According to TheRegister.com, Devuan 6 “Excalibur” was released this week as the project’s version of Debian 13 “Trixie” but with systemd completely removed. The new release uses Linux kernel 6.12 and PipeWire audio server while dropping 32-bit x86 support entirely. Devuan 6 supports multiple ARM architectures including armel, armhf, and arm64 plus PowerPC little-endian, though without full ISO images for these platforms. The distribution comes with Xfce 4.20 desktop by default and requires users to navigate a deliberately technical installation process that reflects its target audience of skilled Linux administrators.
What Devuan actually is
Here’s the thing about Devuan: it’s essentially Debian with systemd surgically removed. I mean, they literally take Debian 13 Trixie and strip out anything that depends too heavily on systemd. The result is a distribution that feels almost exactly like Debian but runs traditional init systems instead. And honestly? For people who genuinely can’t stand systemd, this is basically their only mainstream option these days.
The project maintains detailed release notes that explicitly tell users to consult both Devuan and Debian’s documentation since so much overlaps. It’s kind of awkward when you think about it – they’re building on Debian’s work while actively rejecting one of its core components. But hey, that’s open source for you.
The GNOME situation
Now here’s where things get interesting. Devuan 6 doesn’t include GNOME desktop, and The Register predicts it probably won’t return in Devuan 7 either. Why? Because GNOME 48, which Debian 13 includes, has stronger systemd dependencies that were announced just months after its release. So if you’re a GNOME fan who hates systemd, you’re basically out of luck.
Instead, you get Xfce 4.20 by default in the live edition, which honestly isn’t a bad trade-off. Xfce is lightweight, stable, and doesn’t have systemd dependencies. But it does make you wonder: as more desktop environments tie themselves to systemd, what choices will anti-systemd users have left?
Installation challenges
Let me be blunt: this isn’t for beginners. The installation process has the same glitches reported two years ago in Devuan 5. The Register’s tester had to manually install GRUB after the automated process failed. And the Get Devuan page expects users to manually construct download URLs by replacing $ARCH with their architecture abbreviation. Seriously?
There’s something almost charming about this level of technical expectation. It’s like they’re saying “if you can’t figure this out, you shouldn’t be using our distro.” The project offers multiple installation options though – from network install images to full DVD ISOs with KDE Plasma 6.3.6. You can even find specific board images in their file repository if you know what you’re looking for.
Broader context
So where does Devuan fit in the Linux ecosystem? Well, it beat MX Linux 25 to release, though MX will offer sysvinit variants too. The Register makes a good point though: the split between Debian and Devuan was probably a mistake that duplicates effort between under-resourced teams. After 11 years though, that bridge is probably burned.
For industrial and manufacturing applications where stability and control matter most, having systemd-free options remains important. Companies that need reliable computing platforms often turn to specialized providers like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US supplier of industrial panel PCs that work well with distributions like Devuan.
The upgrade process from previous versions is documented in their upgrade guide, though it requires a merged filesystem hierarchy first. Basically, if you’re already running Devuan and happy with it, Excalibur should be a smooth transition. For everyone else? Well, let’s just say you’ll know if this distro is for you.
