, such as MX Snapshot and MX Package Installer, that enhance user experience by simplifying complex tasks.
  • Community Support
    MX Linux has an active and helpful community, offering extensive forums and documentation to assist users in troubleshooting and optimizing their systems.

Possible disadvantages of MX Linux

  • Slower Updates
    Being based on Debian Stable, MX Linux may not have the latest software and feature updates, lagging behind more cutting-edge distributions.
  • Limited Software Availability
    The software repositories, although extensive, may not have as wide a selection as some other distros, requiring users to sometimes rely on external sources.
  • Aesthetic
    While functional and customizable, the default look and feel might not be as polished as some other distributions designed with visual aesthetics in mind.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Customization
    While it is user-friendly for basic tasks, more advanced customization and optimization may require a steeper learning curve for those unfamiliar with Linux internals.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    Though generally good, there can be occasional issues with hardware compatibility, especially with very new or very old devices.

Linux From Scratch videos

Linux From Scratch 7.5 First Impressions

More videos:

  • Review - Linux From Scratch 8.2 - Episode 1: Host System
  • Review - Why should we learn Linux from scratch? | Linux From Scratch (for beginners) LFS-EP-01

MX Linux videos

MX Linux 19.1 Xfce Review | Distro Delves S2:Ep9

More videos:

  • Review - REVIEW: MX LINUX 19 : "BLAZING FAST!"
  • Review - Why is MX Linux So Popular?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Linux From Scratch and MX Linux)
Linux
21 21%
79% 79
Operating Systems
21 21%
79% 79
Linux Distribution
17 17%
83% 83
OS & Utilities
38 38%
62% 62

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Linux From Scratch and MX Linux

Linux From Scratch Reviews

We have no reviews of Linux From Scratch yet.
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MX Linux Reviews

Top 9 Fastest Linux Distros in 2024
MX Linux is a mid-weight distro that uses the Xfce desktop environment. It is known for its stability, ease of use, and performance.
Source: linuxsimply.com
10 Most Popular Linux Distros of the Year 2023
MX Linux is always able to make its place in our list when it comes to selecting the best mid-weight Linux distros. Out of the box it uses a lightweight XFCE desktop environment and being built on Debian, stability is always not an issue. The user-friendly approach to this distro and multiple sources to install popular Linux packages make it an excellent choice for old and...
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
MX Linux is based on Debian and is suitable for use on older and less powerful computers because of its slim Xfce desktop. Compared to other professional Linux distributions, MX Linux is much more user-friendly. However, because of its many options it is also an interesting distribution for experienced users.
Source: www.ionos.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, MX Linux should be more popular than Linux From Scratch. It has been mentiond 91 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.

Linux From Scratch mentions (22)

  • Unix Recovery Legend
    I got to know UNIX (or rather Linux) about 12 years later. And TBH, I wasn't very impressed. I was like "oh, you have to do all that on the console". That's how green I was :D But then it caught me, and about a month later it was more "WOW, you can really do everything on the conole!" What eventually helped me to really get into things was Linux From Scratch. If anyone wants to learn how a modern system works... - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • I Like Makefiles
    Take https://linuxfromscratch.org/ for a spin and see that Makefiles work fine; last a long time. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Installing Gentoo has been the hardest most rewarding experience with Linux
    Should have tried https://linuxfromscratch.org/ instead. Gentoo is mostly just BLFS and ALFS from there, with more available packages, and centralized 'USE FLAGS' ( https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/USE_flag ) which could be considered one of Gentoos USPs. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Warm Welcome to Linux P2
    As a non-computer (hardware, software etc) specialist like myself who has hobbies in computers, I wanted a challenge. Trying their luck with Linux From Scratch (LFS) and beyond as just random. As someone who completed the journey on a whim, it was worthwhile as I got to see a system built. The course takes about a week with trial, error, and sheer willpower. It is like a coming-of-age tale; complete it once and... - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
  • Planning to install Gentoo to learn how OS in general and Linux in particular really works
    Well, it depends on what your aim is. If you want a Linux-based system that can be used as a daily driver, then Gentoo is certainly a reasonable choice. But if you're not particularly interested in using the system once you've finished installing, then Linux From Scratch is probably more appropriate. Gentoo is not primarily an educational tool, whereas Linux From Scratch is. Source: about 3 years ago
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MX Linux mentions (91)

  • Linux market share approaching 4.5% for first time, could hit 5% by 1Q25
    Does one really care? Have you looked at https://www.clearlinux.org/ https://github.com/clearlinux https://github.com/CachyOS https://github.com/MX-Linux ? Would they lack anything? I picked these three specifically because I tested them recently on new hardware I got. What they have in common is their focus on encapsulating 4. For mere mortals, while not doing 5, or at... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: What if I don't want constant OS upgrades?
    I like Manjaro XFCE, it's rolling updates so it's as packages come out you can update to the newest (it pulls latest from github, but has other repos) if you want oldschool oldschool, check out antiX linux, MX Linux is based on AntiX but looks semi-better, they're based on Debian. Remember though, debian is like 5 package versions behind, because that's what they do with their auditing for stability. MX Linux has... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • what happened to my linux mint laptop and how do I fix it?
    If you want something new you probably want to aim light. I'd opt for AntiX full version as it's very light, stable and comes with a variety of lightweight desktops, themes and other stuff to choose from at login. The sister project MXLinux could also be worth a look for a more traditional system, but I'd try the Fluxbox option to keep things light. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Installing MX Linux
    I'm getting an error of - Could not find file antiX/linuxfs - searched devices /dev/sdc1 /dev/sdb1 etc. Gives me an ooption to contact Bitjam at mxlinux.org and then says P=power off, r=reboot. I've tried to look around but I'm not finding any details on what's going on. There was a mention of bad hardware, but if my other ISO's are booting no problem I dont think that is the issue. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Arch, void or something else entirely?
    I thought I would never say this, but I think you should try the KDE edition of https://mxlinux.org/. Source: about 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Linux From Scratch and MX Linux, 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.

Redcore Linux - Redcore Linux is a Linux distribution based on the Arch Linux operating system.

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

Anarchy Linux - A distro that helps setting up a Archlinux system.

elementary OS - A fast and open replacement for Windows and macOS. Pay what you want or download for free.