Mid-weight family of operating systems
MX Linux is a Linux distribution based on Debian stable and using core antiX components, with additional software created or packaged by the MX community.[2] The development of MX Linux is a collaborative effort between the antiX and former MEPIS communities. The MX 'name' comes from the M for MEPIS and the X from antiX – an acknowledgment of their roots. The community's stated goal is to produce "a family of operating systems that are designed to combine elegant and efficient desktops with high stability and solid performance".
MX Linux uses Xfce as the main desktop environment, to which it adds a free-standing KDE Plasma version and, in 2021, a stand-alone Fluxbox implementation. Other environments can be added or are available as "spin-off" ISO images.
History
MX Linux began in a discussion about future options among members of the MEPIS community in December 2013.[3] Developers from antiX then joined them, bringing the ISO build system as well as Live-USB/DVD technology. To be listed on the Linux distribution clearinghouse website DistroWatch, MX Linux was initially presented as a version of antiX. It received its own DistroWatch page with the release of the first public beta of MX-16 on November 2, 2016.
- The MX-14, codename "Symbiosis", series was based on Debian Stable "Wheezy", using Xfce 4.10 and then, with the 14.4 release, Xfce 4.12. The MX-14 versions were intended to fit onto a CD, which limited the number of applications that could be included. This series saw the gradual evolution of the MX Tools, a collection of utilities to help users with common tasks that are often complicated and obscure.[4]
- MX-15 "Fusion" moved to the new Debian Stable "Jessie" using systemd-shim, meaning that systemd is installed but the default init is sysvinit.[3] The size limitation was lifted, enabling the developers to present a full turnkey product. There was a substantial expansion of MX Tools.
- MX-16 "Metamorphosis" was still based on Debian Stable "Jessie", but with many applications backported and added from other sources. There were further refinements to MX Tools, the import of advanced antiX developments, expanded support, and a completely new icon/theme/wallpaper collection.[5][6]
- MX-16.1 collected all bug fixes and improvements since MX-16, added a new kingfisher theme, upgraded and streamlined MX Tools, revised documentation, and added new translations.[7]
- MX-17 "Horizon" changed its base to Debian 9 (Stretch) and brought upgraded artwork, new MX Tools, improved Live operation via antiX and other changes.[8]
- MX-18 "Continuum" continued the development of MX Tools, introduced a new kernel, enabled whole disk encryption, and added GRUB themes, splash functionality through MX Boot options artwork, and improved localization.[9]
- MX-19 "Patito feo" upgraded its base to Debian 10 (Buster) and its default desktop to Xfce 4.14. It is characterized by new and revised Tools, artwork, documentation, localization, and technical features.[10]
- MX-21 "Wildflower" was released on October 21, 2021. It is based on Debian 11.0 (Bullseye) and is available as Xfce, KDE or Fluxbox versions. Details in the MX Blog.[11]
- MX-21.1 was released on April 9, 2022. It is based on Debian 11.3 (Bullseye) and is available as Xfce, Xfce AHS, KDE, and Fluxbox versions. Disk Manager returns and for share settings, MX Samba Config app (GUI) is included. Further details are in the MX blog.[12]
- MX-21.2 was released on August 28, 2022. It is based on Debian 11.4 (Bullseye) and is available as Xfce, KDE, Xfce AHS, and Fluxbox versions. Further details are in the MX blog.[13]
- MX-21.2.1 was released on September 18, 2022. It is based on Debian 11.5 (Bullseye) and is available as Xfce, Xfce AHS,[14] KDE, and Fluxbox versions. Includes Debian's recent Grub-PC updates. Further details are in the MX blog.[15]
- MX-21.3 3rd refresh of MX-21, was released on January 14, 2023. Based on Debian 11.6 with bug fixes, new kernels, and many application updates. Available as Xfce (4.18), Xfce AHS, KDE, and Fluxbox versions. Further details are in the MX blog.[16]
- MX-23 "Libretto" was released on July 31, 2023. Based on Debian 12 with bug fixes, new kernels, and many application updates. Available as Xfce (4.18), Xfce AHS, KDE, and Fluxbox versions. Further details are in the MX blog.[17]
- MX-23.1 "Libretto" was released on October 15, 2023. ISO refresh of the initial MX-23 release, consisting of bug fixes, newer kernels, and application updates.[18]
- MX-23.2 "Libretto" was released on January 21, 2024. 2nd ISO refresh of MX-23, consisting of Debian 12.4, bug fixes, newer kernels, updated firmware & mesa libraries, Pipewire 1.0, and two new tools MX Locale and papirus-folder-colors.[19]
Desktop environments
MX Linux has four desktop editions:
- 'Xfce' is a fast and medium-low resource usage desktop environment. 32-bit, 64-bit, and Advanced Hardware Support (AHS) versions are available. Xfce developers officially released version 4.18 of Xfce on December 15, 2022.[20] MX-21.x users received the update to Xfce 4.18 in mid-January 2023.[21]
- 'Fluxbox' is a window manager with very low resource usage. This edition was first released on October 21, 2021.[22] 32-bit and 64-bit versions are available.
