MX Linux

MX Linux is a collaborative desktop distribution developed by the antiX and former MEPIS communities. Since its first release in 2014, it has consistently ranked at or near the top of DistroWatch's download charts. Built on Debian stable, it layers the MX Tools suite on top of an antiX base to deliver a system that is stable, capable, and welcoming to users of all experience levels.

Basic Information

Attribute	Details
Based on	Debian stable (with antiX base components)
Release cycle	Follows Debian stable; major releases roughly every 2 years
Default desktop	Xfce (flagship), KDE Plasma, Fluxbox
Target users	Intermediate users, older hardware owners, stability-seekers
Website	https://mxlinux.org

Key Features

• MX Tools suite: MX Package Installer (GUI software manager), MX Snapshot (create a bootable ISO of your running system), MX Boot Options, and a dozen more utilities that make routine maintenance straightforward.
• Dual init system support: Offers both systemd and sysvinit at install time; users can choose based on their preference, a rarity among mainstream distributions.
• Moderately lightweight: The Xfce edition typically idles at 500–700 MB of RAM — heavier than antiX but lighter than most full-featured desktops, running smoothly on hardware from the past decade.
• Powerful Live environment: Live mode supports persistent storage (saving files and settings to USB), and MX Snapshot can repackage the live session into a fresh ISO.
• Stable Debian foundation: Inherits Debian stable's outstanding reliability, with the MX Test Repo providing access to newer versions of selected applications.

Relationship to Debian

MX Linux is based directly on Debian stable; packages originate from official Debian repositories, supplemented by the MX Linux repository (which hosts MX Tools and select newer software versions). antiX components (such as the live boot framework) are included as standalone packages. Because the Debian stable base is used, package versions tend to be conservative, but system stability is exceptional.

Getting Started

# Download the ISO from: https://mxlinux.org/mx-iso-torrents/
# Available in 32-bit and 64-bit, across Xfce, KDE, and Fluxbox editions

# After installation, update the system
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

# Open the MX Package Installer (graphical)
mx-packageinstaller

# Or install software via the command line as usual
sudo apt install <package-name>

# List installed MX Tools
ls /usr/bin/mx*

# Create a system snapshot
sudo mx-snapshot

Who Is It For?

• Intermediate users who want Debian's stability with a friendlier graphical toolset
• People running Linux on older hardware (5+ years old) who still want a full-featured desktop
• Users who want to choose between systemd and sysvinit
• Anyone curious about one of the Linux community's most consistently popular distributions

Related Links

• Website: https://mxlinux.org
• Download: https://mxlinux.org/mx-iso-torrents/
• Manuals: https://mxlinux.org/manuals/
• Community forums: https://forum.mxlinux.org

---

Next Steps

Return to the Debian Derivatives overview to explore other Debian-based distributions.