In a recent announcement, the August release of the Cachyos distribution was introduced. Cachyos is based on the ARCH Linux package base and follows a continuous model for delivering updates. This distribution is known for its optimizations aimed at enhancing productivity and offers the option to install various desktop environments. Apart from the default KDE environment, users can also opt for gnome, xfce, i3wm, Wayfire, LXQT, OpenBox, Cinnamon, Cosmic, Ukraine, Lxde, Mate, Budgie, Qtile, Hyprland, and Sway. The installation ISO-image size is 2.6 GB.
Users can choose from file systems like BTRFS, ZFS, EXT4, XFS, and F2FS. The distribution includes the bore problem planner by default, which is optimized to reduce delays on the desktop and give priority to interactive processes. The core and packages are compiled with LTO optimizations and instructions tailored for processors based on microarchitectures X86-64-V3, X86-64-V4, and Zen4. Additional optimizations such as PGO (Profile-Guided Optimization) or bolt (Binary Optimization and Layout Tool) are utilized during the assembly of basic packages. Cachy-Browser, a Firefox-based web browser with security enhancements and performance boosts, is also part of the distribution.
Additionally, a Handheld Edition with a Gamemode style interface is available for wearable devices. This edition includes components for computer games and supports game consoles like Rog Ally, Steam Deck Oled/LCD, and Legion GO.
The latest version of Cachyos includes several updates:
- Automatic integration of open Linux kernel modules for supported hardware in NVIDIA Procemetration Drivers (using beta-release of NVIDIA R560 drivers)
- Option to install the alpha release of the Cosmic desktop, developed in the RUST language
- Improved configuration detection for systems with multiple GPUs
- Integration of flags for the Sched-EXT planner in the Kernel-Manager utility and option to maintain settings for custom kernel assemblies
- LUKS-shifting support and auto-mounting of user partitions from Live ISO in the Cachy-chroot utility
- Script to simplify UEFI Secure Boot setup
- Support for the game console Asus Rog Ally X in the Handheld Edition
- Updates to packages, including Linux 6.10.5, Mesa 24.2.0, KDE Plasma 6.1.4, and NVIDIA 560.31.02