PCLinuxOS is an independently maintained rolling distribution with a combination of traits found almost nowhere else: it packages software as RPMs but manages them with APT and the Synaptic graphical front end, a pairing inherited from its early days, and it deliberately ships without systemd, retaining a classic init arrangement. Begun as a package set for Mandrake Linux before becoming a full distribution, it remains a desktop-first project with KDE Plasma as the flagship environment and MATE and Xfce editions alongside. Wherever possible, administration happens through graphical tools, reflecting the founder's aim of a system comfortable for ordinary home users. The community produces its own monthly magazine and maintains remastering tools for building custom live media. Updates roll continuously, so there are no version reinstalls. It is a living branch of Linux history, and an OpenFactory browser session shows its old-school charm quickly.
Select a version of PCLinuxOS to try online:
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Need PCLinuxOS for more than a quick browser preview?
The buttons above launch an ephemeral browser VM, perfect for kicking the tires. Paid plans unlock the things you'd actually use it for:
- ✓Persistent VMs you can SSH into and customize
- ✓Snapshots, your own packages, a downloadable ISO
- ✓Fleet deployment to your own machines (on-prem or cloud)