Manjaro ( ) is a
free and open-source
Free and open-source software (FOSS) is software available under a Software license, license that grants users the right to use, modify, and distribute the software modified or not to everyone free of charge. FOSS is an inclusive umbrella term ...
Linux distribution
A Linux distribution, often abbreviated as distro, is an operating system that includes the Linux kernel for its kernel functionality. Although the name does not imply product distribution per se, a distro—if distributed on its own—is oft ...
based on the
Arch Linux
Arch Linux () is an Open-source software, open source, rolling release Linux distribution. Arch Linux is kept up-to-date by regularly updating the individual pieces of software that it comprises. Arch Linux is intentionally minimal, and is meant ...
operating system
An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware and software resources, and provides common daemon (computing), services for computer programs.
Time-sharing operating systems scheduler (computing), schedule tasks for ...
with a focus on
user-friendliness
Usability can be described as the capacity of a system to provide a condition for its users to perform the tasks safely, effectively, and efficiently while enjoying the experience. In software engineering, usability is the degree to which a softw ...
, accessibility, and improved
software testing
Software testing is the act of checking whether software satisfies expectations.
Software testing can provide objective, independent information about the Quality (business), quality of software and the risk of its failure to a User (computin ...
and stability compared to its
upstream sources. It uses a
rolling release
Rolling release, also known as rolling update or continuous delivery, is a concept in software development of frequently delivering updates to applications. This is in contrast to a ''standard'' or '' point release'' development model which uses ...
update model with
Pacman-derived package managers.
Manjaro is developed mainly in Austria, France and Germany.
Reviewers often describe Manjaro Linux as a Linux distribution that is easy to set up and use, suitable for both beginners and experienced users.
It is recommended as an easy and friendly way to install and maintain a cutting-edge Arch-derived distribution.
Some reviewers find appeal in the large range of contributed software available in the
AUR, which has a reputation for being kept up to date from upstream resources.
Others highlight the wide selection of official and community editions with different desktop environments.
History
Manjaro was first released on 10 July 2011.
[ By mid 2013, it was in the beta stage, though key elements of the final system had all been implemented, including a GUI installer (then an ]Antergos
Antergos is a discontinued Linux distribution based on Arch Linux. By default, it includes the GNOME desktop environment, but it also offers options for Cinnamon (desktop environment), Cinnamon, MATE (desktop environment), MATE, KDE Plasma 5, D ...
installer fork); a package manager (Pacman) with a choice of frontends; Pamac (GTK
GTK (formerly GIMP ToolKit and GTK+) is a free software cross-platform widget toolkit for creating graphical user interfaces (GUIs). It is licensed under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License, allowing both Free software, free and ...
) for Xfce
Xfce or XFCE (pronounced as four individual letters, ) is a Free and open-source software, free and open-source desktop environment for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems.
Xfce aims to be fast and Lightweight software, lightweight whil ...
desktop and Octopi ( Qt) for its Openbox
Openbox is a free, stacking window manager for the X Window System, licensed under the GNU General Public License. Originally derived from Blackbox 0.65.0 (a C++ project), Openbox has been completely re-written in the C programming language ...
edition; MHWD (Manjaro Hardware Detection, for detection of free &