Introduction

In the expansive universe of Linux distributions, the choice of which one to use can be overwhelming. Among the galaxies of options, two Arch-based stars have shone increasingly brightly: Manjaro and EndeavourOS. Both are rooted in the Arch Linux ecosystem, yet they cater to different kinds of users and offer unique experiences. If you’re currently a Manjaro user contemplating the switch to EndeavourOS, this article aims to help you make an informed decision.

Background Information

What is Manjaro?

Manjaro is an Arch-based Linux distribution that is designed to be user-friendly and accessible. Known for its ‘Install and Go’ philosophy, Manjaro offers ease of use, making it suitable for Linux newcomers. It comes with a variety of desktop environments like XFCE, KDE, and GNOME, among others. Manjaro also features its own package manager, Pamac, which makes software installation a breeze. Automatic updates and built-in stability checks make it a go-to choice for those who want the power of Arch Linux without its complexities.

What is EndeavourOS?

EndeavourOS is also an Arch-based Linux distribution, but it aims to be closer to vanilla Arch. Targeted at intermediate to advanced users, EndeavourOS offers an almost bare-bones experience with the choice to customize your system as you see fit. While it does come with an installer, it is more manual compared to Manjaro’s Calamares installer. It aims to provide the user with an Arch experience with minimal added features, relying mostly on the Arch User Repository (AUR) and Pacman for package management.

Comparison Criteria

To make an apples-to-apples comparison between Manjaro and EndeavourOS, we’ll evaluate them based on the following criteria:

• Ease of Installation
• Package Management
• Desktop Environments
• System Performance
• Software Availability
• Community Support
• Stability and Updates

Detailed Comparison

Ease of Installation

Manjaro offers an incredibly user-friendly installation process via its Calamares installer. It is mostly automated and requires only minimal user interaction.

EndeavourOS, on the other hand, offers a more hands-on installation process. Though it also offers an installer, it allows for more customization during the setup, which might be more appealing to advanced users but intimidating for beginners.

Package Management

Manjaro uses Pamac for package management, which offers a clean, easy-to-use graphical interface. It also supports AUR, enabling a wide range of software availability.

Introduction

The Linux command line is a powerful tool that gives you complete control over your system. But to unleash its full potential, you must understand the environment in which it operates. One crucial component of this environment is the PATH variable. It’s like a guide that directs the system to where it can find the programs you’re asking it to run. In this article, we will delve into what the PATH variable is, why it’s important, and how to modify it to suit your needs.

What is the PATH Variable?

The PATH is an environment variable in Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. It contains a list of directories that the shell searches through when you enter a command. Each directory is separated by a colon (:). When you type in a command like ls or gcc, the system looks through these directories in the order they appear in the PATH variable to find the executable file for the command.

For example, if your PATH variable contains the following directories:

/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin 

and you type ls, the system will first look for the ls executable in /usr/local/sbin. If it doesn’t find it there, it will move on to /usr/local/bin, and so on until it finds the executable or exhausts all directories in the PATH.

Why Modify the PATH Variable?

The default PATH variable usually works well for most users. However, there are scenarios where you might need to modify it:

• Adding Custom Scripts: If you have custom scripts stored in a particular directory, adding that directory to your PATH allows you to run those scripts as commands from any location.

• Software in Non-standard Locations: Some software may be installed in directories that are not in the default PATH. Adding such directories allows you to run the software without specifying its full path.

• Productivity: Including frequently-used directories in your PATH can make your workflow more efficient, reducing the need to type full directory paths.

Temporarily Modifying the PATH Variable

Using the export Command

To temporarily add a new directory to your PATH for the current session, you can use the export command as follows:

export PATH=$PATH:/new/directory/path 

This modification will last until you close your terminal session.

Using the PATH=$PATH:/your/path Syntax

Alternatively, you can modify the PATH variable using the following syntax:

When working in a Linux terminal, you often encounter situations where you need to monitor the execution time of a command or limit its runtime. The time and timeout commands are powerful tools that can help you achieve these tasks. In this tutorial, we’ll explore how to use both commands effectively, along with practical examples.

Using the time Command

The time command in Linux is used to measure the execution time of a specified command or process. It provides information about the real, user, and system time used by the command. The real time represents the actual elapsed time, while the user time accounts for the CPU time consumed by the command, and the system time indicates the time spent by the system executing on behalf of the command.

Syntax

time [options] command

Example

Let’s say you want to measure the time taken to execute the ls command:

time ls

The output will provide information like:

real    0m0.005s

user    0m0.001s

sys     0m0.003s

In this example, the real time is the actual time taken for the command to execute, while user and sys times indicate CPU time spent in user and system mode, respectively.

Using the timeout Command

The timeout command allows you to run a command with a specified time limit. If the command does not complete within the specified time, timeout will terminate it. This can be especially useful when dealing with commands that might hang or run indefinitely.

Syntax

timeout [options] duration command

Example

Suppose you want to limit the execution of a potentially time-consuming command, such as a backup script, to 1 minute:

timeout 1m ./backup_script.sh

If backup_script.sh completes within 1 minute, the command will finish naturally. However, if it exceeds the time limit, timeout will terminate it.

By default, timeout sends the SIGTERM signal to the command when the time limit is reached. You can also specify which signal to send using the -s (–signal) option.

Combining time and timeout

You can also combine the time and timeout commands to measure the execution time of a command within a time-constrained environment.

In the intricate landscape of operating systems, two prominent players have shaped the digital realm for decades: UNIX and Linux. While these two systems might seem similar at first glance, a deeper analysis reveals fundamental differences that have implications for developers, administrators, and users. In this comprehensive article, we embark on a journey to uncover the nuances that set UNIX and Linux apart, shedding light on their historical origins, licensing models, system architectures, communities, user interfaces, market applications, security paradigms, and more.

Historical Context

UNIX, a pioneer in the world of operating systems, emerged in the late 1960s at AT&T Bell Labs. Developed by a team led by Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie, UNIX was initially created as a multitasking, multi-user platform for research purposes. In the subsequent decades, commercialization efforts led to the rise of various proprietary UNIX versions, each tailored to specific hardware platforms and industries.

In the early 1990s, a Finnish computer science student named Linus Torvalds ignited the open-source revolution by developing the Linux kernel. Unlike UNIX, which was mainly controlled by vendors, Linux leveraged the power of collaborative development. The open-source nature of Linux invited contributions from programmers across the globe, leading to rapid innovation and the creation of diverse distributions, each with unique features and purposes.

Licensing and Distribution

One of the most significant differentiators between UNIX and Linux lies in their licensing models. UNIX, being proprietary, often required licenses for usage and customization. This restricted the extent to which users could modify and distribute the system.

Conversely, Linux operates under open-source licenses, most notably the GNU General Public License (GPL). This licensing model empowers users to study, modify, and distribute the source code freely. The result is a plethora of Linux distributions catering to various needs, such as the user-friendly Ubuntu, the stability-focused CentOS, and the community-driven Debian.

Kernel and System Architecture

The architecture of the kernel—the core of an operating system—plays a crucial role in defining its behavior and capabilities. UNIX systems typically employ monolithic kernels, meaning that essential functions like memory management, process scheduling, and hardware drivers are tightly integrated.

Linux also utilizes a monolithic kernel, but it introduces modularity through loadable kernel modules. This enables dynamic expansion of kernel functionality without requiring a complete system reboot. Furthermore, the collaborative nature of Linux development ensures broader hardware support and adaptability to evolving technological landscapes.