The latest Linux distro to embrace Wayland also makes Arch more accessible
The latest Linux distro to embrace Wayland also makes Arch more accessible
https://www.zdnet.com/article/cachyos-arch-linux-distro-now-supports-wayland/
Publish Date: 2026-01-26 13:40:00
Source Domain: www.zdnet.com
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The CachyOS distribution has received a big upgrade.
- Based on Arch Linux, this distro has some new tricks up its sleeve.
- CachyOS is fast, beautiful, and free to use.
Every time I’ve used and reviewed CachyOS, I’ve come away impressed. This distribution is faster than most, offers an impressive array of desktop options, and with each iteration becomes more and more user-friendly.
Based on Arch Linux, CachyOS recently received an important upgrade with several changes that affect the desktop environment.
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What are the changes for the latest CachyOS?
First off, a reminder: Because it’s based on Arch Linux, CachyOS is a rolling-release distribution. If you upgrade your current installation, it will automatically update to the latest release, which includes the new additions.
The biggest change for CachyOS is that it now uses the Wayland windowing system. Because Wayland is considerably more modern than X11, I have found it generally performs better. (X11 has been around for a very long time and uses older, sometimes outdated architecture.)
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Given that CachyOS was already one of the fastest full-blown Linux desktop distributions, you can imagine it received another speed boost. This is exactly what I experienced. I tested the X11-based CachyOS and found it fast, but the Wayland version is noticeably faster. And when you combine CachyOS, Wayland, and KDE Plasma, the desktop just screams, “On your left!” (If you don’t get the reference, ask one of your cycling buddies. 😉)
CachyOS also replaces the KDE Plasma default login manager, SDDM, with Limine. Limine is more modern and configurable than other Linux boot managers, making it a perfect fit for the CachyOS ethos. Limine can be themed and fully customized. You can check out…
