EndeavorOS's New Release Eases My Arch Linux Complaints.

Improvements in Ganymede Release

Known for its sturdiness yet considered daunting by some, Arch Linux has numerous derivative distributions designed to simplify its complexity.

One standout amongst these is EndeavorOS, frequently praised for its elegance, security, and dependability. The new Ganymede version enhances these qualities significantly.

Headlining Feature: Smarter Graphics Setup

In a notable advancement, Ganymede automatically recognizes your machine's graphics hardware during installation and installs the appropriate NVIDIA driver. This ease of use eliminates the user’s need to manually install drivers, a task that can be particularly tricky for NVIDIA hardware, compared to AMD.

Other Key Updates

This version introduces Kernel 6.17 and the latest KDE Plasma 6.5.3. Furthermore, it replaces the Maliit virtual keyboard with the Qt 6 virtual keyboard for those opting for KDE Plasma.

Initial Observations

Installing EndeavorOS remains streamlined and user-friendly. In under five minutes, after some straightforward steps and creation of user credentials, the system was ready for use.

The Welcome application (version 25.11.1-1) greeted me immediately, providing intuitive access to system details, updates, and more. It truly sets a high bar for what a Linux Welcome app should be.

While generally favoring dark themes, I switched to a light theme through KDE’s simple settings. Impressively, the subtle menu transparency carried over.

Performance Observations

The performance is stellar—applications launch instantly and animations are seamless. Among desktop environments, KDE Plasma maintains performance supremacy, reinforced by EndeavorOS Ganymede.

Addressing Package Management

Initial issues with application installation via GUI led me to install Octopi with the provided command 'yay -S octopi'. This simplified application management considerably, albeit requiring some user input during setup.

Networking Limitation: Samba Configuration

Testing file sharing via Samba revealed a hurdle; Samba lacked the necessary smb.conf file. Despite multiple attempts to resolve the issue, I concluded Samba setup in Ganymede requires additional manual configuration.

The Verdict

While areas like package management and network sharing setup require attention, EndeavorOS Ganymede strikes a compelling balance of speed, design, stability, and ease.

For those grappling with graphics on Arch Linux using NVIDIA, EndeavorOS Ganymede substantially simplifies the experience.

For those curious, a simple installation process awaits. Just load the latest EndeavorOS version and explore this enhanced distribution.