Chimera Linux
{{Infobox OS
| name = Chimera Linux
| title = Chimera Linux
| logo = Chimera Linux logo.svg
| logo size = 100px
| screenshot = Chimera Linux with GNOME 44.2 screenshot.webp
| caption = Screenshot of Chimera Linux with default GNOME 44.2 desktop environment
| developer = Chimera Linux developers
| working state = Current
| source model = Open source
| latest release version = Rolling release
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2025|04|20|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://chimera-linux.org/news/2025/04/new-images.html|access-date=2025-05-12|title=New Images|archive-date=2025-04-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250424204751/https://chimera-linux.org/news/2025/04/new-images.html|url-status=live}}
| repo = https://github.com/chimera-linux/
| marketing target = General purpose
| update model = Rolling release
| package manager = apk-tools, cports
| supported platforms = x86-64, aarch64, loongarch64, ppc64le, ppc64, PowerPC, RISC-V
| kernel type = Monolithic (Linux)
| userland = BSD
| ui = GNOME Shell, Almquist shell
| website =
}}
Chimera Linux is a Linux distribution striving for the minimum complexity of system configuration while retaining and expanding on the flexibility common to general purpose Linux based systems.
It uses musl as its libc implementation, userland tools from FreeBSD, and dinit as its init system.
For package management it uses apk-tools from Alpine Linux, but Chimera does not re-use Alpine packages, but instead uses its own novel package build system.
The distribution has no upstream and defines itself as "independent" from this perspective.
History
Chimera Linux was started in 2021 by former Void Linux maintainer "q66".
Features
Chimera Linux makes use of userland components from FreeBSD, and the musl C library in-place of the GNU coreutils and glibc respectively.
A strict default security model, employing the in-development dinit init system and the FreeBSD userland are some of the more radical approaches. Such changes would have been very hard for a distribution with an existing user base.
Core userland from FreeBSD, and the LLVM toolchain are employed. In this the distribution provides an alternative to the common GNU-based systems, without explicitly excluding GNU tools or GPL licensed software in general.
Re-thinking of the core components common across Linux distributions and re-thinking of their integration into an operating system are stated as intentionally pursued at the same time. This approach allows to skip the 'chicken and egg' problem of core system components development: If to interface a newly updated component to an "old" system or adapt a system to a "new" component instead.
= Other features =
- LLVM as the toolchain of choice (instead of the GCC toolchain)
- musl with mimalloc as the system C library (instead of glibc)
- dinit as the init system (instead of systemd)
- FreeBSD userland (instead of GNU coreutils)
- GNOME desktop environment using Wayland for display and PipeWire for the audio stack
Packages
References
{{Reflist|refs=
{{Cite web |last=Proven |first=Liam |title=Chimera – a Linux that isn't GNU/Linux |url=https://www.theregister.com/2023/02/13/chimera_non_gnu_linux/ |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=The Register |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415131102/https://www.theregister.com/2023/02/13/chimera_non_gnu_linux/ |url-status=live }}
{{Cite web |title=Chimera Linux met BSD-userland en dinit in plaats van systemd komt in maart uit |url=https://tweakers.net/nieuws/206418/chimera-linux-met-bsd-userland-en-dinit-in-plaats-van-systemd-komt-in-maart-uit.html |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=Tweakers |language=NL}}
{{Cite web |title=A Non-GNU Linux Distribution Built With LLVM & BSD Software Aims For Alpha Next Month |url=https://www.phoronix.com/news/BSD-LLVM-Linux-Alpha-Coming |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=Phoronix |language=en}}
}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
{{Linux distributions}}
Category:Rolling release Linux distributions
{{Linux-distro-stub}}