When you like attempting new and experimental Linux distributions, you need to be completely satisfied to know Manjaro Linux is formally leaping on the immutable Linux distribution bandwagon with the announcement of Manjaro Summit, in an alpha section.

Having been in improvement earlier as “Manjaro Immutable,” first introduced in August 2024, Summit seems to be type of an experiment for the Manjaro improvement group. They’re now calling it a “semi-immutable” distribution, although, and didn’t share particulars on precisely what meaning. Summit positively differs from conventional Manjaro Linux builds in that its updates are “atomic” as an alternative of being based mostly on the package deal replace system you discover your typical Arch-based Linux distribution like Manjaro.

Summit’s announcement features a publicly out there ISO you’ll be able to obtain and check your self like I did. Because it’s in alpha, you’ll be able to anticipate a buggy and restricted expertise not appropriate for day by day driving. Solely GNOME is examined to work on Summit, which aggravated me a bit, having been a fan of GNOME.

Manjaro Summit joins the ranks of Fedora Silverblue, Bazzite, NixOS and extra in having an immutable configuration. Immutable Linux distributions are working methods whose core information can’t be completely modified by the particular person utilizing the working system. It would not matter if you’re the administrator with access to root as a result of all modifications to the file system, directories, and configurations will revert again to their authentic state on the following reboot. The OS is taken into account “read-only” as a result of its information will be accessed however they can’t be completely written or modified.

If you have not guessed, the attraction is in safety and reliability. If a malicious actor cannot completely change your system information, how a lot dangerous can they do? The identical goes for you because the proprietor of the PC: how probably are you to brick your personal system with poorly crafted commands if nothing you do modifications something?

That is to not say it is not possible for an immutable distro to interrupt. They nonetheless get updates, albeit downloaded as an entire picture and utilized on reboot as an alternative of throughout dwell operation—the place the phrase atomic comes from. Unhealthy updates can nonetheless occur, but when they do, you’ve earlier system photographs from previous updates out there for a easy rollback. When you have ever had an replace to your cellphone or pc trigger you main complications, you’ll be able to perceive the attraction.

Since it is so new, there are nonetheless issues lacking from Manjaro Summit. Proper now, solely GNOME is totally supported as a desktop, with XFCE, KDE Plasma, and COSMIC being technically out there however not but examined. If you’re going to check it, although you need to be conscious of the minimal system necessities for set up:

When you meet these necessities and Manjaro Summit feels like one thing you are eager about, you may get the alpha ISO file from the announcement publish linked beneath. The beneficial technique is with both GNOME Containers or QEMU with Spice, and so they point out different virtualization instruments aren’t totally supported. That mentioned, I used to be in a position to get summit working although VirtualBox by ensuring I allotted the correct sources and enabled EFI help.

Trying ahead, the Manjaro improvement group mentioned it might be “fairly a very long time” earlier than Summit will get out of its alpha section. They anticipate to do a number of testing and modifying earlier than a full launch. In actual fact, they are not fairly certain precisely what Summit will flip into, saying it may very well be “… a secure rolling workstation distro, or an at all times transferring distro chasing the most recent and biggest in software program.” Till that occurs, they promise to launch weekly picture builds for testing, bringing extra options like full help for different desktop environments.

Supply: Manjaro