More than a month after its previous August update, the Arch-based CachyOS has rolled out its 10th update of the year, with performance improvements, faster updates, and many enhancements.
Performance Improvements
One of the standout features of this release is the extensive optimization of packages using Profile-Guided Optimization (PGO). Notably, LLVM and Clang have been optimized, resulting in a remarkable 10% performance improvement.
Additionally, packages like svt-av1, nodejs, and ripgrep have been enhanced using PGO, contributing to overall system efficiency.
Moreover, the team has incorporated cherry-picked patches from Clear Linux into glibc and gcc. This integration has provided the GCC compiler with an additional 1.5% performance boost.
Updated Packages
Significant package updates include:
- Kernel: The Linux kernel has been updated to v6.11.
- Graphics Stack: Mesa received an update to v24.2, and NVIDIA drivers updated to v560.35.
- Desktop Environment: KDE Plasma updated to v6.1.5.
- Installer: Calamares updated to v3.3.10.
- Frameworks: QT updated to v6.7.3.
Faster Repository Synchronization
In response to user feedback, the repository synchronization process has been accelerated. The sync interval has been reduced from every three hours to every hour, ensuring users receive updates more promptly. Consequently, there will be even less delay between the Arch repository updates and CachyOS’s optimized packages.
Moreover, from now on, packages compiled with the -fpic flag will automatically include -fno-semantic-interposition. This change can significantly enhance the performance of many shared packages by reducing overhead during dynamic linking.
Transition to zlib-ng
CachyOS has begun replacing the traditional zlib library with zlib-ng and its compatibility layer. As a modern alternative, zlib-ng offers improved performance and incorporates contemporary compression techniques. This transition is expected to benefit applications that rely heavily on compression and decompression operations.
SDDM Now Defaults to Wayland
For users of the KDE desktop environment, the cachyos-kde-settings package now installs an SDDM configuration that enables Wayland by default. This change allows for adjustable refresh rates, resolutions, and other settings, providing a smoother and more customizable experience.
However, it’s important to note that GPUs not supporting Waylandโsuch as legacy NVIDIA hardwareโwill need to manually remove this configuration. Affected users can do so by running:
sudo pacman -R cachyos-kde-settingsCode language: Bash (bash)While future updates may include hardware detection to automate this process, manual adjustment is necessary for now.
Enhanced Network Handling
The cachyos-settings package introduces changes aimed at improving network management. NetworkManager now utilizes systemd-resolved as the backend, addressing issues with download speeds in applications like Steam that generate massive DNS requests. Enabling DNS caching through systemd-resolved significantly boosts these speeds.
Additionally, the default NTP server for systemd-timesyncd has been changed to time.google.com. This update addresses increased reports of time synchronization issues with the previously used default servers. The former time servers remain as fallbacks should the primary server be unreachable.
Simplified Hardware Detection
The CachyOS Hardware Detection (CHWD) tool has been updated to simplify device handling. All profiles are now specifically designed for PCI devices, streamlining the driver installation process. Furthermore, a new --autoconfigure option has been added to automatically manage driver installations, making setup more user-friendly.
Key Bug Fixes and System Improvements
Several bug fixes and system improvements accompany this release:
- Installer Enhancements: The “Launch Installer” now synchronizes the system time with the hardware clock before installation begins. This resolves issues where installations failed due to time discrepancies.
- Filesystem Handling: The Calamares installer now correctly unmounts the root filesystem after installation, preventing potential conflicts during system reboot.
- Core Dumps Re-enabled: Core dumps have been re-enabled to facilitate easier debugging. To manage disk space, core dumps are automatically cleared every three days.
- Keyring Cleanup: Before installation, the keyring is cleaned up and recreated, addressing rare keyring issues that some users experienced.
- Compatibility Improvements: The
libva-nvidia-driverhas been removed from the PRIME profile to prevent potential conflicts, enhancing compatibility with software like Spectacle.
Updates for Handheld Edition Users
For those utilizing the Handheld Edition, particularly on devices like the Ally and Ally X, there are notable updates:
- Inputplumber Integration: The previous HHD has been replaced with inputplumber. The former solution did not correctly utilize the kernel driver, leading to input issues. Inputplumber resolves these problems, offering better input handling.
- Package Updates: All handheld-related packages have been updated to ensure optimal performance and compatibility.
The announcement provides a complete list of changes. For users eager to try out the latest capabilities, the updated ISO files are available for download via CachyOSโs SourceForge mirrors for those opting for a fresh install.
Existing users generally do not need to make any special changes. However, those using legacy NVIDIA drivers (470xx and 390xx) should remove the cachyos-kde-settings package due to the default switch to Wayland on KDE installations.