- 'KDE' is available only as a 64-bit Advanced Hardware Support (AHS) version. It currently features version 5.20 of the KDE Plasma desktop and Linux kernel 6.0 (or newer).[23] This edition was first released on August 16, 2020.[24]
- 'AHS' a 64-bit only version. (Advanced Hardware Support) with newer graphics drivers, currently with Linux kernel 6.0 (or newer) and firmware for very recent hardware (for example, AMD Ryzen and AMD Radeon RX graphics cards or 9th/10th/11th generation Intel CPUs).[25] Starting with MX 21.3 a KDE version of AHS was made available.[26]
Recent releases
A table of current MX Linux Development Team supported releases and how long Debian will provide Long Term Support.[27]
| Version |
Release |
Kernel[28] |
Kernel (AHS)[29] |
Notes |
Debian LTS support[30] ends:
|
| Current stable version: MX-23.2 all DE's[19] |
January 21, 2024 |
6.1.x |
6.6 |
2nd refresh of MX 23. AHS now has the 6.6 Liquorix Kernel. |
Debian 12.4 December 2026
|
| Current stable version: MX-23.1 all DE's[18] |
October 15, 2023 |
6.1.x |
6.5 |
All ISOs updated to the newest 6.1 Kernel and AHS now has the 6.5 Kernel. |
Debian 12.2 [31] December 2026
|
| Current stable version: MX-23 all DE's[17] |
July 31, 2023 |
6.1.0[32] |
6.4.0 |
Xfce Desktop Environment upgraded to 4.18 |
Debian 12 "Bookworm" [33] December 2026
|
| Current stable version: MX-21.3 all DE's[34] |
January 15, 2023 |
5.10 |
6.0 |
Debian 11 “Bullseye”
To be defined; roughly
July 2024 to June 2026
|
| Current stable version: MX-21.2.1 all DE's[15] |
September 18, 2022 |
5.18 |
5.19 & 6.0 kernel are in the AHS repo.[35]
|
| Current stable version: MX-21.2 all DE's[13] |
August 28, 2022 |
5.18 |
|
| Current stable version: MX-21.1 all DE's[12] |
April 9, 2022 |
5.16 |
5.14 & 5.16 Kernel available
in Package Manager[36]
|
| Current stable version: MX-21 AHS[37] |
November 22, 2021 |
5.14
|
| Current stable version: MX-21[38] |
October 21, 2021 |
|
| Older version, yet still maintained: MX-19.4.1 |
April 8, 2021 |
|
|
Debian 10 “Buster”[39]
June 30, 2024
|
| Older version, yet still maintained: MX-19.4[40] |
March 31, 2021 |
4.19 |
|
|
| Older version, yet still maintained: MX-19.3 |
November 11, 2020 |
|
|
| Older version, yet still maintained: MX-19.2 KDE |
August 16, 2020 |
|
|
| Older version, yet still maintained: 19.2[41] |
May 31, 2020 |
|
|
| Older version, yet still maintained: MX-19.1 |
February 14, 2020 |
|
| Older version, yet still maintained: MX-19 |
October 21, 2019 |
|
|
| Old version, no longer maintained: MX-18 |
all releases |
|
|
Debian 9 “Stretch”
June 30, 2022
|
Legend: Old version Older version, still maintained Latest version Latest preview version Future release |
Features
MX Linux has basic tools like a graphic installer that handles UEFI computers, a GUI-based method to change a Linux kernel and other core programs.
It includes MX Tools,[42] a suite of user-oriented utilities, many of which were developed specifically for MX, while some were forked from existing antiX applications or are existing antiX applications; a couple were imported with permission from outside sources. These tools are also available in Debian Stable-based Linux distributions, and some of the main tools are as follows:
A particularly popular one is MX-snapshot,[43] a GUI tool to remaster a live session or installation into a single .ISO file.[44] The "cloned" image is bootable from a disk or USB flash drive, maintaining all settings, allowing an installation to be completely backed up, and/or distributed with minimal administrative effort since an advanced method of copying the file system (developed by antiX Linux) uses bind-mounts performing the "heavy lifting".
