Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Rocky Linux VS Arch Linux

Compare Rocky Linux VS Arch Linux and see what are their differences

Rocky Linux logo Rocky Linux

A new enterprise ready OS to carry the torch after the recent CentOS announcement.

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.
  • Rocky Linux Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-06
  • Arch Linux Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29

Rocky Linux features and specs

  • Community-Driven Development
    Rocky Linux is led by a community-driven development model, ensuring that decisions are made in the interest of users rather than influenced by corporate interests.
  • Enterprise-Grade Stability
    Designed as a downstream, binary-compatible release of RHEL, Rocky Linux provides the same level of stability and reliability expected from enterprise-grade operating systems.
  • Long-Term Support
    Rocky Linux offers long-term support, ensuring continuous updates and security patches, which are crucial for enterprise environments.
  • Compatibility with RHEL
    Rocky Linux maintains binary compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, allowing easy migration for users who need a reliable and stable RHEL alternative.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source operating system, Rocky Linux provides transparency and the ability for anyone to audit, modify, or contribute to the code base.

Possible disadvantages of Rocky Linux

  • Younger Ecosystem
    Being relatively new compared to other enterprise Linux distributions, Rocky Linux has a smaller ecosystem and community, which may affect the availability of community resources and support.
  • Transition Challenges
    Organizations moving from CentOS or other Linux distributions may face challenges during the transition, especially if they rely on specific applications or scripts tied to their previous OS environment.
  • Limited Vendor Support
    Some enterprise software vendors may not officially support Rocky Linux, potentially complicating its use in certain enterprise environments where vendor support is crucial.

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.

Analysis of Arch Linux

Overall verdict

  • Arch Linux is highly regarded among users who prefer a do-it-yourself approach and value control over their operating system. It is an excellent choice for advanced users who want to tailor their system to specific requirements and enjoy staying on the cutting edge of software developments.

Why this product is good

  • Arch Linux is known for its simplicity, flexibility, and cutting-edge software. It follows a rolling release model, which means users always have access to the latest software updates and features. Additionally, Arch provides a minimalist base installation, allowing users to customize their system exactly to their needs. The Arch User Repository (AUR) offers a vast array of community-contributed packages, making it easy to install additional software. The comprehensive Arch Wiki is an excellent resource for troubleshooting and learning about various aspects of the system.

Recommended for

    Advanced Linux users, enthusiasts who enjoy learning about system internals, and those who prefer customizing their OS. It is also recommended for developers who thrive on the latest software versions and updates. Beginners may find Arch challenging due to its manual setup process, but it can be a rewarding learning experience for those willing to invest the time.

Rocky Linux videos

Rocky Linux Review

More videos:

  • Review - Rocky Linux 8.3 RC Installation & how it came to be
  • Review - Rocky Linux 8.4 Review | DistroDelves S3:E2

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Rocky Linux and Arch Linux)
Linux
10 10%
90% 90
Linux Distribution
11 11%
89% 89
Operating Systems
10 10%
90% 90
Open Source
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 Rocky Linux and Arch Linux

Rocky Linux Reviews

Finding the Best Linux Distro for Your Organization
Rocky Linux is a community-driven, enterprise-grade Linux distro designed to serve as a free and open alternative to CentOS Linux. It was created in response to the EOL announcement for CentOS. With a promise of bug-for-bug compatible to RHEL, Rocky Linux aims to provide a stable, reliable, and compatible platform for organizations and users who were previously relying on...
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
The same applies to Rocky Linux, which is binary-compatible with RHEL. Rocky Linux is suitable for cloud and HPC and has only been available since 2021. Secure Boot provides the necessary security and stability.
Source: www.ionos.com

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)...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Arch Linux should be more popular than Rocky Linux. It has been mentiond 258 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.

Rocky Linux mentions (49)

  • CentOS Linux 7 will reach EOL on Sunday
    Some people have actually had good luck with Oracle Linux but that’s very much an individual (or corporate) choice to consider. Aside from that, Rocky Linux also seems like a great choice for many: https://rockylinux.org/ Some also say that AlmaLinux is pretty good: https://almalinux.org/ Personally, I found RPM distros to be quite stable but have largely moved over to Ubuntu LTS for servers (technically Debian... - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • June 30th, 2024, will bring the End of Life (EOL) of CentOS Linux
    Rocky Linux is a fine successor to CentOS and was created by the original founder of CentOS, Gregory Kurtzer. https://rockylinux.org/ https://rockylinux.org/about/ If you need enterprise support RHEL tends to be a default choice. If you cannot afford RHEL or do not need enterprise support, Rocky Linux fills the role that CentOS once did. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • free download
    Also you can use Rocky Linux, it's very close! https://rockylinux.org/. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • [Rant] On the stability of a Linux desktop
    Arch Linux is pretty solid on my end, gnome is a little buggy, nothing like fedora but if you're like my mother and don't want to set anything up I get it. There is Rocky linux if you want a RHEL experience and don't need the latest packages. I don't like Ubuntu but you could go that route. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Which Linux version should I instal for Houdini and nuke usage
    If you run into anny problems ask chat gpt. Https://rockylinux.org/. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

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 / 6 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 / 9 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

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Rocky Linux and Arch Linux, you can also consider the following products

AlmaLinux - An open-source RHEL fork built by the team at CloudLinux, inspired by the community.

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

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

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.

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

EndeavourOS - An Arch-based distro with a dynamic and friendly community in its core