Updated Linux Distributions

Parrot (formerly Parrot Security OS) is a Debian-based, security-oriented distribution featuring a collection of utilities designed for penetration testing, computer forensics, reverse engineering, hacking, privacy, anonymity and cryptography. The product, developed by Frozenbox, comes with MATE as the default desktop environment.

PantherX OS is a Linux distribution based on Guix System, a Linux-based operating system built around the GNU Guix package manager. It boots into a text-mode Guix Install program which guides the user through the installation process. The installer offers a choice of several desktop environments and window managers, including GNOME, Xfce, KDE Plasma, MATE, IceWM, Openbox, Awesome, i3 and Ratpoison. It also offers a built-in safety feature that can restore a previous system state in case of a problem. The distribution's goal is to provide a reliable, rolling-release and flexible platform for general computing work and entertainment.

Kali Linux (formerly known as BackTrack) is a Debian-based distribution with a collection of security and forensics tools. It features timely security updates, support for the ARM architecture, a choice of four popular desktop environments, and seamless upgrades to newer versions.

HackerOS is a live Linux distribution based on Debian's "Testing" branch and designed for regular users, gamers and cybersecurity enthusiasts. Some of its features include an optimised XanMod Linux kernel for faster boot times and reduced resource usage, out-of-the-box support for NVIDIA graphics cards, and a collection of cybersecurity tools, such as enhanced firewalls and intrusion detection software. The distribution uses the KDE Plasma desktop.

Bluestar Linux is a GNU/Linux distribution that is based on Arch Linux. The Bluestar distribution features up to date packages, a full range of desktop and multimedia software in the default installation and a live desktop DVD.

Mageia is a fork of Mandriva Linux formed in September 2010 by former employees and contributors to the popular French Linux distribution. Unlike Mandriva, which is a commercial entity, Mageia is a community project and a non-profit organisation whose goal is to develop a free Linux-based operating system.

MagOS Linux is a Russian desktop-oriented distribution based on ROSA, a distribution that was forked from Mandriva Linux in 2011. It uses the RPM package management. MagOS Linux comes with KDE Plasma desktop by default, but it also ships the lightweight LXQt desktop for older and low-specification computers. Besides the standard upstream packages from ROSA, the project also provides its own RPM package repository (with various network and NVIDIA display drivers), as well as separate modules (in XZM format) with extra hardware drivers, server tools, MATE desktop, Wine emulator, Java software and additional web browsers, including Chromium and Yandex.

Slackel is a Linux distribution and live CD based on Slackware Linux and Salix. It is fully compatible with both. It uses the current version of Slackware and the latest version of the KDE desktop. The Slackel disc images are offered in two different forms - installation and live.

AnduinOS is an Ubuntu-based distribution which provides a GNOME desktop which has been themed and styled to resemble Windows 11. The project provides a smaller ISO file than its parent with each supported language split into a separate ISO. Snap support, which is included in Ubuntu, has been removed from AnduinOS.

Neko-Void is a Void-based rolling-release distribution featuring a preconfigured MATE desktop environment with carefully selected software. It is designed for users who want Void Linux's stability and minimalism with modern desktop functionality. The distribution ships with a custom system installer called Kasha Installer, and is available in two separate editions, with either X.Org or Xlibre display servers.

ML4W OS is an Arch Linux-based distribution featuring a heavily customised Hyprland tiling compositor. The project specialises primarily in creating advanced configuration for Hyprland, so called "dotfiles", which are available for installation on several other Arch-based distributions, as well as Fedora and openSUSE. However, the live ML4W OS ISO image is a standalone, full-featured Linux distribution with all Hyprland configuration files, applications, icons, themes and wallpapers included. It can be installed to a hard disk using a custom text-mode system installer. The project also provides extensive documentation about setting up and configuring Hyprland.

LinuxCNC is a Debian-based Linux distribution designed to control computer numerical control (CNC) machines. It can drive milling machines, lathe machines, 3D printers, laser cutters, plasma cutters, robot arms, hexapods and more. It is compatible with many popular machine control hardware interfaces and it supports rigid tapping, cutter compensation, and many other advanced control features. LinuxCNC boots into an Xfce desktop with a custom CNC menu containing CNC software, wizards and documentation.

CachyOS is a Linux distribution based on Arch Linux. It focuses on speed and security optimisations - the default Linux kernel is heavily optimised using the BORE (Burst-Oriented Response Enhancer) scheduler, while the desktop packages are compiled with LTO, x86-64-v3 and x86-64-v4, Zen 4 optimization, security flags and performance improvements. The available desktop environments, window managers and Wayland compositors include bspwm, Budgie, Cinnamon, COSMIC, GNOME, Hyprland, i3, KDE Plasma, LXDE, LXQt, MATE, Niri, Openbox, Qtile, Sway, UKUI, Wayfire and Xfce. CachyOS also ships with both graphical and command-line system installers.

Drauger OS is an Ubuntu-based Linux desktop gaming distribution that ships with many modifications and optimizations over stock Ubuntu; these are intended to improve gaming performance and the gaming experience. From simple changes such as swapping GNOME out for KDE Plasma and using a dark Qt theme by default, to more complex changes such as using a kernel compiled in-house and replacing PulseAudio with Pipewire. Drauger OS is built from the ground up with a focus on performance.

openmamba GNU/Linux is a distribution for personal computers that can be used on notebooks, desktops, servers and Raspberry Pi computers. It works as an installable live DVD/USB images, offering one of two desktop environments: KDE Plasma or LXQt. The distribution uses RPM packages managed through the DNF package manager. Software can also be fetched and installed from Flatpak repositories.

Bluestar Linux is a GNU/Linux distribution that is based on Arch Linux. The Bluestar distribution features up to date packages, a full range of desktop and multimedia software in the default installation and a live desktop DVD.

4MLinux is a miniature Linux distribution focusing on four capabilities: maintenance (as a system rescue live CD), multimedia (for playing video DVDs and other multimedia files), miniserver (using the inetd daemon), and mystery (providing several small Linux games). The distribution includes support for booting on UEFI-enabled machines.

Xubuntu is a community-developed operating system based on Ubuntu. It comes with Xfce, which is a stable, light and configurable desktop environment.

Ubuntu Unity is a flavour of Ubuntu featuring the Unity desktop environment (the default desktop environment developed and used by Ubuntu from 2010 to 2017). Unity debuted in the netbook edition of Ubuntu 10.10; it was initially designed to make more efficient use of space given the limited screen size of netbooks, including a vertical application switcher called "the launcher" and a space-saving horizontal multipurpose top menu bar. Ubuntu switched from Unity to GNOME in 2017, but the desktop was resurrected again as an unofficial "Ubuntu Unity Remix" in 2020. It became an official flavour of Ubuntu during the development cycle of Ubuntu 22.10 in 2022.

An official variant of Ubuntu, Ubuntu Studio is a Linux-based operating system for creative individuals in the areas of audio production, video production, graphics design, photography and desktop publishing. It makes professional audio accessible on Linux; it uses the JACK sound server and a kernel built with a low-latency patch. Up until version 20.10 Ubuntu Studio shipped with the Xfce desktop environment, but this was replaced by KDE Plasma in October 2020.