Arch Linux’s First ISO Release in 2023 Is Out and It’s Powered by Linux Kernel 6.1 (UPDATED)
Arch Linux is the first GNU/Linux distribution to kick off 2023 with a new ISO release targeting those who want to deploy Arch Linux on new computers, chroot into an existing one to repair it, or just reinstall their systems.
Arch Linux 2023.01.01 is not only Arch Linux’s first ISO release in 2023, but it’s also Arch Linux’s first ISO release powered by the latest and greatest Linux 6.1 kernel series. This means that you’re getting better hardware support out of the box when booting the new Arch Linux ISO on some computers.
Linux kernel 6.1.1 is being used by default on the new Arch Linux ISO release since the latest Linux 6.1.2 kernel release that arrived on New Year’s Eve is still in the Testing repos (you’ll get it as an update after the installation). Linux kernel 6.1 arrived in Arch Linux’s repositories on December 22nd, 2022, for existing users.
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The Numbers Don't Lie: Arch Linux Reigns Supreme on Reddit
As of January 1, 2023, Arch is the most popular Linux distribution based on the number of members in individual Linux communities on Reddit.
The popularity of individual Linux distributions has always piqued the interest of the Linux community. Every year, new ones emerge, with some gaining popularity at the expense of others losing it for various reasons. In other words, the popularity of different Linux distributions is dynamic and challenging to track metrics.
For many years, Distrowatch has been used as an example in measuring this factor. However, the metric used there, unique page views of a specific Linux distribution, is hard to accept without reservation, even though it provides a good indication of popularity.