MX Linux

Last updated

MX Linux
MX LINUX Logo.svg
Mx21.1-wildflowers.png
MX-23
Developer MX Dev Team
OS family Linux (Unix-like)
Working stateCurrent
Source model Open source
Initial release24 March 2014;10 years ago (2014-03-24)
Latest release 23.4 [1] / 15 September 2024
Available in Multilingual
Update method APT
Package manager Apt
Platforms x86-64, i686
Kernel type Monolithic (Linux)
Default
user interface
Xfce, Fluxbox & KDE
License Linux Foundation Sublicense No. 20140605-0483
Official website mxlinux.org

MX Linux is a Linux distribution based on Debian stable and using core antiX components, with additional software created or packaged by the MX community. [2] The development of MX Linux is a collaborative effort between the antiX and former MEPIS communities. The MX name comes from the "M" in MEPIS and the "X" in antiX — an acknowledgment of their roots. The community's stated goal is to produce "a family of operating systems that are designed to combine elegant and efficient desktops with high stability and solid performance".

Contents

MX Linux uses Xfce as the main desktop environment, to which it adds a free-standing KDE Plasma version and, in 2021, a stand-alone Fluxbox implementation. Other environments can be added or are available as "spin-off" ISO images.

History

MX Linux began in a discussion about future options among members of the MEPIS community in December 2013. [3] Developers from antiX then joined them, bringing the ISO build system as well as Live-USB/DVD technology. To be listed on the Linux distribution clearinghouse Web site DistroWatch, MX Linux was initially presented as a version of antiX. It received its own DistroWatch page with the release of the first public beta of MX-16 on 2 November 2016.[ citation needed ]

Desktop environments

MX Linux has four desktop editions:

Recent releases

A table of current MX Linux Development Team supported releases and how long Debian will provide Long Term Support. [28]

VersionReleaseKernel [29] Kernel (AHS) [30] NotesDebian LTS support [31] ends:
Current stable version:MX-23.4 all DE's [1] 15 September 20246.1.1066.10.10 Liqourix4th refresh of MX 23. Bugfixes, kernel updates, application updates, updated firmware packages and updated Xfce 4.18 core packages.Debian 12.7 December 2026
Current stable version:MX-23.3 all DE's [20] 19 May 20246.1.906.8.93rd refresh of MX 23. AHS now has the 6.8.9 Liquorix Kernel.Debian 12.4 December 2026
Current stable version:MX-23.2 all DE's [19] 21 January 20246.1.x6.62nd refresh of MX 23. AHS now has the 6.6 Liquorix Kernel.Debian 12.4 December 2026
Current stable version:MX-23.1 all DE's [18] 15 October 20236.1.x6.5All ISOs updated to the newest 6.1 Kernel and AHS now has the 6.5 Kernel.Debian 12.2 [32] December 2026
Current stable version:MX-23 all DE's [17] 31 July 20236.1.0 [33] 6.4.0Xfce Desktop Environment upgraded to 4.18Debian 12 "Bookworm" [34] December 2026
Current stable version:MX-21.3 all DE's [35] 15 January 20235.106.0Debian 11 "Bullseye"

To be defined; roughly
July 2024 to June 2026
Current stable version:MX-21.2.1 all DE's [15] 18 September 20225.185.19 & 6.0 kernel are in the AHS repo. [36]
Current stable version:MX-21.2 all DE's [13] 28 August 20225.18
Current stable version:MX-21.1 all DE's [12] 9 April 20225.165.14 & 5.16 Kernel available

in Package Manager [37]
Current stable version:MX-21 AHS [38] 22 November 20215.14
Current stable version:MX-21 [39] 21 October 2021
Old version, yet still maintained: MX-19.4.18 April 2021Debian 10 "Buster" [40]

30 June 2024
Old version, yet still maintained: MX-19.4 [41] 31 March 20214.19
Old version, yet still maintained: MX-19.311 November 2020
Old version, yet still maintained: MX-19.2 KDE16 August 2020
Old version, yet still maintained: 19.2 [42] 31 May 2020
Old version, yet still maintained: MX-19.114 February 2020
Old version, yet still maintained: MX-1921 October 2019
Old version, no longer maintained: MX-18all releasesDebian 9 "Stretch"
30 June 2022
Legend:
Old version, not maintained
Old version, still maintained
Latest version
Latest preview version
Future release

Features

MX Linux has basic tools like a graphic installer that handles Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) computers, a GUI-based method to change a Linux kernel and other core programs.

It includes MX Tools, [43] a suite of user-oriented utilities, many of which were developed specifically for MX, while some were forked from existing antiX applications or are existing antiX applications; a couple were imported with permission from outside sources. These tools are also available in Debian Stable-based Linux distributions, and some of the main tools are as follows:

A particularly popular one is MX-snapshot, [44] a GUI tool to remaster a live session or installation into a single .ISO file. [45] The "cloned" image is bootable from a disk or USB flash drive, maintaining all settings, allowing an installation to be completely backed up, and/or distributed with minimal administrative effort, since an advanced method of copying the file system developed by antiX Linux uses bind-mounts to perform the "heavy lifting".[ citation needed ]

System requirements

Minimum

Recommended

Derivatives

The developers of MX Linux also have been releasing "Community Re-spins" which are treated as unofficial releases. There are MX-Workbench, MX_Minimal, MX_CLI and so on. [46]

MX users can further customize these re-spins by using a software application called "MX Snapshot". Some community members exchanging posts at MX Forum and distribute their custom respins. [47] AV Linux [48] is one of well-known respins. [49]

See also

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