Installing Arch Linux almost feels like a rite of passage and a trial every Linux user undergoes at some point. It’s a grueling process, but one that teaches you the nitty-gritty of your system, helping isolate issues a lot faster. Elitism jokes aside, Arch Linux has always been a fantastic distro, but only once you get past the initial setup, which is incredibly daunting. This is where Arch Linux-based distributions come into play, with EndeavourOS having been a consistently popular option for quite some time now.
One of the (relatively) newer Arch-based distributions is CachyOS, an easy-to-install derivative that also happens to promise more optimized, performant packages. It sounds like a perfect match, and it almost is.
I replaced GNOME with the new COSMIC, and it feels like the future of Linux
It's fast, furious, and somewhat bonkers, but it gets the job done.
CachyOS feels like an easier Arch Linux
Simple setup and installation
CachyOS comes packaged with a standard Calamares installer, which should feel familiar to most users. It’s a simple but rich interface that provides CachyOS’s own graphical path to installing an Arch-based system, alongside a CLI installer for users who want more control. Setting it up is infinitely easier, even if you lose out on a fair bit of fine-tuning along the way. It’s all surprisingly okay, though, and CachyOS has a rather sane selection of defaults in its desktop environments, which makes jumping into Linux a lot less restrictive.
The installer offers desktop and window-manager choices, including options such as Sway and Niri, each with its own preset defaults and configuration. This makes it a great way to lean into the experience of building your own desktop interface from scratch, using the template as a starting ground, at least as opposed to ricing from scratch.
CPU-specific performance improvements
Optimized packages do make a difference
Unlike most other Arch distros, CachyOS has its own set of optimized repositories. There are quite a few variants, but the more important thing to note here is that each repository contains pre-compiled packages that are optimized for certain modern CPU architectures. Installation and selection are pretty much automatic and require no manual intervention. These tweaks can add up, and CachyOS may feel snappier than a vanilla Arch install depending on the hardware and workload.
One of the areas where CachyOS undoubtedly feels a lot better is in gaming. Proton CachyOS and its related packages come with fixes that are sometimes essential to getting games running within the first week after release, in addition to offering niceties such as being able to run FSR 4 on RDNA 3 GPUs, which is a game-changer for AMD users.
FSR 4 is a massive step-up over FSR 3, and has a significant impact on image quality. While it is technically possible to run FSR 4 on RDNA 3 and older AMD GPUs, the process takes a bit of tinkering. CachyOS documents Proton-CachyOS and FSR4-related options that can reduce the hassle, but the exact behavior still depends on the game, GPU, and chosen settings.
Outside of gaming, the distro also has specific kernels and pre-compiled packages that are simply unavailable in Arch. DaVinci Resolve is a good example of software that CachyOS can make easier to set up, even though Arch users can still install it through other supported paths.
Sticks to the Arch Linux philosophy
Still Arch
Unlike some other distros, CachyOS does remarkably little to separate itself from its source. You’ll have full access to the AUR, along with the ability to fully tweak and customize your system as you would. It commonly ships with Paru available out of the box, which makes AUR installs easier. Although first-timers might find it easier to stick to something like KDE’s Discover store instead, or any other software hub, really.
CachyOS, as a distribution, feels built for power users in mind. Nothing stops you from dissecting your system entirely, and it's something every distribution should encourage, and is part of the Arch Linux philosophy, if you ask me.
Going back is a chore
The installation process is an ordeal
After trying out CachyOS, I don’t think I’m entirely confident about sticking to vanilla Arch Linux on my machines anymore. Arch is a pain to set up from scratch, and while some very good tools and utilities can automate it, they are far from perfect and require way too much manual tuning to my liking.
KDE + CachyOS feels comfy, and I don’t plan on switching out anytime soon. Everything just works, and the OS has enough headroom to allow for changes I need; it’s a tinkerer’s dream.
For those hesitant to make the jump entirely
If you’re like me and hesitant to make the switch entirely, there is a solution that doesn’t involve a reinstall. CachyOS offers a simple script to convert an existing Arch Linux install into a CachyOS install, and it works remarkably well post setup. The script detects the right packages for your system and installs them automatically, making it a surprisingly painless procedure. Unfortunately, it also ‘converts’ the existing install, which might be a problem if you want to leave your original install relatively untouched.
The best alternative, at the moment, appears to be to download the packages from the official CachyOS Repository website and install them manually onto your system. The kernels, for example, are a really good place to start.
While I’m still sticking to a vanilla Arch Linux install on my main machine, my gaming system will stay on CachyOS, and I don’t see it changing anytime soon. The simpler installation, optimized packages, and gaming-related tweaks make it a far more appealing alternative to Arch, and it is kind of a testament to its rising popularity.